Psalm 88: God’s Great Promises. Prayer in Time of Depression.

The magnificent promises God made David compared with the decline of the dynasty. Relying on God’s faithfulness the psalmist prays for a renewal of is favors.

Parallel Latin-English Psalter: Psalms Index

Psalm 88: Prayer Audio in Latin

{88:1} Intellectus Ethan Ezrahitæ.
{88:1} The understanding of Ethan the Ezrahite.

{88:2} Misericordias Domini in æternum cantabo. In generationem et generationem annunciabo veritatem tuam in ore meo.
{88:2} I will sing the mercies of the Lord in eternity. I will announce your truth with my mouth, from generation to generation.

{88:3} Quoniam dixisti: In æternum misericordia ædificabitur in cælis: præparabitur veritas tua in eis.
{88:3} For you have said: Mercy will be built in the heavens, unto eternity. Your truth will be prepared there.

{88:4} Disposui testamentum electis meis, iuravi David servo meo:
{88:4} I have set up a covenant with my elect. I have sworn to David my servant:

{88:5} usque in æternum præparabo semen tuum. Et ædificabo in generationem, et generationem sedem tuam.
{88:5} I will prepare your offspring, even in eternity. And I will build up your throne, from generation to generation.

{88:6} Confitebuntur cæli mirabilia tua Domine: etenim veritatem tuam in Ecclesia sanctorum.
{88:6} The heavens will confess your miracles, Lord, and also your truth, in the Church of the saints.

{88:7} Quoniam quis in nubibus æquabitur Domino: similis erit Deo in filiis Dei?
{88:7} For who among the clouds is equal to the Lord? Who among the sons of God is like God?

{88:8} Deus, qui glorificatur in consilio sanctorum: magnus et terribilis super omnes qui in circuitu eius sunt.
{88:8} God is glorified by the counsel of the saints. He is great and terrible above all those who are around him.

{88:9} Domine Deus virtutum quis similis tibi? potens es Domine, et veritas tua in circuitu tuo.
{88:9} O Lord, God of hosts, who is like you? You are powerful, Lord, and your truth is all around you.

{88:10} Tu dominaris potestati maris: motum autem fluctuum eius tu mitigas.
{88:10} You rule over the power of the sea, and you even mitigate the movement of its waves.

{88:11} Tu humiliasti sicut vulneratum, superbum: in brachio virtutis tuæ dispersisti inimicos tuos.
{88:11} You have humbled the arrogant one, like one who has been wounded. You have scattered your enemies with the arm of your strength.

{88:12} Tui sunt cæli, et tua est terra, orbem terræ et plenitudinem eius tu fundasti:
{88:12} Yours are the heavens, and yours is the earth. You founded the whole world in all its fullness.

{88:13} Aquilonem, et mare tu creasti. Thabor et Hermon in nomine tuo exultabunt:
{88:13} You created the north and the sea. Tabor and Hermon will exult in your name.

{88:14} tuum brachium cum potentia. Firmetur manus tua, et exaltetur dextera tua:
{88:14} Your arm acts with power. Let your hand be strengthened, and let your right hand be exalted.

{88:15} iustitia et iudicium præparatio sedis tuæ. Misericordia et veritas præcedent faciem tuam.
{88:15} Justice and judgment are the preparation of your throne. Mercy and truth will precede your face.

{88:16} Beatus populus, qui scit iubilationem. Domine, in lumine vultus tui ambulabunt,
{88:16} Blessed is the people that knows jubilation. They will walk in the light of your countenance, O Lord,

{88:17} et in nomine tuo exultabunt tota die: et in iustitia tua exaltabuntur.
{88:17} and they will exult in your name all day long, and they will be exalted in your justice.

{88:18} Quoniam gloria virtutis eorum tu es: et in beneplacito tuo exaltabitur cornu nostrum.
{88:18} For you are the glory of their virtue, and in your goodness, our horn will be exalted.

{88:19} Quia Domini est assumptio nostra: et sancti Israel regis nostri.
{88:19} For our assumption is of the Lord, and it is of our king, the holy one of Israel.

{88:20} Tunc locutus es in visione sanctis tuis, et dixisti: Posui adiutorium in potente: et exaltavi electum de plebe mea.
{88:20} Then you spoke in a vision to your holy ones, and you said: I have stationed help with the powerful one, and I have exalted the elect one from my people.

{88:21} Inveni David servum meum: oleo sancto meo unxi eum.
{88:21} I have found my servant David. I have anointed him with my holy oil.

{88:22} Manus enim mea auxiliabitur ei: et brachium meum confortabit eum.
{88:22} For my hand will assist him, and my arm will fortify him.

{88:23} Nihil proficiet inimicus in eo, et filius iniquitatis non apponet nocere ei.
{88:23} The enemy will have no advantage over him, nor will the son of iniquity be positioned to harm him.

{88:24} Et concidam a facie ipsius inimicos eius: et odientes eum in fugam convertam.
{88:24} And I will cut down his enemies before his face. And those who hate him, I will turn to flight.

