Tuesday Matins

Deliver us from evil

Tuesday Matins is concerned with the enemies of God's kingdom:  external enemies:  persecution by the world (Ps. 34), allurements of the world (Ps. 36); internal enemies:  sin (Ps. 37), temptation (Ps. 38).  From all these enemies may the Good Lord deliver us.

 This Psalm is a plea against evil enemies; the Christian at prayer applies the Psalm to the Church persecuted by the powers of hell.  The enemy is the devil, and we pray that he will be completely overcome.  Understood in this setting, the curses can all be taken at face value.  Still, the Church has pity on all men who work as tools of the devil; she prays for their conversion.  The sufferings of Christ and his unjust persecution by the Jews can serve as illustration of the Psalm.

Call to arms

Júdica, Dómine, nocéntes me, * expúgna impugnántes me.
2  Apprehénde arma et scutum: * et exsúrge in adjutórium mihi.
3  Effúnde frámeam, et conclúde advérsus eos, qui persequúntur me: * dic ánimæ meæ: Salus tua ego sum.

Judge thou, O Lord, them that wrong me, * and fight thou against them that fight against me.
2  Lay hand upon the shield and buckler, * and rise up to help me.
3  Bring forth the sword, and stop the way against them that persecute me: * say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.

Plea for protection and punishment of enemies

4  Confundántur et revereántur,  * quæréntes ánimam meam.
5  Avertántur retrórsum, et confundántur * cogitántes mihi mala.
6  Fiant tamquam pulvis ante fáciem venti: * et Angelus Dómini coárctans eos.
7  Fiat via illórum ténebræ et lúbricum: * et Angelus Dómini pérsequens eos.
8  Quóniam gratis abscondérunt mihi intéritum láquei sui: * supervácue exprobravérunt ánimam meam.
9  Véniat illi láqueus, quem ignórat: et cáptio, quam abscóndit, apprehéndat eum: * et in láqueum cadat in ipsum.
10  Anima autem mea exsultábit in Dómino: * et delectábitur super salutári suo.
11  Omnia ossa mea dicent: * Dómine, quis símilis tibi?
12  Erípiens ínopem de manu fortiórum ejus: * egénum et páuperem a diripiéntibus eum.

4  Let them be confounded, and put to shame, * that seek after my soul.
5  Let them be turned back, and brought to confusion, * that devise mischief for me.
6  Let them be as the dust before the wind, * and let the Angel of the Lord straiten them.
7  Let their way be dark and slippery, * and let the Angel of the Lord persecute them.
8  For they have privily laid their net to destroy me without a cause; * yea, even without a cause have they made a pit for my soul.
9  Let the snare which he knoweth not come upon him, and his net that he hath laid privily catch himself; * that he may fall into his own mischief.
10  But my soul shall be joyful in the Lord; * it shall rejoice in his salvation.
11  All my bones shall say, * Lord, who is like unto thee?
12  Who deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him; * yea, the poor and the needy, from him that spoileth him.

Psalm 34. ii.  Surgentes testes iniqui

Complaint against their evil

13  Surgéntes testes iníqui, * quæ ignorábam interrogábant me.
14  Retribuébant mihi mala pro bonis: * sterilitátem ánimæ meæ.
15  Ego autem cum mihi molésti essent, * induébar cilício.
16  Humiliábam in jejúnio ánimam meam: * et orátio mea in sinu meo convertétur.
17  Quasi próximum, et quasi fratrem nostrum, sic complacébam: * quasi lugens et contristátus, sic humiliábar.
18  Et advérsum me lætáti sunt, et convenérunt: * congregáta sunt super me flagélla, et ignorávi.
19  Dissipati sunt, nec compúncti, tentavérunt me, subsannavérunt me subsannatióne: * frenduérunt super me déntibus suis.
20  Dómine, quando respícies? * restítue ánimam meam a malignitáte eórum, a leónibus únicam meam.

