Tenebrae/22 - Psalm 87

Today's psalm, Psalm 87, is generally agreed to be the darkest psalm in the entire psalter.

It is the lamentation of a man close to death, and it seems to offer no note of hope whatsoever, the only psalm in the psalter not to end on a positive note.

The Father’s saw this psalm as a prophesy of the Passion, as St Cyril of Jerusalem explains:

“Accept an additional testimony from the eighty-seventh psalm, where Christ speaks in the prophets—for he who then spoke afterwards came among us: "O Lord, the God of my salvation: I have cried in the day and in the night before you"; and subsequently, "I am become as a man without help, free among the dead." He did not say, "I am become a man with¬out help," but "as a man without help"; for he was crucified, not because of helplessness but because he willed it; his death was not a result of involuntary weakness. "I am numbered with those who go down into the pit." What is the sign? "You have taken my friends away from me" (for the disciples fled away). "Will you work wonders for the dead"? Then, "But I, O Lord, cry out to you; with my morning prayer I wait on you." See how these verses manifest the actual circumstances of the passion and the resurrection.”

A meditation on humility

This psalm invites us to contemplate the humility of Christ in taking on human form, and suffering for us, as St Benedict suggests in his citation of verse 16 in his treatment of the twelve degrees of humility:

“The seventh degree of humility is that he should not only  in his speech declare himself lower and of less account than  all others, but should in his own inmost heart believe it, humbling himself and saying with the prophet: But 1 am a worm and no man, a byword to all men and the laughing-stock of the people. I have been lifted up only to be humbled and confounded; and again: It is good for me that thou hast humbled me, that I may learn thy commandments.”

In the face of abandonment

This is a psalm for the dark night of the soul: despite the fact that the speaker seems to receive no answer, he continues to call out to ‘the God of my salvation’ (verses 1, 2, 10, 14), and to set out the reasons why God will listen to his plea.  Cassiodorus interprets this as a prayer ‘that the resurrection will come with all speed’, and recitation of his sufferings that invites us all to be joined to:

“This is Christ's chorus…for the faithful people, following His most holy passion, gave answer with a most splendid imitation. On one side the prison held confessors in confinement; from another the blood of martyrs welled forth, more precious than purple garments and fine linen; from another the words of the apostles thundered through the whole world; from another the sacred faith came forth like the brightest sun; from another, even today peo¬ple hasten to embrace deaths which are transient in search of the rewards of eternal life. So let no person fear the wretchedness which makes men blessed. Let none tremble at the tortures which bring lasting security; let none fear the sadness which bestows eternal joy. How slight a thing is momentary death when its purpose is to win enduring life! How slight an imposition is the judgment of men, enabling us to obtain divine forgiveness! Who would be ashamed of the pains which the Lord Christ deigned to bear? Who would regard as dishonour what our Creator chose to endure for all? So let us shoulder for Him disaster in this world if we wish to possess with Him our enduring portion.”

Psalm 87

Domine, Deus salutis meæ, in die clamavi et nocte coram te.
Intret in conspectu tuo oratio mea, inclina aurem tuam ad precem meam.
Quia repleta est malis anima mea, et vita mea inferno appropinquavit.
Æstimatus sum cum descendentibus in lacum, factus sum sicut homo sine adjutorio,  inter mortuos liber;
sicut vulnerati dormientes in sepulchris, quorum non es memor amplius, et ipsi de manu tua repulsi sunt.
Posuerunt me in lacu inferiori, in tenebrosis, et in umbra mortis.
Super me confirmatus est furor tuus, et omnes fluctus tuos induxisti super me.
Longe fecisti notos meos a me; posuerunt me abominationem sibi.
Traditus sum, et non egrediebar; oculi mei languerunt præ inopia.
Clamavi ad te, Domine, tota die; expandi ad te manus meas.
Numquid mortuis facies mirabilia? aut medici suscitabunt, et confitebuntur tibi?
Numquid narrabit aliquis in sepulchro misericordiam tuam, et veritatem tuam in perditione?
Numquid cognoscentur in tenebris mirabilia tua? et justitia tua in terra oblivionis?
Et ego ad te, Domine, clamavi, et mane oratio mea præveniet te.
Ut quid, Domine, repellis orationem meam; avertis faciem tuam a me?
Pauper sum ego, et in laboribus a juventute mea; exaltatus autem, humiliatus sum et conturbatus.
In me transierunt iræ tuæ, et terrores tui conturbaverunt me:
circumdederunt me sicut aqua tota die; circumdederunt me simul.
Elongasti a me amicum et proximum, et notos meos a miseria.

