Posted on 11/24/2008 9:06:08 PM PST by GonzoII
The Daily Psalms:
Douay Rheims Version
MATINS: First Nocturn
Psalm 34
Judica Domine Nocentes Me
David, in the person of Christ, prayeth against his persecutors: prophetically foreshewing the punishments that shall fall upon them.
1 For David himself. JUDGE thou, O Lord, them that wrong me: overthrow them that fight against me. 2 Take hold of arms and shield: and rise up to help me. 3 Bring out the sword, and shut up the way against them that persecute me: say to my soul: I am thy salvation. 4 Let them be confounded and ashamed that seek after my soul. Let them be turned back and be confounded that devise evil against me. 5 Let them become as dust before the wind: and let the angel of the Lord straiten them. 6 Let their way become dark and slippery; and let the angel of the Lord pursue them. 7 For without cause they have hidden their net for me unto destruction: without cause they have upbraided my soul. 8 Let the snare which he knoweth not come upon him: and let the net which he hath hidden catch him: and into that very snare let them fall. 9 But my soul shall rejoice in the Lord; and shall be delighted in his salvation. 10 All my bones shall say: Lord, who is like to thee? Who deliverest the poor from the hand of them that are stronger than he; the needy and the poor from them that strip him. 11 Unjust witnesses rising up have asked me things I knew not. 12 They repaid me evil for good: to the depriving me of my soul. 13 But as for me, when they were troublesome to me, I was clothed with haircloth. I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer shall be turned into my bosom. 14 As a neighbour and as an own brother, so did I please: as one mourning and sorrowful so was I humbled. 15 But they rejoiced against me, and came together: scourges were gathered together upon me, and I knew not. 16 They were separated, and repented not: they tempted me, they scoffed at me with scorn: they gnashed upon me with their teeth. 17 Lord, when wilt thou look upon me? rescue thou soul from their malice: my only one from the lions. 18 I will give thanks to thee in a great church; I will praise thee in a strong people. 19 Let not them that are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: who have hated me without cause, and wink with the eyes. 20 For they spoke indeed peaceably to me; and speaking in the anger of the earth they devised guile. 21 And they opened their mouth wide against me; they said: Well done, well done, our eyes have seen it. 22 Thou hast seen, O Lord, be not thou silent: O Lord, depart not from me. 23 Arise, and be attentive to my judgment: to my cause, my God, and my Lord. 24 Judge me, O Lord my God according to thy justice, and let them not rejoice over me. 25 Let them not say in their hearts: It is well, it is well, to our mind: neither let them say: We have swallowed him up. 26 Let them blush: and be ashamed together, who rejoice at my evils. Let them be clothed with confusion and shame, who speak great things against me. 27 Let them rejoice and be glad, who are well pleased with my justice, and let them say always: The Lord be magnified, who delights in the peace of his servant. 28 And my tongue shall meditate thy justice, thy praise all the day long.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
SECOND NOCTURN:
Psalm 36
Noli AemulariAn exhortation to despise this world; and the short prosperity of the wicked; and to trust in providence.
1 A psalm for David himself. BE not emulous of evildoers; nor envy them that work iniquity. 2 For they shall shortly wither away as grass, and as the green herbs shall quickly fall. 3 Trust in the Lord, and do good, and dwell in the land, and thou shalt be fed with its riches. 4 Delight in the Lord, and he will give thee the requests of thy heart. 5 Commit thy way to the Lord, and trust in him, and he will do it. 6 And he will bring forth thy justice as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. 7 Be subject to the Lord and pray to him. Envy not the man who prospereth in his way; the man who doth unjust things. 8 Cease from anger, and leave rage; have no emulation to do evil. 9 For the evildoers shall be cut off: but they that wait upon the Lord, shall inherit the land. 10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: and thou shalt seek his place, and shalt not find it. 11 But the meek shall inherit the land, and shall delight in abundance of peace. 12 The sinner shall watch the just man: and shall gnash upon him with his teeth. 13 But the Lord shall laugh at him: for he foreseeth that his day shall come. 14 The wicked have drawn out the sword: they have bent their bow. To cast down the poor and needy, to kill the upright of heart. 