In finem. Psalmus David.

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

Unto the end, a psalm for David.

Exaudi, Deus, orationem meam cum deprecor; a timore inimici eripe animam meam.

O God, listen to my prayer when I plead with thee, save me from the threats of my mortal foe.

Hear, O God, my prayer, when I make supplication to thee: deliver my soul from the fear of the enemy.

Protexisti me a conventu malignantium, a multitudine operantium iniquitatem.

Thine to defend me from this conspiracy of malice, this throng of evil-doers;

Thou hast protected me from the assembly of the malignant; from the multitude of the workers of iniquity.

Quia exacuerunt ut gladium linguas suas; intenderunt arcum rem amaram,

the tongues that wound like a sharpened sword, the poisoned words aimed at me, like arrows.

For they have whetted their tongues like a sword; they have bent their bow, a bitter thing,

ut sagittent in occultis immaculatum.

Stealthily they attack the innocent:

to shoot in secret the undefiled.

Subito sagittabunt eum, et non timebunt; firmaverunt sibi sermonem nequam. Narraverunt ut absconderent laqueos; dixerunt: Quis videbit eos?

suddenly, from a safe vantage-point, they wound him. See them pledged to an infamous resolve, plotting to lay snares for me, sure that they will go unseen!

They will shoot at him on a sudden, and will not fear: they are resolute in wickedness. They have talked of hiding snares; they have said: Who shall see them?

Scrutati sunt iniquitates; defecerunt scrutantes scrutinio. Accedet homo ad cor altum,

With what care they hatch their designs, planning treason double-dyed! Let the thoughts of man’s heart be deep as they will,

They have searched after iniquities: they have failed in their search. Man shall come to a deep heart:

et exaltabitur Deus. Sagittæ parvulorum factæ sunt plagæ eorum,

yet God has arrows, too, to smite them with, sudden wounds to deal them;

and God shall be exalted. The arrows of children are their wounds:

et infirmatæ sunt contra eos linguæ eorum. Conturbati sunt omnes qui videbant eos,

all their conspiring plays them false. Scornfully the onlookers shake their heads,

and their tongues against them are made weak. All that saw them were troubled;

et timuit omnis homo. Et annuntiaverunt opera Dei, et facta ejus intellexerunt.

awe-stricken every one; who but will acclaim God’s power, who but will ponder his great acts?

and every man was afraid. And they declared the works of God: and understood his doings.

Lætabitur justus in Domino, et sperabit in eo, et laudabuntur omnes recti corde.

Honest men will rejoice and put their trust in the Lord; upright hearts will not boast in vain.

The just shall rejoice in the Lord, and shall hope in him: and all the upright in heart shall be praised.