Psalm 30  In te, Domine, speravi

God, refuge of the oppressed

Psalm 30 is a good example of eastern emotions in expression.  The plea of time in crisis crescendoes into a peal of jubilation at being heard, then returns to a description of the most painful abandonment and once again takes up the happy certitude of being heard.  But throughout, it is confidence in God that gives this Psalm its greatest value as a prayer.

Fervent plea

In te, Dómine, sperávi non confúndar in ætérnum: * in justítia tua líbera me.
2  Inclína ad me aurem tuam, * accélera ut éruas me.
3  Esto mihi in Deum protectórem, et in domum refúgii: * ut salvum me fácias.
4  Quóniam fortitúdo mea, et refúgium meum es tu: * et propter nomen tuum dedúces me, et enútries me.
5  Edúces me de láqueo hoc, quem abscondérunt mihi: * quóniam tu es protéctor meus.

In thee, O Lord, have I put my trust; let me never be put to confusion; * deliver me in thy righteousness.
2  Bow down thine ear to me; * make haste to deliver me.
3  And be thou my protector and house of defence, * that thou mayest save me.
4  For thou art my strength and my refuge : * be thou also my guide for thy Name's sake, and nourish me.
5  Draw me out of the net that they have laid privily for me; * for thou art my strength.

Confidence in being heard

6  In manus tuas comméndo spíritum meum: * redemísti me, Dómine, Deus veritátis.
7  Odísti observántes vanitátes, * supervácue.
8  Ego autem in Dómino sperávi: * exsultábo, et lætábor in misericórdia tua.
9  Quóniam respexísti humilitátem meam, * salvásti de necessitátibus ánimam meam.
10  Nec conclusísti me in mánibus inimíci: * statuísti in loco spatióso pedes meos.

6  Into thy hands I commend my spirit; * for thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, thou God of truth.
7  Thou hast hated them that hold of lying vanities * without purpose.
8  My trust hath been in the Lord : * I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy.
9  For thou hast considered my trouble, * and hast saved my soul from adversities.
10  Thou hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy; * but hast set my feet in a spacious place.

Description of the crisis

11  Miserére mei, Dómine, quóniam tríbulor: * conturbátus est in ira óculus meus, ánima mea, et venter meus:
12  Quóniam defécit in dolóre vita mea: * et anni mei in gemítibus.
13  Infirmáta est in paupertáte virtus mea: * et ossa mea conturbáta sunt.
14  Super omnes inimícos meos factus sum oppróbrium et vicínis meis valde: * et timor notis meis.
15  Qui vidébant me, foras fugérunt a me: * oblivióni datus sum, tamquam mórtuus a corde.
16  Factus sum tamquam vas pérditum: * quóniam audívi vituperatiónem multórum commorántium in circúitu.
17  In eo dum convenírent simul advérsum me, * accípere ánimam meam consiliáti sunt.

11  Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am in trouble, * and mine eye is consumed for very heaviness; yea, my soul and my body.
12  For my life is wasted with grief, * and my years with mourning.
13  My strength faileth me, because of my poverty, * and my bones are consumed.
14  I became a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours; * and they of mine acquaintance were afraid of me.
15  They that did see me without, conveyed themselves from me : * I am clean forgotten as a dead man out of mind.
16  I am become like a broken vessel : * for I have heard the blasphemy of the multitude, that dwell on every side.
17  While they conspired together against me, * and took their counsel to take away my life.

Confidence in God

18  Ego autem in te sperávi, Dómine: *  dixi: Deus meus es tu : in mánibus tuis sortes meæ.
19  Eripe me de manu inimicórum meórum, * et a persequéntibus me.
20  Illústra fáciem tuam super servum tuum, salvum me fac in misericórdia tua: * Dómine, non confúndar, quóniam invocávi te.
21  Erubéscant ímpii, et deducántur in inférnum: * muta fiant lábia dolósa.
22  Quæ loquúntur advérsus justum iniquitátem: * in supérbia, et in abusióne.

18  But my hope hath been in thee, O Lord; * I have said, Thou art my God : my lot is in thy hand.
19  Deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, * and from them that persecute me.
20  Show thy servant the light of thy countenance, and save me for thy mercy's sake : * let me not be confounded, O Lord, for I have called upon thee.
21  Let the ungodly be put to confusion, and brought down to hell : * let the lying lips be put to silence.
22  Which speak iniquity against the righteous, * with pride and disdain.

Praise and thanksgiving for being heard

23  Quam magna multitúdo dulcédinis tuæ, Dómine, * quam abscondísti timéntibus te.
24  Perfecísti eis, qui sperant in te, * in conspéctu filiórum hóminum.
25  Abscóndes eos in abscóndito faciéi tuæ * a conturbatióne hóminum.
26  Próteges eos in tabernáculo tuo * a contradictióne linguárum.
27  Benedíctus Dóminus: * quóniam mirificávit misericórdiam suam mihi in civitáte muníta.
28  Ego autem dixi in excéssu mentis meæ: * Projéctus sum a fácie oculórum tuórum.
29  Ideo exaudísti vocem oratiónis meæ, * dum clamárem ad te.

23  O how plentiful is thy goodness, O Lord, * which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee.
24  Which thou hast wrought for them that put their trust in thee, * even before the sons of men!
25  Thou shalt hide them in the covert of thine own face * from the plottings of men.
26  Thou shalt protect them in thy tabernacle * from the strife of tongues.
27  Blessed be the Lord; * for he hath shewed me his wonderful mercy in a fortified city.
28  But I said in the excess of my mind : * I am cast out of the sight of thine eyes.
29  Therefore, thou heardest the voice of my prayer, * when I cried unto thee.

Love God, and be strong!

30  Dilígite Dóminum omnes sancti ejus: * quóniam veritátem requíret Dóminus, et retríbuet abundánter faciéntibus supérbiam.
31  Viríliter ágite, et confortétur cor vestrum, * omnes, qui sperátis in Dómino.

30  O love the Lord, all ye his saints; * for the Lord will require truth, and plenteously rewardeth the proud doer.
31  Do ye manfully, and your heart shall be strengthened, * all ye that put your trust in the Lord.