Psalm 118 (119) Lamed (v89-96): On reading the signs of the times

Today's stanza of Psalm 118 is Lamed.  In the Knox translation::

89 Lord, the word thou hast spoken stands ever unchanged as heaven.
90 Loyal to his promise, age after age, is he who made the enduring earth.
91 Long as time lasts, these shall stand, obeying thy decree, Master of all.
92 Lest I should sink in my affliction, thou hast given thy covenant to be my comfort.
93 Life-giving are thy commands, never by me forgotten.
94 Lend me thy aid, for thine I am, and thy bidding is all my quest.
95 Let sinners go about to destroy me, I wait on thy will.
96 Look where I may, all good things must end; only thy law is wide beyond measure.

And the Latina nd Douay Rheims:

Vulgate	Douay-Rheims
89  In ætérnum, Dómine,* verbum tuum pérmanet in cælo.	Forever, O Lord, your word stands firm in heaven.
90  In generatiónem et generatiónem véritas tua: * fundásti terram, et pérmanet.	90 Your truth unto all generations: you have founded the earth, and it continues.
91  Ordinatióne tua persevérat dies: * quóniam ómnia sérviunt tibi.	91 By your ordinance the day goes on: for all things serve you.
92  Nisi quod lex tua meditátio mea est: * tunc forte periíssem in humilitáte mea.	92 Unless your law had been my meditation, I had then perhaps perished in my abjection.
93  In ætérnum non oblivíscar justificatiónes tuas: * quia in ipsis vivificásti me.	93 Your justifications I will never forget: for by them you have given me life.
94  Tuus sum ego, salvum me fac: * quóniam justificatiónes tuas exquisívi.	94 I am yours, save me: for I have sought your justifications.
95  Me exspectavérunt peccatóres ut pérderent me: * testimónia tua intelléxi.	95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I have understood your testimonies.
96  Omnis consummatiónis vidi finem: * latum mandátum tuum nimis.	96 I have seen an end of all perfection: your commandment is exceeding broad

I am yours...

The central verse of today’s stanza of Psalm 118, Lamed, is I think, verse 94:

Tuus sum ego; salvum me fac: quoniam justificationes tuas exquisivi.

I am yours, save me: for I have sought your justifications.

Pope Benedict XVI has commented on this verse (in a speech to the Synod on Scripture) that:

"The Word of God is like a stairway that we can go up and, with Christ, even descend into the depths of His love. It is a stairway to reach the Word in the words. “I am yours”.

Signs of the times

How, specifically does God show us that stairway?  Cassiodorus’ commentary on the stanza gives us a little lesson on God's justifications as ‘reading the signs of the times’ that I think is worth reflecting on.

Reading the signs of the times is one of those expressions popularized by the aggorniamento (updating) school of spirit of Vatican IIism, used to justify changing anything and everything about the way the Church is structured and operates.

The Wikipedia entry on the term claims that it “dropped out of use in the 1970s”.  If only! 

God is eternal and unchanging

The second half of Psalm 118 (for we have reached the twelfth stanza) starts with a restatement of some of the attributes of God, namely that he is eternal, unchanging, our creator, and our sustainer (verses 89-91).

It then sets out man’s relationship to God as his creatures, saying: for all things serve you.

Yet despite the immutable nature of God’s law and the psalmists commitment to it, despite the fact that by definition we are God’s he still has to assert that he belongs to God, and plead for salvation (verse 94): for God has given man free will, and set the means for us to test our decision in this world in the form of those lying in wait to tempt us to fall (verse 95).

What saves us, the speaker asserts, is our memory of and meditation on God’s ‘justifications’, or testimonies (in the Septuagint the word used in verse 95 is marturia, from which the word martyr is derived).

God's testimonies

What then are these ‘justifications’ or testimonies?

Cassiodorus argues that the signs of the times are those events that point to our journey towards salvation:

“justifications are the understanding of the signs to come through events in time; the slaying of the spotless lamb at the Pasch, the jour­ney to salvation afforded by the Red Sea, the gaining of the promised land by the people led in by Joshua. It is clear that all these events offered indications of the perfection to come. So we must not in any way forget these justifications, which afforded us the initial bases of our faith; for no-one can acknowledge the favour of a gift unless he recalls how events were seen to have their beginning.”

The signs of the times, then, are arguably not, as some would have us believe, what we can learn from the secular world in the positive sense, but rather God’s providential actions that recall us to the correct path and offer salvation: natural events that remind us that God controls things not us, and that he punishes as well as rewards; the consequences of immoral laws such as no fault divorce that we constantly see exposed around us; the persecution of the good that remains a constant in so many societies around the world that are antagonistic to Christianity.