For the translation:

O Lord, the God of my salvation: I have cried in the day, and in the night before you. 

Let my prayer come in before you: incline your ear to my petition. 

For my soul is filled with evils: and my life has drawn near to hell. 

I am counted among them that go down to the pit: I have become as a man without help, free among the dead. 

Like the slain sleeping in the sepulchres, whom you remember no more: and they are cut off from your hand. 

They have laid me in the lower pit: in the dark places, and in the shadow of death. 

Your wrath is strong over me: and all your waves you have brought in upon me. You have put away my acquaintance far from me: they have set me an abomination to themselves. 

I was delivered up, and came not forth: My eyes languished through poverty. 

All the day I cried to you, O Lord: I stretched out my hands to you. 

Will you show wonders to the dead? Or shall physicians raise to life, and give praise to you? 

Shall any one in the sepulchre declare your mercy: and your truth in destruction? Shall your wonders be known in the dark; and your justice in the land of forgetfulness? 

But I, O Lord, have cried to you: and in the morning my prayer shall prevent you. Lord, why do you cast off my prayer: why do you turn your face from me? 

I am poor, and in labours from my youth: and being exalted have been humbled and troubled. 

Your wrath has come upon me: and your terrors have troubled me. 

They have come round about me like water all the day: they have compassed me about together. 

Friend and neighbour you have put far from me: and my acquaintance, because of misery.

Tenebrae of Good Friday

Nocturn I: Psalms 2, 21, 26

Nocturn II: Psalms 37, 39, 53*

Nocturn III: Psalms 58, 87*, 93

Lauds: 50*, 142, 84, [Hab], 147

Tenebrae of Holy Saturday

Nocturn I: Psalms 4, 14, 15

Nocturn II: Psalms 23, 26, 29

Nocturn III: Psalms 53*, 75*, 87*

Lauds: 50*, 91, 63, [Is 38], 150

And you can find the next part of this series, on Psalm 93, here.  Alternatively, if you are looking at this psalm in the context of Tenebrae of Holy Saturday, you can jump straight to Psalm 50 or to Psalm 91.

Tenebrae/21 - Psalm 58

Today's psalm, Psalm 58, opens the third Nocturn of Tenebrae for Good Friday.

It is the prayer of the innocent, the unblemished man who takes on himself our sin, and thus holds out to us the hope of mercy.

Cassiodorus commented:

At the outset of the psalm the Lord Christ prays, not as one born God of the Father, but as One made man from the virgin Mary, that His enemies should not succeed in harming Him. He rises from the depths like a star of the material world, gradually mounting to the transcendent summit of His resurrection...Lord Christ, we have understood how numerous were Your sufferings in the flesh, and that You always prayed for Your persecutors. What a truly loving Judge, beneath whose eye none of those who make confession need despair! Your kindness matches Your power. Since You pray for Your enemies, which of Your own can fear that he may perish? Grant us to do what You command, grant us to fulfil what is of benefit, for just as we are nothing save what You are, so with You we can fulfil all the good for which we strive.

Let us strive indeed.

Psalm 58 (59)

