In finem. Psalmus David.

(To the choir-master. A psalm. Of David.)

Domine, in virtute tua lætabitur rex, et super salutare tuum exsultabit vehementer.

In thy strength, O Lord, the king shall joy; and in thy salvation he shall rejoice exceedingly.

Well may the king rejoice, Lord, in thy protection, well may he triumph in thy saving power!

Desiderium cordis ejus tribuisti ei, et voluntate labiorum ejus non fraudasti eum.

Thou hast given him his heart’s desire: and hast not withholden from him the will of his lips.

Never a wish in his heart hast thou disappointed, never a prayer on his lips denied.

Quoniam prævenisti eum in benedictionibus dulcedinis; posuisti in capite ejus coronam de lapide pretioso.

For thou hast prevented him with blessings of sweetness: thou hast set on his head a crown of precious stones.

With happy auguries thou dost meet him on his way, dost set a crown of pure gold his head.

Vitam petiit a te, et tribuisti ei longitudinem dierum, in sæculum, et in sæculum sæculi.

He asked life of thee: and thou hast given him length of days for ever and ever.

Prays he for life? Long continuance of his reign thou dost grant him; to last unfailing till the end of time.

Magna est gloria ejus in salutari tuo; gloriam et magnum decorem impones super eum.

His glory is great in thy salvation: glory and great beauty shalt thou lay upon him.

Great is the renown thy protection has won for him; glory and high honour thou hast made his.

Quoniam dabis eum in benedictionem in sæculum sæculi; lætificabis eum in gaudio cum vultu tuo.

For thou shalt give him to be a blessing for ever and ever: thou shalt make him joyful in gladness with thy countenance.

An everlasting monument of thy goodness, comforted by the smile of thy favour,

Quoniam rex sperat in Domino, et in misericordia Altissimi non commovebitur.

For the king hopeth in the Lord: and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved.

he stands firm, trusting in the Lord; the favour of the most High is with him.

Inveniatur manus tua omnibus inimicis tuis; dextera tua inveniat omnes qui te oderunt.

Let thy hand be found by all thy enemies: let thy right hand find out all them that hate thee.

Ay, but thy enemies—they shall feel thy power; that right hand will not leave their malice unpunished.

Pones eos ut clibanum ignis in tempore vultus tui: Dominus in ira sua conturbabit eos, et devorabit eos ignis.

Thou shalt make them as an oven of fire, in the time of thy anger: the Lord shall trouble them in his wrath, and fire shall devour them.

At thy frown, they will wither away like grass in the oven; whirled away by the Lord’s anger, burnt up in its flames.

Fructum eorum de terra perdes, et semen eorum a filiis hominum,

Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth: and their seed from among the children of men.

Thou wilt rid the land of their breed, their race will vanish from the world of men.

quoniam declinaverunt in te mala; cogitaverunt consilia quæ non potuerunt stabilire.

For they have intended evils against thee: they have devised counsels which they have not been able to establish.

See how all their false designs against thee, all their plots come to nothing!

Quoniam pones eos dorsum; in reliquiis tuis præparabis vultum eorum.

For thou shalt make them turn their back: in thy remnants thou shalt prepare their face.

Thou wilt rout them; bent is thy bow to meet their onslaught.

Exaltare, Domine, in virtute tua; cantabimus et psallemus virtutes tuas.

Be thou exalted, O Lord, in thy own strength: we will sing and praise thy power.

Stand high above us, Lord, in thy protecting strength; our song, our psalm, shall be of thy greatness.