Psalm 113.  In exitu Israël

Religion and idolatry

This psalm consists of two distinct songs.  The first in its naive simplicity is full of poetry: nature rejoices as it sees God marching by in the Ark of the Covenant.  In our prayers, this is God's solemn procession through time in the forward progress of his Church.  Christ is in procession, a Corpus Christi procession; and it is our privilege to march along with him.

The second song probably dates from the exile, and sets out to strengthen our trust in God who alone can help us, and our contempt of idols.  In our prayers, this means God in his procession through the earth.  Along the path, the idols of the world are beckoning to us: riches, pleasure, honour, power.  We renounce the devil and all his works.

I  God and his people

In éxitu Israël de Ægýpto, * domus Jacob de pópulo bárbaro:
2  Facta est Judæa sanctificátio ejus, * Israël potéstas ejus.

When Israel came out of Egypt, * and the house of Jacob from among the strange people,
2  Judah was his sanctuary, * and Israel his dominion.

Nature's holy fear

3  Mare vidit, et fugit: * Jordánis convérsus est retrórsum.
4  Montes exsultavérunt ut aríetes, * et colles sicut agni óvium.
5  Quid est tibi, mare, quod fugísti: * et tu, Jordánis, quia convérsus es retrórsum?
6  Montes, exsultástis sicut aríetes, * et colles, sicut agni óvium.
7  A fácie Dómini mota est terra, * a fácie Dei Jacob.
8  Qui convértit petram in stagna aquárum, * et rupem in fontes aquárum.

3  The sea saw that, and fled; * Jordan was driven back.
4  The mountains skipped like rams, * and the little hills like young sheep.
5  What aileth thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? * and thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?
6  Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams? * and ye little hills, like young sheep?
7  The earth trembled at the presence of the Lord: * at the presence of the God of Jacob;
8  Who turned the hard rock into a standing water, * and the flint-stone into a springing well.

II  God alone be praised

9  Non nobis, Dómine, non nobis: * sed nómini tuo da glóriam.
10  Super misericórdia tua, et veritáte tua: * nequándo dicant gentes: Ubi est Deus eórum?

9  Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, * but unto thy Name give the glory.
10  For thy loving mercy, and for thy truth's sake : * wherefore shall the heathen say, Where is now their God?

God and idols

11  Deus autem noster in cælo: * ómnia quæcúmque vóluit, fecit.
12  Simulácra géntium argéntum, et aurum, * ópera mánuum hóminum.
13  Os habent, et non loquéntur: * óculos habent, et non vidébunt.
14  Aures habent, et non áudient: * nares habent, et non odorábunt.
15  Manus habent, et non palpábunt: pedes habent, et non ambulábunt: * non clamábunt in gútture suo.
16  Símiles illis fiant qui fáciunt ea: * et omnes qui confídunt in eis.

11  As for our God, he is in heaven: * he hath done whatsoever pleased him.
12  The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, * even the work of men's hands.
13  They have mouths, and speak not; * eyes have they, and see not.
14  They have ears, and hear not; * noses have they, and smell not.
15  They have hands, and handle not; feet have they, and walk not; * neither speak they through their throat.
16  May they that make them be like unto them; * even every one that trusteth in them.

Song of blessing

17  Domus Israël sperávit in Dómino: * adjútor eórum et protéctor eórum est,
18  Domus Aaron sperávit in Dómino: * adjútor eórum et protéctor eórum est,
19  Qui timent Dóminum, speravérunt in Dómino: * adjútor eórum et protéctor eórum est.
20  Dóminus memor fuit nostri: * et benedíxit nobis:
21  Benedíxit dómui Israël: * benedíxit dómui Aaron.
22  Benedíxit ómnibus, qui timent Dóminum, * pusíllis cum majóribus.
23  Adjíciat Dóminus super vos: * super vos, et super fílios vestros.
24  Benedícti vos a Dómino, * qui fecit cælum, et terram.
25  Cælum cæli Dómino: * terram autem dedit fíliis hóminum.
26  Non mórtui laudábunt te, Dómine: * neque omnes, qui descéndunt in inférnum.
27  Sed nos qui vívimus, benedícimus Dómino, * ex hoc nunc et usque in sæculum.

17  The house of Israel trusteth in the Lord; * he is their helper and defender.
18  The house of Aaron, trusteth in the Lord; * he is their helper and defender.
19  They that fear the Lord trust in the Lord; * he is their helper and defender.
20  The Lord hath been mindful of us, * and hath blessed us.
21  He hath blessed the house of Israel, * he hath blessed the house of Aaron.
22  He hath blessed all them that fear the Lord, * both small and great.
23  The Lord increase you more and more, * you and your children.
24  Ye are the blessed of the Lord, * who hath made heaven and earth.
25  The heaven of heavens is the Lord's; * but the earth hath he given to the children of men.
26  The dead shall praise thee not, O Lord, * neither all they that go down into the grave.
27  But we that live will praise the Lord, * from this time forth for evermore.