In the New Testament (Lk 11:29), Our Lord tells ‘an evil generation’ seeking a sign that the only one they shall be given is that of Jonah, usually interpreted as the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ.  In this psalm too, we are reminded that God’s truth endures from generation to generation for those with the eyes to see it. 

We too, should heed the message of that St Luke records from Our Lord’s discussion of ‘the signs of the times’: The men of Nineveh will arise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.” (Lk 11:32).

The face of Christ

Pope Benedict's comments on the verse 'I am yours', quoted above, continue:

"The word has a face, it is a person, Christ. Before we can say “I am yours”, He has already told us “I am yours”. The Letter to the Hebrews, quoting Psalm 39, says: “You gave me a body… Then I said, ‘Here I am, I am coming’”. The Lord prepared a body to come. With His incarnation He said: I am yours. And in baptism He said to me: I am yours. In the Holy Eucharist, He always repeats this: I am yours, so that we may answer: Lord, I am yours. In the path of the Word, entering the mystery of his incarnation, of His being among us, we wish to appropriate His being, expropriate our existence, giving ourselves to Him, He who gave Himself to us."

This is indeed the message of the final verse of this stanza, which concludes with a vision of the consummation of all, that is, Christ:

Omnis consummationis vidi finem, latum mandatum tuum nimis.

I have seen an end of all perfection: your commandment is exceeding broad

Verse by verse

89 In æternum, Domine, verbum tuum permanet in cælo.

Forever, O Lord, your word stands firm in heaven

aeternus, a, um eternal. forever

permaneo, mansi, mansum, ere 2, to remain, abide, continue, endure.

caelum, i, n., or caeli, orum, m.  heaven, the abode of God; the heavens as opposed to the earth; the air;

In æternum, Domine = Forever, O Lord

God is eternal.

verbum tuum permanet in cælo = your word endures in heaven

God is unchanging – standing in stark contrast to the conflicts, persecutions and disputes the psalmist has been chronicling in this world.   The point is, as Bellarmine notes that, “though it may not seem to stand firm on earth, when we see the just depressed, and the wicked exalted, still it stands quite firm in heaven; for God will certainly carry out anything he promised. He will cause the brief tribulation of the just to be turned into everlasting joy; and the short glory of the wicked to be turned into eternal disgrace and punish­ment.”

90. In generationem et generationem veritas tua; fundasti terram, et permanet

Your truth unto all generations: you have founded the earth, and it continues.

generatio, onis, f, a begetting, generating, generation "for ever and ever."

veritas, atis,  truth. grace, kindness ,goodness, fidelity to promises, Faithfulness

fundo, avi, atum, are to lay the foundation of, to found, establish

terra, ae, f the earth

permaneo, mansi, mansum, ere 2, to remain, abide, continue, endure.

In generationem et generationem veritas tua= From generation to generation your truth

St Augustine suggests that this tells us that God always preserves a faithful remnant: “the Truth of God was never absent in His saints, at one time fewer, at one time more in number, according as the times happened or shall happen to vary; or wishing two particular generations to be understood, one pertaining to the Law and the Prophets, another to the Gospel...”

fundasti terram, et permanet= you have founded/created/established the earth and it endures

God is creator.

91 Ordinatione tua perseverat dies, quoniam omnia serviunt tibi.

By your ordinance the day goes on: for all things serve you.

ordinatio, onis, f ordinance, decree.

persevero, avi, atum, are  to continue, remain constant.

dies, ei, m. and f fem.   a day, the natural day

quoniam, conj.,  for, because, since, seeing that, whereas.

omnis, e, all, each, every; subst., all men, all things, everything

servio, ivi, itum, ire  to serve, worship, to obey, do service to

Ordinatione tua perseverat dies = By your ordinance/command the day continues

God is the sustainer of all.  Britt notes that the Hebrew has ‘They (heaven and earth) abide this day according to Thine ordinances’.

quoniam omnia serviunt tibi= for all things serve you

And those who reject God’s service will be served justice at the end…

92 Nisi quod lex tua meditatio mea est, tunc forte periissem in humilitate mea.

Unless your law had been my meditation, I had then perhaps perished in my abjection

nisi,, if not, unless.

meditatio, onis, f thought, reflection, musing, meditation

tunc, adv. denoting a point of time which corresponds with another; then, at that time. as a subst

forte, adv. perhaps, perchance

pereo, li, ltum, ire,  to perish, come to naught, be lost;  stray, be lost.

humilitas, atis, f affliction, humiliation, wretchedness, misery

 Nisi quod lex tua meditatio mea est= Unless [that] your law is [were] my meditation

tunc forte periissem in humilitate mea= then perhaps I would have perished in my humiliation

Meditation on the law sustains us, preventing us from falling into sin.

