Davidi, cum immutavit vultum suum coram Achimelech, et dimisit eum, et abiit.

For David, when he changed his countenance before Achimelech, who dismissed him, and he went his way. (1 Kings 21.)

Benedicam Dominum in omni tempore; semper laus ejus in ore meo.

I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise shall be always in my mouth.

At all times I will bless the Lord; his praise shall be on my lips continually.

In Domino laudabitur anima mea: audiant mansueti, et lætentur.

In the Lord shall my soul be praised: let the meek hear and rejoice.

Be all my boasting in the Lord; listen to me, humble souls, and rejoice.

Magnificate Dominum mecum, et exaltemus nomen ejus in idipsum.

O magnify the Lord with me; and let us extol his name together.

Come, sing the Lord’s praise with me, let us extol his name together.

Exquisivi Dominum, et exaudivit me; et ex omnibus tribulationibus meis eripuit me.

I sought the Lord, and he heard me; and he delivered me from all my troubles.

Did I not look to the Lord, and find a hearing; did he not deliver me from all my terrors?

Accedite ad eum, et illuminamini; et facies vestræ non confundentur.

Come ye to him and be enlightened: and your faces shall not be confounded.

Ever look to him, and in him find happiness; here is no room for downcast looks.

Iste pauper clamavit, et Dominus exaudivit eum, et de omnibus tribulationibus ejus salvavit eum.

This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him: and saved him out of all his troubles.

Friendless folk may still call upon the Lord and gain his ear, and be rescued from all their afflictions.

Immittet angelus Domini in circuitu timentium eum, et eripiet eos.

The angel of the Lord shall encamp round about them that fear him: and shall deliver them.

Guardian of those who fear the Lord, his angel encamps at their side, and brings deliverance.

Gustate et videte quoniam suavis est Dominus; beatus vir qui sperat in eo.

O taste, and see that the Lord is sweet: blessed is the man that hopeth in him.

How gracious the Lord is! Taste and prove it; blessed is the man that learns to trust in him.

Timete Dominum, omnes sancti ejus, quoniam non est inopia timentibus eum.

Fear the Lord, all ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

It is for you, his chosen servants, to fear the Lord; those who fear him never go wanting.

Divites eguerunt, et esurierunt; inquirentes autem Dominum non minuentur omni bono.

The rich have wanted, and have suffered hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not be deprived of any good.

Justly do the proud fall into hunger and want; blessing they lack not that look to him.

Venite, filii; audite me: timorem Domini docebo vos.

Come, children, hearken to me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

Know, then, my children, what the fear of the Lord is; come and listen to my teaching.

Quis est homo qui vult vitam; diligit dies videre bonos?

Who is the man that desireth life: who loveth to see good days?

Long life, and prosperous days, who would have these for the asking?

Prohibe linguam tuam a malo, et labia tua ne loquantur dolum.

Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

My counsel is, keep thy tongue clear of harm, and thy lips free from every treacherous word.

Diverte a malo, et fac bonum; inquire pacem, et persequere eam.

Turn away from evil and do good: seek after peace and pursue it.

Naught of evil cherish thou, but rather do good; let peace be all thy quest and aim.

Oculi Domini super justos, et aures ejus in preces eorum.

The eyes of the Lord are upon the just: and his ears unto their prayers.

On the upright the Lord’s eye ever looks favourably; his ears are open to their pleading.

Vultus autem Domini super facientes mala, ut perdat de terra memoriam eorum.

But the countenance of the Lord is against them that do evil things: to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

Perilous is his frown for the wrong-doers; he will soon make their name vanish from the earth.

Clamaverunt justi, et Dominus exaudivit eos; et ex omnibus tribulationibus eorum liberavit eos.

The just cried, and the Lord heard them: and delivered them out of all their troubles.

Roused by the cry of the innocent, the Lord sets them free from all their afflictions.

Juxta est Dominus iis qui tribulato sunt corde, et humiles spiritu salvabit.

The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart: and he will save the humble of spirit.

So near is he to patient hearts, so ready to defend the humbled spirit.

Multæ tribulationes justorum; et de omnibus his liberabit eos Dominus.

Many are the afflictions of the just; but out of them all will the Lord deliver them.

Though a hundred trials beset the innocent, the Lord will bring him safely through them all.

Custodit Dominus omnia ossa eorum: unum ex his non conteretur.

The Lord keepeth all their bones, not one of them shall be broken.

Under the Lord’s keeping, every bone of his is safe; not one of them shall suffer harm.

Mors peccatorum pessima; et qui oderunt justum delinquent.

The death of the wicked is very evil: and they that hate the just shall be guilty.

Villainy hastes to its own undoing; the enemies of innocence will bear their punishment.

Redimet Dominus animas servorum suorum, et non delinquent omnes qui sperant in eo.

The Lord will redeem the souls of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall offend.

The Lord will claim his servant as his own; they go unreproved that put their trust in him.