Vulgate	Douay-Rheims
In finem, ne disperdas. David in tituli inscriptionem, quando misit Saul et custodivit domum ejus ut eum interficeret.	Unto the end, destroy not, for David  for an inscription of a title, when Saul sent and watched his house to kill him.
Eripe me de inimícis meis, Deus meus: * et ab insurgéntibus in me líbera me.	Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; and defend me from them that rise up against me.
Eripe me de operántibus iniquitátem: * et de viris sánguinum salva me.	Deliver me from them that work iniquity, and save me from bloody men.
Quia ecce cepérunt ánimam meam: * irruérunt in me fortes.	For behold they have caught my soul: the mighty have rushed in upon me:
Neque iníquitas mea, neque peccátum meum, Dómine: * sine iniquitáte cucúrri, et diréxi.	Neither is it my iniquity, nor my sin, O Lord: without iniquity have I run, and directed my steps.
Exsúrge in occúrsum meum, et vide: * et tu, Dómine, Deus virtútum, Deus Israël.	Rise up to meet me, and behold: even you, O Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel.
Inténde ad visitándas omnes Gentes: * non misereáris ómnibus, qui operántur iniquitátem.	Attend to visit all the nations: have no mercy on all them that work iniquity.
Converténtur ad vésperam: et famem patiéntur ut canes: * et circuíbunt civitátem.	They shall return at evening, and shall suffer hunger like dogs: and shall go round about the city.
Ecce loquéntur in ore suo, et gládius in lábiis eórum: * quóniam quis audívit?	Behold they shall speak with their mouth, and a sword is in their lips: for who, say they, has heard us?
Et tu, Dómine, deridébis eos: * ad níhilum dedúces omnes Gentes.	But you, O Lord, shall laugh at them: you shall bring all the nations to nothing.
Fortitúdinem meam ad te custódiam, quia, Deus, suscéptor meus es: * Deus meus, misericórdia ejus prævéniet me.	I will keep my strength to you: for you are my protector: My God, his mercy shall prevent me.
Deus osténdet mihi super inimícos meos, ne occídas eos: * nequándo obliviscántur pópuli mei.	God shall let me see over my enemies: slay them not, lest at any time my people forget.
Dispérge illos in virtúte tua: * et depóne eos, protéctor meus, Dómine :	Scatter them by your power; and bring them down, O Lord, my protector:
Delíctum oris eórum, sermónem labiórum ipsórum: * et comprehendántur in supérbia sua.	For the sin of their mouth, and the word of their lips: and let them be taken in their pride.
Et de exsecratióne et mendácio annuntiabúntur in consummatióne: * in ira consummatiónis, et non erunt.	And for their cursing and lying they shall be talked of, when they are consumed: when they are consumed by your wrath, and they shall be no more.
Et scient quia Deus dominábitur Jacob: * et fínium terræ.	And they shall know that God will rule Jacob, and all the ends of the earth.
Converténtur ad vésperam : et famem patiéntur ut canes, * et circuíbunt civitátem.	They shall return at evening and shall suffer hunger like dogs: and shall go round about the city.
Ipsi dispergéntur ad manducándum: * si vero non fúerint saturáti, et murmurábunt.	They shall be scattered abroad to eat, and shall murmur if they be not filled.
Ego autem cantábo fortitúdinem tuam: * et exsultábo mane misericórdiam tuam.	But I will sing your strength: and will extol your mercy in the morning.
Quia factus es suscéptor meus, * et refúgium meum, in die tribulatiónis meæ.	For you have become my support, and my refuge, in the day of my trouble.
Adjútor meus, tibi psallam, quia, Deus, suscéptor meus es: * Deus meus, misericórdia mea.	Unto you, O my helper, will I sing, for you are God my defence: my God my mercy.

 Tenebrae of Good Friday

Nocturn I: Psalms 2, 21, 26*

Nocturn II: Psalms 37, 39, 53*

Nocturn III: Psalms 58, 87*, 93

Lauds: 50*, 142, 84, [Hab], 147

And you can find the next part in this series here.

Other Scriptural and liturgical uses of the psalm 

NT references	-
RB cursus	Tuesday Matins II, 6
Monastic feasts etc	Good Friday Tenebrae, III, 1 AN 1201
Responsories	6036 (Passiontide tues add verse not used currently) 6427 (Passiontide Sunday ad verse not used) 6326 (Sundays in Oct no 3 v12) 6038 (Wednesday Epiphanytide v2, 18)
Roman pre 1911	Wednesday Matins
Roman post 1911	1911-62 Wednesday None
Mass propers (EF)	Passion Wednesday, OF (1);  PP 9, AL (1)

 

Tenebrae/20 - Psalm 53

Today's psalm, Psalm 53, actually gets two runs at Tenebrae: the first half of it is perhaps most applicable to Good Friday; the final triumphant note to Holy Saturday.

