CLAA – TRV-221 - Psalm 07

In this lesson, we will be studying Psalm 7 from the Latin Vulgate, a psalm traditionally attributed to David and presented here as a lament sung to the Lord on account of Chus the Benjaminite. This psalm is important because it joins personal distress to a strong appeal for divine justice: David asks God to save him from his persecutors, declares his innocence with respect to the charge against him, and calls upon the Lord to judge rightly between the wicked and the just. As we study this psalm, we see not only the language of prayer in time of danger, but also a rich presentation of God as protector, judge, and ruler over all peoples.

Text

Lamentatio David, quam cantavit Domino propter Chus Beniaminitam.
Domine Deus meus, in te speravi; salvum me fac ex omnibus persequentibus me et libera me,
ne quando rapiat ut leo animam meam discerpens, dum non est qui salvum faciat.
Domine Deus meus, si feci istud, si est iniquitas in manibus meis,
si reddidi retribuenti mihi mala et exspoliavi inimicum meum dimittens inanem,
persequatur inimicus animam meam et comprehendat et conculcet in terra vitam meam et gloriam meam in pulverem deducat.
Exsurge, Domine, in ira tua et exaltare contra indignationem inimicorum meorum et exsurge, Deus meus, in iudicio, quod mandasti.
Et synagoga populorum circumdabit te, et super hanc in altum regredere:
Dominus iudicat populos. Iudica me, Domine, secundum iustitiam meam et secundum innocentiam meam, quae est in me.
Consumatur nequitia peccatorum; et iustum confirma: scrutans corda et renes Deus iustus.
Adiutorium meum apud Deum, qui salvos facit rectos corde.
Deus iudex iustus, fortis, irascens per singulos dies.
Nonne iterum gladium suum exacuit, arcum suum tetendit et paravit illum?
Et paravit sibi vasa mortis, sagittas suas ardentes effecit.
Ecce parturiit iniustitiam, concepit dolorem et peperit iniquitatem;
lacum aperuit et effodit eum et incidit in foveam, quam fecit.
Convertetur dolor eius in caput eius, et in verticem ipsius iniquitas eius descendet.
Confitebor Domino secundum iustitiam eius et psallam nomini Domini Altissimi.

Exposition

Lamentatio David, quam cantavit Domino propter Chus Beniaminitam.

Lamentatio: sub, nom, sing, fem = “lamentation”
David: proper noun, gen sense, sing = “of-David”
quam: rel pron, acc, sing, fem = “which”
cantavit: verb, 3rd, sing, perf, ind, act = “he-sang”
Domino: sub, dat, sing, masc = “to-Lord”
propter: prep (acc) = “on-account-of”
Chus: proper noun, acc sense, sing = “Chus”
Beniaminitam: sub, acc, sing, masc = “Benjaminite”

Translation: Lamentation of-David, which he-sang to-Lord on-account-of Chus Benjaminite.

Domine Deus meus, in te speravi; salvum me fac ex omnibus persequentibus me et libera me,

Domine: sub, voc, sing, masc = “Lord”
Deus: sub, voc, sing, masc = “God”
meus: adj, voc, sing, masc = “my”
in: prep (abl) = “in”
te: pron, abl, sing = “you”
speravi: verb, 1st, sing, perf, ind, act = “I-have-hoped”
salvum: adj, acc, sing, masc = “safe”
me: pron, acc, sing = “me”
fac: verb, 2nd, sing, pres, imp, act = “make”
ex: prep (abl) = “from”
omnibus: adj, abl, pl = “all”
persequentibus: part, abl, pl = “pursuing”
me: pron, acc, sing = “me”
et: conj = “and”
libera: verb, 2nd, sing, pres, imp, act = “free”
me: pron, acc, sing = “me”

Translation: Lord God my, in you I-have-hoped; safe me make from all pursuing me and free me.

ne quando rapiat ut leo animam meam discerpens, dum non est qui salvum faciat.

ne: conj = “lest”
quando: adv = “at-any-time”
rapiat: verb, 3rd, sing, pres, subj, act = “he-may-seize”
ut: adv/conj = “as”
leo: sub, nom, sing, masc = “lion”
animam: sub, acc, sing, fem = “soul”
meam: adj, acc, sing, fem = “my”
discerpens: part, nom, sing, masc = “tearing-apart”
dum: conj = “while”
non: adv = “not”
est: verb, 3rd, sing, pres, ind, act = “is”
qui: rel pron, nom, sing, masc = “who”
salvum: adj, acc, sing, masc = “safe”
faciat: verb, 3rd, sing, pres, subj, act = “may-make”

Translation: Lest at-any-time he-may-seize as lion soul my tearing-apart, while not is (one) who may-make safe.

