Misericordias Domini. The perpetuity of the church of Christ, in consequence of the promise of God: which, notwithstanding, God permits her to suffer sometimes most grievous afflictions.

[1] Of understanding, for Ethan the Ezrahite.
Intellectus Ethan Ezrahitae.

[2] The mercies of the Lord I will sing for ever. I will shew forth thy truth with my mouth to generation and generation.
Misericordias Domini in aeternum cantabo; in generationem et generationem annuntiabo veritatem tuam in ore meo.

[3] For thou hast said: Mercy shall be built up for ever in the heavens: thy truth shall be prepared in them.
Quoniam dixisti : In aeternum misericordia aedificabitur in caelis; praeparabitur veritas tua in eis.

[4] I have made a covenant with my elect: I have sworn to David my servant:
Disposui testamentum electis meis; juravi David, servo meo :

[5] Thy seed will I settle for ever. And I will build up thy throne unto generation and generation.
usque in aeternum praeparabo semen tuum, et aedificabo in generationem et generationem sedem tuam.

[6] The heavens shall confess thy wonders, O Lord: and thy truth in the church of the saints.
Confitebuntur caeli mirabilia tua, Domine; etenim veritatem tuam in ecclesia sanctorum.

[7] For who in the clouds can be compared to the Lord: or who among the sons of God shall be like to God?
Quoniam quis in nubibus aequabitur Domino, similis erit Deo in filiis Dei?

[8] God, who is glorified in the assembly of the saints: great and terrible above all them that are about him.
Deus, qui glorificatur in consilio sanctorum, magnus et terribilis super omnes qui in circuitu ejus sunt.

[9] O Lord God of hosts, who is like to thee? thou art mighty, O Lord, and thy truth is round about thee.
Domine Deus virtutum, quis similis tibi? potens es, Domine, et veritas tua in circuitu tuo.

[10] Thou rulest the power of the sea: and appeasest the motion of the waves thereof.
Tu dominaris potestati maris, motum autem fluctuum ejus tu mitigas.

[11] Thou hast humbled the proud one, as one that is slain: with the arm of thy strength thou hast scattered thy enemies.
Tu humiliasti, sicut vulneratum, superbum; in brachio virtutis tuae dispersisti inimicos tuos.

[12] Thine are the heavens, and thine is the earth: the world and the fulness thereof thou hast founded:
Tui sunt caeli, et tua est terra; orbem terrae, et plenitudinem ejus tu fundasti;

[13] The north and the sea thou hast created. Thabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name:
aquilonem et mare tu creasti. Thabor et Hermon in nomine tuo exsultabunt.

[14] Thy arm is with might. Let thy hand be strengthened, and thy right hand exalted:
Tuum brachium cum potentia; firmetur manus tua, et exaltetur dextera tua.

[15] Justice and judgment are the preparation of thy throne. Mercy and truth shall go before thy face:
Justitia et judicium praeparatio sedis tuae; misericordia et veritas praecedent faciem tuam.

[16] Blessed is the people that knoweth jubilation. They shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance:
Beatus populus qui scit jubilationem : Domine, in lumine vultus tui ambulabunt;

[17] And in thy name they shall rejoice all the day, and in thy justice they shall be exalted.
et in nomine tuo exsultabunt tota die; et in justitia tua exaltabuntur.

[18] For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy good pleasure shall our horn be exalted.
Quoniam gloria virtutis eorum tu es, et in beneplacito tuo exaltabitur cornu nostrum.

[19] For our protection is of the Lord, and of our king the holy one of Israel.
Quia Domini est assumptio nostra, et sancti Israel regis nostri.

[20] Then thou spokest in a vision to thy saints, and saidst: I have laid help upon one that is mighty, and have exalted one chosen out of my people.
Tunc locutus es in visione sanctis tuis, et dixisti : Posui adjutorium in potente; et exaltavi electum de plebe mea.

[21] I have found David my servant: with my holy oil I have anointed him.
Inveni David, servum meum, oleo sancto meo unxi eum.

[22] For my hand shall help him: and my arm shall strengthen him.
Manus enim mea auxiliabitur ei, et brachium meum confortabit eum.

[23] The enemy shall have no advantage over him: nor the son of iniquity have power to hurt him.
Nihil proficiet inimicus in eo, et filius iniquitatis non apponet nocere ei.

[24] And I will cut down his enemies before his face; and them that hate him I will put to flight.
Et concidam a facie ipsius inimicos ejus, et odientes eum in fugam convertam.