Dom Gueranger's commentary on it in his Liturgical Year puts it in the context of today's Gospel, Our Lord weeping for the coming destruction of Jerusalem that mirrors the destruction of the bodily Temple of Our Lord:

"Israel had made himself the enemy of the Church; and God, as He had warned him, punishes and disperses his children.  The Church takes occasion, from the fulfilment of the divine judgments, to profess the humble confidence she has in her Spouse's aid."

The virtue of justice

This psalm, like many, asks for deliverance from enemies, and asks for them to be punished.  In the version used in the liturgy, the final plea is to be freed from his enemies; in the Vulgate, the word 'judged' is used instead of 'free'.  They come to the same thing, as Robert Bellarmine observes in his commentary on the Psalm: "...that is, be my judge, defend me as I deserve, and avenge me of my enemy..."

Over and over Scripture tells us that the righteous man can call on God and be confident of his help, while the unjust man's pleas will go unheeded.  Over and over we are told that what we do now will either store up for us treasure in heaven, or punishment in hell.

Yet this basic concept of justice - the idea that sooner or later there will be consequences for our actions unless we repent - is one we tend to shy away from these days, to the destruction of society.

Modern theologians promote the idea of an empty hell (an idea completely at odds with the repeated warnings of Our Lord); too often the punishments meted out by the courts fall well short of fitting the crime; and in too many countries the State works to undermine the authority and bonds of the family rather than promote it.

Psalm 53:

Deus, in nomine tuo salvum me fac, et in virtute tua judica me.
Deus, exaudi orationem meam; auribus percipe verba oris mei.
Quoniam alieni insurrexerunt adversum me, et fortes quæsierunt animam meam, et non proposuerunt Deum ante conspectum suum.
Ecce enim Deus adjuvat me, et Dominus susceptor est animæ meæ.
Averte mala inimicis meis; et in veritate tua disperde illos.
Voluntarie sacrificabo tibi, et confitebor nomini tuo, Domine, quoniam bonum est.
Quoniam ex omni tribulatione eripuisti me, et super inimicos meos despexit oculus meus.

For the translation:

Save me, O God, by your name, and judge me in your strength.
O God, hear my prayer: give ear to the words of my mouth.
For strangers have risen up against me; and the mighty have sought after my soul: and they have not set God before their eyes.
For behold God is my helper: and the Lord is the protector of my soul.
Turn back the evils upon my enemies; and cut them off in your truth.
I will freely sacrifice to you, and will give praise, O God, to your name: because it is good:
For you have delivered me out of all trouble: and my eye has looked down upon my enemies.

Tenebrae of Good Friday

Nocturn I: Psalms 2, 21, 26*
Nocturn II: Psalms 37, 39, 53*
Nocturn III: Psalms 58, 87*, 93
Lauds: 50*, 142, 84, [Hab], 147

Tenebrae of Holy Saturday

Nocturn I: Psalms 4, 14, 15
Nocturn II: Psalms 23, 26*, 29
Nocturn III: Psalms 53*, 75*, 87*
Lauds: 50*, 91, 63, [Is 38], 150


You can find more on this psalm here.  And you can find the next post in the series, on Psalm 58, here.  Alternatively, if you are looking at this psalm in the context of Holy Saturday, you can go straight to the next psalm for that day, Psalm 75.

Tenebrae/19 - Psalm 39: The rock that is Christ

Today's psalm in this series on Tenebrae, is Psalm 39, and it brings us back to a meditation on that greatest of sacrifices, our will.  It is also said at Matins on Monday in the Benedictine Office, and as the first psalm of the third nocturn of Matins in the Office of the Dead.

It is worth noting that Psalm 39 is actually one of those two for one psalms: verses 19 onwards are repeated in Psalm 69.