93 In æternum non obliviscar justificationes tuas, quia in ipsis vivificasti me.

Your justifications I will never forget: for by them you have given me life.

aeternus, a, um eternal. forever

obliviscor, oblitus sum, oblivisci to forget

quia, conj. for, because, that. truly, surely, indeed

ipse, a, um, demon, pronoun., himself, herself, itself

vivifico, avi, atum, are to quicken, give life to, vivify.

In æternum non obliviscar justificationes tuas= I will not ever forget your justifications

quia in ipsis vivificasti me= for through them you have revived me

That is given me grace.

94 Tuus sum ego; salvum me fac: quoniam justificationes tuas exquisivi.

I am yours, save me: for I have sought your justifications.

salvum facere, to save, keep safe, preserve from harm

exquiro quaesivi itum ere 3, to seek, seek after

Tuus sum ego; salvum me fac = I, I am yours, save me

Earlier in the stanza it was asserted that all things serve God; all things belong to him who created them.  Yet we have free will, and so must make a special choice for God, an beg for his sustaining grace.

quoniam justificationes tuas exquisivi= for I have sought your justifications

All that is necessary is that we seek to do his will.

95 Me exspectaverunt peccatores ut perderent me; testimonia tua intellexi.

The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I have understood your testimonies.

exspecto, avi, atum, are,  to wait for a person or thing, to await, trust; to look for, expect

peccator, oris, m.  a sinner, transgressor; the wicked, the godless.

perdo, didi, ditum, ere 3, to destroy

intelligo, lexi, lectum, ere 3  understand, give heed to something, to consider

Me exspectaverunt peccatores me=Sinners have waited for me

Sinners lurk about, waiting for their moment to strike.

ut perderent= in order that they might destroy me:

testimonia tua intellexi= [but] I have understood your testimonies

But the psalmist has stood firm.

96 Omnis consummationis vidi finem, latum mandatum tuum nimis.

I have seen an end of all perfection: your commandment is exceeding broad.

omnis, e, all, each, every; subst., all men, all things, everything

consumatio –ionis f perfection, accomplishment, achievement; destruction; close, ending

video, vidi, visum, ere 2,  to see, behold; consider; experience, undergo, suffer, realize; keep watch, look for, meditate on

finis, is, m., a boundary, limit, border; territory; end, limit, termination

latus, a, um, broad, wide.

nimis, adv., exceedingly, greatly, beyond measure.

Omnis consummationis vidi finem= I have seen the end/limit of all perfection/consummation

Cassiodorus notes that: “Perfection is the full attainment of all virtues, and Christ is the end to this perfection. They rightly state that they have seen Him, for at that moment with enlightened minds they be­lieved that He would come.”

Alternatively, earthly perfection comes to an end; the law does not.

The phrase ‘in finem’ is used in the titles of many of the psalms, and invariably interpreted by the Fathers as a reference t the Resurrection or Second Coming of Christ.

latum mandatum tuum nimis= your commandment [is] exceedingly broad.

St Augustine interprets broad as follows: “Broad therefore is the commandment of charity, that twofold commandment, whereby we are enjoined to love God and our neighbour. But what is broader than that, on which hang all the Law and the Prophets?”

Pope Benedict takes this reflection a step further, saying:

“All human things, all the things we can invent, create, are finite. Even all human religious experiences are finite, showing one aspect of reality, because our being is finite and can only understand one part, a few elements: “latum praeceptum tuum nimis”. Only God is infinite. And therefore His Word too is universal and knows no boundaries. Coming into communion with the Word of God, we enter a communion of the Church that lives the Word of God. We do not enter into a small group, with the rules of a small group, but we go beyond our limitations. We go towards the depths, in the true grandeur of the only truth, the great truth of God. We are truly a part of what is universal…”

Scriptural and liturgical uses of the psalm

NT references	Lk 21:33 (89-91)
RB cursus	Sunday None
Monastic feasts etc	-
Roman pre 1911	Daily Sext
Responsories	No 6889,
Mass propers (EF)	IN – Virgin martyr (95-6)

You can find the next part in this series here.

Psalm 118 (119) Caph (v81-88): On feasting and fasting as we wait in hope

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Today in this Lenten series on Psalm 118, the stanza caph, the eleventh letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and thus we reach the halfway point in this exploration of the longest of the psalms and that pretty much matches up with our progress through the penitential days of Lent (ie excluding Sundays), since we are now at day 19 of the notional forty days, foreshortened this year by a number of solemnities depending on where you live and what calendar you follow, viz St Patrick, St Joseph, St Benedict and the Annunciation.

