Thursday None

The earth trembled, and was still, when God arose to judgment

Theme: Christ Victor.

Image:  Final judgment (the Hour of None meditates the last things).

Plea:  That we too might one day overcome the evil in us and triumph together with Christ in his victory.

Mood:  Rid ourselves of doubt and hesitation. 

No matter how bitterly Thursday Sext laments the destruction of the temple (the Church), None has a victorious note of trust: our cause will conquer, Christ remains the Victor.  There are two stages in the development of this theme:  1) judgment over the evil (the Judge with the cup of wrath, Ps. 74); 2) Christ the Victor (the battle over and won, Ps. 75).  In the first stage, holy fear is the keynote; thanksgiving and joy predominate in the second.

Psalm 74.  Confitebimur tibi

God will requite―a warning

Every sin will be judged.  The Psalm is a warning to sinners not to gamble on God's patience.

Praise of God

Confitébimur tibi, Deus: *  confitébimur, et invocábimus nomen tuum.
2  Narrábimus mirabília tua: * cum accépero tempus, ego justítias judicábo.

Unto thee, O God, shall we give thanks; * yea, unto thee shall we give thanks, and call upon thy Name.
2  We shall declare thy wondrous works * in mine appointed time, I will judge the righteous.

The Judge and sinners

3  Liquefácta est terra, et omnes qui hábitant in ea: * ego confirmávi colúmnas ejus.
4  Dixi iníquis: Nolíte iníque ágere: * et delinquéntibus : Nolíte exaltáre cornu :
5  Nolíte extóllere in altum cornu vestrum: * nolíte loqui advérsus Deum iniquitátem.

3  The earth is melted, and all that dwell therein : * I have established the pillars thereof.
4  I said unto the wicked, Deal not wickedly; * and to the ungodly, Set not up your horn.
5  Set not up your horn on high, * and speak not wickedness against God.

The Judge with the cup of wrath

6  Quia neque ab Oriénte, neque ab Occidénte, neque a desértis móntibus: * quóniam Deus judex est.
7  Hunc humíliat, et hunc exáltat: * quia calix in manu Dómini vini meri plenus misto.
8  Et inclinávit ex hoc in hoc: verúmtamen fæx ejus non est exinaníta: * bibent omnes peccatóres terræ.

6  For neither from the east, nor from the west, nor yet from the desert hills : * for God is the judge.
7  He putteth down one, and lifteth up another : * for in the hand of the Lord there is a cup of strong wine full mixt.
8  And he hath poured it out from this to that, but the dregs thereof are not emptied, * all the sinners of the earth shall drink.

Renewed praise

9  Ego autem annuntiábo in sæculum: * cantábo Deo Jacob.
10  Et ómnia córnua peccatórum confríngam: * et exaltabúntur córnua justi.

9  But I will declare for ever, * I will sing unto the God of Jacob.
10  All the horns of the ungodly also will I break, * and the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.

Psalm 75

God is Victor―consolation

The right will triumph.  The Psalm celebrates the formidable God as Victor over his foes, partially in time, but irresistibly at the end of the world.

Psalm 75. i.  Notus in Judæa

Victory

Notus in Judæa Deus: * in Israël magnum nomen ejus.
2  Et factus est in pace locus ejus: * et habitátio ejus in Sion.
3  Ibi confrégit poténtias árcuum: * scutum, gládium, et bellum.

In Jewry is God known; * his Name is great in Israel.
2  And his place is in peace, * and his dwelling in Sion.
3  There brake he the powers of the bow, * the shield, the sword, and the battle.

Justice over the enemies

4  Illúminans tu mirabíliter a móntibus ætérnis: * turbáti sunt omnes insipiéntes corde.
5  Dormiérunt somnum suum: * et nihil invenérunt omnes viri divitiárum in mánibus suis.
6  Ab increpatióne tua, Deus Jacob, * dormitavérunt qui ascendérunt equos.

4  Thou dost enlighten wondrously from the everlasting hills : * all the foolish of heart were troubled.
5  They have slept their sleep; * and all the men of riches have found nothing in their hands.
6  At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, * they have all slumbered that mounted on horseback.

Psalm 75. ii.  Tu terribilis es

God, Judge of the world

7  Tu terríbilis es, et quis resístet tibi? * ex tunc ira tua.
8  De cælo audítum fecísti judícium: * terra trémuit et quiévit.
9  Cum exsúrgeret in judícium Deus, * ut salvos fáceret omnes mansuétos terræ.

7  Thou art terrible, and who shall stand against thee * when thou art angry?
8  Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; * the earth trembled, and was still,
9  When God arose to judgment, * to save all the meek upon earth.

Thanksgiving in the temple

10  Quóniam cogitátio hóminis confitébitur tibi: * et relíquiæ cogitatiónis diem festum agent tibi.
11  Vovéte, et réddite Dómino Deo vestro: * omnes, qui in circúitu ejus affértis múnera.
12  Terríbili et ei qui aufert spíritum príncipum, * terríbili apud reges terræ.

10  For the contemplation of man shall turn to thy praise; * and the rest of their contemplation shall keep holy day unto thee.
11  Vow ye, and pay unto the Lord your God : * all ye that are round about him bring presents.
12  Unto him that is terrible, even unto him who refraineth the spirit of princes, * unto the terrible among the kings of the earth.