The call to obedience

On Good Friday, we particularly contemplate Christ's perfect obedience, even unto death, and this psalm explains once more the rationale for this:

"No sacrifice, no offering was thy demand; enough that thou hast given me an ear ready to listen. Thou hast not found any pleasure in burnt-sacrifices, in sacrifices for sin. See then, I said, I am coming to fulfil what is written of me, where the book lies unrolled; to do thy will, O my God, is all my desire, to carry out that law of thine which is written in my heart." (Knox Translation)

These verses are given some more exposition in the Letter to the Hebrews:

"Christ, during his earthly life, offered prayer and entreaty to the God who could save him from death, not without a piercing cry, not without tears; yet with such piety as won him a hearing. Son of God though he was, he learned obedience in the school of suffering, and now, his full achievement reached, he wins eternal salvation for all those who render obedience to him." (Knox Translation)

The help of the Church

The psalm also, though, also reminds us that we are not expected to achieve this holy state unaided, for Christ and his Church stand ready to aid us.

The psalm states that 'many shall see and fear', that there will be a great cloud of witnesses sharing the message of salvation.

Nor will they be left unguided, for in a verse particularly poignant, perhaps as we await the election of a new Pope, we are told:

"And he set my feet upon a rock, and directed my steps."

Psalm 39 (40)

Vulgate	Douay-Rheims
In finem. Psalmus ipsi David.	Unto the end, a psalm for David himself.

Beátus qui intélligit super egénum, et páuperem: * in die mala liberábit eum Dóminus.	Blessed is he that understands concerning the needy and the poor: the Lord will deliver him in the evil day.
Dóminus consérvet eum, et vivíficet eum, † et beátum fáciat eum in terra: * et non tradat eum in ánimam inimicórum eius.	The Lord preserve him and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth: and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies.
Dóminus opem ferat illi super lectum dolóris eius: * univérsum stratum eius versásti in infirmitáte eius.	The Lord help him on his bed of sorrow: you have turned all his couch in his sickness.
Ego dixi: Dómine, miserére mei: * sana ánimam meam, quia peccávi tibi.	I said: O Lord, be merciful to me: heal my soul, for I have sinned against you.
Inimíci mei dixérunt mala mihi: * Quando moriétur, et períbit nomen eius?	My enemies have spoken evils against me: when shall he die and his name perish?
Et si ingrediebátur ut vidéret, vana loquebátur: * cor eius congregávit iniquitátem sibi.	And if he came in to see me, he spoke vain things: his heart gathered together iniquity to itself.
Egrediebátur foras, * et loquebátur in idípsum.	He went out and spoke to the same purpose.
Advérsum me susurrábant omnes inimíci mei: * advérsum me cogitábant mala mihi.	All my enemies whispered together against me: they devised evils to me.
Verbum iníquum constituérunt advérsum me: * Numquid qui dormit non adiíciet ut resúrgat?	They determined against me an unjust word: shall he that sleeps rise again no more?
Etenim homo pacis meæ, in quo sperávi: * qui edébat panes meos, magnificávit super me supplantatiónem.	For even the man of my peace, in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has greatly supplanted me.
Tu autem, Dómine, miserére mei, et resúscita me: * et retríbuam eis.	But you, O Lord, have mercy on me, and raise my up again: and I will requite them.
In hoc cognóvi quóniam voluísti me: * quóniam non gaudébit inimícus meus super me.	By this I know, that you have had a good will for me: because my enemy shall not rejoice over me.
Me autem propter innocéntiam suscepísti: * et confirmásti me in conspéctu tuo in ætérnum.	But you have upheld me by reason of my innocence: and have established me in your sight for ever.
Benedíctus Dóminus, Deus Israël, a sæculo et usque in sæculum: * fiat, fiat.	Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel from eternity to eternity. So be it. So be it

Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.	Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, * et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.	As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Tenebrae of Good Friday

Nocturn I: Psalms 2, 21, 26*

Nocturn II: Psalms 37, 39, 53*

Nocturn III: Psalms 58, 87*, 93

Lauds: 50*, 142, 84, [Hab], 147

Other Scriptural and liturgical uses of the psalm

NT references	Rev 14:3 (4); Mt 12:7, Heb 5:7-10 (9-10); Heb 10:9, Eph 5:2 (10-11); 1 Peter 5:7 (23)
RB cursus	Monday Matins
Monastic/(Roman) feasts etc	Good Friday Tenebrae, II, 2; Office of the Dead/All Souls AN 2756 (8) AN 1812 (13) AN 1861 (14)
Responsories	Epiphanytide Tues no 2 – 7698 Palm Sunday - 7219 cf V)
Roman pre 1911	Tuesday Matins
Roman post 1911	1911-62: Tuesday Terce . 1970:
Mass propers (EF)	Lent 2 ?Monday GR (18); Friday, OF (17-18); Lent 4 Tuesday, OF (1-2, 4); PP15, OF (1-2, 4); PP16, OF (17-18).