15 Let their sword enter into their own hearts, and let their bow be broken. 16 Better is a little to the just, than the great riches of the wicked. 17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken in pieces; but the Lord strengtheneth the just. 18 The Lord knoweth the days of undefiled; and their inheritance shall be for ever. 19 They shall not be confounded in the evil time; and in the days of famine they shall be filled: 20 because the wicked shall perish. And the enemies of the Lord, presently after they shall be honoured and exalted, shall come to nothing and vanish like smoke. 21 The sinner shall borrow, and not pay again; but the just sheweth mercy and shall give. 22 For such as bless him shall inherit the land: but such as curse him shall perish. 23 With the Lord shall the steps of a man be directed, and he shall like well his way. 24 When he shall fall he shall not be bruised, for the Lord putteth his hand under him. 25 I have been young, and now am old; and I have not seen the just forsaken, nor his seed seeking bread. 26 He sheweth mercy, and lendeth all the day long; and his seed shall be in blessing. 27 Decline from evil and do good, and dwell for ever and ever. 28 For the Lord loveth judgment, and will not forsake his saints: they shall be preserved for ever. The unjust shall be punished, and the seed of the wicked shall perish. 29 But the just shall inherit the land, and shall dwell therein for evermore. 30 The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom: and his tongue shall speak judgment. 31 The law of his God is in his heart, and his steps shall not be supplanted. 32 The wicked watcheth the just man, and seeketh to put him to death, 33 But the Lord will not leave him in his hands; nor condemn him when he shall be judged. 34 Expect the Lord and keep his way: and he will exalt thee to inherit the land: when the sinners shall perish thou shalt see. 35 I have seen the wicked highly exalted, and lifted up like the cedars of Libanus. 36 And I passed by, and lo, he was not: and I sought him and his place was not found. 37 Keep innocence, and behold justice: for there are remnants for the peaceable man. 38 But the unjust shall be destroyed together: the remnants of the wicked shall perish. 39 But the salvation of the just is from the Lord, and he is their protector in the time of trouble. 40 And the Lord will help them and deliver them: and he will rescue them from the wicked, and save them, because they have hoped in him.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
THIRD NOCTURN
Psalm 37
Domine Ne In FuroreA prayer of a penitent for the remission of his sins. The third penitential psalm.
1 A psalm for David, for a remembrance of the sabbath. 2 REBUKE me not, O Lord, in thy indignation; nor chastise me in thy wrath. 3 For thy arrows are fastened in me: and thy hand hath been strong upon me. 4 There is no health in my flesh, because of thy wrath: there is no peace for my bones, because of my sins. 5 For my iniquities are gone over my head: and as a heavy burden are become heavy upon me. 6 My sores are putrified and corrupted, because of my foolishness. 7 I am become miserable, and am bowed down even to the end: I walked sorrowful all the day long. 8 For my loins are filled with illusions; and there is no health in my flesh. 9 I am afflicted and humbled exceedingly: I roared with the groaning of my heart. 10 Lord, all my desire is before thee, and my groaning is not hidden from thee. 11 My heart is troubled, my strength hath left me, and the light of my eyes itself is not with me. 12 My friends and my neighbours have drawn near, and stood against me. And they that were near me stood afar off: 13 And they that sought my soul used violence. And they that sought evils to me spoke vain things, and studied deceits all the day long. 14 But I, as a deaf man, heard not: and as a dumb man not opening his mouth. 15 And I became as a man that heareth not: and that hath no reproofs in his mouth. 16 For in thee, O Lord, have I hoped: thou wilt hear me, O Lord my God. 17 For I said: Lest at any time my enemies rejoice over me: and whilst my feet are moved, they speak great things against me. 18 For I am ready for scourges: and my sorrow is continually before me. 19 For I will declare my iniquity: and I will think for my sin. 20 But my enemies live, and are stronger that I: and they hate me wrongfully are multiplied. 21 They that render evil for good, have detracted me, because I followed goodness. 22 Forsake me not, O Lord my God: do not thou depart from me. 23 Attend unto my help, O Lord, the God of my salvation.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm38
Dixi CustodiamA just man's peace and patience in his sufferings; considering the vanity of the world, and the providence of God.
