Tenebrae/24 - Psalm 142: I stretch out my hands

Today's psalm, Psalm 142, the second of Lauds (after Psalm 50) for Good Friday, is the last of the Penitential Psalms.

Desolation on the Cross

Its inclusion in Good Friday Tenebrae (and Friday in the older version of the Roman Office) presumably depends above all on the verse 'I stretched forth my hands to you'.  But the whole dark tone of the psalm, a plea for help, is particularly apt for that dark time when Christ struggled on the Cross:

"For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten
my life down to the ground; he hath laid me in the darkness,
as the men that have been long dead. Therefore is my spirit
vexed within me, and my heart within me is desolate." (Coverdale)

Yet it is also a psalm that speaks of a deep longing to be with God, and foreshadows for us, the gift of the Holy Spirit, possibly why St Benedict places it at Saturday Lauds instead:

"Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies; for I flee unto thee to hide me. Teach me to do the thing that pleaseth thee; for thou art my God. Let thy loving Spirit lead me forth into the land of righteousness. Quicken me, O Lord, for thy Name’s sake; and for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble."

The psalm closes with a reminder that we at at war, not just with earthly forces and our own sinful inclinations, but also but with diabolic powers.  This is not one we can win for ourselves alone, but need God's aid to triumph:

"And of thy goodness slay mine enemies, and destroy all them that vex my soul; for I am thy servant."

Psalm 142

Psalm 142: Domine, exausi orationem meam

Vulgate	Douay-Rheims
Psalmus David, quando persequebatur eum Absalom filius ejus.	A psalm of David, when his son Absalom pursued him
1 Dómine, exáudi oratiónem meam: áuribus pércipe obsecratiónem meam in veritáte tua : * exáudi me in tua justítia.	Hear, O Lord, my prayer: give ear to my supplication in your truth: hear me in your justice.
2  Et non intres in judícium cum servo tuo: * quia non justificábitur in conspéctu tuo omnis vivens.	And enter not into judgment with your servant: for in your sight no man living shall be justified.
3  Quia persecútus est inimícus ánimam meam: * humiliávit in terra vitam meam.	For the enemy has persecuted my soul: he has brought down my life to the earth.
4  Collocávit me in obscúris sicut mórtuos sæculi : * et anxiátus est super me spíritus meus, in me turbátum est cor meum.	He has made me to dwell in darkness as those that have been dead of old: And my spirit is in anguish within me: my heart within me is troubled.
5  Memor fui diérum antiquórum, meditátus sum in ómnibus opéribus tuis: * in factis mánuum tuárum meditábar.	I remembered the days of old, I meditated on all your works: I meditated upon the works of your hands.
6  Expándi manus meas ad te: * ánima mea sicut terra sine aqua tibi.	I stretched forth my hands to you: my soul is as earth without water unto you.
7  Velóciter exáudi me, Dómine: * defécit spíritus meus.	Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit has fainted away.
8  Non avértas fáciem tuam a me: * et símilis ero descendéntibus in lacum.	Turn not away your face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
9  Audítam fac mihi mane misericórdiam tuam: * quia in te sperávi.	Cause me to hear your mercy in the morning; for in you have I hoped.
10  Notam fac mihi viam, in qua ámbulem: * quia ad te levávi ánimam meam.	Make the way known to me, wherein I should walk: for I have lifted up my soul to you.
11  Eripe me de inimícis meis, Dómine, ad te confúgi: * doce me fácere voluntátem tuam, quia Deus meus es tu.	Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord, to you have I fled: Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.
12  Spíritus tuus bonus dedúcet me in terram rectam: * propter nomen tuum, Dómine, vivificábis me, in æquitáte tua.	Your good spirit shall lead me into the right land: For your name's sake, O Lord, you will quicken me in your justice.
13  Edúces de tribulatióne ánimam meam: * et in misericórdia tua dispérdes inimícos meos.	You will bring my soul out of trouble: And in your mercy you will destroy my enemies.
14  Et perdes omnes, qui tríbulant ánimam meam, * quóniam ego servus tuus sum.	And you will cut off all them that afflict my soul: for I am your servant.

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.

Tenebrae/23 - Psalm 93

The last psalm of the third Nocturn of Matins for Good Friday, Psalm 93 (94), is a warning: the God who died on the Cross for us will return in judgment.

God intervenes in the world

This psalm is a warning to all those who seem to think that God does not actually care about what we do and think.  In fact the opposite is true: "The Lord knows the thoughts of men, that they are vain".

The psalm deals with the issue of those who do evil and seem to get away with it.

In particular it focuses on the all too common problem today of those who may believe there is a God, but seem to think he is indifferent to our affairs, or so all-forgiving as to counter our free will choices, and save everyone regardless of what they say, think or do.

The truth, the psalm teaches, is that God does care, does take note.  He helps those who seek his aid and accept his guidance.  But he is also the 'God of vengeance', the 'judge of the world' who metes out justice.

