Tuesday Terce

Christ's morning prayer

Psalm 39, which makes up Tuesday Terce, is mainly a prayer of thanksgiving.  The psalmist expresses his thanks for being privileged to offer God the sacrifice of his will.  According to the Epistle to the Hebrews (10:4) this Psalm is the morning prayer to the life of Jesus Christ.  On Good Friday the Church turns it into his death prayer: in place of sacrifícial victims, our Lord offers up himself to the Father for all mankind.  From the crib and from Cross, Christ proclaims that all his life is a constant submission to the Father's will.  The fulfillment of God's will must also be the substance of our life.  That is the theme of this beautiful Hour.

Psalm 39

Obedience is better than sacrifice

Psalm 39. i.  Exspectans exspectavi

Help from God

Exspéctans exspectávi Dóminum, * et inténdit mihi.
2  Et exaudívit preces meas: * et edúxit me de lacu misériæ, et de luto fæcis.
3  Et státuit super petram pedes meos: * et diréxit gressus meos.
4  Et immísit in os meum cánticum novum * carmen Deo nostro.
5  Vidébunt multi, et timébunt: * et sperábunt in Dómino.

With expectation I have waited for the Lord, * and he inclined unto me.
2  And he heard my prayers : * and he brought me also out of the horrible pit, out of the mire and clay.
3  And he hath set my feet upon the rock, * and ordered my goings.
4  And he hath put a new canticle in my mouth, * even a song unto our God.
5  Many shall see it, and fear, * and shall put their trust in the Lord.

God's benefactions

6  Beátus vir, cujus est nomen Dómini spes ejus * et non respéxit in vanitátes et insánias falsas.
7  Multa fecísti tu, Dómine, Deus meus, mirabília tua: * et cogitatiónibus tuis non est qui símilis sit tibi.
8  Annuntiávi et locútus sum: * multiplicáti sunt super númerum.

6  Blessed is the man that hath set his hope in the Name of the Lord, * and who hath not turned unto vanity, and to lying follies.
7  O Lord my God, great are the wondrous works which thou hast done, * and in thy thoughts there is no one like unto thee.
8  I have declared and I have spoken : * they are multiplied above number.

Thanksgiving through obedience

9  Sacrifícium et oblatiónem noluísti: * aures autem perfecísti mihi.
10  Holocáustum et pro peccáto non postulásti: * tunc dixi: Ecce vénio.
11  In cápite libri scriptum est de me ut fácerem voluntátem tuam: * Deus meus, vólui, et legem tuam in médio cordis mei.

9  Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, * but mine ears hast thou opened.
10  Burnt-offering and sacrifice for sin hast thou not required: * then said I, Lo, I come;
11  In the volume of the book it is written of me, that I should fulfil thy will, * O my God, I am content to do it; yea, thy law is within my heart.

Psalm 39. ii.  Annuntiávi justítiam tuam

Thanksgiving by proclaiming God's benefactions

12  Annuntiávi justítiam tuam in ecclésia magna, * ecce lábia mea non prohibébo: Dómine, tu scisti.
13  Justítiam tuam non abscóndi in corde meo: * veritátem tuam et salutáre tuum dixi.
14  Non abscóndi misericórdiam tuam et veritátem tuam * a concílio multo.

12  I have declared thy righteousness in the great congregation: * lo, I will not refrain my lips, O Lord, and that thou knowest.
13  I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; * I have declared thy truth and thy salvation.
14  I have not concealed thy loving mercy and truth * from the great congregation.

Lamentation in new crisis

15  Tu autem, Dómine, ne longe fácias miseratiónes tuas a me: * misericórdia tua et véritas tua semper suscepérunt me.
16  Quóniam circumdedérunt me mala, quorum non est númerus: * comprehendérunt me iniquitátes meæ, et non pótui ut vidérem.
17  Multiplicátæ sunt super capíllos cápitis mei: * et cor meum derelíquit me.
18  Compláceat tibi, Dómine, ut éruas me: * Dómine, ad adjuvándum me réspice.

15  Withdraw not thou thy mercy from me, O Lord; * thy loving-kindness and thy truth have ever preserved me.
16  For evils without number are come about me; * my sins have taken such hold upon me, that I am not able to look up.
17  Yea, they are more in number than the hairs of my head, and my heart hath failed me.
18  O Lord, let it be thy pleasure to deliver me; * make haste, O Lord, to help me.

Psalm 39. iii.  Confundántur et revereantur

Prayer for protection and assistance

19  Confundántur et revereántur simul, qui quærunt ánimam meam, * ut áuferant eam.
20  Convertántur retrórsum et revereántur: * qui volunt mihi mala.
21  Ferant conféstim confusiónem suam: * qui dicunt mihi: Euge, euge.
22  Exsúltent et læténtur super te omnes quæréntes te: * et dicant semper: Magnificétur Dóminus : qui díligunt salutáre tuum.
23  Ego autem mendícus sum, et pauper: * Dóminus sollícitus est mei.
24  Adjútor meus et protéctor meus tu es: * Deus meus, ne tardáveris.

19  Let them be ashamed, and confounded together, that seek after my soul * to destroy it.
20  Let them be driven backward, and put to rebuke, * that wish me evil.
21  Let them immediately be rewarded with shame : * that say unto me, Fie upon thee! fie upon thee!
22  Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee; * and let such as love thy salvation, say alway, The Lord be magnified.
23  As for me, I am poor and needy; * but the Lord careth for me.
24  Thou art my helper and protector; * make no long tarrying, O my God.