Psalm 117. Confitemini Domino

Festival Hymn

In this psalm, a celebrated liturgical hymn of the ancient synagogue (also a thanksgiving hymn on the feast of Tabernacles), we sing our Easter joy occasioned by the Resurrection of our Lord and our own spiritual resurrection in him.

An invitation to be grateful

Confitémini Dómino quóniam bonus: * quóniam in sæculum misericórdia ejus.
2  Dicat nunc Israël quóniam bonus: * quóniam in sæculum misericórdia ejus.
3  Dicat nunc domus Aaron: * quóniam in sæculum misericórdia ejus.
4  Dicant nunc qui timent Dóminum: * quóniam in sæculum misericórdia ejus.

O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good; * for his mercy endureth for ever.
2  Let Israël now confess that he is good, * and that his mercy endureth for ever.
3  Let the house of Aaron now confess, * that his mercy endureth for ever.
4  Yea, let them now that fear the Lord confess, * that his mercy endureth for ever.

Thanksgiving for return from exile

5  De tribulatióne invocávi Dóminum: * et exaudívit me in latitúdine Dóminus.
6  Dóminus mihi adjútor: * non timébo quid fáciat mihi homo.
7  Dóminus mihi adjútor: * et ego despíciam inimícos meos.
8  Bonum est confídere in Dómino: * quam confídere in hómine.
9  Bonum est speráre in Dómino: * quam speráre in princípibus.

5  I called upon the Lord in trouble; * and the Lord heard me at large.
6  The Lord is my helper; * I will not fear what man doeth unto me.
7  The Lord is my helper; * therefore shall I see my desire upon mine enemies.
8  It is better to trust in the Lord, * than to put any confidence in man.
9  It is better to trust in the Lord, * than to put any confidence in princes.

Reflection: a) Exile

10  Omnes Gentes circuiérunt me: * et in nómine Dómini quia ultus sum in eos.
11  Circumdántes circumdedérunt me: * et in nómine Dómini quia ultus sum in eos.
12  Circumdedérunt me sicut apes, et exarsérunt sicut ignis in spinis: * et in nómine Dómini quia ultus sum in eos.
13  Impúlsus evérsus sum ut cáderem: * et Dóminus suscépit me.

10  All nations compassed me round about; * but in the Name of the Lord will I destroy them.
11  They kept me in on every side, they kept me in, I say, on every side; * but in the Name of the Lord will I destroy them.
12  They came about me like bees, and burned even as the fire among the thorns; * but in the Name of the Lord I will destroy them.
13  Thou hast thrust sore at me, that I might fall; * but the Lord was my help.

Reflection: b) Praise God for his redemption

14  Fortitúdo mea, et laus mea Dóminus: * et factus est mihi in salútem.
15  Vox exsultatiónis, et salútis: * in tabernáculis justórum.
16  Déxtera Dómini fecit virtútem: déxtera Dómini exaltávit me, * déxtera Dómini fecit virtútem.
17  Non móriar, sed vivam: * et narrábo ópera Dómini.
18  Castígans castigávit me Dóminus: * et morti non trádidit me.

14  The Lord is my strength, and my song; * and is become my salvation.
15  The voice of rejoicing and salvation * is in the dwellings of the righteous.
16   The right hand of the Lord hath wrought strength: the right hand of the Lord hath exalted me; * the right hand of the Lord hath wrought strength.
17  I shall not die, but live, * and declare the works of the Lord.
18  The Lord hath chastened and corrected me; * but he hath not given me over unto death.

Thanksgiving liturgy in the temple

19  Aperíte mihi portas justítiæ, ingréssus in eas confitébor Dómino: * hæc porta Dómini, justi intrábunt in eam.
20  Confitébor tibi quóniam exaudísti me: * et factus es mihi in salútem.
21  Lápidem, quem reprobavérunt ædificántes: * hic factus est in caput ánguli.
22  A Dómino factum est istud: * et est mirábile in óculis nostris.
23  Hæc est dies, quam fecit Dóminus: * exsultémus et lætémur in ea.

19  Open me the gates of righteousness that I may enter therein and give thanks unto the Lord : * this is the gate of the Lord, the righteous shall enter therein.
20  I will give thanks unto thee, for thou hast heard me, * and art become my salvation.
21  The stone which the builders rejected, * the same is become the head-stone in the corner.
22  This is the Lord's doing, * and it is wonderful in our eyes.
23  This is the day which the Lord hath made; * let us rejoice and be glad therein.

Final plea

24  O Dómine, salvum me fac, o Dómine, bene prosperáre: * benedíctus qui venit in nómine Dómini.
25  Benedíximus vobis de domo Dómini: * Deus Dóminus, et illúxit nobis.
26  Constitúite diem solémnem in condénsis, * usque ad cornu altáris.
27  Deus meus es tu, et confitébor tibi: * Deus meus es tu, et exaltábo te.
28  Confitébor tibi quóniam exaudísti me: * et factus es mihi in salútem.
29  Confitémini Dómino quóniam bonus: * quóniam in sæculum misericórdia ejus.

24  Save me, O Lord: O Lord, make me to prosper: * blessed be he that cometh in the Name of the Lord.
25  We have blessed you from the house of the Lord: * God is the Lord, who hath shined his light upon us.
26  Appoint a solemn day with shady boughs, * yea, even unto the horns of the altar.
27  Thou art my God, and I will praise thee; * thou art my God, and I will exalt thee.
28  I will give thanks unto thee for thou hast heard me: * and art become my salvation.
29  O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good, * and his mercy endureth for ever.