The Daily Psalms:
Posted on 11/25/2008 9:02:01 PM PST by GonzoII
The Daily Psalms:
Douay Rheims Version
MATINS: First Nocturn
Psalm 44
Eructavit Cor Meus
The excellence of Christ's kingdom, and the endowments of his Church.
1 Unto the end, for them that shall be changed, for the sons of Core, for understanding. A canticle for the Beloved. 2 MY heart hath uttered a good word: I speak my works to the king: My tongue is the pen of a scrivener that writeth swiftly. 3 Thou art beautiful above the sons of men: grace is poured abroad in thy lips; therefore hath God blessed thee for ever. 4 Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O thou most mighty. 5 With thy comeliness and thy beauty set out, proceed prosperously, and reign. Because of truth and meekness and justice: and thy right hand shall conduct thee wonderfully. 6 Thy arrows are sharp: under thee shall people fall, into the hearts of the king's enemies. 7 Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a sceptre of uprightness. 8 Thou hast loved justice, and hated iniquity: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. 9 Myrrh and stacte and cassia perfume thy garments, from the ivory houses: out of which 10 the daughters of kings have delighted thee in thy glory. The queen stood on thy right hand, in gilded clothing; surrounded with variety. 11 Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thy ear: and forget thy people and thy father's house. 12 And the king shall greatly desire thy beauty; for he is the Lord thy God, and him they shall adore. 13 And the daughters of Tyre with gifts, yea, all the rich among the people, shall entreat thy countenance. 14 All the glory of the king's daughter is within in golden borders, 15 clothed round about with varieties. After her shall virgins be brought to the king: her neighbours shall be brought to thee. 16 They shall be brought with gladness and rejoicing: they shall be brought into the temple of the king. 17 Instead of thy fathers, sons are born to thee: thou shalt make them princes over all the earth. 18 They shall remember thy name throughout all generations. Therefore shall people praise thee for ever; yea, for ever and ever.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 45
Deus Noster RefugiumThe Church in persecution trusteth in the protection of God.
1 Unto the end, for the sons of Core, for the hidden. 2 OUR God is our refuge and strength: a helper in troubles, which have found us exceedingly. 3 Therefore we will not fear, when the earth shall be troubled; and the mountains shall be removed into the heart of the sea. 4 Their waters roared and were troubled: the mountains were troubled with his strength. 5 The stream of the river maketh the city of God joyful: the most High hath sanctified his own tabernacle. 6 God is in the midst thereof, it shall not be moved: God will help it in the morning early. 7 Nations were troubled, and kingdoms were bowed down: he uttered his voice, the earth trembled. 8 The Lord of armies is with us: the God of Jacob is our protector. 9 Come and behold ye the works of the Lord: what wonders he hath done upon earth, 10 making wars to cease even to the end of the earth. He shall destroy the bow, and break the weapons: and the shield he shall burn in the fire. 11 Be still and see that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, and I will be exalted in the earth. 12 The Lord of armies is with us: the God of Jacob is our protector.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
SECOND NOCTURN:
Psalm 47
Magnus DominusGod is greatly to be praised for the establishment of his Church.
1 A psalm of a canticle, for the sons of Core, on the second day of the week. 2 GREAT is the Lord, and exceedingly to be praised in the city of our God, in his holy mountain. 3 With the joy of the whole earth is mount Sion founded, on the sides of the north, the city of the great king. 4 In her houses shall God be known, when he shall protect her. 5 For behold the kings of the earth assembled themselves: they gathered together. 6 So they saw, and they wondered, they were troubled, they were moved: 7 trembling took hold of them. There were pains as of a woman in labour. 8 With a vehement wind thou shalt break in pieces the ships of Tharsis. 9 As we have heard, so have we seen, in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God: God hath founded it for ever. 10 We have received thy mercy, O God, in the midst of thy temple. 11 According to thy name, O God, so also is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of justice. 12 Let mount Sion rejoice, and the daughters of Juda be glad; because of thy judgments, O Lord. 13 Surround Sion, and encompass her: tell ye in her towers. 14 Set your hearts on her strength; and distribute her houses, that ye may relate it in another generation. 15 For this is God, our God unto eternity, and for ever and ever: he shall rule us for evermore.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 48
Audite Haec Omnes GentesThe folly of worldlings, who live in sin, without thinking of death or hell.