The text of the stanza

The Knox translation, which preserves the alphabetical flavour of the psalm:

81 Keeping watch for thy aid, my soul languishes, yet I trust in thy word.
82 Keeping watch for the fulfilment of thy promise, my eyes languish for comfort still delayed.
83 Kitchen-smoke shrivels the wine-skin; so waste I, yet never forget thy will.
84 Knowest thou not how short are thy servant’s days? Soon be my wrongs redressed.
85 Knaves will be plotting against me still, that are no friends to thy law.
86 Knaves they are that wrong me; bring aid, as thy covenant stands unchanging.
87 Keep thy bidding I would, though small hope of life they had left me.
88 Kind as thou ever wert, preserve me; then utter thy bidding, and I will obey.

And the Latin and a more literal translation of it:

Vulgate	Douay-Rheims
81  Defécit in salutáre tuum ánima mea: * et in verbum tuum supersperávi.	My soul has fainted after your salvation: and in your word I have very much hoped.
82  Defecérunt óculi mei in elóquium tuum: * dicéntes: Quando consoláberis me?	My eyes have failed for your word, saying: When will you comfort me?
83  Quia factus sum sicut uter in pruína: * justificatiónes tuas non sum oblítus.	For I have become like a bottle in the frost: I have not forgotten your justifications.
84  Quot sunt dies servi tui? * quando fácies de persequéntibus me judícium?	How many are the days of your servant: when will you execute judgment on them that persecute me?
85  Narravérunt mihi iníqui fabulatiónes: * sed non ut lex tua.	The wicked have told me fables: but not as your law.
86  Omnia mandáta tua véritas: * iníque persecúti sunt me, ádjuva me.	All your statutes are truth: they have persecuted me unjustly; help me.
87  Paulo minus consummavérunt me in terra: * ego autem non derelíqui mandáta tua.	They had almost made an end of me upon earth: but I have not forsaken your commandments.
88  Secúndum misericórdiam tuam vivífica me: * et custódiam testimónia oris tui.	Quicken me according to your mercy: and I shall keep the testimonies of your mouth.

Longing for Easter

The theme of the stanza, Cassiodorus points out, is the longing of the pilgrim people for the Coming of the Messiah:

“The pilgrim people on this earth sing the eleventh letter, in which they happily confess their extreme longing for the Lord's coming. They further relate their great sufferings from the persecution of the proud. Finally they ask that by the Lord's gift they may persevere in His commandments.”

We can I think interpret this in the Lenten context as our longing for the end of Lent and the celebration of the Resurrection of Christ!

I suspect our fervent longing for this, however, mostly falls far short of that urged by the psalm. St Robert Bellamine comments on the first verse that:

"My desire of eternal salvation has been so great, that I have nearly fainted in consequence. “And in thy word I have very much hoped;" still your promises held out great hopes to me. Thus, while the delay to one's salvation makes one faint, the hope built on promise strengthens and supports."

Fasting and feasting

Traditionally, of course, this longing would have been made more symbolically manifest during Lent by the exclusion from communion of the penitents as they undertook their penances prior to readmission to communion at Easter time. In these days when frequent communion is encouraged this older symbolism of spiritual fasting to sharpen the appetite has been lost, save perhaps for the growing number of us who practice less frequent communion for practical reasons such as allergies or intolerances!

Moreover the token nature of the Lenten fast practiced by most people these days when it comes to food and drink further dilutes the symbolism of our longing for good things being strengthened through fasting from them, that we might feast with God at the end.

We need, then, in my view, to find ways in our own spiritual practices of recovering this idea of fasting and feasting, ways of intensifying our longing for salvation to the point of the fainting for it as suggested by this stanza, intensify our pleas for God’s grace, that we might be given the strength to endure to the end.

Verse by verse

81. Defécit in salutáre tuum ánima mea: et in verbum tuum supersperávi.
My soul has fainted after your salvation: and in your word I have very much hoped

deficio, feci, fectum, ere 3 to fail, to be wasted, spent, consumed, cease to be, come to an end, vanish, long for, pine for,
salutaris, e a Savior, Helper, used of God; help, saving help, rescue, salvation,
anima, ae, soul
verbum, i, n.,word, command, edict, also a promise; saying, speech; Law, the Eternal Son
superspero, avi, atum, are, with prep, in with the ace. or abl., to hope or trust in greatly.

Defécit in salutáre tuum ánima mea= My soul has pined/fainted/failed/longed for your salvation

The psalmist is expressing intense longing, a burning love for the saviour.

et in verbum tuum supersperávi= and in your word I have hoped greatly/relied

82. Defecérunt óculi mei in elóquium tuum: dicéntes: Quando consoláberis me?
My eyes have failed for your word, saying: When will you comfort me?

deficio, feci, fectum, ere 3 to fail, to be wasted, spent, consumed, cease to be, come to an end, vanish, long for, pine for,
oculus, i, the eye..
dico, dixi, dictum, ere 3, to say, speak; to sing; in the sense of to think, plan, desire; to praise
eloquium, ii, n. , a word, oracle, speech, utterance, promise.
quando when
consolor, atus sum, ari, Active, to comfort, console, encourage

Defecérunt óculi mei in elóquium tuum= My eyes have longed for your promise [Ie your promise of salvation, previous verse.]

