An appeal to God against unjust and malicious foes. God must take up David’s cause, show that he is innocent, and turn back the hostile scheming of his foes upon themselves.
Parallel Latin-English Psalter: Psalms Index
Psalm 34: Prayer Audio in Latin
{34:1} Ipsi David. Iudica Domine nocentes me, expugna impugnantes me.
{34:1} Of David himself. O Lord, judge those who harm me; assail those who attack me.
{34:2} Apprehende arma et scutum: et exurge in adiutorium mihi.
{34:2} Take hold of weapons and a shield, and rise up in assistance to me.
{34:3} Effunde frameam, et conclude adversus eos, qui persequuntur me: dic animæ meæ: Salus tua ego sum.
{34:3} Bring forth the spear, and close in on those who persecute me. Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”
{34:4} Confundantur et revereantur, quærentes animam meam. Avertantur retrorsum, et confundantur cogitantes mihi mala.
{34:4} Let them be confounded and in awe, who pursue my soul. Let them be turned back and be confounded, who think up evil against me.
{34:5} Fiant tamquam pulvis ante faciem venti: et angelus Domini coarctans eos.
{34:5} May they become like dust before the face of the wind, and let the Angel of the Lord hem them in.
{34:6} Fiat via illorum tenebræ et lubricum: et angelus Domini persequens eos.
{34:6} May their way become dark and slippery, and may the Angel of the Lord pursue them.
{34:7} Quoniam gratis absconderunt mihi interitum laquei sui: supervacue exprobraverunt animam meam.
{34:7} For, without cause, they have concealed their snare for me unto destruction. Over nothing, they have rebuked my soul.
{34:8} Veniat illi laqueus, quem ignorat: et captio, quam abscondit, apprehendat eum: et in laqueum cadat in ipsum.
{34:8} Let the snare, of which he is ignorant, come upon him, and let the deception, which he has hidden, take hold of him: and may he fall into that very snare.
{34:9} Anima autem mea exultabit in Domino: et delectabitur super salutari suo.
{34:9} But my soul will exult in the Lord and delight over his salvation.
{34:10} Omnia ossa mea dicent: Domine, quis similis tibi? Eripiens inopem de manu fortiorum eius: egenum et pauperem a diripientibus eum.
{34:10} All my bones will say, “Lord, who is like you?” He rescues the needy from the hand of the stronger one, the indigent and the poor from those who plunder him.
{34:11} Surgentes testes iniqui, quæ ignorabam interrogabant me.
{34:11} Unfair witnesses have risen up, interrogating me about things of which I am ignorant.
{34:12} Retribuebant mihi mala pro bonis: sterilitatem animæ meæ.
{34:12} They repaid me evil for good, to the deprivation of my soul.
{34:13} Ego autem cum mihi molesti essent, induebar cilicio. Humiliabam in ieiunio animam meam: et oratio mea in sinu meo convertetur.
{34:13} But as for me, when they were harassing me, I was clothed with haircloth. I humbled my soul with fasting, and my prayer will become my sinews.
{34:14} Quasi proximum, et quasi fratrem nostrum, sic complacebam: quasi lugens et contristatus sic humiliabar.
{34:14} Like a neighbor, and like our brother, so did I please; like one mourning and contrite, so was I humbled.
{34:15} Et adversum me lætati sunt, et convenerunt: congregata sunt super me flagella, et ignoravi.
{34:15} And they have been joyful against me, and they joined together. Scourges have been gathered over me, and I was ignorant of it.
{34:16} Dissipati sunt, nec compuncti, tentaverunt me, subsannaverunt me subsannatione: frenduerunt super me dentibus suis.
{34:16} They have been scattered, yet they were unremorseful. They have tested me. They scoffed at me with scorn. They gnashed their teeth over me.
{34:17} Domine quando respicies? restitue animam meam a malignitate eorum, a leonibus unicam meam.
{34:17} Lord, when will you look down upon me? Restore my soul from before their malice, my only one from before the lions.
{34:18} Confitebor tibi in Ecclesia magna, in populo gravi laudabo te.
{34:18} I will confess to you in a great Church. I will praise you among a weighty people.
{34:19} Non supergaudeant mihi qui adversantur mihi inique: qui oderunt me gratis et annuunt oculis.
{34:19} May those who are my unjust adversaries not be glad over me: those who have hated me without cause, and who nod agreement with their eyes.
{34:20} Quoniam mihi quidem pacifice loquebantur: et in iracundia terræ loquentes, dolos cogitabant.
{34:20} For indeed, they spoke peacefully to me; and speaking with passion to the earth, they intended deceit.
{34:21} Et dilataverunt super me os suum: dixerunt: Euge, euge, viderunt oculi nostri.
{34:21} And they opened their mouth wide over me. They said, “Well, well, our eyes have seen.”
{34:22} Vidisti Domine, ne sileas: Domine ne discedas a me.
{34:22} You have seen, O Lord, do not be silent. Lord, do not depart from me.
{34:23} Exurge et intende iudicio meo: Deus meus, et Dominus meus in causam meam.
{34:23} Rise up and be attentive to my judgment, to my cause, my God and my Lord.
{34:24} Iudica me secundum iustitiam tuam Domine Deus meus, et non supergaudeant mihi.
{34:24} Judge me according to your justice, O Lord, my God, and do not let them be glad over me.
{34:25} Non dicant in cordibus suis: Euge, euge, animæ nostræ: nec dicant: Devoravimus eum.
{34:25} Do not let them say in their hearts, “Well, well, to our soul.” Neither let them say, “We have devoured him.”
{34:26} Erubescant et revereantur simul, qui gratulantur malis meis. Induantur confusione et reverentia qui magna loquuntur super me.
{34:26} Let them blush and be in awe together, those who congratulate at my misfortunes. Let them be clothed with confusion and awe, who speak great things against me.
{34:27} Exultent et lætentur qui volunt iustitiam meam: et dicant semper: Magnificetur Dominus, qui volunt pacem servi eius.
{34:27} Let them exult and rejoice, who wish my justice, and let them ever say, “The Lord be magnified,” who will the peace of his servant.
{34:28} Et lingua mea meditabitur iustitiam tuam, tota die laudem tuam.
{34:28} And so my tongue will express your justice: your praise all day long.
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