13  False witnesses did rise up: * they laid to my charge things that I knew not.
14  They rewarded me evil for good, * to the great discomfort of my soul.
15  Nevertheless, when they were troublesome to me, * I put on sackcloth.
16  I humbled my soul with fasting; * and my prayer shall turn into mine own bosom.
17  I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother; * as one mourning and sorrowful so was I humbled.
18  But they rejoiced against me, and gathered themselves together; * yea, scourges came together upon me, and I knew it not.
19  They were scattered, and repented not, they tempted me, and scoffed at me with scorn, * they gnashed upon me with their teeth.
20  Lord, when wilt thou look upon me? * O deliver my soul from their malice, and my only one from the lions.

Psalm 34. iii.  Confitebor tibi

Renewed plea for protection and punishment

21  Confitébor tibi in ecclésia magna, * in pópulo gravi laudábo te.
22  Non supergáudeant mihi qui adversántur mihi iníque: * qui odérunt me gratis et ánnuunt óculis.
23  Quóniam mihi quidem pacífice loquebántur: * et in iracúndia terræ loquéntes, dolos cogitábant.
24  Et dilatavérunt super me os suum: * dixérunt: Euge, euge, vidérunt óculi nostri.
25  Vidísti, Dómine, ne síleas: * Dómine, ne discédas a me.
26  Exsúrge et inténde judício meo: * Deus meus, et Dóminus meus in causam meam.
27  Júdica me secúndum justítiam tuam, Dómine, Deus meus, * et non supergáudeant mihi.
28  Non dicant in córdibus suis: Euge, euge, ánimæ nostræ: *  nec dicant: Devorávimus eum.
29  Erubéscant et revereántur simul, * qui gratulántur malis meis.
30  Induántur confusióne et reveréntia * qui magna loquúntur super me.
31  Exsúltent et læténtur qui volunt justítiam meam: * et dicant semper: Magnificétur Dóminus qui volunt pacem servi ejus.

21  So will I give thee thanks in the great congregation; * I will praise thee among much people.
22  O let not them that are mine enemies triumph over me ungodly; * that hate me without a cause, and wink with their eyes.
23  For they spoke indeed peaceably to me ; * and speaking in the anger of the earth, they have imagined deceit.
24  They gaped upon me with their mouths, and said, * Fie on thee! fie on thee! we saw it with our eyes.
25  This thou hast seen, O Lord, hold not thy tongue; * O Lord, depart not from me.
26  Arise, and be attentive to my judgment : * avenge thou my cause, my God, and my Lord.
27  Judge me, O Lord my God, according to thy righteousness; * and let them not triumph over me.
28  Let them not say in their hearts, There! there! to our soul: * neither let them say, We have devoured him.
29  Let them be put to confusion and shame together, that rejoice at my trouble.
30  Let them be clothed with confusion and shame, * that boast themselves against me.
31  Let them be glad and rejoice, that favour my righteous dealing : * yea, let them say alway, The Lord be magnified, who hath pleasure in the peace of his servant.

Finale

32  Et lingua mea meditábitur justítiam tuam, * tota die laudem tuam.

32  And as for my tongue, it shall be talking of thy righteousness, * and of thy praise all the day long.

Psalm 36 is a didactic poem; successive verses are independent of preceding ones, and there is no development or sequence of thought.  The aim of the psalmist is to caution the virtuous against the allurements of the world and the apparent prosperity of wicked men.