1 Unto the end, for Idithun himself, a canticle of David. 2 I SAID: I will take heed to my ways: that I sin not with my tongue. I have set guard to my mouth, when the sinner stood against me. 3 I was dumb, and was humbled, and kept silence from good things: and my sorrow was renewed. 4 My heart grew hot within me: and in my meditation a fire shall flame out. 5 I spoke with my tongue: O Lord, make me know my end. And what is the number of my days: that I may know what is wanting to me. 6 Behold thou hast made my days measurable: and my substance is as nothing before thee. And indeed all things are vanity: every man living. 7 Surely man passeth as an image: yea, and he is disquieted in vain. He storeth up: and he knoweth not for whom he shall gather these things. 8 And now what is my hope? is it not the Lord? and my substance is with thee. 9 Deliver thou me from all my iniquities: thou hast made me a reproach to the fool. 10 I was dumb, and I opened not my mouth, because thou hast done it. 11 Remove thy scourges from me. The strength of thy hand hath made me faint in rebukes: 12 thou hast corrected man for iniquity. And thou hast made his soul to waste away like a spider: surely in vain is any man disquieted. 13 Hear my prayer, O Lord, and my supplication: give ear to my tears. Be not silent: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner as all my fathers were. 14 O forgive me, that I may be refreshed, before I go hence, and be no more.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
LAUDS:
Psalm 95
Cantate DominoAn exhortation to praise God for the coming of Christ and his kingdom.
1 A canticle for David himself, when the house was built after the captivity. SING ye to the Lord a new canticle: sing to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Sing ye to the Lord and bless his name: shew forth his salvation from day to day. 3 Declare his glory among the Gentiles: his wonders among all people. 4 For the Lord is great, and exceedingly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the Gentiles are devils: but the Lord made the heavens. 6 Praise and beauty are before him: holiness and majesty in his sanctuary. 7 Bring ye to the Lord, O ye kindreds of the Gentiles, bring ye to the Lord glory and honour: 8 bring to the Lord glory unto his name. Bring up sacrifices, and come into his courts: 9 adore ye the Lord in his holy court. Let all the earth be moved at his presence. 10 Say ye among the Gentiles, the Lord hath reigned. For he hath corrected the world, which shall not be moved: he will judge the people with justice. 11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad, let the sea be moved, and the fulness thereof: 12 the fields and all things that are in them shall be joyful. Then shall all the trees of the woods rejoice 13 before the face of the Lord, because he cometh: because he cometh to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with justice, and the people with his truth.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 42
Judica Me DeusThe prophet aspireth after the temple and altar of God.
1 A psalm for David. JUDGE me, O God, and distinguish my cause from the nation that is not holy: deliver me from the unjust and deceitful man. 2 For thou art God my strength: why hast thou cast me off? and why do I go sorrowful whilst the enemy afflicteth me? 3 Send forth thy light and thy truth: they have conducted me, and brought me unto thy holy hill, and into thy tabernacles. 4 And I will go in to the altar of God: to God who giveth joy to my youth. 5 To thee, O God my God, I will give praise upon the harp: why art thou sad, O my soul? and why dost thou disquiet me? Hope in God, for I will still give praise to him: the salvation of my countenance, and my God.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 66
Deus MisereaturA prayer for the propagation of the Church.
1 Unto the end, in hymns, a psalm of a canticle for David. 2 MAY God have mercy on us, and bless us: may he cause the light of his countenance to shine upon us, and may he have mercy on us. 3 That we may know thy way upon earth: thy salvation in all nations. 4 Let people confess to thee, O God: let all people give praise to thee. 5 Let the nations be glad and rejoice: for thou judgest the people with justice, and directest the nations upon earth. 6 Let the people, O God, confess to thee: let all the people give praise to thee: 7 the earth hath yielded her fruit. May God, our God bless us, 8 may God bless us: and all the ends of the earth fear him.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Canticle of Tobias Tob 13: 1-9
1 And Tobias the elder opening his mouth, blessed the Lord, and said: Thou art great, O Lord, for ever, and thy kingdom is unto all ages: 2 For thou scourgest, and thou savest: thou leadest down to hell, and bringest up again: and there is none that can escape thy hand. 3 Give glory to the Lord, ye children of Israel, and praise him in the sight of the Gentiles: 4 Because he hath therefore scattered you among the Gentiles, who know not him, that you may declare his wonderful works, and make them know that there is no other almighty God besides him. 5 He hath chastised us for our iniquities: and he will save us for his own mercy. 6 See then what he hath done with us, and with fear and trembling give ye glory to him: and extol the eternal King of worlds in your works. 7 As for me, I will praise him in the land of my captivity: because he hath shewn his majesty toward a sinful nation. 8 Be converted therefore, ye sinners, and do justice before God, believing that he will shew his mercy to you. 9 And I and my soul will rejoice in him.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 134
Laudate NomenAn exhortation to praise God: the vanity of idols.