Domine Deus meus, si feci istud, si est iniquitas in manibus meis,

Domine: sub, voc, sing, masc = “Lord”
Deus: sub, voc, sing, masc = “God”
meus: adj, voc, sing, masc = “my”
si: conj = “if”
feci: verb, 1st, sing, perf, ind, act = “I-did”
istud: pron, acc, sing, neut = “this”
si: conj = “if”
est: verb, 3rd, sing, pres, ind, act = “is”
iniquitas: sub, nom, sing, fem = “iniquity”
in: prep (abl) = “in”
manibus: sub, abl, pl, fem = “hands”
meis: adj, abl, pl, fem = “my”

Translation: Lord God my, if I-did this, if is iniquity in hands my.

si reddidi retribuenti mihi mala et exspoliavi inimicum meum dimittens inanem,

si: conj = “if”
reddidi: verb, 1st, sing, perf, ind, act = “I-repaid”
retribuenti: part, dat, sing = “to-one-repaying”
mihi: pron, dat, sing = “to-me”
mala: sub, acc, pl, neut = “evil-things”
et: conj = “and”
exspoliavi: verb, 1st, sing, perf, ind, act = “I-stripped”
inimicum: sub, acc, sing, masc = “enemy”
meum: adj, acc, sing, masc = “my”
dimittens: part, nom, sing = “sending-away”
inanem: adj, acc, sing, masc = “empty”

Translation: If I-repaid to-one-repaying to-me evil-things and I-stripped enemy my sending-away empty.

persequatur inimicus animam meam et comprehendat et conculcet in terra vitam meam et gloriam meam in pulverem deducat.

persequatur: verb, 3rd, sing, pres, subj, dep = “may-pursue”
inimicus: sub, nom, sing, masc = “enemy”
animam: sub, acc, sing, fem = “soul”
meam: adj, acc, sing, fem = “my”
et: conj = “and”
comprehendat: verb, 3rd, sing, pres, subj, act = “may-seize”
et: conj = “and”
conculcet: verb, 3rd, sing, pres, subj, act = “may-trample”
in: prep (abl) = “on”
terra: sub, abl, sing, fem = “earth”
vitam: sub, acc, sing, fem = “life”
meam: adj, acc, sing, fem = “my”
et: conj = “and”
gloriam: sub, acc, sing, fem = “glory”
meam: adj, acc, sing, fem = “my”
in: prep (acc) = “into”
pulverem: sub, acc, sing, masc = “dust”
deducat: verb, 3rd, sing, pres, subj, act = “may-lead-down”

Translation: May-pursue enemy soul my and may-seize and may-trample on earth life my and glory my into dust may-lead-down.

Exsurge, Domine, in ira tua et exaltare contra indignationem inimicorum meorum et exsurge, Deus meus, in iudicio, quod mandasti.

Exsurge: verb, 2nd, sing, pres, imp, act = “arise”
Domine: sub, voc, sing, masc = “Lord”
in: prep (abl) = “in”
ira: sub, abl, sing, fem = “anger”
tua: adj, abl, sing, fem = “your”
et: conj = “and”
exaltare: verb, 2nd, sing, pres, imp, pass = “be-exalted”
contra: prep (acc) = “against”
indignationem: sub, acc, sing, fem = “indignation”
inimicorum: sub, gen, pl, masc = “of-enemies”
meorum: adj, gen, pl, masc = “my”
et: conj = “and”
exsurge: verb, 2nd, sing, pres, imp, act = “arise”
Deus: sub, voc, sing, masc = “God”
meus: adj, voc, sing, masc = “my”
in: prep (abl) = “in”
iudicio: sub, abl, sing, neut = “judgment”
quod: rel pron, acc, sing, neut = “which”
mandasti: verb, 2nd, sing, perf, ind, act = “you-commanded

Translation: Arise, Lord, in anger your and be-exalted against indignation of-enemies my and arise, God my, in judgment which you-commanded.

Et synagoga populorum circumdabit te, et super hanc in altum regredere:

Et: conj = “and”
synagoga: sub, nom, sing, fem = “assembly”
populorum: sub, gen, pl, masc = “of-peoples”
circumdabit: verb, 3rd, sing, fut, ind, act = “will-surround”
te: pron, acc, sing = “you”
et: conj = “and”
super: prep (acc) = “over”
hanc: pron, acc, sing, fem = “this”
in: prep (acc) = “into”
altum: adj, acc, sing, neut = “height”
regredere: verb, 2nd, sing, pres, imp, dep = “return”

Translation: And assembly of-peoples will-surround you, and over this into height return.