Noli æmulári in malignántibus: * neque zeláveris faciéntes iniquitátem.
2  Quóniam tamquam fœnum velóciter aréscent: * et quemádmodum ólera herbárum cito décident.
3  Spera in Dómino, et fac bonitátem: * et inhábita terram, et pascéris in divítiis ejus.
4  Delectáre in Dómino: * et dabit tibi petitiónes cordis tui.
5  Revéla Dómino viam tuam, et spera in eo: * et ipse fáciet.
6  Et edúcet quasi lumen justítiam tuam: et judícium tuum tamquam merídiem: * súbditus esto Dómino, et ora eum.
7  Noli æmulári in eo, qui prosperátur in via sua: * in hómine faciénte injustítias.
8  Désine ab ira, et derelínque furórem: * noli æmulári ut malignéris.
9  Quóniam qui malignántur, exterminabúntur: * sustinéntes autem Dóminum, ipsi hereditábunt terram.
10  Et adhuc pusíllum, et non erit peccátor: * et quæres locum ejus et non invénies.
11  Mansuéti autem hereditábunt terram: * et delectabúntur in multitúdine pacis.
12  Observábit peccátor justum: * et stridébit super eum déntibus suis.
13  Dóminus autem irridébit eum: * quóniam próspicit quod véniet dies ejus.
14  Gladium evaginavérunt peccatóres: * intendérunt arcum suum,
15  Ut dejíciant páuperem et ínopem: * ut trucídent rectos corde.
16  Gládius eórum intret in corda ipsórum: * et arcus eórum confringátur.

Fret not thyself because of the ungodly; * neither be thou envious against the evil doers.
2  For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, * and be withered even as the green herb.
3  Put thou thy trust in the Lord, and be doing good; * dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed with its riches.
4  Delight thou in the Lord, * and he shall give thee thy heart's desire.
5  Commit thy way unto the Lord, and put thy trust in him, * and he shall bring it to pass.
6  He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy just dealing as the noon-day : * Be thou subject to the Lord, and pray to him
7  But grieve not thyself at him whose way doth prosper, * the man that doeth evil things.
8  Leave off from wrath, and let go displeasure: * fret not thyself, else shalt thou be moved to do evil.
9  Wicked doers shall be rooted out; * and they that patiently abide the Lord, those shall inherit the land.
10  Yet a little while, and the ungodly shall be clean gone: * thou shalt look after his place, and shalt not find it.
11  But the meek-spirited shall possess the earth, * and shall be refreshed in the multitude of peace.
12  The ungodly shall watch the righteous, * and shall gnash upon him with his teeth.
13  But the Lord shall laugh him to scorn; * for he hath seen that his day is coming.
14  The ungodly have drawn out the sword, * and have bent their bow,
15  To cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as are of a right heart.
16  Their sword shall go through their own heart, * and their bow shall be broken.

Psalm 36. ii.  Melius est modicum

17  Mélius est módicum justo, * super divítias peccatórum multas.
18  Quóniam bráchia peccatórum conteréntur: * confírmat autem justos Dóminus.
19  Novit Dóminus dies immaculatórum: * et heréditas eórum in ætérnum erit.
20  Non confundéntur in témpore malo, et in diébus famis saturabúntur: * quia peccatóres períbunt.
21  Inimíci vero Dómini mox ut honorificáti fúerint et exaltáti: * deficiéntes, quemádmodum fumus defícient.
22  Mutuábitur peccátor, et non solvet: * justus autem miserétur et tríbuet.
23  Quia benedicéntes ei hereditábunt terram: * maledicéntes autem ei disperíbunt.
24  Apud Dóminum gressus hóminis dirigéntur: * et viam ejus volet.
25 Cum cecíderit non collidétur: * quia Dóminus suppónit manum suam.
26  Júnior fui, étenim sénui: * et non vidi justum derelíctum, nec semen ejus quærens panem.
27  Tota die miserétur et cómmodat: * et semen illíus in benedictióne erit.
28  Declína a malo, et fac bonum: * et inhábita in sæculum sæculi.
29  Quia Dóminus amat judícium, et non derelínquet sanctos suos: * in ætérnum conservabúntur.
30  Injústi puniéntur: * et semen impiórum períbit.
31  Justi autem hereditábunt terram: * et inhabitábunt in sæculum sæculi super eam.

