Psalmus David, cum esset in deserto Idumææ.

(A psalm. Of David. This was when he was in the desert of Juda.)

A psalm of David while he was in the desert of Edom.

Deus, Deus meus, ad te de luce vigilo. Sitivit in te anima mea; quam multipliciter tibi caro mea!

O God, thou art my God; how eager my quest for thee, body athirst and soul longing for thee,

O God, my God, to thee do I watch at break of day. For thee my soul hath thirsted; for thee my flesh, O how many ways!

In terra deserta, et invia, et inaquosa, sic in sancto apparui tibi, ut viderem virtutem tuam et gloriam tuam.

like some parched wilderness, where stream is none! So in the holy place, I contemplate thee, ready for the revelation of thy greatness, thy glory.

In a desert land, and where there is no way, and no water: so in the sanctuary have I come before thee, to see thy power and thy glory.

Quoniam melior est misericordia tua super vitas, labia mea laudabunt te.

To win thy favour is dearer to me than life itself; my songs of praise can no more be withheld.

For thy mercy is better than lives: thee my lips shall praise.

Sic benedicam te in vita mea, et in nomine tuo levabo manus meas.

So, all my life long, I will bless thee, holding up my hands in honour of thy name;

Thus will I bless thee all my life long: and in thy name I will lift up my hands.

Sicut adipe et pinguedine repleatur anima mea, et labiis exsultationis laudabit os meum.

my heart filled, as with some rich feast, my mouth, in joyful accents, singing thy praise.

Let my soul be filled as with marrow and fatness: and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips.

Si memor fui tui super stratum meum, in matutinis meditabor in te.

My thoughts shall go out to thee at dawn, as I lie awake remembering thee,

If I have remembered thee upon my bed, I will meditate on thee in the morning:

Quia fuisti adjutor meus, et in velamento alarum tuarum exsultabo.

and the protection thou hast given me. Gladly I take shelter under thy wings,

because thou hast been my helper. And I will rejoice under the covert of thy wings:

Adhæsit anima mea post te; me suscepit dextera tua.

cling close to thee, borne up by thy protecting hand.

my soul hath stuck close to thee: thy right hand hath received me.

Ipsi vero in vanum quæsierunt animam meam: introibunt in inferiora terræ;

In vain do my enemies plot against my life, soon to be swallowed up in the depths of earth,

But they have sought my soul in vain, they shall go into the lower parts of the earth:

tradentur in manus gladii: partes vulpium erunt.

a prey to the sword, carrion for jackals!

They shall be delivered into the hands of the sword, they shall be the portions of foxes.

Rex vero lætabitur in Deo; laudabuntur omnes qui jurant in eo: quia obstructum est os loquentium iniqua.

The king shall triumph in God’s protection, blessed as they are ever blessed who take their vows in his name; silence shall fall on the lips that muttered treason.

But the king shall rejoice in God, all they shall be praised that swear by him: because the mouth is stopped of them that speak wicked things.