In this lesson, we will be studying Psalm 6 from the Latin Vulgate. This psalm is one of the sacred songs of the Old Testament, traditionally attributed to King David. David lived approximately one thousand years before Christ and was the greatest king of Israel. He was a warrior, a musician, and a prophet who wrote many of the psalms that the Church still prays today. In this work, which is the Book of Psalms, David expresses the deepest feelings of the human heart—sorrow, fear, hope, and trust in God. In this particular psalm, David is suffering greatly, both in body and in spirit, and he cries out to God for mercy and healing. This lesson is important for our studies because it teaches us how to pray honestly to God during times of suffering, how to trust in God’s mercy even when we feel weak and afraid, and how to understand that our weakness is not shameful but rather an opportunity to experience God’s loving care. Through studying this psalm in Latin, we learn both the language of the Church and the timeless wisdom of prayer that has sustained Christians for nearly two thousand years.
Text
1. Magistro chori. Fidibus. Super octavam. Psalmus David.
2. Domine, ne in furore tuo arguas me neque in ira tua corripias me.
3. Miserere mei, Domine, quoniam infirmus sum; sana me, Domine, quoniam conturbata sunt ossa mea.
4. Et anima mea turbata est valde, sed tu, Domine, usquequo?
5. Convertere, Domine, eripe animam meam; salvum me fac propter misericordiam tuam.
6. Quoniam non est in morte, qui memor sit tui; in inferno autem quis confitebitur tibi?
7. Laboravi in gemitu meo, lavabam per singulas noctes lectum meum; lacrimis meis stratum meum rigabam.
8. Turbatus est a maerore oculus meus, inveteravi inter omnes inimicos meos.
9. Discedite a me, omnes, qui operamini iniquitatem, quoniam exaudivit Dominus vocem fletus mei.
10. Exaudivit Dominus deprecationem meam, Dominus orationem meam suscepit.
11. Erubescant et conturbentur vehementer omnes inimici mei; convertantur et erubescant valde velociter.
Exposition
1. Magistro chori. Fidibus. Super octavam. Psalmus David.
- Magistro: sub, dat, sing, masc = “master”
- chori: sub, gen, sing, masc = “of-choir”
- Fidibus: sub, abl, pl, neut = “stringed-instruments”
- Super: prep (acc) = “upon”
- octavam: adj, acc, sing, fem = “eighth”
- Psalmus: sub, nom, sing, masc = “psalm”
- David: sub, nom, sing, masc = “David”
Translation: (To) master of-choir. (With) stringed-instruments. Upon eighth. Psalm. David.
2. Domine, ne in furore tuo arguas me neque in ira tua corripias me.
- Domine: sub, voc, sing, masc = “Lord”
- ne: conj = “not”
- in: prep (abl) = “in”
- furore: sub, abl, sing, masc = “rage”
- tuo: adj, abl, sing, masc = “your”
- arguas: verb, 2nd, sing, pres, subj, act = “you-argue”
- me: pron, acc, sing = “me”
- neque: conj = “and-not”
- in: prep (abl) = “in”
- ira: sub, abl, sing, fem = “anger”
- tua: adj, abl, sing, fem = “your”
- corripias: verb, 2nd, sing, pres, subj, act = “you-correct”
- me: pron, acc, sing = “me”
Translation: Lord, not in rage your you-argue me and-not in anger your you-correct me.
3. Miserere mei, Domine, quoniam infirmus sum; sana me, Domine, quoniam conturbata sunt ossa mea.
- Miserere: verb, 2nd, sing, imp, act = “have-mercy”
- mei: pron, gen, sing = “of-me”
- Domine: sub, voc, sing, masc = “Lord”
- quoniam: conj = “because”
- infirmus: adj, nom, sing, masc = “weak”
- sum: verb, 1st, sing, pres, ind, act = “I-am”
- sana: verb, 2nd, sing, imp, act = “heal”
- me: pron, acc, sing = “me”
- Domine: sub, voc, sing, masc = “Lord”
- quoniam: conj = “because”
- conturbata: adj, nom, pl, fem = “disturbed”
- sunt: verb, 3rd, pl, pres, ind, act = “are”
- ossa: sub, nom, pl, neut = “bones”
- mea: adj, nom, pl, neut = “my”
Translation: Have-mercy of-me, Lord, because weak I-am; heal me, Lord, because disturbed are bones my.