1 Alleluia. PRAISE ye the name of the Lord: O you his servants, praise the Lord: 2 You that stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. 3 Praise ye the Lord, for the Lord is good: sing ye to his name, for it is sweet. 4 For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself: Israel for his own possession. 5 For I have known that the Lord is great, and our God is above all gods. 6 Whatsoever the Lord hath pleased he hath done, in heaven, in earth, in the sea, and in all the deeps. 7 He bringeth up clouds from the end of the earth: he hath made lightnings for the rain. He bringeth forth winds out of his stores: 8 He slew the firstborn of Egypt from man even unto beast. 9 He sent forth signs and wonders in the midst of thee, O Egypt: upon Pharao, and upon all his servants. 10 He smote many nations, and slew mighty kings: 11 Sehon king of the Amorrhites, and Og king of Basan, and all the kingdoms of Chanaan. 12 And gave their land for an inheritance, for an inheritance to his people Israel. 13 Thy name, O Lord, is for ever: thy memorial, O Lord, unto all generations. 14 For the Lord will judge his people, and will be entreated in favour of his servants. 15 The idols of the Gentiles are silver and gold, the works of men's hands. 16 They have a mouth, but they speak not: they have eyes, but they see not. 17 They have ears, but they hear not: neither is there any breath in their mouths. 18 Let them that make them be like to them: and every one that trusteth in them. 19 Bless the Lord, O house of Israel: bless the Lord, O house of Aaron. 20 Bless the Lord, O house of Levi: you that fear the Lord, bless the Lord. 21 Blessed be the Lord out of Sion, who dwelleth in Jerusalem.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
PRIME:
Psalm 24
Ad Te domine LevaviA prayer for grace, mercy, and protection against our enemies. 1 Unto the end, a psalm for David. TO thee, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul. 2 In thee, O my God, I put my trust; let me not be ashamed. 3 Neither let my enemies laugh at me: for none of them that wait on thee shall be confounded. 4 Let all them be confounded that act unjust things without cause. Shew, O Lord, thy ways to me, and teach me thy paths. 5 Direct me in thy truth, and teach me; for thou art God my Saviour; and on thee have I waited all the day long. 6 Remember, O Lord, thy bowels of compassion; and thy mercies that are from the beginning of the world. 7 The sins of my youth and my ignorances do not remember. According to thy mercy remember thou me: for thy goodness' sake, O Lord. 8 The Lord is sweet and righteous: therefore he will give a law to sinners in the way. 9 He will guide the mild in judgment: he will teach the meek his ways. 10 All the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth, to them that seek after his covenant and his testimonies. 11 For thy name's sake, O Lord, thou wilt pardon my sin: for it is great. 12 Who is the man that feareth the Lord? He hath appointed him a law in the way he hath chosen. 13 His soul shall dwell in good things: and his seed shall inherit the land. 14 The Lord is a firmament to them that fear him: and his covenant shall be made manifest to them. 15 My eyes are ever towards the Lord: for he shall pluck my feet out of the snare. 16 Look thou upon me, and have mercy on me; for I am alone and poor. 17 The troubles of my heart are multiplied: deliver me from my necessities. 18 See my abjection and my labour; and forgive me all my sins. 19 Consider my enemies for they are multiplied, and have hated me with an unjust hatred. 20 Keep thou my soul, and deliver me: I shall not be ashamed, for I have hoped in thee. 21 The innocent and the upright have adhered to me: because I have waited on thee. 22 Deliver Israel, O God, from all his tribulations.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
TERCE:
Psalm 39
Expectans ExpectaviChrist's coming, and redeeming mankind. 1 Unto the end, a psalm for David himself. 2 WITH expectation I have waited for the Lord, and he was attentive to me. 3 And he heard my prayers, and brought me out of the pit of misery and the mire of dregs. And he set my feet upon a rock, and directed my steps. 4 And he put a new canticle into my mouth, a song to our God. Many shall see, and shall fear: and they shall hope in the Lord. 5 Blessed is the man whose trust is in the name of the Lord; and who hath not had regard to vanities, and lying follies. 6 Thou hast multiplied thy wonderful works, O Lord my God: and in thy thoughts there is no one like to thee. I have declared and I have spoken they are multiplied above number. 7 Sacrifice and oblation thou didst not desire; but thou hast pierced ears for me. Burnt offering and sin offering thou didst not require: 8 then said I, Behold I come. In the head of the book it is written of me 9 that I should do thy will: O my God, I have desired it, and thy law in the midst of my heart. 10 I have declared thy justice in a great church, lo, I will not restrain my lips: O Lord, thou knowest it. 11 I have not hid thy justice within my heart: I have declared thy truth and thy salvation. I have not concealed thy mercy and thy truth from a great council. 