1 Unto the end, a psalm for the sons of Core. 2 HEAR these things, all ye nations: give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world. 3 All you that are earthborn, and you sons of men: both rich and poor together. 4 My mouth shall speak wisdom: and the meditation of my heart understanding. 5 I will incline my ear to a parable; I will open my proposition on the psaltery. 6 Why shall I fear in the evil day? the iniquity of my heel shall encompass me. 7 They that trust in their own strength, and glory in the multitude of their riches, 8 No brother can redeem, nor shall man redeem: he shall not give to God his ransom, 9 Nor the price of the redemption of his soul: and shall labour for ever, 10 and shall still live unto the end. 11 He shall not see destruction, when he shall see the wise dying: the senseless and the fool shall perish together: And they shall leave their riches to strangers: 12 and their sepulchres shall be their houses for ever. Their dwelling places to all generations: they have called their lands by their names. 13 And man when he was in honour did not understand; he is compared to senseless beasts, and is become like to them. 14 This way of theirs is a stumblingblock to them: and afterwards they shall delight in their mouth. 15 They are laid in hell like sheep: death shall feed upon them. And the just shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their help shall decay in hell from their glory. 16 But God will redeem my soul from the hand of hell, when he shall receive me. 17 Be not thou afraid, when a man shall be made rich, and when the glory of his house shall be increased. 18 For when he shall die he shall take nothing away; nor shall his glory descend with him. 19 For in his lifetime his soul will be blessed: and he will praise thee when thou shalt do well to him. 20 He shall go in to the generations of his fathers: and he shall never see light. 21 Man when he was in honour did not understand: he hath been compared to senseless beasts, and made like to them.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
THIRD NOCTURN
Psalm 49
Deus DeorumThe coming of Christ: who prefers virtue and inward purity before the blood of victims.
1 A psalm for Asaph. THE God of gods, the Lord hath spoken: and he hath called the earth. From the rising of the sun, to the going down thereof: 2 out of Sion the loveliness of his beauty. 3 God shall come manifestly: our God shall come, and shall not keep silence. A fire shall burn before him: and a mighty tempest shall be round about him. 4 He shall call heaven from above, and the earth, to judge his people. 5 Gather ye together his saints to him: who set his covenant before sacrifices. 6 And the heavens shall declare his justice: for God is judge. 7 Hear, O my people, and I will speak: O Israel, and I will testify to thee: I am God, thy God. 8 I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices: and thy burnt offerings are always in my sight. 9 I will not take calves out of thy house: nor he goats out of thy flocks. 10 For all the beasts of the woods are mine: the cattle on the hills, and the oxen. 11 I know all the fowls of the air: and with me is the beauty of the field. 12 If I should be hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof. 13 Shall I eat the flesh of bullocks? or shall I drink the blood of goats? 14 Offer to God the sacrifice of praise: and pay thy vows to the most High. 15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. 16 But to the sinner God hath said: Why dost thou declare my justices, and take my covenant in thy mouth ? 17 Seeing thou hast hated discipline: and hast cast my words behind thee. 18 If thou didst see a thief thou didst run with him: and with adulterers thou hast been a partaker. 19 Thy mouth hath abounded with evil, and thy tongue framed deceits. 20 Sitting thou didst speak against thy brother, and didst lay a scandal against thy mother's son: 21 these things hast thou done, and I was silent. Thou thoughtest unjustly that I should be like to thee: but I will reprove thee, and set before thy face. 22 Understand these things, you that forget God; lest he snatch you away, and there be none to deliver you. 23 The sacrifice of praise shall glorify me: and there is the way by which I will shew him the salvation of God.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm50
MiserereThe repentance and confession of David after his sin. The fourth penitential psalm.
