Canticum graduum.

A gradual canticle.

(A song of ascents.)

Memento, Domine, David, et omnis mansuetudinis ejus:

O Lord, remember David, and all his meekness.

In David’s reckoning, Lord, let not his patient care be forgotten,

sicut juravit Domino; votum vovit Deo Jacob:

How he swore to the Lord, he vowed a vow to the God of Jacob:

the oath he swore to the Lord, the vow he made to the great God of Jacob:

Si introiero in tabernaculum domus meæ; si ascendero in lectum strati mei;

If I shall enter into the tabernacle of my house: if I shall go up into the bed wherein I lie:

Never will I come beneath the roof of my house, or climb up into the bed that is strewn for me;

si dedero somnum oculis meis, et palpebris meis dormitationem,

If I shall give sleep to my eyes, or slumber to my eyelids,

never shall these eyes have sleep, these eye-lids close,

et requiem temporibus meis, donec inveniam locum Domino, tabernaculum Deo Jacob.

Or rest to my temples: until I find out a place for the Lord, a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.

until I have found the Lord a home, the great God of Jacob a dwelling-place.

Ecce audivimus eam in Ephrata; invenimus eam in campis silvæ.

Behold we have heard of it in Ephrata: we have found it in the fields of the wood.

And now, at Ephrata, we have heard tidings of what we looked for, we have found it in the plains of Jaar;

Introibimus in tabernaculum ejus; adorabimus in loco ubi steterunt pedes ejus.

We will go into his tabernacle: we will adore in the place where his feet stood.

now to go into his dwelling, pay reverence at his footstool!

Surge, Domine, in requiem tuam, tu et arca sanctificationis tuæ.

Arise, O Lord, into thy resting place: thou and the ark, which thou hast sanctified.

Up, Lord, and take possession of thy resting-place, thou and the ark which is shrine of thy glory!

Sacerdotes tui induantur justitiam, et sancti tui exsultent.

Let thy priests be clothed with justice: and let thy saints rejoice.

Let thy priests go clad in the vesture of innocence, thy faithful people cry aloud with rejoicing.

Propter David servum tuum non avertas faciem christi tui.

For thy servant David’s sake, turn not away the face of thy anointed.

Think of thy servant David, and do not refuse audience to the king thou hast anointed.

Juravit Dominus David veritatem, et non frustrabitur eam: De fructu ventris tui ponam super sedem tuam.

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.

Never will the Lord be false to that inviolable oath he swore to David: I will raise to thy throne heirs of thy own body;

Si custodierint filii tui testamentum meum, et testimonia mea hæc quæ docebo eos, et filii eorum usque in sæculum sedebunt super sedem tuam.

If thy children will keep my covenant, and these my testimonies which I shall teach them: Their children also for evermore shall sit upon thy throne.

if thy sons hold fast to my covenant, to the decrees which I make known to them, their sons too shall reign on thy throne for ever.

Quoniam elegit Dominus Sion: elegit eam in habitationem sibi.

For the Lord hath chosen Sion: he hath chosen it for his dwelling.

The Lord’s choice has fallen upon Sion, this is the dwelling he longed for:

Hæc requies mea in sæculum sæculi; hic habitabo, quoniam elegi eam.

This is my rest for ever and ever: here will I dwell, for I have chosen it.

Here, for ever, is my resting-place, here is my destined home.

Viduam ejus benedicens benedicam; pauperes ejus saturabo panibus.

Blessing I will bless her widow: I will satisfy her poor with bread.

Trust me, I will bless her with abundant store, the poor shall have bread to their heart’s content;

Sacerdotes ejus induam salutari, et sancti ejus exsultatione exsultabunt.

I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints shall rejoice with exceeding great joy.

I will clothe her priests in the vesture of triumph, cries of rejoicing shall echo among her faithful people.

Illuc producam cornu David; paravi lucernam christo meo.

There will I bring forth a horn to David: I have prepared a lamp for my anointed.

There the stock of David shall bud, there shall a lamp burn continually for the king I have anointed.

Inimicos ejus induam confusione; super ipsum autem efflorebit sanctificatio mea.

His enemies I will clothe with confusion: but upon him shall my sanctification flourish.

I will cover his enemies with confusion; on his brow the crown I gave shall shine untarnished.