 And you can find the next part in the series here.

Tenebrae/18 - Psalm 37

Today's psalm, which opens the second Nocturn of Tenebrae for Good Friday, is one of the seven penitential psalms.

Psalm 37 deals with an unfashionable consequence of sin, namely punishment, and particularly  the willing acceptance of suffering here and now as punishment for sin.

The Christological explanation of the psalm views the verses about the speaker’s afflicted and troubled state, and sense of weakness, as concerning the Agony in the Garden. The statement that friends and neighbours stood against him, as references to Our Lord’s betrayal and then the flight of the Apostles; and the descriptions of false testimony and plotting against him as the attempts of the Jewish leaders to fabricate a case against Our Lord. Above all though, the verses dealing with the speaker’s response to the attacks on him: his becoming deaf and dumb as a prophesy of Our Lord’s refusal to offer a defense before Herod and Caiaphas, and his subsequent scourging.

Here Our Lord accepts the punishment on our behalf even though he is totally innocent for through Our Lord’s betrayal and suffering, he expiates the sins of us all.

It should act as a prompt for us to do penance on behalf of others as well as for our own sins.

Psalm 37 (38)

Domine, ne in furore tuo arguas me, neque in ira tua corripias me: 

quoniam sagittæ tuæ infixæ sunt mihi, et confirmasti super me manum tuam. 

Non est sanitas in carne mea, a facie iræ tuæ; non est pax ossibus meis, a facie peccatorum meorum: 

quoniam iniquitates meæ supergressæ sunt caput meum, et sicut onus grave gravatæ sunt super me. 

Putruerunt et corruptæ sunt cicatrices meæ, a facie insipientiæ meæ.

Miser factus sum et curvatus sum usque in finem; tota die contristatus ingrediebar. 

Quoniam lumbi mei impleti sunt illusionibus, et non est sanitas in carne mea.

Afflictus sum, et humiliatus sum nimis; rugiebam a gemitu cordis mei.

Domine, ante te omne desiderium meum, et gemitus meus a te non est absconditus. 

Cor meum conturbatum est; dereliquit me virtus mea, et lumen oculorum meorum, et ipsum non est mecum. 

Amici mei et proximi mei adversum me appropinquaverunt, et steterunt; et qui juxta me erant, de longe steterunt : et vim faciebant qui quærebant animam meam. 

Et qui inquirebant mala mihi, locuti sunt vanitates, et dolos tota die meditabantur. 

Ego autem, tamquam surdus, non audiebam; et sicut mutus non aperiens os suum. 

Et factus sum sicut homo non audiens, et non habens in ore suo redargutiones.

Quoniam in te, Domine, speravi; tu exaudies me, Domine Deus meus. 

Quia dixi : Nequando supergaudeant mihi inimici mei; et dum commoventur pedes mei, super me magna locuti sunt. 

Quoniam ego in flagella paratus sum, et dolor meus in conspectu meo semper. 

Quoniam iniquitatem meam annuntiabo, et cogitabo pro peccato meo. 

Inimici autem mei vivunt, et confirmati sunt super me : et multiplicati sunt qui oderunt me inique. 

Qui retribuunt mala pro bonis detrahebant mihi, quoniam sequebar bonitatem. 

Ne derelinquas me, Domine Deus meus; ne discesseris a me. 

 Intende in adjutorium meum, Domine Deus salutis meæ.

And the English:

Rebuke me not, O Lord, in your indignation; nor chastise me in your wrath. 

