In finem. Psalmus ipsi David.

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

Unto the end, a psalm for David himself.

Exspectans exspectavi Dominum, et intendit mihi.

Patiently I waited for the Lord’s help, and at last he turned his look towards me;

With expectation I have waited for the Lord, and he was attentive to me.

Et exaudivit preces meas, et eduxit me de lacu miseriæ et de luto fæcis. Et statuit super petram pedes meos, et direxit gressus meos.

he listened to my plea, drew me up out of a deadly pit, where the mire had settled deep, and gave me a foothold on the rock, with firm ground to tread.

And he heard my prayers, and brought me out of the pit of misery and the mire of dregs. And he set my feet upon a rock, and directed my steps.

Et immisit in os meum canticum novum, carmen Deo nostro. Videbunt multi, et timebunt, et sperabunt in Domino.

He has framed a new music on my lips, a song of praise to our God, to fill all that stand by with reverence, and with trust in the Lord.

And he put a new canticle into my mouth, a song to our God. Many shall see, and shall fear: and they shall hope in the Lord.

Beatus vir cujus est nomen Domini spes ejus, et non respexit in vanitates et insanias falsas.

Happy is the man whose trust is there bestowed, who shuns the rites of strange gods, the lure of lies.

Blessed is the man whose trust is in the name of the Lord; and who hath not had regard to vanities, and lying follies.

Multa fecisti tu, Domine Deus meus, mirabilia tua; et cogitationibus tuis non est qui similis sit tibi. Annuntiavi et locutus sum: multiplicati sunt super numerum.

O Lord my God, how long is the story of thy marvellous deeds! Was ever care like thine? How should I tell the tale of those mercies, past all numbering?

Thou hast multiplied thy wonderful works, O Lord my God: and in thy thoughts there is no one like to thee. I have declared and I have spoken they are multiplied above number.

Sacrificium et oblationem noluisti; aures autem perfecisti mihi. Holocaustum et pro peccato non postulasti;

No sacrifice, no offering was thy demand; enough that thou hast given me an ear ready to listen. Thou hast not found any pleasure in burnt-sacrifices, in sacrifices for sin.

Sacrifice and oblation thou didst not desire; but thou hast pierced ears for me. Burnt offering and sin offering thou didst not require:

tunc dixi: Ecce venio. In capite libri scriptum est de me,

See then, I said, I am coming to fulfil what is written of me, where the book lies unrolled;

then said I, Behold I come. In the head of the book it is written of me

ut facerem voluntatem tuam. Deus meus, volui, et legem tuam in medio cordis mei.

to do thy will, O my God, is all my desire, to carry out that law of thine which is written in my heart.

that I should do thy will: O my God, I have desired it, and thy law in the midst of my heart.

Annuntiavi justitiam tuam in ecclesia magna; ecce labia mea non prohibebo: Domine, tu scisti.

And I told the story of thy just dealings before a great throng; be witness, Lord, that I do not seal my lips.

I have declared thy justice in a great church, lo, I will not restrain my lips: O Lord, thou knowest it.

Justitiam tuam non abscondi in corde meo; veritatem tuam et salutare tuum dixi; non abscondi misericordiam tuam et veritatem tuam a concilio multo.

Thy just dealings are no secret hidden away in my heart; I boast of thy faithful protection, proclaim that mercy, that faithfulness of thine for all to hear it.

I have not hid thy justice within my heart: I have declared thy truth and thy salvation. I have not concealed thy mercy and thy truth from a great council.

Tu autem, Domine, ne longe facias miserationes tuas a me; misericordia tua et veritas tua semper susceperunt me.

Lord, do not withhold thy pity from me; let thy mercy and faithfulness be now, as ever, my shield.

Withhold not thou, O Lord, thy tender mercies from me: thy mercy and thy truth have always upheld me.

Quoniam circumdederunt me mala quorum non est numerus; comprehenderunt me iniquitates meæ, et non potui ut viderem. Multiplicatæ sunt super capillos capitis mei, et cor meum dereliquit me.

I am beset with evils past numbering, overtaken by my sins; they fill my prospect, countless as the hairs on my head; my courage fails me.

For evils without number have surrounded me; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I was not able to see. They are multiplied above the hairs of my head: and my heart hath forsaken me.

Complaceat tibi, Domine, ut eruas me; Domine, ad adjuvandum me respice.

Deign, Lord, to set me free; Lord, give heed and help.

Be pleased, O Lord to deliver me: look down, O Lord, to help me.

Confundantur et revereantur simul, qui quærunt animam meam ut auferant eam; convertantur retrorsum et revereantur, qui volunt mihi mala.

Disappointment and shame be theirs, who lay plots against my life; may they slink away covered with confusion, who now rejoice over my downfall.

Let them be confounded and ashamed together, that seek after my soul to take it away. Let them be turned backward and be ashamed that desire evils to me.

Ferant confestim confusionem suam, qui dicunt mihi: Euge, euge!

Joy, joy! is their cry; dumb-stricken let them stand, their hopes belied.

Let them immediately bear their confusion, that say to me: ’T is well, ’t is well.

Exsultent et lætentur super te omnes quærentes te; et dicant semper: Magnificetur Dominus, qui diligunt salutare tuum.

Rejoicing and triumph for all the souls that look to thee; Praise to the Lord, will ever be their song, who now long for thy aid.

Let all that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say always: The Lord be magnified.

Ego autem mendicus sum et pauper; Dominus sollicitus est mei. Adjutor meus et protector meus tu es; Deus meus, ne tardaveris.

I, so helpless, so destitute, and the Lord is concerned for me! Thou art my champion and my refuge; do not linger, my God, do not linger on the way.

But I am a beggar and poor: the Lord is careful for me. Thou art my helper and my protector: O my God, be not slack.