12 Withhold not thou, O Lord, thy tender mercies from me: thy mercy and thy truth have always upheld me. 13 For evils without number have surrounded me; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I was not able to see. They are multiplied above the hairs of my head: and my heart hath forsaken me. 14 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me, look down, O Lord, to help me. 15 Let them be confounded and ashamed together, that seek after my soul to take it away. Let them be turned backward and be ashamed that desire evils to me. 16 Let them immediately bear their confusion, that say to me: 'T is well, 't is well. 17 Let all that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say always: The Lord be magnified. 18 But I am a beggar and poor: the Lord is careful for me. Thou art my helper and my protector: O my God, be not slack.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
SEXT:
Psalm 40
Beatus Qui IntelligitThe happiness of him that shall believe in Christ; notwithstanding the humility and poverty in which he shall come: the malice of his enemies, especially the traitor Judas. 1 Unto the end, a psalm for David himself. 2 BLESSED is he that understandeth concerning the needy and the poor: the Lord will deliver him in the evil day. 3 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. 4 The Lord help him on his bed of sorrow: thou hast turned all his couch in his sickness. 5 I said: O Lord, be thou merciful to me: heal my soul, for I have sinned against thee. 6 My enemies have spoken evils against me: when shall he die and his name perish? 7 And if he came in to see me, he spoke vain things: his heart gathered together iniquity to itself. He went out and spoke to the same purpose. 8 All my enemies whispered together against me: they devised evils to me. 9 They determined against me an unjust word: shall he that sleepeth rise again no more? 10 For even the man of peace, in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, hath greatly supplanted me. 11 But thou, O Lord, have mercy on me, and raise me up again: and I will requite them. 12 By this I know, that thou hast had a good will for me: because my enemy shall not rejoice over me. 13 But thou hast upheld me by reason of my innocence: and hast established me in thy sight for ever. 14 Blessed by the Lord the God of Israel from eternity to eternity. So be it. So be it.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 41
Quemadmodum DesideratThe fervent desire of the just after God: hope in afflictions. 97 1 Unto the end, understanding for the sons of Core. 2 AS the hart panteth after the fountains of water; so my soul panteth after thee, O God. 3 My soul hath thirsted after the strong living God; when shall I come and appear before the face of God? 4 My tears have been my bread day and night, whilst it is said to me daily: Where is thy God? 5 These things I remembered, and poured out my soul in me: for I shall go over into the place of the wonderful tabernacle, even to the house of God: With the voice of joy and praise; the noise of one feasting. 6 Why art thou sad, O my soul? and why dost thou trouble me? Hope in God, for I will still give praise to him: the salvation of my countenance, 7 and my God. My soul is troubled within myself: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan and Hermoniim, from the little hill. 8 Deep calleth on deep, at the noise of thy flood-gates. All thy heights and thy billows have passed over me. 9 In the daytime the Lord hath commanded his mercy; and a canticle to him in the night. With me is prayer to the God of my life. 10 I will say to God: Thou art my support. Why hast thou forgotten me? and why go I mourning, whilst my enemy afflicteth me? 11 Whilst my bones are broken, my enemies who trouble me have reproached me; Whilst they say to me day be day: Where is thy God? 12 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why dost thou disquiet me? Hope thou in God, for I will still give praise to him: the salvation of my countenance, and my God.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
NONE:
Psalm 43
Deus Auribus NostrisThe Church commemorates former favours, and present afflictions; under which she prays for succour. 1 Unto the end, for the sons of Core, to give understanding. 2 WE have heard, O God, with our ears: our fathers have declared to us, The work, thou hast wrought in their days, and in the days of old. 3 Thy hand destroyed the Gentiles, and thou plantedst them: thou didst afflict the people and cast them out. 4 For they got not the possession of the land by their own sword: neither did their own arm save them. But thy right hand and thy arm, and the light of thy countenance: because thou wast pleased with them. 5 Thou art thyself my king and my God, who commandest the saving of Jacob. 6 Through thee we will push down our enemies with the horn: and through thy name we will despise them that rise up against us. 7 For I will not trust in my bow: neither shall my sword save me. 8 But thou hast saved us from them that afflict us: and hast put them to shame that hate us. 9 In God shall we glory all the day long: and in thy name we will give praise for ever. 10 But now thou hast cast us off, and put us to shame: and thou, O God, wilt not go out with our armies. 