3 For your arrows are fastened in me: and your hand has been strong upon me. 

4 There is no health in my flesh, because of your wrath: there is no peace for my bones, because of my sins.

5 For my iniquities have gone over my head: and as a heavy burden have become heavy upon me. 

6 My sores are putrefied and corrupted, because of my foolishness. 

7 I have become miserable, and am bowed down even to the end: I walked sorrowful all the day long. 

8 For my loins are filled with illusions; and there is no health in my flesh. 

9 I am afflicted and humbled exceedingly: I roared with the groaning of my heart.

10 Lord, all my desire is before you, and my groaning is not hidden from you. 

11 My heart is troubled, my strength has left me, and the light of my eyes itself is not with me. 

12 My friends and my neighbours have drawn near, and stood against me. And they that were near me stood afar off:

13 And they that sought my soul used violence. And they that sought evils to me spoke vain things, and studied deceits all the day long. 

14 But I, as a deaf man, heard not: and as a dumb man not opening his mouth. 

15 And I became as a man that hears not: and that has no reproofs in his mouth. 

16 For in you, O Lord, have I hoped: you will hear me, O Lord my God. 

17 For I said: Lest at any time my enemies rejoice over me: and whilst my feet are moved, they speak great things against me. 

18 For I am ready for scourges: and my sorrow is continually before me. 

19 For I will declare my iniquity: and I will think for my sin. 

20 But my enemies live, and are stronger than I: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.

21 They that render evil for good, have detracted me, because I followed goodness. 

22 For sake me not, O Lord my God: do not depart from me. 

23 Attend unto my help, O Lord, the God of my salvation.

Tenebrae of Good Friday

Nocturn I: Psalms 2, 21, 26

Nocturn II: Psalms 37, 39, 53*

Nocturn III: Psalms 58, 87*, 93

Lauds: 50*, 142, 84, [Hab], 147

And you can find the next part in the series here.

Tenebrae/17 - Psalm 26: Whom shall I fear?

Today's psalm, Psalm 26, actually gets two guernsey's at Tenebrae, closing off the first Nocturn of Good Friday, and in the second Nocturn Holy Saturday.

In the Septuagint/Vulgate, the psalm is given the title 'The psalm of David before he was anointed'.  David was actually anointed three separate times - by Samuel (I Samuel 16:13); by the men of Judah (2 Samuel 2:4); and as king of all Israel (2 Samuel 5:3).

Accordingly, it has an obvious interpretation as applicable to Christ, twice (debatably!) anointed by women, once early in his ministry (Luke 7: 36-38) before the Crucifixion (by Mary Magdalen, John 12:1-11); and finally in the blood of the crucifixion, his kingship attested to by the sign Pilate insisted on placing on his Cross. Alternatively, one can see it as referring to his anointing as prophet, priest and king.

Overall the psalm has something of the feel of the Lord is my shepherd, for it pictures a man under siege, but is totally confident in placing his trust in God.

Pointing us to heaven

Its Holy Saturday placement surely reflects the verse used as its antiphon then, 'Credo vidére bona Dómini in terra vivéntium', or, 'I believe that I shall yet see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living'.

St Alphonus Liguori comments that in this verse, the psalmist, King David, is a type of the man hounded by his enemies, and ready to enter heaven:

"He is a figure of the just man who in the midst of the enemies of his salvation longs to leave this world, and to enter into the heavenly kingdom."

Steadfast amongst our foes

The Good Friday focus, though, is surely the first part of the psalm, on which St Athanasius advises:

"When you see the boundless pride of many, and evil passing great, so that among men (so it seems) no holy thing remains, take refuge with the Lord.. if this state of things be long drawn out, be not faint-hearted, as though God had forgotten you, but call upon Him with Psalm 26."

Psalm 26 (arranged for liturgical use)

