Psalm 73: Desecration. An Act of Reparation.

Lamentation over the profaning of the Temple. How long will God tolerate this terrible situation? The psalmist prays for the salvation of his people, and the punishment of their foes.

Parallel Latin-English Psalter: Psalms Index

Psalm 73: Prayer Audio in Latin

{73:1} Intellectus Asaph. Ut quid Deus repulisti in finem: iratus est furor tuus super oves pascuæ tuæ?
{73:1} The understanding of Asaph. O God, why have you rejected us to the end. Why has your fury become enraged over the sheep of your pasture?

{73:2} Memor esto congregationis tuæ, quam possedisti ab initio. Redemisti virgam hereditatis tuæ: mons Sion, in quo habitasti in eo.
{73:2} Be mindful of your congregation, which you have possessed from the beginning. You redeemed the scepter of your inheritance, mount Zion, in which you have dwelt.

{73:3} Leva manus tuas in superbias eorum in finem: quanta malignatus est inimicus in sancto!
{73:3} Lift up your hands against their arrogance in the end. How great the malice of the enemy has been in the sanctuary!

{73:4} Et gloriati sunt qui oderunt te: in medio solemnitatis tuæ. Posuerunt signa sua, signa:
{73:4} And those who hate you have been glorified, in the midst of your solemnity. They have set up their own signs as a proof,

{73:5} et non cognoverunt sicut in exitu super summum. Quasi in silva lignorum securibus
{73:5} as if it had been issued from on high; yet they did not understand. As in a forest of chopped wood,

{73:6} exciderunt ianuas eius in idipsum: in securi, et ascia deiecerunt eam.
{73:6} they have cut down the entrances themselves. With axe and hatchet, they have brought it down.

{73:7} Incenderunt igni Sanctuarium tuum: in terra polluerunt tabernaculum nominis tui.
{73:7} They have set fire to your Sanctuary. They have polluted the tabernacle of your name on earth.

{73:8} Dixerunt in corde suo cognatio eorum simul: quiescere faciamus omnes dies festos Dei a terra.
{73:8} They have said in their heart, the whole group of them together: “Let us cause all the feast days of God to cease from the land.

{73:9} Signa nostra non vidimus, iam non est propheta: et nos non cognoscet amplius.
{73:9} We have not seen our proof; there is now no prophet. And he will no longer know us.”

{73:10} Usquequo Deus improperabit inimicus: irritat adversarius nomen tuum in finem?
{73:10} How long, O God, will the enemy place blame? Is the adversary to provoke your name until the end?

{73:11} Ut quid avertis manum tuam, et dexteram tuam, de medio sinu tuo in finem?
{73:11} Why do you turn your hand away, even your right hand, from the midst of your sinews, until the end?

{73:12} Deus autem rex noster ante sæcula: operatus est salutem in medio terræ.
{73:12} But God is our king before all ages. He has wrought salvation in the midst of the earth.

{73:13} Tu confirmasti in virtute tua mare: contribulasti capita draconum in aquis.
{73:13} In your virtue, you confirmed the sea. You crushed the heads of the serpents in the waters.

{73:14} Tu confregisti capita draconis: dedisti eum escam populis Æthiopum.
{73:14} You have broken the heads of the serpent. You have given him as food for the people of the Ethiopians.

{73:15} Tu dirupisti fontes, et torrentes: tu siccasti fluvios Ethan.
{73:15} You have disrupted the fountains and the torrents. You have dried up the rivers of Ethan.

{73:16} Tuus est dies, et tua est nox: tu fabricatus es auroram et solem.
{73:16} Yours is the day, and yours is the night. You have made the morning light and the sun.

{73:17} Tu fecisti omnes terminos terræ: æstatem et ver tu plasmasti ea.
{73:17} You have made all the limits of the earth. The summer and the spring were formed by you.

{73:18} Memor esto huius, inimicus improperavit Domino: et populus insipiens incitavit nomen tuum.
{73:18} Be mindful of this: the enemy placed blame against the Lord, and a foolish people has incited against your name.

{73:19} Ne tradas bestiis animas confitentes tibi, et animas pauperum tuorum ne obliviscaris in finem.
{73:19} Do not hand over to beasts the souls that confess to you; and do not forget the souls of your poor until the end.

{73:20} Respice in testamentum tuum: quia repleti sunt, qui obscurati sunt terræ domibus iniquitatum.
{73:20} Consider your covenant. For those who have been darkened upon the earth have been filled by the iniquity of the houses.

{73:21} Ne avertatur humilis factus confusus: pauper et inops laudabunt nomen tuum.
{73:21} Do not allow the humble to be turned away in confusion. The poor and the needy will praise your name.

{73:22} Exurge Deus, iudica causam tuam: memor esto improperiorum tuorum, eorum quæ ab insipiente sunt tota die.
{73:22} Rise up, O God, judge your own case. Call to mind the accusations against you, which are made by the foolish all day long.

{73:23} Ne obliviscaris voces inimicorum tuorum: superbia eorum, qui te oderunt, ascendit semper.
{73:23} Do not forget the voices of your adversaries. The arrogance of those who hate you rises up continually.