Canticum graduum.

(A song of ascents.)

A gradual canticle.

Memento, Domine, David, et omnis mansuetudinis ejus:

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

O Lord, remember David, and all his meekness.

sicut juravit Domino; votum vovit Deo Jacob:

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

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

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

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

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

si dedero somnum oculis meis, et palpebris meis dormitationem,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sacerdotes tui induantur justitiam, et sancti tui exsultent.

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

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

Propter David servum tuum non avertas faciem christi tui.

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

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

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

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;

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.

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 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.

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.

Quoniam elegit Dominus Sion: elegit eam in habitationem sibi.

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

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

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

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

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

Viduam ejus benedicens benedicam; pauperes ejus saturabo panibus.

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

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

Sacerdotes ejus induam salutari, et sancti ejus exsultatione exsultabunt.

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

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

Illuc producam cornu David; paravi lucernam christo meo.

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

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

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

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

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