Tuesday Compline

Neither shalt thou suffer thy Holy One to see corruption

It is night again and we remember all the sins of the day.  In sorrow and in prayer the soul should bestir itself to trust in the merits of its Saviour's Passion, even to raise itself to the blessedness of union with God.  The three Psalms are like three steps in this spiritual ascent.

Psalm 11. Salvum me fac

A godless generation

This Psalm is like a mighty cry of the higher man against the consequences of original sin.  In the soul and in the world there is nothing but sin, deceit and self-seeking.  The psalmist looks for refuge in the Word of God, the only truth and purity and nobility that he can ever find.

Man's ways are corrúption

Salvum me fac, Dómine, quóniam defécit sanctus: * quóniam diminútæ sunt veritátes a fíliis hóminum.
2  Vana locúti sunt unusquísque ad próximum suum : * lábia dolósa, in corde et corde locúti sunt.

Save me, O Lord, for there is not one godly man left; * for the faithful are minished from among the children of men.
2  They talk of vanity every one with his neighbour; * with deceitful lips and with a double heart have they spoken.

 Man's overbearing pride

3  Dispérdat Dóminus univérsa lábia dolósa, * et linguam magníloquam.
4  Qui dixérunt : Linguam nostram magnificábimus, lábia nostra a nobis sunt, * quis noster Dóminus est?

3  The Lord shall root out all deceitful lips, * and the tongue that speaketh proud things;
4  Which have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own; * who is Lord over us?

5  Propter misériam ínopum, et gémitum páuperum, * nunc exsúrgam, dicit Dóminus.
6  Ponam in salutári : * fiduciáliter agam in eo.
7  Elóquia Dómini, elóquia casta : * argéntum igne examinátum, probátum terræ purgátum séptuplum.

5  For the misery of  the needy, and the deep sighing of the poor, * now will I arise, saith the Lord.
6  I will set him in safety : * and I will deal confidently in his regard.
7  The words of the Lord are pure words; * even as silver which is tried by the fire, purged from the earth and seven times purified.

8  Tu, Dómine, servábis nos : et custódies nos * a generatióne hac in ætérnum.
9  In circúitu ímpii ámbulant : * secúndum altitúdinem tuam multiplicásti fílios hóminum.

8  Thou shalt keep us, O Lord, and preserve us; * from this generation for ever.
9  The ungodly walk on every side: * according to thy highness thou hast multiplied the children of men.

Psalm 12. Usquequo, Domine

Abandonment and trust

This beautifully constructed Psalm forms the transition from the oppression of Psalm 11 to the joyous notes of Psalm 15.  Every good prayer must mount the three stages of this Psalm: 1) crisis, 2) heartfelt plea, 3) confident hope.

Crisis

Usquequo, Dómine, obliviscéris me in finem? * úsquequo avértis fáciem tuam a me?
2  Quamdiu ponam consília in ánima mea, * dolórem in corde meo per diem?
3  Usquequo exaltábitur inimícus meus super me? *  réspice, et exáudi me, Dómine, Deus meus.

How long, O Lord, wilt thou forget me for ever? * how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
2  How long shall I seek counsel in my soul, * and be so vexed in my heart all the day?
3  How long shall mine enemy triumph over me? * consider, and hear me, O Lord my God.

Petition

4  Illúmina óculos meos ne umquam obdórmiam in morte : * nequándo dicat inimícus meus : præválui advérsus eum.
5  Qui tríbulant me, exsultábunt si motus fúero : * ego autem in misericórdia tua speravi.

4  Enlighten mine eyes, that I sleep never in death; * lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him.
5  For if I be cast down, they that trouble me will rejoice at it : * but my trust is in thy mercy.

Confident hope

6  Exsultábit cor meum in salutári tuo : cantábo Dómino qui bona tríbuit mihi : * et psallam nómini Dómini altíssimi.

6  My heart shall rejoice in thy salvation : I will sing to the Lord, because he hath given me good things; * yea, I will praise the Name of the Lord Most Highest.

Psalm 15.  Conserva me, Domine

The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance

In this Psalm we give thanks for the gift of faith and of grace.  Other men may have kingdoms, but we possess God, the highest good.  It is he who has given me my blessed calling.  He will not suffer his holy one to see corruption: this beautiful Messianic verse foretelling the Resurrection of Christ may well be applied to our own hope in the resurrection of the body.  Compline is, after all, life's great night prayer.

My God and my all

Consérva me, Dómine, quóniam sperávi in te. * Dixi Dómino : Deus meus es tu, quóniam bonórum meórum non eges.
2  Sanctis, qui sunt in terra ejus, * mirificávit omnes voluntátes meas in eis.
3  Multiplicátæ sunt infirmitátes eórum : * póstea acceleravérunt.
4  Non congregábo conventícula eórum de sanguínibus, *  nec memor ero nóminum eórum per lábia mea.

Preserve me, O God, for in thee have I put my trust. *  I have said unto the Lord, thou art my God; for thou hast no need of my goods.
2  To the saints that are in his land, * he hath exalted in them all my desires.
3  Their infirmities were multiplied : * they made haste thereafter.
4  Their meetings for blood-offerings will I not gather together, * neither be mindful of their names within my lips.

The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance

5  Dóminus pars hereditátis meæ, et cálicis mei : * tu es, qui restítues hereditátem meam mihi.
6  Funes cecidérunt mihi in præcláris : * étenim heréditas mea præclára est mihi.
7  Benedicam Dóminum, qui tríbuit mihi intellectum : * ínsuper et usque ad noctem increpuérunt me renes mei.
8  Providébam Dóminum in conspéctu meo semper : * quóniam a dextris est mihi, ne commóvear.

5  The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance, and of my cup; * it is thou that shalt restore mine inheritance.
6  The lot is fallen unto me in a fair ground; * yea, I have a goodly heritage.
7  I will bless the Lord, who hath given me understanding; * my reins also have chastened me in the night season.
8  I have set the Lord alway before me; * for he is on my right hand, therefore I shall not fall.

Blessed resurrection in God

9  Propter hoc lætátum est cor meum, et exsultávit lingua mea : * ínsuper et caro mea requiéscet in spe.
10  Quóniam non derelínques ánimam meam in inférno : * nec dabis sanctum tuum vidére corrúptiónem.
11  Notas mihi fecísti vias vitæ, adimplébis me lætítia cum vultu tuo : * delectatiónes in déxtera tua usque in finem.

9  Wherefore my heart is glad, and my tongue hath rejoiced: * my flesh also shall rest in hope.
10  Because thou shalt not leave my soul in hell; * neither shalt thou suffer thy Holy One to see corruption.
11  Thou hast shewn me the paths of life: thou shalt fill me with joy with thy countenance, * and at thy right hand there is pleasure for evermore.