17  A small thing is better to the righteous, * than the great riches of the ungodly.
18  For the arms of the ungodly shall be broken, * but the Lord upholdeth the righteous.
19  The Lord knoweth the days of the undefiled; * and their inheritance shall endure for ever.
20  They shall not be confounded in the perilous time, and in the days of dearth they shall have enough : * as for the ungodly, they shall perish.
21  And the enemies of the Lord presently after they shall be honoured and exalted, * yea, even as the smoke shall they consume away.
22  The ungodly shall borrow, and pay not again; * but the righteous sheweth mercy and shall give.
23  For such as bless him, shall possess the land; * but they that curse him, shall be rooted out.
24  With the Lord shall the steps of a man be directed, * and he shall like well his way.
25  Though he fall, he shall not be bruised; * for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.
26  I have been young, and now am old; * and yet saw I never the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging their bread.
27  The righteous sheweth mercy, and lendeth all the day long; * and his seed is blessed.
28  Flee from evil, and do the thing that is good; * and dwell for evermore.
29  For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints : * they shall be preserved for ever.
30  The unrighteous shall be punished; * as for the seed of the ungodly, it shall be rooted out.
31  The righteous shall inherit the land, * and dwell therein forever.

Psalm 36. iii.  Os justi meditabitur

32  Os justi meditábitur sapiéntiam, * et lingua ejus loquétur judícium.
33  Lex Dei ejus in corde ipsíus, * et non supplantabúntur gressus ejus.
34  Consíderat peccátor justum: * et quærit mortificáre eum.
35  Dóminus autem non derelínquet eum in mánibus ejus: * nec damnábit eum, cum judicábitur illi.
36  Exspécta Dóminum, et custódi viam ejus: et exaltábit te ut hereditáte cápias terram: * cum períerint peccatóres vidébis.
37  Vidi ímpium superexaltátum, * et elevátum sicut cedros Líbani.
38  Et transívi, et ecce non erat: * et quæsívi eum, et non est invéntus locus ejus.
39  Custódi innocéntiam, et vide æquitátem: * quóniam sunt relíquiæ hómini pacífico.
40  Injústi autem disperíbunt simul: * relíquiæ impiórum interíbunt.
41  Salus autem justórum a Dómino: * et protéctor eórum in témpore tribulatiónis.
42  Et adjuvábit eos Dóminus et liberábit eos: * et éruet eos a peccatóribus, et salvábit eos: quia speravérunt in eo.

32  The mouth of the righteous is exercised in wisdom, * and his tongue will be talking of judgment.
33  The law of his God is in his heart, * and his goings shall not slide.
34  The ungodly seeth the righteous, * and seeketh occasion to slay him.
35  The Lord will not leave him in his hand, * nor condemn him when he is judged.
36  Hope thou in the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall promote thee, that thou shalt possess the land: * when the ungodly shall perish, thou shalt see it.
37  I myself have seen the wicked highly exalted, * and flourishing like the cedars of Lebanon.
38  I went by, and lo, he was gone: * I sought him, but his place could no where be found.
39  Keep innocency, and take heed unto the thing that is right; * for there are remnants for the man that maketh peace.
40  As for the unjust, they shall perish together; * and the remnants of the ungodly shall perish.
41  But the salvation of the righteous cometh of the Lord; * who is also their strength in the time of trouble.
42  And the Lord shall help them and deliver them : * he shall rescue them from the ungodly, and shall save them, because they put their trust in him.

This Psalm is the fervent pleading of a repentant sinner.  The Christian, praying this Psalm, will think of overcoming the greatest enemy of his soul, sin.  The Psalm can also be put into the mouth of the living Saviour:  through his suffering and Cross he has atoned for the sins of all the world.

Loud lamentations in his misery

Dómine, ne in furóre tuo árguas me, * neque in ira tua corrípias me.
2  Quóniam sagíttæ tuæ infíxæ sunt mihi: * et confirmásti super me manum tuam.
3  Non est sánitas in carne mea a fácie iræ tuæ: * non est pax óssibus meis a fácie peccatórum meórum.
4  Quóniam iniquitátes meæ supergréssæ sunt caput meum: * et sicut onus grave gravátæ sunt super me.