4. Et anima mea turbata est valde, sed tu, Domine, usquequo?
- Et: conj = “and”
- anima: sub, nom, sing, fem = “soul”
- mea: adj, nom, sing, fem = “my”
- turbata: adj, nom, sing, fem = “disturbed”
- est: verb, 3rd, sing, pres, ind, act = “is”
- valde: adv = “greatly”
- sed: conj = “but”
- tu: pron, nom, sing, 2nd = “you”
- Domine: sub, voc, sing, masc = “Lord”
- usquequo: adv = “how-long”
Translation: And soul my disturbed is greatly, but you, Lord, how-long?
5. Convertere, Domine, eripe animam meam; salvum me fac propter misericordiam tuam.
- Convertere: verb, 2nd, sing, imp, act = “turn”
- Domine: sub, voc, sing, masc = “Lord”
- eripe: verb, 2nd, sing, imp, act = “snatch”
- animam: sub, acc, sing, fem = “soul”
- meam: adj, acc, sing, fem = “my”
- salvum: adj, acc, sing, masc = “safe”
- me: pron, acc, sing = “me”
- fac: verb, 2nd, sing, imp, act = “make”
- propter: prep (acc) = “on-account-of”
- misericordiam: sub, acc, sing, fem = “mercy”
- tuam: adj, acc, sing, fem = “your”
Translation: Turn, Lord, snatch soul my; safe me make on-account-of mercy your.
6. Quoniam non est in morte, qui memor sit tui; in inferno autem quis confitebitur tibi?
- Quoniam: conj = “because”
- non: adv = “not”
- est: verb, 3rd, sing, pres, ind, act = “is”
- in: prep (abl) = “in”
- morte: sub, abl, sing, fem = “death”
- qui: pron, nom, sing, masc = “who”
- memor: adj, nom, sing, masc = “mindful”
- sit: verb, 3rd, sing, pres, subj, act = “may-be”
- tui: pron, gen, sing, 2nd = “of-you”
- in: prep (abl) = “in”
- inferno: sub, abl, sing, neut = “underworld”
- autem: conj = “however”
- quis: pron, nom, sing, masc = “who”
- confitebitur: verb, 3rd, sing, fut, ind, act = “will-confess”
- tibi: pron, dat, sing, 2nd = “to-you”
Translation: Because not is in death who mindful may-be of-you; in underworld however who will-confess to-you?
7. Laboravi in gemitu meo, lavabam per singulas noctes lectum meum; lacrimis meis stratum meum rigabam.
- Laboravi: verb, 1st, sing, perf, ind, act = “I-labored”
- in: prep (abl) = “in”
- gemitu: sub, abl, sing, masc = “groaning”
- meo: adj, abl, sing, masc = “my”
- lavabam: verb, 1st, sing, imperf, ind, act = “I-was-washing”
- per: prep (acc) = “through”
- singulas: adj, acc, pl, fem = “individual”
- noctes: sub, acc, pl, fem = “nights”
- lectum: sub, acc, sing, masc = “bed”
- meum: adj, acc, sing, masc = “my”
- lacrimis: sub, abl, pl, fem = “tears”
- meis: adj, abl, pl, fem = “my”
- stratum: sub, acc, sing, neut = “couch”
- meum: adj, acc, sing, neut = “my”
- rigabam: verb, 1st, sing, imperf, ind, act = “I-was-watering”
Translation: I-labored in groaning my, I-was-washing through individual nights bed my; tears my couch my I-was-watering.
8. Turbatus est a maerore oculus meus, inveteravi inter omnes inimicos meos.
- Turbatus: adj, nom, sing, masc = “disturbed”
- est: verb, 3rd, sing, pres, ind, act = “is”
- a: prep (abl) = “from”
- maerore: sub, abl, sing, masc = “sorrow”
- oculus: sub, nom, sing, masc = “eye”
- meus: adj, nom, sing, masc = “my”
- inveteravi: verb, 1st, sing, perf, ind, act = “I-have-grown-old”
- inter: prep (acc) = “among”
- omnes: adj, acc, pl, masc = “all”
- inimicos: sub, acc, pl, masc = “enemies”
- meos: adj, acc, pl, masc = “my”
Translation: Disturbed is from sorrow eye my, I-have-grown-old among all enemies my.
