Spiritual Texts

Spiritual Texts

Athanasian Grail Psalter - Book II

Psalms 42-43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52,53,54,55,
56,57,58,59,60,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,69,70,71,72

Psalm 42(41) Quemadmodum

.2 Like the deer that yearns
for running streams,
so my soul is yearning
for you, my God.

.3 My soul is thirsting for God,
the God of my life;
when can I enter and see
the face of God?

.4 My tears have become my bread,
by night, by day,
as I hear it said all the day long:
"Where is your God?"

.5 These things will I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I would lead the rejoicing crowd
into the house of God,
amid cries of gladness and thanksgiving,
the throng wild with joy.

.6 Why are you cast down, my soul,
why groan within me?
Hope in God; I will praise him still,
my savior and my God.

.7 My soul is cast down within me
as I think of you,
from the country of Jordan and Mount Hermon,
from the Hill of Mizar.

.8 Deep is calling on deep,
in the roar of waters;
your torrents and all your waves
swept over me.

.9 By day the Lord will send
his loving kindness;
by night I will sing to him,
praise the God of my life.

.10 I will say to God, my rock:
"Why have your forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning
oppressed by the foe?"

.11 With cries that pierce me to the heart,
my enemies revile me,
saying to me all day long:
"Where is your God?"

.12 Why are you cast down, my soul,
why groan within me?
Hope in God; I will praise him still,
my savior and my God.

Return to Athanasius' Letter

Psalm 43(42) Judica me, Deus

1 Defend me, O God, and plead my cause
against a godless nation.
From deceitful and cunning men
rescue me, O God.

2 Since you, O God, are my stronghold,
why have you rejected me?
Why do I go mourning
oppressed by the foe?

3 O send forth your light and your truth;
let these be my guide.
Let them bring me to your holy mountain,
to the place where you dwell.

4 And I will come to the altar of God,
the God of my joy.
My redeemer, I will thank you on the harp,
O God, my God.

5 Why are you cast down my soul,
why groan within me?
Hope in God; I will praise him still,
my savior and my God.

Return to Athanasius' Letter

Psalm 44(43) Deus, auribus

.2 We heard with our own ears, O God,
our fathers have told us the story
of the things you did in their days,
you yourself, in days long ago.

.3 To plant them you uprooted the nations;
to let them spread you laid peoples low.
.4 No sword of their own won the land;
no arm of their own brought them victory.
It was your right hand, your arm
and the light of your face; for you loved them.

.5 It is you, my king, my God,
who granted victories to Jacob.
.6 Through you we beat down our foes;
in your name we trampled down our aggressors.

.7 For it was not in my bow that I trusted
nor yet was I saved by my sword:
.8 it was you who saved us from our foes,
it was you who put our foes to shame.
.9 All day long our boast was in God
and we praised your name without ceasing.

.10 Yet now you have rejected us, disgraced us;
you no longer go forth with our armies.
.11 You make us retreat from the foe
and our enemies plunder us at will.

.12 You make us like sheep for the slaughter
and scatter us among the nations.
.13 You sell your own people for nothing
and make no profit by the sale.

.14 You make us the taunt of our neighbors,
the laughing stock of all who are near.
.15 Among the nations, you make us a byword,
among the peoples a thing of derision.

.16 All day long my disgrace is before me;
my face is covered with shame
.17 at the voice of the taunter, the scoffer,
at the sight of the foe and avenger.

* * *

.18 This befell us though we had not forgotten you,
though we had not been false to your covenant,
.19 though we had not withdrawn our hearts;
though our feet had not strayed from your path.
.20 Yet you have crushed us in a place of sorrows
and covered us with the shadow of death.

.21 Had we forgotten the name of our God,
or stretched out our hands to another god
.22 would not God have found this out,
he who knows the secrets of the heart?
.23 It is for you that we face death all day long
and are counted as sheep for the slaughter.

.24 Awake, O Lord, why do you sleep?
Arise, do not reject us for ever!
.25 Why do you hide your face
and forget our oppression and misery?

.26 For we are brought down low to the dust;
our body lies prostrate on the earth.
.27 Stand up and come to our help!
Redeem us because of your love!

Return to Athanasius' Letter

Psalm 45(44) Eructavit cor meum

.2 My heart overflows with noble words.
To the king I must speak the song I have made,
my tongue as nimble as the pen of a scribe.

.3 You are the fairest of the children of men
and graciousness is poured upon your lips:
because God has blessed you for evermore.

.4 O mighty one, gird your sword upon your thigh;
/.5 in splendor and state, ride on in triumph
for the cause of truth and goodness and right.

Take aim with your bow in your dread right hand.
.6 Your arrows are sharp, peoples fall beneath you.
The foes of the king fall down and lose heart.

.7 Your throne, O God, shall endure for ever.
A scepter of justice is the scepter of your kingdom.
.8 Your love is for justice; your hatred for evil.

Therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness above other kings:
.9 your robes are fragrant with aloes and myrrh.

From the ivory palace you are greeted with music.
.10 The daughters of kings are among your loved ones.
On your right stands the queen in gold of Ophir.