What is referred to here is not exterior vision, but internal and spiritual, as Cassiodorus points out:

“They say that they have borne this most powerful fainting for so long until the anticipated incarnation of the Lord should appear to the eyes of their heart. So we clearly acknowledge that even if the just have not beheld the Lord's coming with their bodily eyes, they have ever gazed on it with the eyes of faith. As the Lord says in the gospel to His disciples: Abraham desired to see my day; he saw it, and was glad”

Dicéntes (participle) =saying

Quando consoláberis me= when will you comfort me?

83. Quia factus sum sicut uter in pruína: justificatiónes tuas non sum oblítus.
For I have become like a bottle in the frost: I have not forgotten your justifications.

quia, conj. for, because, that. truly, surely, indeed
sicut, adv., as, just as, like.
facio, feci, factum, ere 3, to make, do, cause, bring to pass
uter, utris, m., the skin of an amimal used as a bottle for wine, oil, etc.; a bottle, vessel, wine-skin.
pruina, ae, f frost.
obliviscor, oblitus sum, oblivisci to forget;

Quia factus sum =For I am made/have become

sicut uter in pruína=like a wineskin in the frost:

The Neo-Vulgate, following the Hebrew MT, makes it a skin in the smoke rather than a frost, and it has to be said that makes some sense in the context: a frost might crack the skin, whereas wine in bottles was smoked in order to mature it more quickly.

However, St Alphonsus Liguori, following the Fathers, offers an alternative explanation entirely consistent with the Vulgate, namely “The sufferings that I have endured have made me become like a skin grown slack by the damp, and then is contracted and hardened by the frost; that is to say, have made me become tepid.”

justificatiónes tuas non sum oblítus= your statutes I have not forgotten

84. Quot sunt dies servi tui? quando fácies de persequéntibus me judícium?
How many are the days of your servant: when will you execute judgment on them that persecute me?

quot, adj. pi., indecl., how many?
dies, ei, m. and fem. a day, the natural day
persequor, secutus sum, sequi, to pursue, follow perseveringly, follow after, persecute.
judicium, i, n. judgment, decrees; law, commandment; the power, or faculty of judging wisely; justice.

Quot sunt dies servi tui? = How many are the days of your servant?

Ie How long will we have to continue to undergo suffering and misery?

quando fácies= When will you make

de persequéntibus me=about persecuting me = on those that persecute me

judícium = judgement

St Augustine suggests on this verse that these words echo Revelations 6:10-11, looking forward to the Last Judgment: "...these are the words of the Martyrs, and long-suffering is enjoined them until the number of their brethren be fulfilled."

85. Narravérunt mihi iníqui fabulatiónes: sed non ut lex tua
The wicked have told me fables: but not as your law.

narro, avi, atum, are to tell, relate, recount.
iniquus, a, um, unjust, godless, wicked; As a subst. the wicked, the godless, the unjust (man or men); evil-doers.
fabulatio onis, f a fable, an idle tale.

Narravérunt mihi = They [the wicked] have told me

iníqui fabulatiónes = the wicked fables/tales

The Neo-Vulgate follows the MT Hebrew instead of the Greek, making it instead something like ‘The proud have dug pits for me’. The Vulgate seems the better reading however! In an age where everything secular has become highly sexualized, where tv shows aimed at teenagers promote homosexuality and other sins, and where even those purporting to speak within the Church more often promote heresy than truth, this is a verse we can certainly take to heart!

sed non ut lex tua = but not as to/according to your law.

86. Omnia mandáta tua véritas: iníque persecúti sunt me, ádjuva me.
All your statutes are truth: they have persecuted me unjustly; help me.

omnis, e, all, each, every; subst., all men, all things, everything
veritas, atis, truth. grace, kindness ,goodness, fidelity to promises, Faithfulness
inique, unjustly, wrongfully, wickedly.
persequor, secutus sum, sequi, to pursue, follow perseveringly, follow after, persecute.
adjuvo, juvi, jutum, are, to help, assist, support.

Omnia mandáta tua véritas= All your commandments are truth

That is, in contrast to the false fables of the previous verse.

iníque persecúti sunt me= unjustly they have persecuted me

They persecute us for sticking to the truth.