1 Unto the end, a psalm of David, 2 when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had sinned with Bethsabee. 3 HAVE mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy. And according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my iniquity. 4 Wash me yet more from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 5 For I know my iniquity, and my sin is always before me. 6 To thee only have I sinned, and have done evil before thee: that thou mayst be justified in thy words, and mayst overcome when thou art judged. 7 For behold I was conceived in iniquities; and in sins did my mother conceive me. 8 For behold thou hast loved truth: the uncertain and hidden things of thy wisdom thou hast made manifest to me. 9 Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. 10 To my hearing thou shalt give joy and gladness: and the bones that have been humbled shall rejoice. 11 Turn away thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 12 Create a clean heart in me, O God: and renew a right spirit within my bowels. 13 Cast me not away from thy face; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 14 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and strengthen me with a perfect spirit. 15 I will teach the unjust thy ways: and the wicked shall be converted to thee. 16 Deliver me from blood, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall extol thy justice. 17 O Lord, thou wilt open my lips: and my mouth shall declare thy praise. 18 For if thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would indeed have given it: with burnt offerings thou wilt not be delighted. 19 A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit: a contrite and humbled heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. 20 Deal favourably, O Lord, in thy good will with Sion; that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up. 21 Then shalt thou accept the sacrifice of justice, oblations and whole burnt offerings: then shall they lay calves upon thy altar.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
LAUDS:
Psalm 96
Dominus RegnavitAll are invited to rejoice at the glorious coming and reign of Christ.
1 For the same David, when his land was restored again to him. THE Lord hath reigned, let the earth rejoice: let many islands be glad. 2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: justice and judgment are the establishment of his throne. 3 A fire shall go before him, and shall burn his enemies round about. 4 His lightnings have shone forth to the world: the earth saw and trembled. 5 The mountains melted like wax, at the presence of the Lord: at the presence of the Lord of all the earth. 6 The heavens declared his justice: and all people saw his glory. 7 Let them be all confounded that adore graven things, and that glory in their idols. Adore him, all you his angels: 8 Sion heard, and was glad. And the daughters of Juda rejoiced, because of thy judgments, O Lord. 9 For thou art the most high Lord over all the earth: thou art exalted exceedingly above all gods. 10 You that love the Lord, hate evil: the Lord preserveth the souls of his saints, he will deliver them out of the hand of the sinner. 11 Light is risen to the just, and joy to the right of heart. 12 Rejoice, ye just, in the Lord: and give praise to the remembrance of his holiness.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 64
Te DecetGod is to be praised in his Church, to which all nations shall be called. 1 To the end, a psalm of David. The canticle of Jeremias and Ezechiel to the people of the captivity, when they began to go out. 2 A HYMN, O God, becometh thee in Sion: and a vow shall be paid to thee in Jerusalem. 3 O hear my prayer: all flesh shall come to thee. 4 The words of the wicked have prevailed over us: and thou wilt pardon our transgressions. 5 Blessed is he whom thou hast chosen and taken to thee: he shall dwell in thy courts. We shall be filled with the good things of thy house; holy is thy temple, 6 wonderful in justice. Hear us, O God our saviour, who art the hope of all the ends of the earth, and in the sea afar off. 7 Thou who preparest the mountains by thy strength, being girded with power: 8 who troublest the depth of the sea, the noise of its waves. The Gentiles shall be troubled, 9 and they that dwell in the uttermost borders shall be afraid at thy signs: thou shalt make the outgoings of the morning and of the evening to be joyful. 10 Thou hast visited the earth, and hast plentifully watered it; thou hast many ways enriched it. The river of God is filled with water, thou hast prepared their food: for so is its preparation. 11 Fill up plentifully the streams thereof, multiply its fruits; it shall spring up and rejoice in its showers. 12 Thou shalt bless the crown of the year of thy goodness: and thy fields shall be filled with plenty. 13 The beautiful places of the wilderness shall grow fat: and the hills shall be girded about with joy, 14 The rams of the flock are clothed, and the vales shall abound with corn: they shall shout, yea they shall sing a hymn.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 100