* * *

.11 Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words:
forget your own people and your father's house.
.12 So will the king desire your beauty:
He is your lord, pay homage to him.

.13 And the people of Tyre shall come with gifts,
the richest of the people shall seek your favor.
.14 The daughter of the king is clothed with splendor,
her robes embroidered with pearls set in gold.

.15 She is led to the king with her maiden companions.
.16 They are escorted amid gladness and joy;
they pass within the palace of the king.

* * *

.17 Sons shall be yours in place of your fathers:
you will make them rulers over all the earth.

.18 May this song make your name for ever remembered.
May the peoples praise you from age to age.

Return to Athanasius' Letter

Psalm 46(45) Deus noster refugium

.2 God is for us a refuge and strength,
a helper close at hand, in time of distress,
.3 so we shall not fear though the earth should rock,
though the mountains fall into the depths of the sea;
.4 even though its waters rage and foam,
even though the mountains be shaken by its waves.

The Lord of hosts is with us:
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

.5 The waters of a river give joy to God's city,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
.6 God is within, it cannot be shaken;
God will help it at the dawning of the day.
.7 Nations are in tumult, kingdoms are shaken:
he lifts his voice, the earth shrinks away.

.8 The Lord of hosts is with us:
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

.9 Come, consider the works of the Lord,
the redoubtable deeds he has done on the earth.
.10 He puts an end to wars over all the earth;
the bow he breaks, the spear he snaps.
(He burns the shields with fire.)
.11 "Be still and know that I am God,
supreme among the nations, supreme on the earth!"

.12 The Lord of hosts is with us:
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

Return to Athanasius' Letter

Psalm 47(46) Omnes gentes, plaudite

.2 All peoples, clap your hands,
cry to God with shouts of joy!
.3 For the Lord, the Most High, we must fear,
great king over all the earth.

.4 He subdues peoples under us
and nations under our feet.
.5 Our inheritance, our glory, is from him,
given to Jacob out of love.

.6 God goes up with shouts of joy;
the Lord goes up with trumpet blast.
.7 Sing praise for God, sing praise,
sing praise to our king, sing praise.

.8 God is king of all the earth,
sing praise with all your skill.
.9 God is king over the nations;
God reigns on his holy throne.

.10 The princes of the people are assembled
with the people of Abraham's God.
The rulers of the earth belong to God,
to God who reigns over all.

Return to Athanasius' Letter

Psalm 48(47) Magnus Dominus

.2 The Lord is great and worthy to be praised
in the city of our God.
/.3 His holy mountain rises in beauty,
the joy of all the earth.

Mount Zion, true pole of the earth,
the Great King's city!
.4 God, in the midst of its citadels,
has shown himself its stronghold.

.5 For the kings assembled together,
together they advanced.
.6 They saw; at once they were astounded;
dismayed, they fled in fear.

.7 A trembling seized them there,
like the pangs of birth.
.8 By the east wind you have destroyed
the ships of Tarshish.

.9 As we have heard, so we have seen
in the city of our God,
in the city of the Lord of hosts
which God upholds for ever.

.10 O God, we ponder your love
within your temple.
.11 Your praise, O God, like your name
reaches the ends of the earth.

With justice your right hand is filled.
.12 Mount Zion rejoices;
the people of Judah rejoice
at the sight of your judgments.

.13 Walk through Zion, walk all round it;
count the number of its towers.
.14 Review all its ramparts,
examine its castles,

that you may tell the next generation
.15 that such is our God,
our God for ever and always.
It is he who leads us.

Psalm 49(48) Audite haec, omnes

.2 Hear this, all you peoples,
give heed, all who dwell in the world,
.3 men both high and low,
rich and poor alike!

.4 My lips will speak words of wisdom.
My heart is full of insight.
.5 I will turn my mind to a parable,
with the harp I will solve my problem.

* * *

.6 Why should I fear in evil days
the malice of the foes who surround me,
.7 men who trust in their wealth,
and boast of the vastness of their riches?

.8 For no man buy his own ransom,
or pay a price to God for his life.
.9 The ransom of his soul is beyond him.
.10 He cannot buy life without end,
nor avoid coming to the grave.

.11 He knows that wise men and fools must both perish
and must leave their wealth to others.
.12 Their graves are their homes for ever,
their dwelling place from age to age,
though their names spread wide through the land.

.13 In his riches, man lacks wisdom;
he is like the beasts that are destroyed.

* * *

.14 This is the lot of those who trust in themselves,
who have others in their beck and call.
.15 Like sheep they are driven to the grave,
where death shall be their shepherd
and the just shall become their rulers.

With the morning their outward show vanishes
and the grave becomes their home.
.16 But God will ransom me from death
and take my soul to himself.

.17 Then do not fear when a man grows rich,
when the glory of his house increases.
.18 He takes nothing with him when he dies,
his glory does not follow him below.

.19 Though he flattered himself while he lived:
"Men will praise me for all my success,"
.20 yet he will go to join his fathers,
and will never see the light any more.

.21 In his riches, man lacks wisdom;
he is like the beasts that are destroyed.

Psalm 50(49) Deus deorum

1 The God of gods, the Lord,
has spoken and summoned the earth,
from the rising of the sun to its setting.
2 Out of Zion's perfect beauty he shines.

