"De Profundis" - The Sixth Penitential Psalm

("Out of the depths"). First words of Psalm 129. The author of this Psalm is unknown; it was composed probably during the Babylonian Exile, or perhaps for the day of penance prescribed by Esdras (I Esd., ix, 5-10). The hard school of suffering during the Exile had brought the people to the confession of their guilt an had kindled in their hearts faith and hope of the Redeemer and confidence in the mercy of God. The De profundis is one of the fifteen Gradual Psalms, which were sung by the Jewish pilgrims of their way to Jerusalem, and which are still contained in the Roman breviary. It is also one of the seven Penitential Psalms which, in the East and the West, were already used as such by the early Christians. In the Divine Office the De profundis is sung every Wednesday at Vespers, also at the second Vespers of Christmas, the words Apud Dominum misericordia et copiosa apud eum redemptio, reminding us of the mercy of the Father Who sent His Son for the redemption of mankind. It is also used in the ferial prayers of Lauds and in the Office of the Dead at Vespers. The Church recites this psalms principally in her prayers for the dead; it is the psalm of the holy souls in purgatory, the words of the Psalmist applying well to the longing and sighing of the souls exiled from heaven. It is recited at funerals by the priest, before the corpse is taken out of the house to the church.

Psalm 129 (130 in the New American Bible, Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition, and all Protestant Bibles) is also recited at Compline in the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Those who have seen the movie The Sixth Sense might remember that the first words spoken in the movie by Haley Joel Osment's character were a variation on the first words of this psalm ("De profundis clamo ad te Domini," which uses the present tense of the verb "clamare," (I cry) instead of the perfect tense used in the original psalm (I have cried)).

All of the Penitential Psalms are recommended by the Catholic Church for use during Lent.

De profundis clamavi ad te Domine.
Domine exaudi vocem meam.
Fiant aures tuae intendentes
in vocem deprecationis meae.
Si iniquitates observaveris Domine:
Domine quis sustinebit?
Quia apud te propitiatio est,
et propter legem tuam sustinui te Domine.
Sustinuit anima mea in verbum eius:
speravit anima mea in Domino.
A custodia matutina usque ad noctem:
speret Israel in Domino.
Quia apud Dominum misericordia
et copiosa apud eum redemptio.
Et ipse redimet Israel,
ex omnibus iniquitatibus eius.

Out of the depths, I have cried unto Thee, O Lord: Lord hear my voice. Let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication. If Thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with Thee: because of Thy law I wait for Thee, O Lord. My soul waiteth on His word: my soul hopeth in the Lord. From the morning watch even until night let Israel hope in the Lord. For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is plentiful redemption. And He shall redeem Israel, from all their iniquities.

The Pentitential Psalms & Their Places in the Office:

Ps. 6 - Monday Compline
Ps. 31 - Monday None
Ps. 37 - Tuesday Matins
Ps. 50 - Wednesday Matins & Every Day at Lauds on Penitential Days
Ps. 101 - Saturday Terce
Ps. 129 - Wednesday Vespers
Ps. 142 - Friday Lauds

Worthy of mention, Ps. 21 (Friday Prime) is not one of the seven, but could very well be an eighth. This is commonly used during Passiontide "Deus, Deus meus, quare me dereliquisti?" "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?"

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