Miserdicordiam & JudiciumThe prophet exhorteth all, by his example, to follow mercy and justice. 1 A psalm for David himself. MERCY and judgment I will sing to thee, O Lord: I will sing, 2 and I will understand in the unspotted way, when thou shalt come to me. I walked in the innocence of my heart, in the midst of my house. 3 I did not set before my eyes any unjust thing: I hated the workers of iniquities. 4 The perverse heart did not cleave to me: and the malignant, that turned aside from me, I would not know. 5 The man that in private detracted his neighbour, him did I persecute. With him that had a proud eye, and an unsatiable heart, I would not eat. 6 My eyes were upon the faithful of the earth, to sit with me: the man that walked in the perfect way, he served me. 7 He that worketh pride shall not dwell in the midst of my house: he that speaketh unjust things did not prosper before my eyes. 8 In the morning I put to death all the wicked of the land: that I might cut off all the workers of iniquity from the city of the Lord.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Canticle of Judith 16: 1-21
1 Then Judith sung this canticle to the Lord, saying: 2 Begin ye to the Lord with timbrels, sing ye to the Lord with cymbals, tune unto him a new psalm, extol and call upon his name. 3 The Lord putteth an end to wars, the Lord is his name. 4 He hath set his camp in the midst of his people, to deliver us from the hand of all our enemies. 5 The Assyrian came out of the mountains from the north in the multitude of his strength: his multitude stopped up the torrents, and their horses covered the valleys. 6 He bragged that he would set my borders on fire, and kill my young men with the sword, to make my infants a prey, and my virgins captives. 7 But the almighty Lord hath struck him, and hath delivered him into the hands of a woman, and hath slain him. 8 For their mighty one did not fall by young men, neither did the sons of Titan strike him, nor tall giants oppose themselves to him, but Judith the daughter of Merari weakened him with the beauty of her face. 9 For she put off her the garments of widowhood, and put on her the garments of joy, to give joy to the children of Israel. 10 She anointed her face with ointment, and bound up her locks with a crown, she took a new robe to deceive him. 11 Her sandals ravished his eyes, her beauty made his soul her captive, with a sword she cut off his head. 12 The Persians quaked at her constancy, and the Medes at her boldness. 13 Then the camp of the Assyrians howled, when my lowly ones appeared, parched with thirst. 14 The sons of the damsels have pierced them through, and they have killed them like children fleeing away: they perished in battle before the face of the Lord my God. 15 Let us sing a hymn to the Lord, let us sing a new hymn to our God. 16 O Adonai, Lord, great art thou, and glorious in thy power, and no one can overcome thee. 17 Let all thy creatures serve thee: because thou hast spoken, and they were made: thou didst send forth thy spirit, and they were created, and there is no one that can resist thy voice. 18 The mountains shall be moved from the foundations with the waters: the rocks shall melt as wax before thy face. 19 But they that fear thee, shall be great with thee in all things. 20 Woe be to the nation that riseth up against my people: for the Lord almighty will take revenge on them, in the day of judgment he will visit them. 21 For he will give fire, and worms into their flesh, that they may burn, and may feel for ever.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 145
Lauda AnimaWe are not to trust in men, but in God alone. 1 Alleluia, of Aggeus and Zacharias. 2 PRAISE the Lord, O my soul, in my life I will praise the Lord: I will sing to my God as long as I shall be. Put not your trust in princes: 3 in the children of men, in whom there is no salvation. 4 His spirit shall go forth, and he shall return into his earth: in that day all their thoughts shall perish. 5 Blessed is he who hath the God of Jacob for his helper, whose hope is in the Lord his God: 6 who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all things that are in them. 7 Who keepeth truth for ever: who executeth judgment for them that suffer wrong: who giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth them that are fettered: 8 the Lord enlighteneth the blind. The Lord lifteth up them that are cast down: the Lord loveth the just. 9 The Lord keepeth the strangers, he will support the fatherless and the widow: and the ways of sinners he will destroy. 10 The Lord shall reign for ever: thy God, O Sion, unto generation and generation.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
PRIME:
Psalm 25
Judica Me DomineDavid's prayer to God in his distress, to be delivered, that he may come to worship him in his tabernacle. 1 Unto the end, a psalm for David. JUDGE me, O Lord, for I have walked in my innocence: and I have put my trust in the Lord, and shall not be weakened. 2 Prove me, O Lord, and try me; burn my reins and my heart. 3 For thy mercy is before my eyes; and I am well pleased with thy truth. 4 I have not sat with the council of vanity: neither will I go in with the doers of unjust things. 5 I have hated the assembly of the malignant; and with the wicked I will not sit. 6 I will wash my hands among the innocent; and will compass thy altar, O Lord: 7 That I may hear the voice of thy praise: and tell of all thy wondrous works. 8 I have loved, O Lord, the beauty of thy house; and the place where thy glory dwelleth. 9 Take not away my soul, O God, with the wicked: nor my life with bloody men: 10 In whose hands are iniquities: their right hand is filled with gifts. 11 But as for me, I have walked in my innocence: redeem me, and have mercy on me. 12 My foot hath stood in the direct way: in the churches I will bless thee, O Lord.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 51