3 (Our God comes, he keeps silence no longer.)

Before him fire devours,
around him tempest rages.
4 He calls on the heavens and the earth
to witness his judgment of his people.

5 "Summon before me my people
who made covenant with me by sacrifice."
6 The heavens proclaim his justice,
for he, God, is the judge.

7 "Listen, my people, I will speak;
Israel, I will testify against you,
for I am God, your God.
21c I accuse you, lay the charge before you.

8 I find no fault with your sacrifices,
your offerings are always before me.
9 I do not ask more bullocks from your farms,
nor goats from among your herds.

10 For I own all the beasts of the forest,
beasts in their thousands on my hills.
11 I know all the birds in the sky,
all that moves in the field belongs to me.

12 Were I hungry, I would not tell you,
for I own the world and all it holds.
13 Do you think I eat the flesh of bulls,
or drink the blood of goats?

14 Pay your sacrifice of thanksgiving to God
and render him your votive offerings.
15 Call on me in the day of distress.
I will free and you shall honor me."

16 (But God says to the wicked:)

"But how can you recite my commandments
and take my covenant on your lips,
17 you who despise my law
and throw my words to the winds,

18 you who see a thief and go with him;
who throw in your lot with adulterers,
19 who unbridle your mouth for evil
and whose tongue is plotting crime,

20 you who sit and malign your brother
and slander your own mother's son.
21 You do this, and should I keep silence?
Do you think that I am like you?

22 Mark this, you who never think of God,
lest I seize you and you cannot escape;
23 a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors me
and I will show God's salvation to the upright."

Return to Athanasius' Letter
Psalm 51(50) Miserere mei, Deus

.3 Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.
In your compassion blot out my offense.
.4 O wash me more and more from my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin.

.5 My offenses truly I know them;
my sin is always before me
.6 Against you, you alone, have I sinned;
what is evil in your sight I have done.

That you may be justified when you give sentence
and be without reproach when you judge,
.7 O see, in guilt I was born,
a sinner was I conceived.

.8 Indeed you love truth in the heart;
then in the secret of my heart teach me wisdom.
.9 O purify me, then I shall be clean;
O wash me, I shall be whiter than snow.

.10 Make me hear rejoicing and gladness,
that the bones you have crushed may thrill.
.11 From my sins turn away your face
and blot out all my guilt.

.12 A pure heart create for me, O God,
put a steadfast spirit within me.
.13 Do not cast me away from your presence,
nor deprive me of your holy spirit.

.14 Give me again the joy of your help;
with a spirit of fervor sustain me,
.15 that I may teach transgressors your ways
and sinners may return to you.

.16 O rescue me, God, my helper,
and my tongue shall ring out your goodness.
.17 O Lord, open my lips
and my mouth shall declare your praise.

.18 For in sacrifice you take no delight,
burnt offering from me you would refuse,
.19 my sacrifice, a contrite spirit,
a humbled, contrite heart you will not spurn.

.20 In your goodness, show favor to Zion:
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
.21 Then you will be pleased with lawful sacrifice,
(burnt offerings wholly consumed),
then you will be offered young bulls on your altar.

Return to Athanasius' Letter

Psalm 52(51) Quid gloriaris ?

.3 Why do you boast of your wickedness,
you champion of evil,
.4 planning ruin all day long,
(your tongue like a sharpened razor),
you master of deceit?

.5 You love evil more than good,
lies more than truth.
.6 You love the destructive word,
you tongue of deceit.

.7 For this God will destroy you
and remove you for ever.
He will snatch you from your tent and uproot you
from the land of the living.

.8 The just shall see and fear.
They shall laugh and say:
.9 "So this is the man who refused
to take God as a stronghold,
but trusted in the greatness of his wealth
and grew powerful by his crimes."

.10 But I am like a growing olive tree
in the house of God.
I trust in the goodness of God
for ever and ever.

.11 I will thank you for evermore;
for this is your doing.
I will proclaim that your name is good,
in the presence of your friends.

Return to Athanasius' Letter
Psalm 53(52) Dixit insipiens

.2 The fool has said in his heart:
"There is no God above."
Their deeds are corrupt, depraved;
not a good man is left.

.3 God looks down from heaven
on the sons of men
to see if any are wise,
if any seek God.

.4 All have left the right path;
depraved, every one;
There is not a good man left,
no, not even one.

.5 Will the evil-doers not understand?
They eat up my people
as though they were eating bread;
they never pray to God.

.6 See how they tremble with fear
without cause for fear,
for God scatters the bones of the wicked.
They are shamed, God rejects them.

.7 O that Israel's salvation might come from Zion!
When God delivers his people from bondage,
then Jacob will be glad and Israel rejoice.

Return to Athanasius' Letter

Psalm 54(53) Deus, in nomine

.3 O God, save me by your name;
by your power, uphold my cause.
.4 O God, hear my prayer;
listen to the words of my mouth.

.5 For proud men have risen against me,
ruthless men seek my life.
They have no regard for God.

.6 But I have God for my help.
The Lord upholds my life.
.7 Let the evil recoil upon my foes;
you who are faithful, destroy them.