Dominus iudicat populos. Iudica me, Domine, secundum iustitiam meam et secundum innocentiam meam, quae est in me.

Dominus: sub, nom, sing, masc = “Lord”
iudicat: verb, 3rd, sing, pres, ind, act = “judges”
populos: sub, acc, pl, masc = “peoples”
Iudica: verb, 2nd, sing, pres, imp, act = “judge”
me: pron, acc, sing = “me”
Domine: sub, voc, sing, masc = “Lord”
secundum: prep (acc) = “according-to”
iustitiam: sub, acc, sing, fem = “justice”
meam: adj, acc, sing, fem = “my”
et: conj = “and”
secundum: prep (acc) = “according-to”
innocentiam: sub, acc, sing, fem = “innocence”
meam: adj, acc, sing, fem = “my”
quae: rel pron, nom, sing, fem = “which”
est: verb, 3rd, sing, pres, ind, act = “is”
in: prep (abl) = “in”
me: pron, abl, sing = “me”

Translation: Lord judges peoples. Judge me, Lord, according-to justice my and according-to innocence my, which is in me.

Consumatur nequitia peccatorum; et iustum confirma: scrutans corda et renes Deus iustus.

Consumatur: verb, 3rd, sing, pres, subj, pass = “may-be-consumed”
nequitia: sub, nom, sing, fem = “wickedness”
peccatorum: sub, gen, pl, masc = “of-sinners”
et: conj = “and”
iustum: adj, acc, sing, masc = “just-(man)”
confirma: verb, 2nd, sing, pres, imp, act = “strengthen”
scrutans: part, voc/nom, sing, masc = “searching”
corda: sub, acc, pl, neut = “hearts”
et: conj = “and”
renes: sub, acc, pl, masc = “reins”
Deus: sub, voc, sing, masc = “God”
iustus: adj, voc, sing, masc = “just”

Translation: May-be-consumed wickedness of-sinners; and just-(man) strengthen: searching hearts and reins, God just.

Adiutorium meum apud Deum, qui salvos facit rectos corde.

Adiutorium: sub, nom, sing, neut = “help”
meum: adj, nom, sing, neut = “my”
apud: prep (acc) = “with”
Deum: sub, acc, sing, masc = “God”
qui: rel pron, nom, sing, masc = “who”
salvos: adj, acc, pl, masc = “safe”
facit: verb, 3rd, sing, pres, ind, act = “makes”
rectos: adj, acc, pl, masc = “upright”
corde: sub, abl, sing, neut = “in-heart”

Translation: Help my (is) with God, who safe makes upright (ones) in-heart.

Deus iudex iustus, fortis, irascens per singulos dies.

Deus: sub, nom, sing, masc = “God”
iudex: sub, nom, sing, masc = “judge”
iustus: adj, nom, sing, masc = “just”
fortis: adj, nom, sing = “strong”
irascens: part, nom, sing = “being-angry”
per: prep (acc) = “through”
singulos: adj, acc, pl, masc = “individual”
dies: sub, acc, pl, masc = “days”

Translation: God, judge just, strong, being-angry through individual days.

Nonne iterum gladium suum exacuit, arcum suum tetendit et paravit illum?

Nonne: particle = “does-not?”
iterum: adv = “again”
gladium: sub, acc, sing, masc = “sword”
suum: adj, acc, sing, masc = “his”
exacuit: verb, 3rd, sing, perf, ind, act = “he-sharpened”
arcum: sub, acc, sing, masc = “bow”
suum: adj, acc, sing, masc = “his”
tetendit: verb, 3rd, sing, perf, ind, act = “he-stretched”
et: conj = “and”
paravit: verb, 3rd, sing, perf, ind, act = “he-prepared”
illum: pron, acc, sing, masc = “it”

Translation: Does-not again sword his he-sharpened, bow his he-stretched and he-prepared it?

Et paravit sibi vasa mortis, sagittas suas ardentes effecit.

Et: conj = “and”
paravit: verb, 3rd, sing, perf, ind, act = “he-prepared”
sibi: pron, dat, sing = “for-himself”
vasa: sub, acc, pl, neut = “vessels”
mortis: sub, gen, sing, fem = “of-death”
sagittas: sub, acc, pl, fem = “arrows”
suas: adj, acc, pl, fem = “his”
ardentes: adj, acc, pl, fem = “burning”
effecit: verb, 3rd, sing, perf, ind, act = “he-made”

Translation: And he-prepared for-himself vessels of-death, arrows his burning he-made.