ádjuva me = help me

87. Paulo minus consummavérunt me in terra: ego autem non derelíqui mandáta tua.
They had almost made an end of me upon earth: but I have not forsaken your commandments.

paulo minus, adv., nearly, almost
consumo, sumpsi, sumptum, ere 3, to destroy, annihilate, bring to naught, to come to an end, etc
terra, ae, f the earth; orbis terrae, the world; a country, esp. the Land of Israel
ego , pers. pro., I.
autem, adversative conj., but, on the contrary, however
derelinquo, liqui, lictum, ere 3, to abandon, forsake.

Paulo minus consummavérunt me in terra=They have nearly/almost destroyed/made an end of/annihilated me on the earth

Who are the ‘they’? All the enemies of our salvation, including our own inclinations to sin. This is an intense struggle, the psalmist tells us, leading almost to the death of the soul.

ego autem non derelíqui mandáta tua=but I have not forsaken your commandments

secundum +acc according to, by reason of, because of
misericordia, ae,, mercy, kindness, favor, compassion, loving-kindness.
vivifico, avi, atum, are to quicken, give life to, vivify.
custodio, ivi or li, itum, ire , to guard, watch, keep; to maintain, to hold steadfastly.
os, oris, n., the mouth.

Secúndum misericórdiam tuam vivífica me= According to your mercy revive me

et custódiam testimónia oris tui= and I will keep the testimonies of your mouth

The stanza ends with a final plea for life-giving grace.

Liturgical and Scriptural uses of the stanza

In the traditional Benedictine Office, this stanza of Psalm 118 opens Sunday None; in the 1962 Roman it is said at Sunday Sext.

NT references	-
RB cursus	Sunday None (1)
Monastic feasts etc	-
Roman pre 1911	Daily Sext
Roman post 1911	1911-62: Sunday Sext
Mass propers (EF)	PP21, CO (81, 84, 86) St Stephen IN (86), GR (88)

You can find the next part of this series here.

Psalm 118 (Jod, v 73-80): Why we should ask for grace

Continuing my series on Psalm 118,today, Jod, which covers verses 73-80.

Truth and mercy

Cassiodorus says of today’s stanza that:

“The splendid troop advances to the tenth letter, in which they ask that understanding of the commandments be granted them so that they may enjoy the benefit of truly genuine life. They pray that the Lord's mercy may be without stain, so that they may not be confounded at the Judgment.”

St Robert Bellarmine supplements this summation by suggesting that it advances a number of reasons for asking from God the grace to observe the law, namely:

• he created us, made us one of his creatures, and, therefore, we owe him implicit obedience;
• for the edification of others;
• because he has confessed his faults, and now throws himself on God’s mercy;
• to stop evildoers from succeeding in their schemes, prevent them from leading others astray by their bad example, and convert them; and
• so that he may not have to fear the disgrace of being confounded here or hereafter.

Two verses particularly worth focusing on are 75&76: and in your truth you have humbled me O! let your mercy be for my comfort.

Truth and mercy are often depicted as two angels in iconography. By truth we learn the reality of our sinful state: if God was truth alone we would stand forever condemned. But through his mercy, he offers us redemption through Christ’s resurrection, and invites us to share in eternal life.

The text of the stanza

In the Knox translation:

73 Jealous for the handiwork thou hast made, teach me to understand thy commandments.
74 Joy shall be theirs, thy true worshippers, to see the confidence I have in thy word.
75 Just are thy awards; I know well, Lord, it was in faithfulness thou didst afflict me.
76 Judge me no more; pity and comfort thy servant as thou hast promised.
77 Judge me no more; pardon and life for one that loves thy will!
78 Just be their fall, who wrong me scornfully; thy law is all my study.
79 Joined to my company be every soul that worships thee and heeds thy warnings.
80 Jealously let my heart observe thy bidding; let me not hope in vain.

Vulgate	Douay-Rheims
73  Manus tuæ fecérunt me, et plasmavérunt me: * da mihi intelléctum, et discam mandáta tua.	Your hands have made me and formed me: give me understanding, and I will learn your commandments.
74  Qui timent te vidébunt me et lætabúntur: * quia in verba tua supersperávi.	They that fear you shall see me, and shall be glad: because I have greatly hoped in your words.
75  Cognóvi, Dómine, quia æquitas judícia tua: * et in veritáte tua humiliásti me.	I know, O Lord, that your judgments are equity: and in your truth you have humbled me.
76  Fiat misericórdia tua ut consolétur me: * secúndum elóquium tuum servo tuo.	O! let your mercy be for my comfort, according to your word unto your servant.
77  Véniant mihi miseratiónes tuæ, et vivam: * quia lex tua meditátio mea est.	Let your tender mercies come unto me, and I shall live: for your law is my meditation.
78  Confundántur supérbi, quia injúste iniquitátem fecérunt in me: * ego autem exercébor in mandátis tuis.	Let the proud be ashamed, because they have done unjustly towards me: but I will be employed in your commandments.
79  Convertántur mihi timéntes te: * et qui novérunt testimónia tua.	Let them that fear you turn to me: and they that know your testimonies.
80  Fiat cor meum immaculátum in justificatiónibus tuis, * ut non confúndar.	Let my heart be undefiled in your justifications, that I may not be confounded.