[25] And my truth and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.
Et veritas mea et misericordia mea cum ipso; et in nomine meo exaltabitur cornu ejus.

[26] And I will set his hand in the sea; and his right hand in the rivers.
Et ponam in mari manum ejus, et in fluminibus dexteram ejus.

[27] He shall cry out to me: Thou art my father: my God, and the support of my salvation.
Ipse invocabit me : Pater meus es tu, Deus meus, et susceptor salutis meae.

[28] And I will make him my firstborn, high above the kings of the earth.
Et ego primogenitum ponam illum, excelsum prae regibus terrae.

[29] I will keep my mercy for him for ever: and my covenant faithful to him.
In aeternum servabo illi misericordiam meam, et testamentum meum fidele ipsi.

[30] And I will make his seed to endure for evermore: and his throne as the days of heaven.
Et ponam in saeculum saeculi semen ejus, et thronum ejus sicut dies caeli.

[31] And if his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments:
Si autem dereliquerint filii ejus legem meam, et in judiciis meis non ambulaverint;

[32] If they profane my justices: and keep not my commandments:
si justitias meas profanaverint, et mandata mea non custodierint :

[33] I will visit their iniquities with a rod: and their sins with stripes.
visitabo in virga iniquitates eorum, et in verberibus peccata eorum;

[34] But my mercy I will not take away from him: nor will I suffer my truth to fail.
misericordiam autem meam non dispergam ab eo, neque nocebo in veritate mea.

[35] Neither will I profane my covenant: and the words that proceed from my mouth I will not make void.
Neque profanabo testamentum meum, et quae procedunt de labiis meis non faciam irrita.

[36] Once have I sworn by my holiness: I will not lie unto David:
Semel juravi in sancto meo, si David mentiar :

[37] His seed shall endure for ever.
Semen ejus in aeternum manebit. Et thronus ejus sicut sol in conspectu meo,

[38] And his throne as the sun before me: and as the moon perfect for ever, and a faithful witness in heaven.
et sicut luna perfecta in aeternum, et testis in caelo fidelis.

[39] But thou hast rejected and despised: thou hast been angry with thy anointed.
Tu vero repulisti et despexisti; distulisti christum tuum.

[40] Thou hast overthrown the covenant of thy servant: thou hast profaned his sanctuary on the earth.
Evertisti testamentum servi tui; profanasti in terra sanctuarium ejus.

[41] Thou hast broken down all his hedges: thou hast made his strength fear.
Destruxisti omnes sepes ejus; posuisti firmamentum ejus formidinem.

[42] All that pass by the way have robbed him: he is become a reproach to his neighbours.
Diripuerunt eum omnes transeuntes viam; factus est opprobrium vicinis suis.

[43] Thou hast set up the right hand of them that oppress him: thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice.
Exaltasti dexteram deprimentium eum; laetificasti omnes inimicos ejus.

[44] Thou hast turned away the help of his sword; and hast not assisted him in battle.
Avertisti adjutorium gladii ejus, et non es auxiliatus ei in bello.

[45] Thou hast made his purification to cease: and thou hast cast his throne down to the ground.
Destruxisti eum ab emundatione, et sedem ejus in terram collisisti.

[46] Thou hast shortened the days of his time: thou hast covered him with confusion.
Minorasti dies temporis ejus; perfudisti eum confusione.

[47] How long, O Lord, turnest thou away unto the end? shall thy anger burn like fire?
Usquequo, Domine, avertis in finem : exardescet sicut ignis ira tua?

[48] Remember what my substance is for hast thou made all the children of men in vain?
Memorare quae mea substantia; numquid enim vane constituisti omnes filios hominum?

[49] Who is the man that shall live, and not see death: that shall deliver his soul from the hand of hell?
Quis est homo qui vivet et non videbit mortem? eruet animam suam de manu inferi?

[50] Lord, where are thy ancient mercies, according to what thou didst swear to David in thy truth?
Ubi sunt misericordiae tuae antiquae, Domine, sicut jurasti David in veritate tua?

[51] Be mindful, O Lord, of the reproach of thy servants (which I have held in my bosom) of many nations:
Memor esto, Domine, opprobrii servorum tuorum, quod continui in sinu meo, multarum gentium;

[52] Wherewith thy enemies have reproached, O Lord; wherewith they have reproached the change of thy anointed.
quod exprobraverunt inimici tui, Domine, quod exprobraverunt commutationem christi tui.

[53] Blessed be the Lord for evermore. So be it. So be it.
Benedictus Dominus in aeternum. Fiat! fiat!