Ecce parturiit iniustitiam, concepit dolorem et peperit iniquitatem;

Ecce: interj = “behold”
parturiit: verb, 3rd, sing, perf, ind, act = “he-labored-with”
iniustitiam: sub, acc, sing, fem = “injustice”
concepit: verb, 3rd, sing, perf, ind, act = “he-conceived”
dolorem: sub, acc, sing, masc = “sorrow”
et: conj = “and”
peperit: verb, 3rd, sing, perf, ind, act = “he-bore”
iniquitatem: sub, acc, sing, fem = “iniquity”

Translation: Behold, he-labored-with injustice, he-conceived sorrow and he-bore iniquity.

lacum aperuit et effodit eum et incidit in foveam, quam fecit.

lacum: sub, acc, sing, masc = “pit”
aperuit: verb, 3rd, sing, perf, ind, act = “he-opened”
et: conj = “and”
effodit: verb, 3rd, sing, perf, ind, act = “he-dug”
eum: pron, acc, sing, masc = “it”
et: conj = “and”
incidit: verb, 3rd, sing, perf, ind, act = “he-fell”
in: prep (acc) = “into”
foveam: sub, acc, sing, fem = “ditch”
quam: rel pron, acc, sing, fem = “which”
fecit: verb, 3rd, sing, perf, ind, act = “he-made”

Translation: Pit he-opened and he-dug it and he-fell into ditch which he-made.

Convertetur dolor eius in caput eius, et in verticem ipsius iniquitas eius descendet.

Convertetur: verb, 3rd, sing, fut, pass = “will-be-turned”
dolor: sub, nom, sing, masc = “sorrow”
eius: pron, gen, sing = “of-him”
in: prep (acc) = “onto”
caput: sub, acc, sing, neut = “head”
eius: pron, gen, sing = “of-him”
et: conj = “and”
in: prep (acc) = “onto”
verticem: sub, acc, sing, masc = “crown”
ipsius: pron, gen, sing = “of-himself”
iniquitas: sub, nom, sing, fem = “iniquity”
eius: pron, gen, sing = “of-him”
descendet: verb, 3rd, sing, fut, ind, act = “will-descend”

Translation: Will-be-turned sorrow of-him onto head of-him, and onto crown of-himself iniquity of-him will-descend.

Confitebor Domino secundum iustitiam eius et psallam nomini Domini Altissimi.

Confitebor: verb, 1st, sing, fut, ind, dep = “I-will-confess”
Domino: sub, dat, sing, masc = “to-Lord”
secundum: prep (acc) = “according-to”
iustitiam: sub, acc, sing, fem = “justice”
eius: pron, gen, sing = “of-him”
et: conj = “and”
psallam: verb, 1st, sing, fut, ind, act = “I-will-sing”
nomini: sub, dat, sing, neut = “to-name”
Domini: sub, gen, sing, masc = “of-Lord”
Altissimi: adj, gen, sing, masc = “Most-High”

Translation: I-will-confess to-Lord according-to justice of-him and I-will-sing to-name of-Lord Most-High.

Idiomatic Translation

(A) lamentation of David, which he sang to the Lord on account of Cush the Benjaminite.
Lord my God, I have hoped in you; make me safe from all those pursuing me, and free me.
Lest at any time he seize my soul like a lion, tearing (it) apart, while there is no one to save.
Lord my God, if I have done this, if there is iniquity in my hands,
if I have repaid evil to one repaying me, and stripped my enemy, sending (him) away empty,
let the enemy pursue my soul and seize (it), and trample my life on the earth, and bring my glory down into the dust.
Arise, Lord, in your anger, and be exalted against the indignation of my enemies, and arise, my God, in the judgment which you commanded.
And the assembly of the peoples will surround you, and above it return on high.
The Lord judges the peoples. Judge me, Lord, according to my justice and according to my innocence, which is in me.
Let the wickedness of sinners be consumed, and strengthen the just (man), O just God, searching hearts and reins.
My help is with God, who makes safe the upright in heart.
God (is) a just judge, strong, and angry through every single day.
Has he not sharpened his sword again, stretched his bow, and prepared it?
And he has prepared for himself weapons of death; he has made his arrows burning.
Behold, he has labored with injustice, conceived sorrow, and given birth to iniquity.
He opened a pit and dug it out, and he fell into the ditch which he made.
His sorrow will be turned upon his head, and his iniquity will descend upon his own crown.
I will give praise to the Lord according to his justice, and I will sing to the name of the Lord Most High.

Conclusion

In this lesson, we have studied Psalm 7 from the Latin Vulgate. We began with a prelection on its setting and significance, then read the text itself, followed by a word-by-word exposition and an idiomatic English translation. This psalm teaches us the language of appeal, innocence, judgment, and praise, and it shows how David places his cause confidently before the justice of God.

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.
Headmaster
Classical Liberal Arts Academy