Psalm 129.  De profundis

Man's guilt and God's goodness

How many Christians have passed over into eternity today!  Surely the greater number of them are not perfectly free from sin and punishment, and thus with deep devotion we pray the De profundis for their deliverance from purgatory.  We pray it also as a thanksgiving song, however, because the faithful departed are God's children, who with full hands will soon be carrying the sheaves of their lives into the heavenly storehouses.  No Psalm is used more frequently by the Church in her prayers for the dead.

First strophe: a cry for forgiveness

a.  Forgiveness

De profúndis clamávi ad te, Dómine: * Dómine, exáudi vocem meam :
2  Fiant aures tuæ intendéntes: * in vocem deprecatiónis meæ.

Out of the depths I have cried unto thee, O Lord; * Lord, hear my voice.
2  O let thine ears be attentive * to the voice of my supplication.

b.  God's readiness to forgive

3  Si iniquitátes observáveris, Dómine: * Dómine, quis sustinébit?
4  Quia apud te propitiátio est: * et propter legem tuam sustínui te, Dómine.

3  If thou, O Lord, shalt observe our iniquities, * Lord, who may endure it?
4  For with thee there is merciful forgiveness : * and by reason of thy law, I have waited for thee, O Lord.

Second strophe: the foundations of trust

a.  Hope

5  Sustinuit ánima mea in verbo ejus: * sperávit ánima mea in Dómino.
6  A custódia matutína usque ad noctem: * speret Israël in Dómino.

5  My soul hath relied on his word * my soul hath hoped in the Lord.
6  From the morning watch even until night : * let Israel hope in the Lord.

b.  Foundations of hope

7  Quia apud Dóminum misericórdia: * et copiósa apud eum redémptio.
8  Et ipse rédimet Israël: * ex ómnibus iniquitátibus ejus.

7  Because with the Lord there is mercy, * and with him plentiful redemption.
8  And he shall redeem Israel * from all his iniquities.