.8 I will sacrifice to you with willing heart
and praise your name for it is good:
.9 for you have rescued me from all distress
and my eyes have seen the downfall of my foes.

Return to Athanasius' Letter

Psalm 55(54) Exaudi, Deus

.2 O God, listen to my prayer,
do not hide from my pleading,
.3 attend to me and reply;
with my cares, I cannot rest.

/.4 I tremble at the shouts of the foe,
at the cries of the wicked;
for they bring down evil upon me.
They assail me with fury.

.5 My heart is stricken within me,
death's terror is on me,
.6 trembling and fear fall upon me
and horror overwhelms me.

.7 O that I had wings like a dove
to fly away and be at rest.
.8 So I would escape far away
and take refuge in the desert.

.9 I would hasten to find a shelter
from the raging wind,
from the destructive storm, O Lord,
.10 and from their plotting tongues.

For I can see nothing
but violence and strife in the city.
.11 Night and day they patrol
high on the city walls.

It is full of wickedness and evil;
.12 it is full of sin.
Its streets are never free
from tyranny and deceit.

.13 If this had been done by an enemy
I could bear his taunts.
If a rival had risen against me,
I could hide from him.

.14 But it is you, my own companion,
my intimate friend!
.15 (How close was the friendship between us.)
We talked together in harmony
in the house of God.

.16 May death fall suddenly upon them!
Let them go to the grave;
for wickedness dwells in their homes
and deep in their hearts.

.17 As for me, I will cry to God
and the Lord will save me.
.18 Evening, morning and at noon
I will cry and lament.

.19 He will deliver my soul in peace
in the attack against me;
for those who fight me are many,
.18c but he hears my voice.

.20 God will hear and will humble them,
the eternal judge;
for they will not amend their ways.
They have no fear of God.

.21 The traitor has turned against his friends;
he has broken his word.
.22 His speech is softer than butter,
but war is in his heart,
His words are smoother than oil,
but they are naked swords.

.23 Entrust your cares to the Lord
and he will support you.
He will never allow
the just man to stumble.

.24 But you, O God, will bring them down
to the pit of death.
Deceitful and bloodthirsty men
shall not live half their days.

O Lord, I will trust in you.

Return to Athanasius' Letter

Psalm 56(55) Miserere mei, Deus

.2 Have mercy on me, God, men crush me;
they fight me all day long and oppress me.
.3 My foes crush me all day long,
for many fight proudly against me.

.4 When I fear, I will trust in you,
.5 in God, who word I praise.
In God I trust, I shall not fear;
what can mortal man do to me?

.6 All day long they distort my words,
all their thought is to harm me.
.7 They band together in ambush,
track me down and seek my life.

.8 Repay them, God, for their crimes;
in your anger, cast down the peoples.
.9 You have kept an account of my wanderings;
you have kept a record of my tears;
(are they not written in your book?)
.10 Then my foes will be put to flight
on the day that I call to you.

This I know, that God is on my side.
.11 In God, whose word I praise,
(in the Lord whose word I praise,)
.12 in God I trust; I shall not fear;
what can mortal man do to me?

.13 I am bound by the vows I have made you.
O God, I will offer you praise
.14 for you have rescued my soul from death,
you kept my feet from stumbling
that I may walk in the presence of God
and enjoy the light of the living.

Return to Athanasius' Letter

Psalm 57(56) Miserere mei, Deus

.2 Have mercy on me, God, have mercy
for in you my soul has taken refuge.
In the shadow of your wings I take refuge
till the storms of destruction pass by.

.3 I call to you God the Most High,
to you who have always been my help.
.4 May you send from heaven and save me
and shame those who assail me.

O God, send your truth and your love.

.5 My soul lies down among lions,
who would devour the sons of men.
Their teeth are spears and arrows,
their tongue a sharpened sword.

.6 O God, arise above the heavens;
may your glory shine on earth!

.7 They laid a snare for my steps
my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my path
but fell in it themselves.

.8 My heart is ready, O God,
my heart is ready.
I will sing, I will sing your praise.
.9 Awake, my soul;
awake, lyre and harp,
I will awake the dawn.

.10 I will thank you, Lord, among the peoples,
among the nations I will praise you
.11 for your love reaches to the heavens
and your truth to the skies.

.12 O God, arise above the heavens;
may your glory shine on earth.

Return to Athanasius' Letter

Psalm 58(57) Si vere utique

.2 Do you truly speak justice, you who hold divine power?
Do you mete out fair judgment to the sons of men?
.3 No, in your hearts you devise injustice;
your hands deal out violence to the land.

.4 In their wickedness they have gone astray from their birth;
they wandered among lies as soon as they were born.
.5 Their venom is like the venom of the snake;
they are heedless as the adder that turns a deaf ear
.6 lest it should catch the snake-charmer's voice,
the voice of the skillful dealer in spells.

.7 O God, break the teeth in their mouths,
tear out the fangs of these wild beasts, O Lord!
.8 Let them vanish like water that runs away;
let them wither like grass that is trodden under foot:
.9 let them be like the snail that dissolves into slime;
like a woman's miscarriage that never sees the sun.