{88:25} Et veritas mea, et misericordia mea cum ipso: et in nomine meo exaltabitur cornu eius.
{88:25} And my truth and my mercy will be with him. And his horn will be exalted in my name.

{88:26} Et ponam in mari manum eius: et in fluminibus dexteram eius.
{88:26} And I will place his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers.

{88:27} Ipse invocabit me: Pater meus es tu: Deus meus, et susceptor salutis meæ:
{88:27} He will invoke me: “You are my father, my God, and the support of my salvation.”

{88:28} Et ego primogenitum ponam illum, excelsum præ regibus terræ.
{88:28} And I will make him the first-born, preeminent before the kings of the earth.

{88:29} In æternum servabo illi misericordiam meam: et testamentum meum fidele ipsi.
{88:29} I will preserve my mercy for him eternally, and my covenant for him faithfully.

{88:30} Et ponam in sæculum sæculi semen eius: et thronum eius sicut dies cæli.
{88:30} And I will set his offspring from generation to generation, and his throne like the days of heaven.

{88:31} Si autem dereliquerint filii eius legem meam: et in iudiciis meis non ambulaverint:
{88:31} But if his sons abandon my law, and if they do not walk in my judgments,

{88:32} Si iustitias meas profanaverint: et mandata mea non custodierint:
{88:32} if they profane my justices, and if they do not keep my commandments:

{88:33} Visitabo in virga iniquitates eorum: et in verberibus peccata eorum.
{88:33} I will visit their iniquities with a rod, and their sins with a beating.

{88:34} Misericordiam autem meam non dispergam ab eo: neque nocebo in veritate mea:
{88:34} But I will not scatter my mercy from him, and I will not do harm to my truth.

{88:35} Neque profanabo testamentum meum: et quæ procedunt de labiis meis non faciam irrita.
{88:35} And I will not profane my covenant, and I will not make void that which proceeds from my lips.

{88:36} Semel iuravi in sancto meo, si David mentiar:
{88:36} I have sworn by my holiness one time: I will not lie to David,

{88:37} semen eius in æternum manebit. Et thronus eius sicut Sol in conspectu meo,
{88:37} his offspring will remain for eternity. And his throne will be like the sun in my sight,

{88:38} et sicut Luna perfecta in æternum: et testis in cælo fidelis.
{88:38} and, like the moon, it is perfected in eternity, and it is a faithful witness in heaven.

{88:39} Tu vero repulisti et despexisti: distulisti Christum tuum.
{88:39} Yet, truly, you have rejected and despised, you have pushed away, my Christ.

{88:40} Evertisti testamentum servi tui: profanasti in terra Sanctuarium eius.
{88:40} You have overthrown the covenant of your servant. You have profaned his sanctuary on earth.

{88:41} Destruxisti omnes sepes eius: posuisti firmamentum eius formidinem.
{88:41} You have destroyed all his fences. You have made his territory dreadful.

{88:42} Diripuerunt eum omnes transeuntes viam: factus est opprobrium vicinis suis.
{88:42} All who pass by the way have plundered him. He has become a disgrace to his neighbors.

{88:43} Exaltasti dexteram deprimentium eum: lætificasti omnes inimicos eius.
{88:43} You have exalted the right hand of those who oppress him. You have brought joy to all his enemies.

{88:44} Avertisti adiutorium gladii eius: et non es auxiliatus ei in bello.
{88:44} You have diverted the help of his sword, and you have not assisted him in battle.

{88:45} Destruxisti eum ab emundatione: et sedem eius in terram collisisti.
{88:45} You have torn him away from cleansing, and you have smashed his throne down to the ground.

{88:46} Minorasti dies temporis eius: perfudisti eum confusione.
{88:46} You have reduced the days of his time. You have flooded him with confusion.

{88:47} Usquequo Domine avertis in finem: exardescet sicut ignis ira tua?
{88:47} How long, O Lord? Will you turn away unto the end? Will your wrath flare up like a fire?

{88:48} Memorare quæ mea substantia: numquid enim vane constituisti omnes filios hominum?
{88:48} Remember what my substance is. For could you really have appointed all the sons of men in vain?

{88:49} Quis est homo, qui vivet, et non videbit mortem: eruet animam suam de manu inferi?
{88:49} Who is the man that will live, and yet not see death? Who will rescue his own soul from the hand of the underworld?

{88:50} Ubi sunt misericordiæ tuæ antiquæ Domine, sicut iurasti David in veritate tua?
{88:50} O Lord, where are your mercies of antiquity, just as you swore to David in your truth?

{88:51} Memor esto Domine opprobrii servorum tuorum (quod continui in sinu meo) multarum gentium.
{88:51} Be mindful, O Lord, of the disgrace of your servants (which I have sustained in my sinews) among many nations.

{88:52} Quod exprobraverunt inimici tui Domine, quod exprobraverunt commutationem Christi tui.
{88:52} With these, your enemies have reproached you, O Lord; with these, they have reproached the commutation of your Christ.

{88:53} Benedictus Dominus in æternum: fiat, fiat.
{88:53} Blessed is the Lord for all eternity. Amen. Amen.