9. Discedite a me, omnes, qui operamini iniquitatem, quoniam exaudivit Dominus vocem fletus mei.
- Discedite: verb, 2nd, pl, imp, act = “depart”
- a: prep (abl) = “from”
- me: pron, abl, sing = “me”
- omnes: adj, nom, pl, masc = “all”
- qui: pron, nom, pl, masc = “who”
- operamini: verb, 2nd, pl, pres, ind, act = “you-work”
- iniquitatem: sub, acc, sing, fem = “wickedness”
- quoniam: conj = “because”
- exaudivit: verb, 3rd, sing, perf, ind, act = “he-heard”
- Dominus: sub, nom, sing, masc = “Lord”
- vocem: sub, acc, sing, fem = “voice”
- fletus: sub, gen, sing, masc = “weeping”
- mei: pron, gen, sing = “of-me”
Translation: Depart from me, all, who you-work wickedness, because he-heard Lord voice of-weeping of-me.
10. Exaudivit Dominus deprecationem meam, Dominus orationem meam suscepit.
- Exaudivit: verb, 3rd, sing, perf, ind, act = “he-heard”
- Dominus: sub, nom, sing, masc = “Lord”
- deprecationem: sub, acc, sing, fem = “supplication”
- meam: adj, acc, sing, fem = “my”
- Dominus: sub, nom, sing, masc = “Lord”
- orationem: sub, acc, sing, fem = “prayer”
- meam: adj, acc, sing, fem = “my”
- suscepit: verb, 3rd, sing, perf, ind, act = “he-received”
Translation: He-heard Lord supplication my, Lord prayer my he-received.
11. Erubescant et conturbentur vehementer omnes inimici mei; convertantur et erubescant valde velociter.
- Erubescant: verb, 3rd, pl, pres, subj, act = “they-may-blush”
- et: conj = “and”
- conturbentur: verb, 3rd, pl, pres, subj, pass = “they-may-be-disturbed”
- vehementer: adv = “vehemently”
- omnes: adj, nom, pl, masc = “all”
- inimici: sub, nom, pl, masc = “enemies”
- mei: pron, gen, sing = “of-me”
- convertantur: verb, 3rd, pl, pres, subj, pass = “they-may-turn”
- et: conj = “and”
- erubescant: verb, 3rd, pl, pres, subj, act = “they-may-blush”
- valde: adv = “greatly”
- velociter: adv = “swiftly”
Translation: They-may-blush and they-may-be-disturbed vehemently all enemies of-me; they-may-turn and they-may-blush greatly swiftly.
Translation
An idiomatic translation expresses the meaning of the original text in natural, fluent English, rather than translating word-for-word. Note that an idiomatic translation requires interpretation and may include the addition of auxiliary (helping) words that are not present in the original text. Idiomatic translations are always subject to disputation.
1. (For the) master of (the) choir. (With) stringed instruments. Upon (the) eighth. (A) Psalm (of) David.
2. Lord, (do) not in your rage argue (with) me, and (do) not in your anger correct me.
3. Have mercy on me, Lord, because I am weak; heal me, Lord, because my bones are disturbed.
4. And my soul is greatly disturbed, but you, Lord, (how long)?
5. Turn, Lord, snatch away my soul; make me safe on account of your mercy.
6. Because (there) is not in death (one) who may be mindful of you; in (the) underworld, however, who will confess to you?
7. I labored in my groaning, I was washing (with tears) through individual nights my bed; with my tears my couch I was watering.
8. My eye is disturbed from sorrow, I have grown old among all my enemies.
9. Depart from me, all (you) who work wickedness, because (the) Lord has heard (the) voice of my weeping.
10. (The) Lord has heard my supplication, (the) Lord has received my prayer.
11. (May) all my enemies blush and be disturbed vehemently; (may) they turn and blush greatly (and) swiftly.
Conclusion
In this lesson, we have studied Psalm 6 from the Latin Vulgate. In the Prelection, we learned of the historical context and significance of this Psalm. We studied a literal translation of every word of the Latin text and an idiomatic translation. Now, it is time for you to study this lesson for mastery and demonstrate that mastery using the graded assessments provided in the course.
If you have questions or need help, please contact us through the Academy website at classicalliberalarts.com. I hope that this lesson has been helpful.
May God bless your studies,
Mr. William C. Michael, O.P.