Though the wicked attacked Our Lord, God held him up:

"In the multitude of the sorrows that I had in my heart, thy comforts have refreshed my soul....They gather them together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood. But the Lord is my refuge, and my God is the strength of my confidence." (Coverdale)

And in the end, justice will be done:

"He shall recompense them their wickedness, and destroy them in their own malice; yea, the Lord our God shall destroy them."

Psalm 93

Vulgate	Douay-Rheims
Psalmus ipsi David, quarta sabbati	A psalm for David himself on the fourth day of the week.
1  Deus ultiónum Dóminus: * Deus ultiónum líbere egit.	The Lord is the God to whom revenge belongs: the God of revenge has acted freely.
2  Exaltáre, qui júdicas terram: * redde retributiónem supérbis.	2 Lift up yourself, you that judge the earth: render a reward to the proud.
3  Usquequo peccatóres, Dómine: * úsquequo peccatóres gloriabúntur:	3 How long shall sinners, O Lord: how long shall sinners glory?
4  Effabúntur, et loquéntur iniquitátem: * loquéntur omnes, qui operántur injustítiam?	3 How long shall sinners, O Lord: how long shall sinners glory?
5  Pópulum tuum, Dómine humiliavérunt: * et hereditátem tuam vexavérunt.	5 Your people, O Lord, they have brought low: and they have afflicted your inheritance.
6  Víduam et ádvenam interfecérunt: * et pupíllos occidérunt.	6 They have slain the widow and the stranger: and they have murdered the fatherless.
7  Et dixérunt: Non vidébit Dóminus: * nec intélliget Deus Jacob.	7 And they have said: The Lord shall not see: neither shall the God of Jacob understand.
8  Intellígite, insipiéntes in pópulo: * et stulti, aliquándo sápite.	8 Understand, you senseless among the people: and, you fools, be wise at last.
9  Qui plantávit aurem, non áudiet? * aut qui finxit óculum, non consíderat?	9 He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? Or he that formed the eye, does he not consider?
10  Qui córripit Gentes, non árguet: * qui docet hóminem sciéntiam?	10 He that chastises nations, shall he not rebuke: he that teaches man knowledge?
11  Dóminus scit cogitatiónes hóminum, * quóniam vanæ sunt.	11 The Lord knows the thoughts of men, that they are vain.
12 Beátus homo, quem tu erudíeris, Dómine, * et de lege tua docúeris eum.	12 Blessed is the man whom you shall instruct, O Lord: and shall teach him out of your law.
13  Ut mítiges ei a diébus malis: * donec fodiátur peccatóri fóvea.	13 That you may give him rest from the evil days: till a pit be dug for the wicked.
14  Quia non repéllet Dóminus plebem suam: * et hereditátem suam non derelínquet.	14 For the Lord will not cast off his people: neither will he forsake his own inheritance.
15  Quoadúsque justítia convertátur in judícium: * et qui juxta illam omnes qui recto sunt corde.	15 Until justice be turned into judgment: and they that are near it are all the upright in heart.
16  Quis consúrget mihi advérsus malignántes? * aut quis stabit mecum advérsus operántes iniquitátem?	16 Who shall rise up for me against the evildoers? Or who shall stand with me against the workers of iniquity?
17  Nisi quia Dóminus adjúvit me: * paulo minus habitásset in inférno ánima mea.	17 Unless the Lord had been my helper, my soul had almost dwelt in hell.
18  Si dicébam: Motus est pes meus: * misericórdia tua, Dómine, adjuvábat me.	18 If I said: My foot is moved: your mercy, O Lord, assisted me.
19  Secúndum multitúdinem dolórum meórum in corde meo: * consolatiónes tuæ lætificavérunt ánimam meam.	19 According to the multitude of my sorrows in my heart, your comforts have given joy to my soul.
20 Numquid adhæret tibi sedes iniquitátis: * qui fingis labórem in præcépto?	20 Does the seat of iniquity stick to you, who frames labour in commandment?
21  Captábunt in ánimam justi: * et sánguinem innocéntem condemnábunt.	21 They will hunt after the soul of the just, and will condemn innocent blood.
22  Et factus est mihi Dóminus in refúgium: * et Deus meus in adjutórium spei meæ.	22 But the Lord is my refuge: and my God the help of my hope.
23  Et reddet illis iniquitátem ipsórum: et in malítia eórum dispérdet eos: * dispérdet illos Dóminus Deus noster.	23 And he will render them their iniquity: and in their malice he will destroy them: the Lord our God will destroy them.

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 of this series here.

Other Scriptural and liturgical uses of the psalm

The title of the psalm reflects its use in the Temple on Wednesdays, according to the Talmid.  Selected Christian uses of the psalm are summarised below:

NT references	Heb 10:26-31 (1); Romans 1:20, Romans 2:14-16 (10); 1 Cor 3:19-20 (11); 1 Cor 11:28-32 ; Heb 12:6 (13); Romans 11:2 (14); Mt 27:4 (21)
RB cursus	Friday Matins I, 6
Monastic feasts etc	Good Friday Tenebrae III, 3; Sacred Heart II, 3
Roman pre 1911	Friday Matins
Roman post 1911	1911-62: Saturday Prime . 1970:
Mass propers (EF)	-

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.