Dóminus illuminátio mea, et salus mea, * quem timébo?	The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?
Dóminus protéctor vitæ meæ, * a quo trepidábo?	The Lord is the protector of my life: of whom shall I be afraid?
Dum apprópiant super me nocéntes, * ut edant carnes meas:	Whilst the wicked draw near against me, to eat my flesh.
Qui tríbulant me inimíci mei, * ipsi infirmáti sunt et cecidérunt.	My enemies that trouble me, have themselves been weakened, and have fallen.
Si consístant advérsum me castra, * non timébit cor meum.	If armies in camp should stand together against me, my heart shall not fear.
Si exsúrgat advérsum me prælium, * in hoc ego sperábo.	If a battle should rise up against me, in this will I be confident.
Unam pétii a Dómino, hanc requíram, * ut inhábitem in domo Dómini ómnibus diébus vitæ meæ:	One thing I have asked of the Lord, this will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
Ut vídeam voluptátem Dómini, * et vísitem templum eius.	That I may see the delight of the Lord, and may visit his temple.
Quóniam abscóndit me in tabernáculo suo: * in die malórum protéxit me in abscóndito tabernáculi sui.	For he has hidden me in his tabernacle; in the day of evils, he has protected me in the secret place of his tabernacle.
In petra exaltávit me: * et nunc exaltávit caput meum super inimícos meos.	He has exalted me upon a rock: and now he has lifted up my head above my enemies.
Circuívi et immolávi in tabernáculo eius hóstiam vociferatiónis: * cantábo et psalmum dicam Dómino.	I have gone round, and have offered up in his tabernacle a sacrifice of jubilation: I will sing, and recite a psalm to the Lord.
Exáudi, Dómine, vocem meam, qua clamávi ad te: * miserére mei, et exáudi me.	Hear, O Lord, my voice, with which I have cried to you: have mercy on me and hear me.
Tibi dixit cor meum, exquisívit te fácies mea: * fáciem tuam, Dómine, requíram.	My heart has said to you: My face has sought you: your face, O Lord, will I still seek.
Ne avértas fáciem tuam a me, * ne declínes in ira a servo tuo.	Turn not away your face from me; decline not in your wrath from your servant.
Adiútor meus esto: * ne derelínquas me, neque despícias me, Deus, salutáris meus.	Be my helper, forsake me not; do not despise me, O God my Saviour.
Quóniam pater meus, et mater mea dereliquérunt me: * Dóminus autem assúmpsit me.	For my father and my mother have left me: but the Lord has taken me up.
Legem pone mihi, Dómine, in via tua: * et dírige me in sémitam rectam propter inimícos meos.	Set me, O Lord, a law in your way, and guide me in the right path, because of my enemies.
Ne tradíderis me in ánimas tribulántium me: † quóniam insurrexérunt in me testes iníqui et mentíta est iníquitas sibi.	Deliver me not over to the will of them that trouble me; for unjust witnesses have risen up against me; and iniquity has lied to itself.
Credo vidére bona Dómini * in terra vivéntium.	I believe to see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
Exspécta Dóminum, viríliter age: * et confortétur cor tuum, et sústine Dóminum.	Expect the Lord, do manfully, and let your heart take courage, and wait for the Lord.
Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.	Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, * et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.	As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Tenebrae of Good Friday

Nocturn I: Psalms 2, 21, 26*

Nocturn II: Psalms 37, 39, 53*

Nocturn III: Psalms 58, 87*, 93

Lauds: 50*, 142, 84, [Hab], 147

Tenebrae of Holy Saturday

Nocturn I: Psalms 4, 14, 15

Nocturn II: Psalms 23, 26*, 29

Nocturn III: Psalms 53*, 75*, 87*

Lauds: 50*, 91, 63, [Is 38], 150

Other Scriptural and liturgical uses

NT references	Jn 1:9, 8:12 (1); Rev 7:15(9); Mt 26:59-60 (18)
RB cursus	Sunday Matins
Monastic/(Roman) feasts etc	Good Friday Tenebrae, I, 3; Holy Sat Tenebrae, II, 2; Pentecost, All Souls, Office of Dead, II, 3
Roman pre 1911	Monday Matins
Roman post 1911	1911-62: Monday Terce . 1970:
Mass propers (EF)	Friday after Ash Wed, GR (7-8); Saturday after Ash Wednesday, GR (7-8); Tuesday Lent 2 (1, 13-14); Tuesday Passion week, IN (1, 20); Sat Passion week, CO (18); Sunday after Ascension, IN (1, 12-14); PP 4, IN (102, 4-5); PP5 IN (1, 12, 14-15); CO (7); PP 6, CO (11)

You can find the next part of the series, on Psalm 37 here.  Alternatively, to go to the next psalm of Holy Saturday, go to Psalm 29.

And here is a recording to give you the psalm tone for Psalm 26 with the antiphon for Holy Saturday.