Put me not to rebuke, O Lord, in thine anger; * neither chasten me in thy heavy displeasure.
2  For thine arrows stick fast in me, * and thy hand hath pressed me sore.
3  There is no health in my flesh, because of thy displeasure; * neither is there any rest in my bones, by reason of my sin.
4  For my wickednesses are gone over my head, * and like a sore burden, are become heavy upon me.

External sufferings

5  Putruérunt et corrúptæ sunt cicatríces meæ, * a fácie insipiéntiæ meæ.
6  Miser factus sum, et curvátus sum usque in finem: * tota die contristátus ingrediébar.
7  Quóniam lumbi mei impléti sunt illusiónibus: * et non est sánitas in carne mea.
8  Afflíctus sum, et humiliátus sum nimis: * rugiébam a gémitu cordis mei.

5  My wounds stink and are corrupt, * because of my foolishness.
6  I am brought into so great misery, that I am bowed down down even unto the end : * and I go mourning all the day long.
7  For my loins are filled with illusions, * and there is no health in my flesh.
8  I am afflicted and sore smitten; * I have roared for the very disquietness of my heart.

Inner sufferings

9  Dómine, ante te omne desidérium meum: * et gémitus meus a te non est abscónditus.
10  Cor meum conturbátum est, derelíquit me virtus mea: * et lumen oculórum meórum, et ipsum non est mecum.

9  Lord, thou knowest all my desire; * and my groaning is not hid from thee.
10  My heart is troubled, my strength hath failed me, * and the light of mine eyes is gone from me.

Psalm 37. ii.  Amici mei

Quiet trust in God

11  Amíci mei, et próximi mei * advérsum me appropinquavérunt, et stetérunt.
12  Et qui juxta me erant, de longe stetérunt: * et vim faciébant qui quærébant ánimam meam.
13  Et qui inquirébant mala mihi, locúti sunt vanitátes: * et dolos tota die meditabántur.
14  Ego autem tamquam surdus non audiébam: * et sicut mutus non apériens os suum.
15  Et factus sum sicut homo non áudiens: * et non habens in ore suo redargutiónes.
16  Quóniam in te, Dómine, sperávi: * tu exáudies me, Dómine, Deus meus.
17  Quia dixi: Nequándo supergáudeant mihi inimíci mei: * et dum commovéntur pedes mei, super me magna locúti sunt.

11  My friends and my neighbours * have drawn near, and stood against me.
12  And they that were near me stood afar off : * and they also that sought after my life dealt violence.
13  And they that sought evils to me talked of vain things : * and imagined deceit all the day long.
14  As for me, I was like a deaf man, and heard not; * and as one that is dumb, who doth not open his mouth.
15  I became even as a man that heareth not, * and in whose mouth are no reproofs.
16  For in thee, O Lord, have I put my trust; * thou shalt hear me, O Lord my God.
17  For I have said: Lest ever mine enemies should triumph over me; * for when my foot slipped, they spake great things against me.

Renewed pleading, final plea

18  Quóniam ego in flagélla parátus sum: * et dolor meus in conspéctu meo semper.
19  Quóniam iniquitátem meam annuntiábo: * et cogitábo pro peccáto meo.
20  Inimíci autem mei vivunt, et confirmáti sunt super me: * et multiplicáti sunt qui odérunt me iníque.
21  Qui retribuunt mala pro bonis, detrahébant mihi: * quóniam sequébar bonitátem.
22  Ne derelínquas me, Dómine, Deus meus: * ne discésseris a me.
23  Inténde in adjutórium meum, * Dómine, Deus, salútis meæ.