.10 Before they put forth thorns, like a bramble,
let them be swept away, green wood or dry!
.11 The just shall rejoice at the sight of vengeance;
they shall bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked.
.12 "Truly", men shall say, "the just are rewarded.
Truly there is a God who does justice on the earth."

Return to Athanasius' Letter

Psalm 59(58) Eripe me de inimicis

.2 Rescue me, God, from my foes;
protect me from those who attack me.
.3 O rescue me from those who do evil
and save me from blood-thirsty men.

.4 See, they lie in wait for my life;
powerful men together against me.
For no offense, no sin of mine, Lord,
.5 for no guilt of mine they rush to take their stand.

Awake, come to my aid and see!
.6 Lord of hosts, you are Israel's God.
Rouse yourself and punish the nations;
show no mercy to evil traitors.

.7 Each evening they come back like dogs.
They howl and roam about the city;
they prowl in search of food;
they snarl till they have their fill.

.8 See how they gabble open-mouthed;
their lips are filled with insults.
"For who," they say, "will hear us?"
.9 But you, Lord, will laugh them to scorn.
You make light of all the nations.

.10 O my Strength, it is you to whom I turn,
for you, O God, are my stronghold,
.11 the God who shows me love.

O God, come to my aid
and let me look in triumph on my foes.
.12 God, kill them lest my people be seduced;
rout them by your power, lay them low.

It is you, O Lord, who are our shield.
.13 For the sins of their mouths and their lips,
for the curses and lies that they speak
let them be caught in their pride.

.14 Destroy them, Lord, in your anger.
Destroy them till they are no more.
Let the world know that you are the ruler
over Jacob and the ends of the earth.

.15 Each evening they come back like dogs.
They howl and roam about the city;
.16 they prowl in search of food,
they snarl till they have their fill.

.17 As for me, I will sing of your strength
and each morning acclaim your love
for you have been my stronghold,
a refuge in the day of my distress.

.18 O my Strength, it is you to whom I turn,
for you, O God, are my stronghold,
the God who shows me love.

Return to Athanasius' Letter

Psalm 60(59) Deus, repulisti nos

.3 O God, you have rejected us and broken us.
You have been angry; come back to us.

.4 You have made the earth quake, torn it open.
Repair what is shattered for it sways.
.5 You have inflicted hardships on your people
and made us drink a wine that dazed us.

.6 You have given those who fear you a signal
to flee from the enemy's bow.
.7 O come, and deliver your friends,
help with your right hand and reply.

* * *

.8 From his holy place God has made this promise;
"I will triumph and divide the land of Shechem,
I will measure out the valley of Succoth.

.9 Gilead is mine and Manasseh,
Ephraim I take for my helmet,
Judah for my commander's staff.

.10 Moab I will use for my washbowl;
on Edom I will plant my shoe.
Over the Philistines I will shout in triumph."

.11 But who will lead me to conquer the fortress?
Who will bring me face to face with Edom?
.12 Will you utterly reject us, O God,
and no longer march with our armies?

.13 Give us help against the foe:
for the help of man is vain.
.14 With God we shall do bravely
and he will trample down our foes.

Psalm 61(60) Exaudi, Deus

.2 O God, hear my cry!
Listen to my prayer!
.3 From the end of the earth I call;
my heart is faint.

On a rock too high for me to reach
set me on high,
.4 O you who have been my refuge,
my tower against the foe.

.5 Let me dwell in your tent for ever
and hide in the shelter of your wings.
.6 For you, O God, hear my prayer,
grant me the heritage of those who fear you.

.7 May you lengthen the life of the king;
may his years cover many generations.
.8 May he ever sit enthroned before God:
bid love and truth be his protection.

.9 So I will always praise your name
and day after day fulfill my vows.

Psalm 62(61) Nonne Deo

.2 In God alone is my soul at rest;
my help comes from him.
.3 He alone is my rock, my stronghold,
my fortress; I stand firm.

.4 How long will you all attack one man
to break him down,
as though he were a tottering wall,
or a tumbling fence?

.5 Their plan is only to destroy;
they take pleasure in lies.
With their mouth they utter blessing
but in their heart they curse.

.6 In God alone be at rest, my soul;
for my hope comes from him.
.7 He alone is my rock, my stronghold,
my fortress; I stand firm.

.8 In God is my safety and glory,
the rock of my strength.
/.9 Take refuge in God, all you people.
Trust him at all times.
Pour out your hearts before him
for God is our refuge.

.10 Common folk are only a breath,
great men an illusion.
Placed in the scales, they rise;
they weigh less than a breath.

.11 Do not put your trust in oppression
nor vain hopes on plunder.
Do not set your heart on riches
even when they increase.

.12 For God has said only one thing;
only two do I know:
that to God alone belongs power
.13 and to you, Lord, love;
and that you repay each man
according to his deeds.

Return to Athanasius' Letter

Psalm 63(62) Deus, Deus meus

.2 O God, you are my God, for you I long;
for you my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you
like a dry, weary land without water.
.3 So I gaze on you in the sanctuary
to see your strength and your glory.