Quid GloriarisDavid condemneth the wickedness of Doeg, and foretelleth his destruction. 1 Unto the end, understanding for David, 2 when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul: David went to the house of Achimelech. 3 WHY dost thou glory in malice, thou that art mighty in iniquity? 4 All the day long thy tongue hath devised injustice: as a sharp razor, thou hast wrought deceit. 5 Thou hast loved malice more than goodness: and iniquity rather than to speak righteousness. 6 Thou hast loved all the words of ruin, O deceitful tongue. 7 Therefore will God destroy thee for ever: he will pluck thee out, and remove thee from thy dwelling place: and thy root out of the land of the living. 8 The just shall see and fear, and shall laugh at him, and say: 9 Behold the man that made not God his helper: But trusted in the abundance of his riches: and prevailed in his vanity. 10 But I, as a fruitful olive tree in the house of God, have hoped in the mercy of God for ever, yea for ever and ever. 11 I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name, for it is good in the sight of thy saints.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 52
Dixit IsipiensThe general corruption of man before the coming of Christ. 1 Unto the end, for Maeleth, understandings to David. THE fool said in his heart: There is no God. 2 They are corrupted, and become abominable in iniquities: there is none that doth good. 3 God looked down from heaven on the children of men: to see if there were any that did understand, or did seek God. 4 All have gone aside, they are become unprofitable together, there is none that doth good, no not one. 5 Shall not all the workers of iniquity know, who eat up my people as they eat bread? 6 They have not called upon God: there have they trembled for fear, where there was no fear. For God hath scattered the bones of them that please men: they have been confounded, because God hath despised them. 7 Who will give out of Sion the salvation of Israel? when God shall bring back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
TERCE:
Psalm 53
Deus In Nomine TuoA prayer for help in distress. 1 Unto the end, in verses, understanding for David. 2 When the men of Ziph had come and said to Saul: Is not David hidden with us? 3 SAVE me, O God, by thy name, and judge me in thy strength. 4 O God, hear my prayer: give ear to the words of my mouth. 5 For strangers have risen up against me; and the mighty have sought after my soul: and they have not set God before their eyes. 6 For behold God is my helper: and the Lord is the protector of my soul. 7 Turn back the evils upon my enemies; and cut them off in thy truth. 8 I will freely sacrifice to thee, and will give praise, O God, to thy name: because it is good: 9 For thou hast delivered me out of all trouble: and my eye hath looked down upon my enemies.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 54
Exaudi DeusA prayer of a just man under persecution from the wicked. It agrees to Christ persecuted by the Jews, and betrayed by Judas. 1 Unto the end, in verses, understanding for David. 2 HEAR, O God, my prayer, and despise not my supplication: 3 be attentive to me and hear me. I am grieved in my exercise; and am troubled, 4 at the voice of the enemy, and at the tribulation of the sinner. For they have cast iniquities upon me: and in wrath they were troublesome to me. 5 My heart is troubled within me: and the fear of death is fallen upon me. 6 Fear and trembling are come upon me: and darkness hath covered me. 7 And I said: Who will give me wings like a dove, and I will fly and be at rest? 8 Lo, I have gone far off flying away; and I abode in the wilderness. 9 I waited for him that hath saved me from pusillanimity of spirit, and a storm. 10 Cast down, O Lord, and divide their tongues; for I have seen iniquity and contradiction in the city. 11 Day and night shall iniquity surround it upon its walls: and in the midst thereof are labour, 12 and injustice. And usury and deceit have not departed from its streets. 13 For if my enemy had reviled me, I would verily have borne with it. And if he that hated me had spoken great things against me, I would perhaps have hidden myself from him. 14 But thou a man of one mind, my guide, and my familiar, 15 Who didst take sweetmeats together with me: in the house of God we walked with consent. 16 Let death come upon them, and let them go down alive into hell. For there is wickedness in their dwellings: in the midst of them. 17 But I have cried to God: and the Lord will save me. 18 Evening and morning, and at noon I will speak and declare: and he shall hear my voice. 19 He shall redeem my soul in peace from them that draw near to me: for among many they were with me. 20 God shall hear, and the Eternal shall humble them. For there is no change with them, and they have not feared God: 21 he hath stretched forth his hand to repay. They have defiled his covenant, 22 they are divided by the wrath of his countenance, and his heart hath drawn near. His words are smoother than oil, and the same are darts. 23 Cast thy care upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall not suffer the just to waver for ever. 24 But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction. Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee, O Lord.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
