Psalm 1(1) Beatus vir qui non abiit
1 Happy indeed is the man
who follows not the counsel of the wicked,
nor lingers in the way of sinners
nor sits in the company of scorners,
2 but whose delight is the law of the Lord
and who ponders his law day and night.
3 He is like a tree that is planted
beside the flowing waters,
that yields its fruit in due season
and whose leaves shall never fade;
and all that he does shall prosper.
4 Not so are the wicked, not so!
For they like winnowed chaff
shall be driven away by the wind.
5 When the wicked are judged they shall not stand,
nor find room among those who are just;
6 for the Lord guards the way of the just
but the way of the wicked leads to doom.
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Psalm 2(2) Quare fremuerunt gentes
1 Why this tumult among nations,
among peoples this useless murmuring?
2 They arise, the kings of the earth,
princes plot against the Lord and his Anointed.
3 "Come, let us break their fetters,
come, let us cast off their yoke."
4 He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord is laughing them to scorn.
5 Then he will speak in his anger,
his rage will strike them with terror.
6 "It is I who have set up my king on Zion,
my holy mountain."
7 (I will announce the decree of the Lord:)
The Lord said to me: "You are my Son.
It is I who have begotten you this day.
8 Ask and I will shall bequeath you the nations,
put the ends of the earth in your possession.
9 With a rod of iron you will break them,
shatter them like a potter's jar."
10 Now, O kings, understand,
take warning, rulers of the earth;
11 serve the Lord with awe
and trembling, pay him your homage
12 lest he be angry and you perish;
for suddenly his anger will blaze.
Blessed are they who put their trust in God.
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Psalm 3(3) Domine, quid multiplicati
.2 How many are my foes, O Lord!
How many are rising up against me!
.3 How many are saying about me:
"There is no help for him in God."
.4 But you, Lord, are a shield about me,
my glory, who lift up my head.
.5 I cry aloud to the Lord.
He answers from his holy mountain.
.6 I lie down to rest, and I sleep.
I wake, for the Lord upholds me.
.7 I will not fear even thousands of people
who are ranged on every side against me.
.8 Arise, Lord; save me, my God,
you who strike my foes on the mouth,
you who break the teeth of the wicked!
.9 O Lord of salvation, bless your people!
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Psalm 4(4) Cum invocarem
.2 When I call, answer me, O God of justice;
from anguish you released me, have mercy and hear me!
.3 O men, how long will your hearts be closed,
will you love what is futile and seek what is false?
.4 It is the Lord who grants favors to those whom he loves;
the Lord hears me whenever I call him.
.5 Fear him; do not sin: ponder on your bed and be still
.6 Make justice your sacrifice, and trust in the Lord.
.7 "What can bring us happiness?" many say.
Lift up the light of your face on us, O Lord.
.8 You have put into my heart a greater joy
than they have from abundance of corn and new wine.
.9 I will lie down in peace and sleep comes at once
for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.
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Psalm 5(5) Verba mea auribus
.2 To my words give ear, O Lord,
give heed to my groaning.
.3 Attend to the sound of my cries,
my King and my God.
/.4 It is you whom I invoke, O Lord.
In the morning you hear me;
in the morning I offer you my prayer,
watching and waiting.
.5 You are no God who loves evil;
no sinner is your guest.
.6 The boastful shall not stand their ground
before your face.
.7 You hate all who do evil;
you destroy all who lie.
The deceitful and bloodthirsty man
the Lord detests.
.8 But I through the greatness of your love
have access to your house.
I bow down before your holy temple,
filled with awe.
.9 Lead me, Lord, in your justice,
because of those who lie in wait;
make clear your way before me.
.10 No truth can be found in their mouths,
their heart is all mischief,
their throat a wide-open grave,
all honey their speech.
.11 Declare them guilty, O God.
Let them fail in their designs.
Drive them out for their many offenses,
for they have defied you.
.12 All those you protect shall be glad
and ring out their joy.
You shelter them; in you they rejoice,
those who love your name.
.13 It is you who bless the just man
you surround him with favor as with a shield.
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Psalm 6(6) Domine, ne in furore
.2 Lord, do not reprove me in your anger;
punish me not in your rage.
.3 Have mercy on me, Lord, I have no strength;
Lord, heal me, my body is racked;
.4 my soul is racked with pain.
But you, O Lord...how long?
.5 Return, Lord, rescue my soul.
Save me in your merciful love;
.6 for in death no one remembers you;
from the grave, who can give you praise?
.7 I am exhausted with my groaning;
every night I drench my pillow with tears;
I bedew my bed with weeping.
.8 My eye wastes away with grief;
I have grown old surrounded by my foes.
.9 Leave me, all you who do evil;
for the Lord has heard my weeping.
.10 The Lord has heard my plea;
The Lord will accept my prayer.
.11 All my foes will retire in confusion,
foiled and suddenly confounded.
Return to Athanasius' Letter
Psalm 7(7) Domine, Deus meus
.2 Lord God, I take refuge in you.
From my pursuer save me and rescue me,
.3 lest he tear me to pieces like a lion
and drag me off with no one to rescue me.
.4 Lord God, if my hands have done wrong,
.5 if I have paid back evil for good,
I who saved my unjust oppressor:
.6 then let my foe pursue me and seize me,
let him trample my life to the ground
and lay my soul in the dust.
* * *
.7 Lord, rise up in your anger,
rise against the fury of my foes;
my God, awake! You will give judgment.
.8 Let the company of nations gather round you,
taking your seat above them on high.
.9 (The Lord is judge of the peoples.)
Give judgment for me, Lord; I am just
and innocent of heart.
.10 Put an end to the evil of the wicked!
Make the just stand firm,
you who test mind and heart,
O just God!
.11 God is the shield that protects me,
who saves the upright of heart.
.12 God is a just judge
slow to anger;
but he threatens the wicked every day,
.13 men who will not repent.
* * *
God will sharpen his sword;
he has braced his bow and taken aim.
.14 For them he has prepared deadly weapons;
he barbs his arrows with fire.
.15 Here is one who is pregnant with malice,
who conceives evil and brings forth lies.
.16 He digs a pitfall, digs it deep;
and in the trap he has made he will fall.
.17 His malice will recoil on himself;
on his own head his violence will fall.
* * *
.18 I will thank the Lord for his justice:
I will sing to the Lord, the Most High.