18  For I am ready for scourges, * and my sorrow is ever in my sight.
19  For I will confess my wickedness, * and be sorry for my sin.
20  But mine enemies live, and are mightier than I; * and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.
21  They also that reward evil for good are against me; * because I follow the thing that is good.
22  Forsake me not, O Lord my God; * do not thou depart from me.
23  Haste thee to help me, * O Lord God of my salvation.

Psalm 38.  Dixi, Custodiam

In doubt and despair
Fourth enemy of the kingdom:  doubt

This somewhat difficult Psalm rises from inner conflicts and doubts of faith, surmounts the apparent contradictions of nature and the world, and arrives at a belief in the justice of heaven that sets all things aright.  It is from this point of vantage that the psalmist takes every trial upon himself and prays for all his sufferings to be turned away.  This Psalm we pray for our Gethsemane, for everyone's Gethsemane.

Restraint in grief

Dixi: Custódiam vias meas: * ut non delínquam in lingua mea.
2  Pósui ori meo custódiam, * cum consísteret peccátor advérsum me.
3  Obmútui, et humiliátus sum, et sílui a bonis: * et dolor meus renovátus est.
4  Concáluit cor meum intra me: * et in meditatióne mea exardéscet ignis.

I said, I will take heed to my ways, * that I offend not in my tongue.
2  I have set a guard to my mouth, * while the ungodly stood against me.
3  I held my tongue, and was brought low, and spake nothing even from good things: * and my sorrow was renewed.
4  My heart was hot within me: * and while I was thus musing the fire kindled.

Contingency of human existence

5  Locútus sum in lingua mea: * Notum fac mihi, Dómine, finem meum.
6  Et númerum diérum meórum quis est: * ut sciam quid desit mihi.
7  Ecce mensurábiles posuísti dies meos: * et substántia mea tamquam níhilum ante te.
8  Verúmtamen univérsa vánitas, * omnis homo vivens.
9  Verúmtamen in imágine pertránsit homo: * sed et frustra conturbátur.
10  Thesaurízat: * et ignórat cui congregábit ea.

5  I spake with my tongue : * Lord, let me know mine end.
6  And what is the number of my days; * that I may know what is wanting to me.
7  Behold, thou hast made my days to be measured, * and my substance is even as nothing before thee.
8  And verily all things are vanity, * every man living.
9  For man surely passeth as a vain shadow, * yea, and he disquieteth himself in vain.
10  He heapeth up riches, * and cannot tell for whom he shall gather them.

Confession of sin

11  Et nunc quæ est exspectátio mea? Nonne Dóminus? * Et substántia mea apud te est.
12  Ab ómnibus iniquitátibus meis érue me: * oppróbrium insipiénti dedísti me.
13  Obmútui, et non apérui os meum, quóniam tu fecísti: * ámove a me plagas tuas.
14  A fortitúdine manus tuæ ego deféci in increpatiónibus: * propter iniquitátem corripuísti hóminem.
15  Et tabéscere fecísti sicut aráneam ánimam ejus: * verúmtamen vane conturbátur omnis homo.

11  And now what is my hope? Is it not the Lord? * truly my substance is even with thee.
12  Deliver me from all mine offences; * thou hast made me a rebuke unto the foolish.
13  I became dumb, and opened not my mouth, for it was thy doing : * take thy plague away from me.
14  The strength of thy hand hath made me faint in rebukes : * thou hast chastened man for iniquity.
15  Thou hast made his soul to consume away, like as it were a spider : * in truth every man is confounded in vain.

Plea for mercy

16  Exáudi oratiónem meam, Dómine, et deprecatiónem meam: * áuribus pércipe lácrimas meas.
17  Ne síleas: quóniam ádvena ego sum apud te, et peregrínus, * sicut omnes patres mei.
18  Remítte mihi, ut refrígerer priúsquam ábeam, * et ámplius non ero.

16  Hear my prayer, O Lord, and my supplication : * give ear to my tears.
17  Be thou not silent: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, * as all my fathers were.
18  O spare me, that I may be refreshed, * before I go hence, and be seen no more.