.4 For your love is better than life,
my lips will speak your praise.
.5 So I will bless you all my life,
in your name I will lift up my hands.
.6 My soul shall be filled as with a banquet,
my mouth shall praise you with joy.

.7 On my bed I remember you.
On you I muse through the night
.8 for your have been my help;
in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.
.9 My soul clings to you;
your right hand holds me fast.

.10 Those who seek to destroy my life
shall go down to the depths of the earth.
.11 They shall be put into the power of the sword
and left as the prey of the jackals.
.12 But the king shall rejoice in God;
(all that swear by him shall be blessed,)
for the mouth of liars shall be silenced.

Return to Athanasius' Letter

Psalm 64(63) Exaudi, Deus

.2 Hear my voice, O God, as I complain,
guard my life from dread of the foe.
.3 Hide me from the band of the wicked,
from the throng of those who do evil.

.4 They sharpen their tongues like swords;
they aim bitter words like arrows
.5 to shoot at the innocent from ambush,
shooting suddenly and recklessly.

.6 They scheme their evil course;
they conspire to lay secret snares.
They say: "Who will see us?
.7 Who can search out our crimes?"

* * *

He will search who searches the mind
and knows the depths of the heart.
.8 God has shot them with his arrow
and dealt them sudden wounds.
.9 Their own tongue has brought them to ruin
and all who see them mock.

.10 Then will all men fear;
they will tell what God has done.
They will understand God's deeds.
.11 The just will rejoice in the Lord
and fly to him for refuge.
All the upright hearts will glory.

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Psalm 65(64) Te decet hymnus

.2 To you our praise is due
in Zion, O God.
To you we pay our vows,
.3 you who hear our prayer.

To you all flesh will come
.4 with its burden of sin.
Too heavy for us, our offenses,
but you wipe them away.

.5 Blessed is he whom you choose and call
to dwell in your courts.
We are filled with the blessings of your house,
of your holy temple.

.6 You keep your pledge with wonders,
O God our savior,
the hope of all the earth
and of far distant isles.

.7 You uphold the mountains with your strength,
you are girded with power.
.8 You still the roaring of the seas,
(the roaring of their waves,)
and the tumult of the peoples.

.9 The ends of the earth stand in awe
at the sight of your wonders.
The lands of sunrise and sunset
you fill with your joy.

.10 You care for the earth, give it water;
you fill it with riches.
Your river in heaven brims over
to provide its grain.

And thus you provide for the earth;
.11 you drench its furrows;
you level it, soften it with showers;
you bless its growth.

.12 You crown the year with your goodness.
Abundance flows in your steps;
.13 in the pastures of the wilderness it flows.

The hills are girded with joy,
.14 the meadows covered with flocks,
the valleys are decked with wheat.
They shout for joy, yes they sing.

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Psalm 66(65) Jubilate Deo

1 Cry out with joy to God all the earth,
2 O sing to the glory of his name.
O render him glorious praise.
3 Say to God: "How tremendous are your deeds!

Because of the greatness of your strength
your enemies cringe before you.
4 Before you all the earth shall bow,
shall sing to you, sing to your name!"

5 Come and see the works of God,
tremendous his deeds among men.
6 He turned the sea into dry land,
they passed through the river dry-shod.

Let our joy then be in him;
7 he rules for ever by his might.
His eyes keep watch over the nations:
let rebels not rise against him.

8 O peoples, bless our God;
let the voice of his praise resound,
9 of the God who gave life to our souls
and kept our feet from stumbling.

10 For you, O God, have tested us,
you have tried us as silver is tried;
11 you led us, God, into the snare;
you laid a heavy burden on our backs.

12 You let foes ride over our heads;
we went through fire and through water
but then you brought us relief.

13 Burnt offering I bring to your house;
to you I will pay my vows,
14 the vows which my lips have uttered,
which my mouth spoke in my distress.

15 I will offer burnt offerings of fatlings
with the smoke of burning rams.
I will offer bullocks and goats.

16 Come and hear, all who fear God,
I will tell what he did for my soul:
17 to him I cried aloud,
with high praise ready on my tongue.

18 If there had been evil in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened.
19 But truly God has listened;
he has heeded the voice of my prayer.

20 Blessed be God who did not reject my prayer
nor withhold his love from me.

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Psalm 67(66) Deus misereatur

.2 O God, be gracious and bless us
and let your face shed its light upon us.
.3 So will your ways be known upon earth
and all nations learn your saving help.

.4 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.

.5 Let the nations be glad and exult
for you rule the world with justice.
With fairness you rule the peoples,
you guide the nations on earth.

.6 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.

.7 The earth has yielded its fruit
for God, our God, has blessed us.
.8 May God still give us his blessing
till the ends of the earth revere him.

Return to Athanasius' Letter

Psalm 68(67) Exsurgat Deus

.2 Let God arise, let his foes be scattered.
Let those who hate him flee before him.
.3 As smoke is blown away so will they be blown away;
like wax that melts before the fire,
so the wicked shall perish at the presence of God.

.4 But the just shall rejoice at the presence of God,
they shall exult and dance for joy.
.5 O sing to the Lord, make music to his name;
make a highway for him who rides on the clouds.
Rejoice in the Lord, exult at his presence.