11 Thou hast made us turn our back to our enemies: and they that hated us plundered for themselves. 12 Thou hast given us up like sheep to be eaten: thou hast scattered us among the nations. 13 Thou hast sold thy people for no price: and there was no reckoning in the exchange of them. 14 Thou hast made us a reproach to our neighbours, a scoff and derision to them that are round about us. 15 Thou hast made us a byword among the Gentiles: a shaking of the head among the people. 16 All the day long my shame is before me: and the confusion of my face hath covered me, 17 At the voice of him that reproacheth and detracteth me: at the face of the enemy and persecutor. 18 All these things have come upon us, yet we have not forgotten thee: and we have not done wickedly in thy covenant. 19 And our heart hath not turned back: neither hast thou turned aside our steps from thy way. 20 For thou hast humbled us in the place of affliction: and the shadow of death hath covered us. 21 If we have forgotten the name of our God, and if we have spread forth our hands to a strange god: 22 Shall not God search out these things: for he knoweth the secrets of the heart. Because for thy sake we are killed all the day long: we are counted as sheep for the slaughter. 23 Arise, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, and cast us not off to the end. 24 Why turnest thou face away? and forgettest our want and our trouble? 25 For our soul is humbled down to the dust: our belly cleaveth to the earth. 26 Arise, O Lord, help us and redeem us for thy name's sake.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
VESPERS:
Psalm 122
Ad Te LevaviA prayer in affliction, with confidence in God. 1 A gradual canticle. TO thee have I lifted up my eyes, who dwellest in heaven. 2 Behold as the eyes of the servants are on the hands of their masters, As the eyes of the handmaid are on the hands of her mistress: so are our eyes unto the Lord our God, until he have mercy on us. 3 Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us: for we are greatly filled with contempt. 4 For our soul is greatly filled: we are a reproach to the rich, and contempt to the proud.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 123
Nisi Quia DominusThe Church giveth glory to God for her deliverance from the hands of her enemies. 1 A gradual canticle. IF it had not been that the Lord was with us, let Israel now say: 2 If it had not been that the Lord was with us, When men rose up against us, 3 perhaps they had swallowed us up alive. When their fury was enkindled against us, 4 perhaps the waters had swallowed us up. 5 Our soul hath passed through a torrent: perhaps our soul had passed through a water insupportable. 6 Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us to be a prey to their teeth. 7 Our soul hath been delivered as a sparrow out of the snare of the fowlers. The snare is broken, and we are delivered. 8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 124
Qui ConfiduntThe just are always under God's protection. 1 A gradual canticle. THEY that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Sion: he shall not be moved for ever that dwelleth 2 in Jerusalem. Mountains are round about it: so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth now and for ever. 3 For the Lord will not leave the rod of sinners upon the lot of the just: that the just may not stretch forth their hands to iniquity. 4 Do good, O Lord, to those that are good, and to the upright of heart. 5 But such as turn aside into bonds, the Lord shall lead out with the workers of iniquity: peace upon Israel.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 125
In ConvertendoThe people of God rejoice at their delivery from captivity. 1 A gradual canticle. WHEN the lord brought back the captivity of Sion, we became like men comforted. 2 Then was our mouth filled with gladness; and our tongue with joy. Then shall they say among the Gentiles: The Lord hath done great things for them. 3 The Lord hath done great things for us: we are become joyful. 4 Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as a stream in the south. 5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 Going they went and wept, casting their seeds. But coming they shall come with joyfulness, carrying their sheaves.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 126
Nisi DominusNothing can be done without God's grace and blessing. 1 A gradual canticle of Solomon. UNLESS the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it. Unless the Lord keep the city, he watcheth in vain that keepeth it. 2 It is vain for you to rise before light, rise ye after you have sitten, you that eat the bread of sorrow. When he shall give sleep to his beloved, 3 behold the inheritance of the Lord are children: the reward, the fruit of the womb. 4 As arrows in the hand of the mighty, so the children of them that have been shaken. 5 Blessed is the man that hath filled the desire with them; he shall not be confounded when he shall speak to his enemies in the gate.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