SEXT:
Psalm 55
Miserere Mei DeusA prayer of David in danger and distress. 1 Unto the end, for a people that is removed at a distance from the sanctuary: for David, for an inscription of a title (or pillar ) when the Philistines held him in Geth. 2 HAVE mercy on me, O God, for man hath trodden me under foot; all the day long he hath afflicted me fighting against me. 3 My enemies have trodden on me all the day long; for they are many that make war against me. 4 From the height of the day I shall fear: but I will trust in thee. 5 In God I will praise my words, in God I have put my trust: I will not fear what flesh can do against me. 6 All the day long they detested my words: all their thoughts were against me unto evil. 7 They will dwell and hide themselves: they will watch my heel. As they have waited for my soul, 8 for nothing shalt thou save them: in thy anger thou shalt break the people in pieces. O God, 9 I have declared to thee my life: thou hast set my tears in thy sight, As also in thy promise. 10 Then shall my enemies be turned back. In what day soever I shall call upon thee, behold I know thou art my God. 11 In God will I praise the word, in the Lord will I praise his speech. In God have I hoped, I will not fear what man can do to me. 12 In me, O God, are vows to thee, which I will pay, praises to thee: 13 Because thou hast delivered my soul from death, my feet from falling: that I may please in the sight of God, in the light of the living.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 56
Miserere Mei DeusThe prophet prays in his affliction, and praises God for his delivery. 1 Unto the end, destroy not, for David, for an inscription of a title, when he fled from Saul into the cave. 2 HAVE mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me: for my soul trusteth in thee. And in the shadow of thy wings will I hope, until iniquity pass away. 3 I will cry to God the most High; to God who hath done good to me. 4 He hath sent from heaven and delivered me: he hath made them a reproach that trod upon me. God hath sent his mercy and his truth, 5 and he hath delivered my soul from the midst of the young lions. I slept troubled. The sons of men, whose teeth are weapons and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. 6 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens, and thy glory above all the earth. 7 They prepared a snare for my feet; and they bowed down my soul. They dug a pit before my face, and they are fallen into it. 8 My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready: I will sing, and rehearse a psalm. 9 Arise, O my glory, arise psaltery and harp: I will arise early. 10 I will give praise to thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing a psalm to thee among the nations. 11 For thy mercy is magnified even to the heavens: and thy truth unto the clouds. 12 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 57
Si Vere UtiqueDavid reproveth the wicked, and foretelleth their punishment. 1 Unto the end, destroy not, for David, for an inscription of a title. 2 IF in very deed you speak justice: judge right things, ye sons of men. 3 For in your heart you work iniquity: your hands forge injustice in the earth. 4 The wicked are alienated from the womb; they have gone astray from the womb: they have spoken false things. 5 Their madness is according to the likeness of a serpent: like the deaf asp that stoppeth her ears: 6 Which will not hear the voice of the charmers; nor of the wizard that charmeth wisely. 7 God shall break in pieces their teeth in their mouth: the Lord shall break the grinders of the lions. 8 They shall come to nothing, like water running down; he hath bent his bow till they be weakened. 9 Like wax that melteth they shall be taken away: fire hath fallen on them, and they shall not see the sun. 10 Before your thorns could know the brier; he swalloweth them up, as alive, in his wrath. 11 The just shall rejoice when he shall see the revenge: he shall wash his hands in the blood of the sinner. 12 And man shall say: If indeed there be fruit to the just: there is indeed a God that judgeth them on the earth.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
NONE:
Psalm 58