.6 Father of the orphan, defender of the widow,
such is God in his holy place.
.7 God gives the lonely a home to live in;
he leads the prisoners forth into freedom;
but rebels must dwell in a parched land.

.8 When you went forth, O God, at the head of your people,
/.9 when you marched across the desert, the earth trembled:
the heavens melted at the presence of God,
at the presence of God, Israel's God.

.10 You poured down, O God, a generous rain;
when your people were starved you gave them new life.
.11 It was there that your people found a home,
prepared in your goodness, O God, for the poor.

.12 The Lord gives the word to the bearers of good tidings:
"The Almighty has defeated a numberless army
.13 and kings and armies are in flight, in flight
while you were at rest among the sheepfolds."

.14 At home the women already share the spoil.
They are covered with silver as the wings of a dove,
its feathers brilliant with shining gold
.15 and jewels flashing like snow on Mount Zalmon.

.16 The mountains of Bashan are mighty mountains;
high-ridged mountains are the mountains of Bashan.
.17 Why look with envy, you high-ridged mountains,
at the mountain where God has chosen to dwell?
It is there that the Lord shall dwell for ever.

.18 The chariots of God are thousands upon thousands.
The Lord has come from Sinai to the holy place.
.19 You have gone up on high; you have taken captives,
receiving men and women in tribute, O God,
even those who rebel, into your dwelling, O Lord.

.20 May the Lord be blessed day after day.
He bears our burdens, God our savior;
.21 this God of ours is a God who saves.
The Lord our God holds the keys of death.
.22 And God will smite the head of his foes,
the crown of those who persist in their sins.

.23 The Lord said: "I will bring them back from Bashan;
I will bring them back from the depth of the sea.
.24 Then your feet will tread in their blood
and the tongues of your dogs take their share of the foe."

.25 They see your solemn procession, O God,
the procession of my God, of my king, to the sanctuary:
.26 the singers in the forefront, the musicians coming last,
between them, maidens sounding their timbrels.

.27 "In festive gatherings, bless the Lord;
bless God, O you who are Israel's sons."
.28 There is Benjamin, least of the tribes, at the head,
Judah's princes, a mighty throng,
Zebulun's princes, Naphtali's princes.

.29 Show forth, O God, show forth your might,
your might, O God, which you have shown for us.
.30 For the sake of your temple high in Jerusalem
may nations come to you bringing their tribute.

.31 Threaten the wild beast that dwells in the reeds,
the bands of the mighty and rulers of the peoples.
Let them bow down offering silver.
Scatter the peoples who delight in war.
.32 Envoys will make their way from Egypt;
Ethiopia will stretch out her hands to God.

.33 Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God, praise the Lord
.34 who rides on the heavens, the ancient heavens.
He thunders his voice, his mighty voice.
.35 Come, acknowledge the power of God.

His glory is on Israel; his might is in the skies.
.36 God is to be feared in his holy place.
He is the Lord, Israel's God.
He gives strength and power to his people.

Blessed be God!

Psalm 69(68) Salvum me fac

.2 Save me, O God,
for the waters have risen to my neck.

.3 I have sunk into the mud of the deep
and there is no foothold.
I have entered the waters of the deep
and the waves overwhelm me.

.4 I am wearied with all my crying,
my throat is parched.
My eyes are wasted away
from looking for my God.

.5 More numerous than the hairs on my head
are those who ate without cause.
Those who attack me with lies
are too much for my strength.

How can I restore
what I have never stolen?
.6 O God, you know my sinful folly;
my sins you can see.

.7 Let not those who hope in you be put to shame
through me, Lord of hosts:
let not those who seek you be dismayed
through me, God of Israel.

.8 It is for you that I suffer taunts,
that shame covers my face,
.9 that I have become a stranger to my brothers,
an alien to my own mother's sons.
.10 I burn with zeal for your house
and taunts against you fall on me.

.11 When I afflict my soul with fasting
they make it a taunt against me.
.12 When I put on sackcloth and mourning
then they make me a byword,
.13 the gossip of men at the gates,
the subject of drunkard's songs.

.14 This is my prayer to you,
my pray for your favor.
In your great love, answer me, O God,
with your help that never fails;
.15 rescue me from sinking in the mud,
save me from my foes.

Save me from the waters of the deep
.16 lest the waves overwhelm me.
Do not let the deep engulf me
nor death close its mouth on me.

.17 Lord, answer, for your love is kind;
in your compassion, turn towards me.
.18 Do not hide your face from your servant;
answer me quickly for I am in distress.
.19 Come close to my soul and redeem me;
ransom me pressed by my foes.

.20 You know how they taunt and deride me;
my oppressors are all before you.
.21 Taunts have broken my heart;
I have reached the end of my strength.
I looked in vain for compassion, for consoles;
not one could I find.

.22 For food they gave me poison;
in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
.23 Let their table be a snare to them
and their festive banquets a trap.
.24 Let their eyes grow dim and blind;
let their limbs tremble and shake.

.25 Pour out your anger upon them,
let the heat of your fury overtake them.
.26 Let their camp be left desolate;
let no one dwell in their tents:
.27 for they persecute one whom you struck;
they increase the pain of one you wounded.

