The Jews in captivity of Babylon, Christians in persecution, or other great tribulation, pray with confidence to be delivered from danger, and slander of wicked tongues, 5. lamenting their long endurance.The Iewes in captiuitie of Babylon, Christians in persecution, or other great tribulation, pray with confidence to be deliuered from danger, and slander of wicked tongues, 5. lamenting their long indurance.✦
A gradual Canticle. When I was in tribulation I cried to our Lord: and he heard me.A gradual Canticle. When I was in tribulation I cried to our Lord: and he heard me.A gradual Canticle. WHEN I was in tribulation I cried to our Lord: and ahe heard me.Canticum graduum. Ad Dominum cum tribularer clamavi, et exaudivit me.
2O Lord deliver my soul from unjust lips, and from a deceitful tongue.O Lord deliver my soul from unjust lips, and from a deceitful tongue.O Lord deliuer my soule from bvniust lippes, and from a deceiptful tongue.Domine, libera animam meam a labiis iniquis et a lingua dolosa.
3What may be given thee, or what may be added unto thee, to a deceitful tongue?What may be given thee, or what may be added unto thee, to a deceitful tongue?cWhat may be geuen thee, or what may be added vnto thee, to a deceiptful tongue?Quid detur tibi, aut quid apponatur tibi ad linguam dolosam ?
4The sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of desolation.The sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of desolation.dThe sharpe arrowes of the mightie, with coales of desolation.Sagittæ potentis acutæ, cum carbonibus desolatoriis.
5Woe is to me, that my incolatus: dwelling for a time as a stranger, living in exile abroad is prolonged: I have dwelt with the inhabitants of Cedar:Woe is to me, that my incolatus: dwelling for a time as a stranger, living in exile abroad is prolonged: I have dwelt with the inhabitants of Cedar:eWoe is to me, that my seiourning is prolonged: I haue dwelte with the finhabitantes of Cedar:Heu mihi, quia incolatus meus prolongatus est ! habitavi cum habitantibus Cedar ;
6My soul Douay: hath been long a sojourner.My soul hath been long a sojourner.My soule hath bene long a seiourner.multum incola fuit anima mea.
7With them, that hated peace, I was peaceable: when I spake to them, they impugnabant: assailed, attacked, warred against; not challenged the truth or honesty of me without cause.With them, that hated peace, I was peaceable: when I spake to them, they impugnabant: assailed, attacked, warred against; not challenged the truth or honesty of me without cause.With them, that hated peace, I was peaceable: when I spake to them, they impugned me gwithout cause.Cum his qui oderunt pacem eram pacificus ; cum loquebar illis, impugnabant me gratis.
Annotationsfrom the original 1609 Douay Old Testament
A brief note concerning the Gradual Psalms. Here follow in order fifteen Psalms entitled Gradual Canticles. The Hebrew word Mahaloth signifieth Steps, or Ascensions. The reason whereof Aadias, and some other Rabbins yield, for that they were sung with highest elevated notes, that can be in Music. The Talmud saith they are so called, because they were sung in the fifteen steps going up into the Temple. But S. Augustin, S. Basil, and other Christian Fathers expound them according to the history, and immediate prophetical sense, of the deliverance of the Jews from captivity of Babylon, ascending into Jerusalem: which is so situated on mountains, that the way from all parts was by ascending unto it. According to the Mystical sense, of ascending spiritually by virtues to perfection, and to eternal felicity. For the way tending to virtue (saith S. Basil) is like to certain steps (or degrees) by little and little bringing the man that loveth wisdom unto heaven. These Canticles therefore are prayers, mixed with consolations, for the joyful deliverance of God's people, from that great captivity in Babylon, which the Psalmist King David saw in prophetical spirit, and which his posterity felt, and sometime endured. Which again as a figure signifieth the return and ascending of mankind from sin to grace, and from the miserable state of this world into heaven. Whereupon S. Augustin interpreteth this prophecy of the ascension, or elevation of the heart, from the vale of tears. In the mean time, whiles we are in this world, these Psalms are consolatory prayers, and prophetical assurance, that God's people, Catholic Christians shall be delivered from thraldom, and persecution of Pagans, Turks, and Heretics. As partly we see by the deliverance from the Roman persecuting Emperors, from the Vandals, Goths, and Huns: and therefore with assured confidence we hope and expect the like deliverance from Turks, and all Heretics of Luther's brood.A briefe note concerning the Gradual Psalmes. Here folow in order fifetene Psalmes intitled Gradual Canticles. The Hebrew word Mahaloth signifieth Steppes, or Ascensions. The reason wherof Aadias, and some other Rabbins yeld, for that they were songue with hieghest eleuated notes, that can be in Musike. The Talmud saith they are so called, because they were songue in the fifetene steppes going vp into the Temple. But S. Augustin, S. Basil, and other Christian Fathers expound them according to the historie, and immediate propheticall sense, of the deliuerie of the Iewes from captiuitie of Babylon, ascending into Ierusalem: which is so situated on montaines, that the way from al partes was by ascending vnto it. According to the Mysticall sense, of ascending spiritually by vertues to perfection, and to eternal felicitie. For the way tending to vertue (saith S. Basil) is like to certaine steppes (or degrees) by litle and litle bringing the man that loueth wisdome vnto heauen. These Canticles therefore are prayers, mixed with consolations, for the ioyful deliuerie of Gods people, from that great captiuitie in Babylon, which the Psalmist King Dauid saw in propheticall spirite, and which his posteritie felt, and sometime indured. VVhich againe as a figure signifieth the returne and ascending of mankind from sinne to grace, and from the miserable state of this world into heauen. VVherupon S. Augustin interpreteth this prophecie of the ascension, or eleuation of the hart, from the vaile of teares. In the meane time, whiles we are in this world, these Psalmes are consolatorie prayers, and prophetical assurance, that Gods people, Catholique Christians shal be deliuered from thraldom, and persecution of Paganes, Turkes, and Heretikes. As partly we see by the deliuerie from the Romane persecuting Emperors, from the Vandals, Gothes, and Hunnes: & therfore with assured confidence we hope and expect the like deliuerie from Turkes, and al Heretikes of Luthers broode.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition. Also available: Plantin Louvain (Latin).