Eripe MeA prayer to be delivered from the wicked, with confidence in God's help and protection. It agrees to Christ and his enemies, the Jews. 1 Unto the end, destroy not, for David for an inscription of a title, when Saul sent and watched his house to kill him. 2 DELIVER me from my enemies, O my God; and defend me from them that rise up against me. 3 Deliver me from them that work iniquity, and save me from bloody men. 4 For behold they have caught my soul: the mighty have rushed in upon me: 5 Neither is it my iniquity, nor my sin, O Lord: without iniquity have I run, and directed my steps. 6 Rise up thou to meet me, and behold: even thou, O Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel. Attend to visit all the nations: have no mercy on all them that work iniquity. 7 They shall return at evening, and shall suffer hunger like dogs: and shall go round about the city. 8 Behold they shall speak with their mouth, and a sword is in their lips: for who, say they, hath heard us? 9 But thou, O Lord, shalt laugh at them: thou shalt bring all the nations to nothing. 10 I will keep my strength to thee: for thou art my protector: 11 my God, his mercy shall prevent me. 12 God shall let me see over my enemies: slay them not, lest at any time my people forget. Scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord, my protector: 13 For the sin of their mouth, and the word of their lips: and let them be taken in their pride. And for their cursing and lying they shall be talked of, 14 when they are consumed: when they are consumed by thy wrath, and they shall be no more. And they shall know that God will rule Jacob, and all the ends of the earth. 15 They shall return at evening and shall suffer hunger like dogs: and shall go round about the city. 16 They shall be scattered abroad to eat, and shall murmur if they be not filled. 17 But I will sing thy strength: and will extol thy mercy in the morning. For thou art become my support, and my refuge, in the day of my trouble. 18 Unto thee, O my helper, will I sing, for thou art God my defence: my God my mercy.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 59
Deus Repulisti NosAfter many afflictions, the Church of Christ shall prevail. 1 Unto the end, for them that shall be changed, for the inscription of a title, to David himself, for doctrine, 2 when he set fire to Mesopotamia of Syria and Sobal; and Joab returned and slew of Edom, in the vale of the saltpits, twelve thousand men. 3 O GOD, thou hast cast us off, and hast destroyed us; thou hast been angry, and hast had mercy on us. 4 Thou hast moved the earth, and hast troubled it: heal thou the breaches thereof, for it has been moved. 5 Thou hast shewn thy people hard things; thou hast made us drink the wine of sorrow. 6 Thou hast given a warning to them that fear thee: that they may flee from before the bow: That thy beloved may be delivered. 7 Save me with thy right hand, and hear me. 8 God hath spoken in his holy place: I will rejoice, and I will divide Sichem; and will mete out the vale of tabernacles. 9 Galaad is mine, and Manasses is mine: and Ephraim is the strength of my head. Juda is my king: 10 Moab is the pot of my hope. Into Edom will I stretch out my shoe: to me the foreigners are made subject. 11 Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom? 12 Wilt not thou, O God, who hast cast us off? and wilt not thou, O God, go out with our armies? 13 Give us help from trouble: for vain is the salvation of man. 14 Through God we shall do mightily: and he shall bring to nothing them that afflict us.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
VESPERS:
Psalm 127
Beati OmnesThe fear of God is the way to happiness. 1 A gradual canticle. BLESSED are all they that fear the Lord: that walk in his ways. 2 For thou shalt eat the labours of thy hands: blessed art thou, and it shall be well with thee. 3 Thy wife as a fruitful vine, on the sides of thy house. Thy children as olive plants, round about thy table. 4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord. 5 May the Lord bless thee out of Sion: and mayest thou see the good things of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. 6 And mayest thou see thy children's children, peace upon Israel.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 128
Saepe ExpugnaveruntThe Church of God is invincible: her persecutors come to nothing. 1 A gradual canticle. OFTEN have they fought against me from my youth, let Israel now say. 2 Often have they fought against me from my youth: but they could not prevail over me. 3 The wicked have wrought upon my back: they have lengthened their iniquity. 4 The Lord who is just will cut the necks of sinners: 5 let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Sion. 6 Let them be as grass on the tops of houses: which withered before it be plucked up: 7 Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand: nor he that gathereth sheaves his bosom. 8 And they that have passed by have not said: The blessing of the Lord be upon you: we have blessed you in the name of the Lord.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 129
De ProfundisA prayer of a sinner trusting in the mercies of God. The 6th penitential psalm. 1 A gradual canticle. OUT of the depths I have cried to thee, O Lord: 2 Lord, hear my voice. Let thy ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication. 3 If thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniquities: Lord, who shall stand it. 4 For with thee there is merciful forgiveness: and by reason of thy law, I have waited for thee, O Lord. My soul hath relied on his word: 5 my soul hath hoped in the Lord. 6 From the morning watch even until night, let Israel hope in the Lord. 7 Because with the Lord there is mercy: and with him plentiful redemption. 8 And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 130
