Psalm 102. Benedic, anima mea

God's fatherly goodness

This Psalm is a magnificent song of praise, probably a song of thanks for deliverance from exile.  But the psalmist ranges far beyond this simple theme and thanks God for all his mercies and favours to the chosen people.

Praise for God's mercy

Bénedic, ánima mea, Dómino : * et ómnia, quæ intra me sunt, nómini sancto ejus.
2  Bénedic, ánima mea, Dómino : * et noli oblivísci omnes retributiónes ejus.
3  Qui propitiátur ómnibus iniquitátibus tuis : * qui sanat omnes infirmitátes tuas.
4  Qui rédimit de intéritu vitam tuam : * qui corónat te in misericórdia et miseratiónibus.
5  Qui replet in bonis desidérium tuum : * renovábitur ut áquilæ juvéntus tua.

Bless the Lord, O my soul; * and all that is within me, praise his holy Name.
2  Bless the Lord, O my soul, * and forget not all his benefits:
3  Who forgiveth all thy sin, * and healeth all thine infirmities;
4  Who saveth thy life from destruction, * and crowneth thee with mercy and loving-kindness;
5  Who satisfieth thy desire with good things, * thy youth shall be renewed as the eagle's.

God's mercy towards his people

6  Fáciens misericórdias Dóminus : * et judícium ómnibus injúriam patiéntibus.
7  Notas fecit vias suas Móysi, * fíliis Israël voluntátes suas.
8  Miserátor, et miséricors Dóminus : * longánimis et multum miséricors.
9  Non in perpétuum irascétur :  * neque in ætérnum comminábitur.
10  Non secúndum peccáta nostra fecit nobis : * neque secúndum iniquitátes nostras retríbuit nobis.

6  The Lord executeth righteousness * and judgment for all them that are oppressed with wrong.
7  He shewed his ways unto Moses, * his works unto the children of Israel.
8  The Lord is full of compassion and mercy, * longsuffering, and of great goodness.
9  He will not alway be chiding; * neither keepeth he his anger for ever.
10  He hath not dealt with us after our sins; * nor rewarded us according to our wickednesses.

God's mercy towards weak humanity

11  Quóniam secúndum altitúdinem cæli a terra : * corroborávit misericórdiam suam super timéntes se.
12  Quantum distat ortus ab occidénte : * longe fecit a nobis iniquitátes nostras.
13  Quómodo miserétur pater filiórum, misértus est Dóminus timéntibus se : * quóniam ipse cognóvit figméntum nostrum.
14  Recordátus est quóniam pulvis sumus : * homo, sicut fœnum dies ejus, tamquam flos agri sic efflorébit.
15  Quóniam spíritus pertransíbit in illo, et non subsístet : * et non cognóscet ámplius locum suum.
16  Misericórdia autem Dómini ab ætérno, * et usque in ætérnum super timéntes eum.
17  Et justítia illíus in fílios filiórum, * his qui servant testaméntum ejus.
18   Et mémores sunt mandatórum ipsíus, * ad faciéndum ea.

11  For according to the height of the heaven above the earth; * so great is his mercy also toward them that fear him.
12  As far as the east is from the west; * so far hath he removed our iniquities from us.
13  Yea, like as a father pitieth his own children, even so is the Lord merciful unto them that fear him : * for he knoweth whereof we are made.
14  He remembereth that we are but dust : * the days of man are but as grass, as the flower of the field so shall he flourish.
15  For as soon as the wind goeth over it, it is gone; * and the place thereof shall know it no more.
16  But the merciful goodness of the Lord endureth for ever, * and for evermore upon them that fear him.
17  And his righteousness upon children's children; * even upon such as keep his covenant,
18  And think upon his commandments * and to the keeping thereof.

Heaven and earth, bless ye the Lord!

19  Dóminus in cælo parávit sedem suam : * et regnum ipsíus ómnibus dominábitur.
20  Benedícite Dómino, omnes Angeli ejus : * poténtes virtúte, faciéntes verbum illíus, ad audiéndam vocem sermónum ejus.
21  Benedícite Dómino, omnes virtútes ejus : * minístri ejus, qui fácitis voluntátem ejus.
22  Benedícite Dómino, ómnia ópera ejus : * in omni loco dominatiónis ejus, bénedic, ánima mea, Dómino.

19  The Lord hath prepared his seat in heaven, * and his kingdom shall rule over all.
20  O bless the Lord, all ye angels of his, * ye that are mighty in strength, and fulfil his commandment, even ye that hearken unto the voice of his word.
21  O bless the Lord, all ye his hosts; * ye servants of his that do his pleasure.
22  O bless the Lord, all ye works of his, * in all places of his dominion, bless thou the Lord, O my soul.