.28 Charge them with guilt upon guilt;
let them never be found just in your sight.
.29 Blot them out from the book of the living;
do not enroll them among the just.
.30 As for me in my poverty and pain,
let your help, O God, lift me up.

.31 I will praise God's name with a song;
I will glorify him with thanksgiving.
.32 A gift pleasing God more than oxen,
more than beasts prepared for sacrifice.

.33 The poor when they see it will be glad
and God-seeking hearts will revive;
.34 for the Lord listens to the needy
and does not spurn his servants in their chains.
.35 Let the heavens and the earth give him praise,
the sea and all its living creatures.

.36 For God will bring help to Zion
and rebuild the cities of Judah
and men shall dwell there in possession.
.37 The sons of his servants shall inherit it;
those who love his name shall dwell there.

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Psalm 70(69) Deus, in adjutorium

.2 O God, make haste to my rescue,
Lord, come to my aid!
.3 Let there be shame and confusion
on those who seek my life.

O let them turn back in confusion,
who delight in my harm,
.4 let them retreat, covered with shame,
who jeer at my lot.

.5 Let there be rejoicing and gladness
for all who seek you.
Let them say for ever: "God is great,"
who love your saving help.

.6 As for me, wretched and poor,
come to me, O God.
You are my rescuer, my help,
O Lord, do not delay.

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Psalm 71(70) In te, Domine, speravi

1 In you, O Lord, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
2 In your justice rescue me, free me;
pay heed to me and save me.

3 Be a rock where I can take refuge,
a mighty stronghold to save me;
for you are my rock, my stronghold.
4 Free me from the hand of the wicked,
from the grip of the unjust, of the oppressor.

5 It is you, O Lord, who are my hope,
my trust, O Lord, from my youth.
6 On you I have leaned from my birth;
from my mother's womb you have been my help.
My hope has always been in you.

7 My fate has filled many with awe
but you are my strong refuge.
8 My lips are filled with your praise,
with your glory all the day long.
9 Do not reject me now that I am old;
when my strength fails do not forsake me.

10 For my enemies are speaking about me;
those who watch me take counsel together.
11 Saying: "God has forsaken him; follow him,
seize him; there is no one to save him."
12 O God, do not stay far off:
my God, make haste to help me!

13 Let them be put to shame and destroyed,
all those who seek my life.
Let them be covered with shame and confusion,
all those who seek to harm me.

14 But as for me, I will always hope
and praise you more and more.
15 My lips will tell of your justice
and day by day of your help
(though I can never tell it all).

16 Lord, I will declare your mighty deeds,
proclaiming your justice, yours alone.
17 O God, you have taught me from my youth
and I proclaim your wonders still.

18 Now that I am old and gray-headed,
do not forsake me, God.
/19 Let me tell of your strength and justice to the skies,
tell of you who have worked such wonders.
O God, who is like you?

20 You have burdened me with bitter troubles
but you will give me back my life.
You will raise me from the depths of the earth;
21 you will exalt me and console me again.

22 So I will give you thanks on the lyre
for your faithful love, O God.
To you will I sing with the harp,
to you, the Holy One of Israel.
23 When I sing to you my lips shall rejoice
and my soul, which you have redeemed.

24 And all the day long my tongue
shall tell the tale of your justice:
for they are put to shame and disgraced,
all those who seek to harm me.

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Psalm 72(71) Deus, judicium

1 O God, give your judgment to the king,
to a king's son your justice,
2 that he may judge your people in justice
and your poor in right judgment.

3 May the mountains bring forth peace for the people
and the hills, justice.
4 May he defend the poor of the people
and save the children of the needy
(and crush the oppressor).

5 He shall endure like the sun and the moon
from age to age.
6 He shall descend like rain on the meadow,
like raindrops on the earth.

7 In his days justice shall flourish
and peace till the moon fails.
8 He shall rule from sea to sea,
from the Great River to earth's bounds.

9 Before him his enemies shall fall,
his foes lick the dust.
10 The kings of Tarshish and the seacoasts
shall pay him tribute.

The kings of Sheba and Seba
shall bring him gifts.
11 Before him all kings shall fall prostrate,
all nations shall serve him.

12 For he shall save the poor when they cry
and the needy who are helpless.
13 He will have pity on the weak
and save the lives of the poor.

14 From oppression he will rescue their lives,
to him their blood is dear.
15 (Long may he live,
may the gold of Sheba be given him.)
They shall pray for him without ceasing
and bless him all the day.

16 May corn be abundant in the land
to the peaks of the mountains.
May its fruit rustle like Lebanon;
may people flourish in the cities
like grass on the earth.

17 May his name be blessed for ever
and endure like the sun.
Every tribe shall be blessed in him,
all nations bless his name.

- - -

[18] Blessed be the Lord, God of Israel,
who alone works wonders,
[19] ever blessed his glorious name.
Let his glory fill the earth.

Amen! Amen!

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More Psalms

Book I = Psalms 1-41
Book II = Psalms 42-72 Top of This Page
Book III = Psalms 73-89
Book IV = Psalms 90-106
Book V = Psalms 107-(151)