Verse by verse

73. Manus tuæ fecerunt me, et plasmaverunt me: da mihi intellectum, et discam mandata tua.
Your hands have made me and formed me: give me understanding, and I will learn your commandments.

manus, us, f, hand
facio, feci, factum, ere 3, to make, do, cause, bring to pass
plasmo, avi, atum, are to form, make, fashion
intellectus, us, m. understanding, insight.
disco, didici, ere 3, to learn
mandatum, i, n. law, precept, command, commandment (of God); commandments, precepts, decrees

Manus tuæ fecerunt me = Your hands have made/created me

God does not of course literally have hands (unless one is referring to Christ alone), but the metaphor is intended to help convey God’s creative power: without it we would not exist.

et plasmaverunt me= and they shaped/formed/fashioned me

da mihi intellectum= give me understanding

Through Adam’s sin we lost our uncorrupted knowledge of God’s la, the knowledge of natural and supernatural truths infused by God; but it can be restored through grace.

et discam mandata tua= and I will learn your commandments

74 Qui timent te videbunt me et lætabuntur, quia in verba tua supersperavi.
They that fear you shall see me, and shall be glad: because I have greatly hoped in your words.

qui who
timeo, ere 2, to fear, be afraid of.
video, vidi, vlsum, ere 2, to see, behold; consider; experience, undergo, suffer, realize; keep watch, look for, meditate on
laetor, atus sum, ari, to rejoice, be joyful, take delight in
quia, conj. for, because, that. truly, surely, indeed; nisi quia, unless, if not
verbum, i, n., words
superspero, avi, atum, are, with prep, in with the ace. or abl., to hope or trust in greatly.

Qui timent te = Those who fear you

Again we are reminded that fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

videbunt me et lætabuntur =[they] will see me and they will rejoice

The Church rejoices in the conversion of sinners and the spiritual progress of members of her flock.

quia in verba tua supersperavi= because I have trusted greatly in your word

75 Cognovi, Domine, quia æquitas judicia tua, et in veritate tua humiliasti me.
I know, O Lord, that your judgments are equity: and in your truth you have humbled me.

cognosco, gnovi, gnitum, ere 3, to know, see, learn, perceive, be come acquainted with.
aequitas, atis, f, justice, fairness, uprightness, goodness
judicium, i, n. judgment, decrees; law, commandment; the power, or faculty of judging wisely; justice.
veritas, atis, f truth.
humilio, avi, atum, are to humble, bring low.

Cognovi (pf), Domine =I have known (I know) O Lord

The perfect tense in Latin is better translated by the present in English, since the clear meaning is, I know and continue knowing; the Greek makes it aorist. Indeed, the Neo-Vulgate makes it ‘scio’. Either way, ‘I know’ here means, I have experienced: through the humiliations we have experienced, we arrive at the truth about ourselves and God.

quia æquitas (acc) judicia tua =because of the fairness [of] your judgments

et in veritate tua humiliasti me = and with your truth you have humbled me

76 Fiat misericordia tua ut consoletur me, secundum eloquium tuum servo tuo.
O! let your mercy be for my comfort, according to your word unto your servant.

fio, factus sum, fieri , to be made or done, to become, happen
misericordia, ae, f, mercy, kindness, favor, compassion, loving-kindness.
consolor, atus sum, ari, Active, to comfort, console, encourage
secundus, a, um following in time or order; the next, the second.
eloquium, li, n. a word, oracle, speech, utterance, promise.
servus, i, m., a slave, servant; servants of the Lord, devout men who keep the law; the people, i.e., the Israelites

Fiat misericordia tua = May your mercy be [done/made]

ut consoletur me = in order that it encourage/comfort me

=May/let your mercy comfort me

secundum eloquium tuum servo tuo= according to your word to your servant

The previous verse spoe of truth; here comes its ever-present companion, mercy. Through truth we are humbled; through mercy saved.

77 Veniant mihi miserationes tuæ, et vivam, quia lex tua meditatio mea est.
Let your tender mercies come unto me, and I shall live: for your law is my meditation.

venio, veni, ventum, ire, to come.
miseratio, onis, f kindness, compassion, mercy
vivo, vixi, victum, ere 3 to live, to have life, be alive,
lex, legis, a law; the Law of God
meditatio, onis, f, thought, reflection, musing, meditation.