COMPLINE:
Psalm 11
Salvum Me FacThe prophet calls for God's help against the wicked. 1 Unto the end; for the octave, a psalm for David. 2 SAVE me, O Lord, for there is now no saint: truths are decayed from among the children of men. 3 They have spoken vain things every one to his neighbour: with deceitful lips, and with a double heart have they spoken. 4 May the Lord destroy all deceitful lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things. 5 Who have said: We will magnify our tongue; our lips are our own; who is Lord over us? 6 By reason of the misery of the needy, and the groans of the poor, now will I arise, saith the Lord. I will set him in safety; I will deal confidently in his regard. 7 The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried by the fire, purged from the earth, refined seven times. 8 Thou, O Lord, wilt preserve us.: and keep us from this generation for ever. 9 The wicked walk round about: according to thy highness, thou hast multiplied the children of men.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 12
Usquequo DomineA prayer in tribulation. 1 Unto the end, a psalm for David. HOW long, O Lord, wilt thou forget me unto the end? how long dost thou turn away thy face from me? 2 How long shall I take counsels in my soul, sorrow in my heart all the day? 3 How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? 4 Consider, and hear me, O Lord my God. Enlighten my eyes that I never sleep in death: 5 lest at any time my enemy say: I have prevailed against him. They that trouble me will rejoice when I am moved: 6 but I have trusted in thy mercy. My heart shall rejoice in thy salvation: I will sing to the Lord, who giveth me good things: yea I will sing to the name of the Lord the most high.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 15
Conserva Me DomineChrist's future victory and triumph over the world and death. 1 The inscription of a title to David himself. PRESERVE me, O Lord, for I have put my trust in thee. 2 I have said to the Lord, thou art my God, for thou hast no need of my goods. 3 To the saints, who are in his land, he hath made wonderful all my desires in them. 4 Their infirmities were multiplied: afterwards they made haste. I will not gather together their meetings for blood offerings: nor will I be mindful of their names by my lips. 5 The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup: it is thou that wilt restore my inheritance to me. 6 The lines are fallen unto me in goodly places: for my inheritance is goodly to me. 7 I will bless the Lord, who hath given me understanding: moreover my reins also have corrected me even till night. 8 I set the Lord always in my sight: for he is at my right hand, that I be not moved. 9 Therefore my heart hath been glad, and my tongue hath rejoiced: moreover my flesh also shall rest in hope. 1 The inscription of a title to David himself. PRESERVE me, O Lord, for I have put my trust in thee. 2 I have said to the Lord, thou art my God, for thou hast no need of my goods. 3 To the saints, who are in his land, he hath made wonderful all my desires in them. 4 Their infirmities were multiplied: afterwards they made haste. I will not gather together their meetings for blood offerings: nor will I be mindful of their names by my lips. 5 The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup: it is thou that wilt restore my inheritance to me. 6 The lines are fallen unto me in goodly places: for my inheritance is goodly to me. 7 I will bless the Lord, who hath given me understanding: moreover my reins also have corrected me even till night. 8 I set the Lord always in my sight: for he is at my right hand, that I be not moved. 9 Therefore my heart hath been glad, and my tongue hath rejoiced: moreover my flesh also shall rest in hope. -Glory be to the Father...
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Divine Office "Liturgy of the Hours"
The Psalms: The Perfect Prayer Book for Everyone
"Ego sum Alpha et Omega, princípium
et finis, dicit Dóminus Deus : qui est,
et qui erat, et qui ventúrus est, omnípotens".
"The psalms are prayer, in which God Himself teaches us how to pray; for they were written under the direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Herein we have the answer to the question: "What prayers shall I say?" Why the prayers of Holy Scripture itself! "There is no need to scrape together endless man-made prayers when Sacred Scripture frames the very thoughts of God." The psalms are the vital presentation of God's inspirations and man's aspirations; they are the ideal manifestations of man's hunger and thirst after God and of God's loving response to man. Of great age, they are ever new and appropriate. They are as satisfying and stimulating to us of the twentieth century as they were to men before the birth of Christ and down through the Apostolic and Middle Ages".
Rev. Joseph B. Frey; July 16, 1947.
From My Daily Psalm Book, Arranged by Father Joseph Frey, Confraternity of the Precious Blood (1947) pp.vi-ix.
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