Domine Non EstThe prophet's humility. 1 A gradual canticle of David. LORD, my heart is not exalted: nor are my eyes lofty. Neither have I walked in great matters, nor in wonderful things above me. 2 If I was not humbly minded, but exalted my soul: As a child that is weaned is towards his mother, so reward in my soul. 3 Let Israel hope in the Lord, from henceforth now and for ever.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 131
Memento DomineA prayer for the fulfilling of the promise made to David. 1 A gradual canticle. O LORD, remember David, and all his meekness. 2 How he swore to the Lord, he vowed a vow to the God of Jacob: 3 If I shall enter into the tabernacle of my house: if I shall go up into the bed wherein I lie: 4 If I shall give sleep to my eyes, or slumber to my eyelids, 5 Or rest to my temples: until I find out a place for the Lord, a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. 6 Behold we have heard of it in Ephrata: we have found it in the fields of the wood. 7 We will go into his tabernacle: We will adore in the place where his feet stood. 8 Arise, O Lord, into thy resting place: thou and the ark, which thou hast sanctified. 9 Let thy priests be clothed with justice: and let thy saints rejoice. 10 For thy servant David's sake, turn not away the face of thy anointed. 11 The Lord hath sworn truth to David, and he will not make it void: of the fruit of thy womb I will set upon thy throne. 12 If thy children will keep thy covenant, and these my testimonies which I shall teach them: Their children also for evermore shall sit upon thy throne. 13 For the Lord hath chosen Sion: he hath chosen it for his dwelling. 14 This is my rest for ever and ever: here will I dwell, for I have chosen it. 15 Blessing, I will bless her widow: I will satisfy her poor with bread. 16 I will clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall rejoice with exceeding great joy. 17 There will I bring forth a horn to David: I have prepared a lamp for my anointed. 18 His enemies I will clothe with confusion: but upon him shall my sanctification flourish.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
COMPLINE:
Psalm 33
Benedicam DominumAn exhortation to the praise and service of God. 1 For David, when he changed his countenance before Achimelech, who dismissed him, and he went his way. 2 I WILL bless the Lord at all times, his praise shall be always in my mouth. 3 In the Lord shall my soul be praised: let the meek hear and rejoice. 4 O magnify the Lord with me; and let us extol his name together. 5 I sought the Lord, and he heard me; and he delivered me from all my troubles. 6 Come ye to him and be enlightened: and your faces shall not be confounded. 7 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him: and saved him out of all his troubles. 8 The angel of the Lord shall encamp round about them that fear him: and shall deliver them. 9 O taste, and see that the Lord is sweet: blessed is the man that hopeth in him. 10 Fear the Lord, all ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. 11 The rich have wanted, and have suffered hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not be deprived of any good. 12 Come, children, hearken to me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 13 Who is the man that desireth life: who loveth to see good days? 14 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. 15 Turn away from evil and do good: seek after peace and pursue it. 16 The eyes of the Lord are upon the just: and his ears unto their prayers. 17 But the countenance of the Lord is against them that do evil things: to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 18 The just cried, and the Lord heard them: and delivered them out of all their troubles. 19 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart: and he will save the humble of spirit. 20 Many are the afflictions of the just; but out of them all will the Lord deliver them. 21 The Lord keepeth all their bones, not one of them shall be broken. 22 The death of the wicked is very evil: and they that hate the just shall be guilty. 23 The Lord will redeem the souls of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall offend.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 60
Exaudi DeusA prayer for the coming of the kingdom of Christ, which shall have no end. 1 Unto the end, in hymns, for David. 2 HEAR, O God, my supplication: be attentive to my prayer, 3 To thee have I cried from the ends of the earth: when my heart was in anguish, thou hast exalted me on a rock. Thou hast conducted me; 4 for thou hast been my hope; a tower of strength against the face of the enemy. 5 In thy tabernacle I shall dwell for ever: I shall be protected under the covert of thy wings. 6 For thou, my God, hast heard my prayer: thou hast given an inheritance to them that fear thy name. 7 Thou wilt add days to the days of the king: his years even to generation and generation. 8 He abideth for ever in the sight of God: his mercy and truth who shall search ? 9 So will I sing a psalm to thy name for ever and ever: that I may pay my vows from day to day. -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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Thanks,
Gonzo
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