In finem. Psalmus David.

(To the choir-master. Of David.)

In Domino confido; quomodo dicitis animæ meæ: Transmigra in montem sicut passer?

In the Lord I put my trust: how then do you say to my soul: Get thee away from hence to the mountain, like a sparrow.

My trust is in the Lord; how is it that you say to me, Escape, like a frightened sparrow, to the hill-side?

Quoniam ecce peccatores intenderunt arcum; paraverunt sagittas suas in pharetra, ut sagittent in obscuro rectos corde:

For, lo, the wicked have bent their bow; they have prepared their arrows in the quiver; to shoot in the dark the upright of heart.

Escape; the rebels have strung their bows, have arrows ready on the string, to shoot from their hiding-places at an unoffending heart;

quoniam quæ perfecisti destruxerunt; justus autem, quid fecit?

For they have destroyed the things which thou hast made: but what has the just man done?

they have thrown down all thou hadst built; what hope, now, for the just man?

Dominus in templo sancto suo; Dominus in cælo sedes ejus. Oculi ejus in pauperem respiciunt; palpebræ ejus interrogant filios hominum.

The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord’s throne is in heaven. His eyes look on the poor man: his eyelids examine the sons of men.

Is not the Lord in his holy shrine, the same Lord whose throne is in heaven, whose eye watches, whose glance can appraise, the deeds of men?

Dominus interrogat justum et impium; qui autem diligit iniquitatem, odit animam suam.

The Lord trieth the just and the wicked: but he that loveth iniquity, hateth his own soul.

Innocent or sinful, he reads every heart, and the friends of wrong-doing are his enemies.

Pluet super peccatores laqueos; ignis et sulphur, et spiritus procellarum, pars calicis eorum.

He shall rain snares upon sinners: fire and brimstone and storms of winds shall be the portion of their cup.

Pitilessly his weapons rain down upon the offenders; burning coals, and brimstone, and scorching wind; such is the draught he brews for them.

Quoniam justus Dominus, et justitias dilexit: æquitatem vidit vultus ejus.

For the Lord is just, and hath loved justice: his countenance hath beheld righteousness.

The Lord is just, and just are the deeds he loves; none but upright souls shall enjoy his presence.