Veniant mihi = May they/let them come to me

miserationes tuæ = your mercies

et vivam = and I will live

Life here means everlasting life, St Augustine says: nor is any life save that which is everlasting and blessed understood, as though it alone were to be called life, compared with which that which we now lead ought rather to be called death than life..

quia lex tua meditatio mea est = because your law is my meditation.

78 Confundantur superbi, quia injuste iniquitatem fecerunt in me; ego autem exercebor in mandatis tuis.
Let the proud be ashamed, because they have done unjustly towards me: but I will be employed in your commandments.

confundo, fiidi, fiisum, ere 3, to put or bring to shame, to discomfit, confounded
superbus, a, um , raising one's self above others, proud, haughty, arrogant, insolent.
injuste, adv. unjustly, unrighteously; wrongfully, without cause
iniquitas, atis, f iniquity, injustice, sin.
facio, feci, factum, ere 3, to make, do, cause, bring to pass
ego , pers. pro., I.
autem, adversative conj., but, on the contrary, however
exerceo, cui, citum, ere 2 , to exercise ;ponder to meditate on, be occupied or employed
mandatum, i, n. law, precept, command, commandment (of God); commandments, precepts, decrees

Confundantur superbi= Let the godless be put to shame/confounded

Confounded here has several layers of meaning: firstly, Haydock suggests, it means not accomplishing their wicked designs; but also it suggests that they ‘may they be induced to entertain that shame for sin which bringeth life’, and hence cease to offend.

quia injuste iniquitatem fecerunt in me= for unjustly have they done wickedness to me

ego autem exercebor in mandatis tuis= but I will practice/meditate on your commandments

Bellarmine notes that: The fourth reason assigned for getting grace to observe the law, is derived from the confusion it will prove to the wicked, just as the second reason was derived from the satisfaction it would afford to the just. "Let the proud be ashamed." Grant me grace to observe your law to the letter, that those proud sinners, who by their persecutions and oppressions seek to make others follow their example, on seeing me, may be thus confounded and ashamed; and while they are thus confounded and ashamed, I will, with increased zeal and vigor, "be employed in thy commandments," in meditating on them and observing them.

79 Convertantur mihi timentes te, et qui noverunt testimonia tua.
Let them that fear you turn to me: and they that know your testimonies.

converto, verti, versum, ere 3, to turn, change, alter, bring back, quicken, refresh, restore, convert, turn from sin
timeo, ere 2, to fear, be afraid of.
nosco, novi, notum, ere 3 to know, to be acquainted with., regard with
testimonium, ii, n. testimonies, commands, decrees; commandments, ordinances, statutes, judgments, testimonies

Convertantur mihi timentes te= Let them turn to me who fear you

Cassiodorus notes that: It is right to interpret those who turn to the Lord as those who have begun to take their place in the gathering of the Church; at this stage they had begun to fear but had not yet been converted with full commitment of mind.

et qui noverunt testimonia tua= and those who know your testimonies

Cassiodorus continues: The additional phrase, And they that know thy testimonies, refers to those already steeped in the divine reading but not yet instructed in the work of salvation. Let them be converted could not refer to those made perfect who were radiant with both sacred reading and devoted activity.

80 Fiat cor meum immaculatum in justificationibus tuis, ut non confundar.
Let my heart be undefiled in your justifications, that I may not be confounded.

fio, factus sum, fieri , to be made or done, to become, happen
cor, cordis, n., the heart, regarded as the seat of the faculties, feelings, emotions, passions; the mind, the soul.
immaculatus, a, um undefiled, stainless, blameless, perfect.
justificatio, onis, f precepts, decrees, statutes, ordinances;
confundo, fudi, fusum, ere 3, to put or bring to shame, to discomfit.

Fiat cor meum =May my heart be [made]

immaculatum in justificationibus tuis= undefiled/perfect/immaculate in [through] your justifications

ut non confundar= so that I may not be put to shame/be confounded/be ashamed

Bellarmine comments that: He concludes by asking again for the grace he had so often asked for, to enable him to observe the commandments of God with a perfect heart, so that he may not have to fear the disgrace of being confounded here or hereafter.

Scriptural and liturgical uses of the psalm

NT references	-
RB cursus	Sunday Sext (3)
Monastic feasts etc	-
Roman pre 1911	Terce daily
Responsories	St Caecilia – v80 Nos 6072, 6257 (v71-73), 7127, 7645, not in current liturgical use,
Roman post 1911	1911-62: Sunday Terce
Mass propers (EF)	Holy woman not a martyr, IN (75) Holy Woman martyr CO (78, 80)

And for notes on the next stanza of the psalm, go here.