PRO MILITIA

PSALMVS XLI — QVEMADMODVM DESIDERAT CERVVS

Psalm 41 — As the Hart Panteth

Psalm 41 (42) opens with one of Scripture's most beloved images: 'As the hart panteth after the fountains of water, so my soul panteth after Thee, O God.' Its refrain 'Why art thou sad, O my soul? Hope in God' makes it the ideal prayer against acedia (spiritual sloth). The psalm is traditionally prayed during times of spiritual dryness when God seems absent. It appears at the Easter Vigil as a catechumenal psalm.

LATINE
Quemadmodum desiderat cervus ad fontes aquarum,
ita desiderat anima mea ad te, Deus.
Sitivit anima mea ad Deum fortem, vivum:
quando veniam et apparebo ante faciem Dei?
Fuerunt mihi lacrimae meae panes die ac nocte,
dum dicitur mihi quotidie: Ubi est Deus tuus?
Haec recordatus sum, et effudi in me animam meam:
quoniam transibo in locum tabernaculi admirabilis,
usque ad domum Dei:
in voce exsultationis et confessionis, sonus epulantis.
Quare tristis es, anima mea?
Et quare conturbas me?
Spera in Deo, quoniam adhuc confitebor illi:
salutare vultus mei, et Deus meus.
Ad meipsum anima mea conturbata est:
propterea memor ero tui de terra Iordanis et Hermoniim, a monte modico.
Abyssus abyssum invocat, in voce cataractarum tuarum.
Omnia excelsa tua, et fluctus tui super me transierunt.
In die mandavit Dominus misericordiam suam,
et nocte canticum eius.
Apud me oratio Deo vitae meae, dicam Deo: Susceptor meus es.
Quare oblitus es mei?
Et quare contristatus incedo, dum affligit me inimicus?
Dum confringuntur ossa mea,
exprobraverunt mihi qui tribulant me inimici mei;
dum dicunt mihi per singulos dies: Ubi est Deus tuus?
Quare tristis es, anima mea? Et quare conturbas me?
Spera in Deo, quoniam adhuc confitebor illi:
salutare vultus mei, et Deus meus.
ENGLISH
As the hart panteth after the fountains of water;
so my soul panteth after Thee, O God.
My soul hath thirsted after the strong living God;
when shall I come and appear before the face of God?
My tears have been my bread day and night,
whilst it is said to me daily: Where is thy God?
These things I remembered, and poured out my soul in me:
for I shall go over into the place of the wonderful tabernacle,
even to the house of God:
with the voice of joy and praise; the noise of one feasting.
Why art thou sad, O my soul?
And why dost thou trouble me?
Hope in God, for I will still give praise to Him:
the salvation of my countenance, and my God.
My soul is troubled within myself:
therefore will I remember Thee from the land of Jordan and Hermoniim, from the little hill.
Deep calleth on deep, at the noise of Thy flood-gates.
All Thy heights and Thy billows have passed over me.
In the daytime the Lord hath commanded His mercy;
and a canticle to Him in the night.
With me is prayer to the God of my life. I will say to God: Thou art my support.
Why hast Thou forgotten me?
And why go I mourning, whilst my enemy afflicteth me?
Whilst my bones are broken,
my enemies who trouble me have reproached me;
whilst they say to me day by day: Where is thy God?
Why art thou sad, O my soul? And why dost thou trouble me?
Hope thou in God, for I will still give praise to Him:
the salvation of my countenance, and my God.
NOTA
FONS
Psalmus 41, Vulgata / Douay-Rheims
USUS
Spiritual desolation, against acedia (spiritual sloth), longing for God
CONTEXT
This psalm is traditionally prayed during times of spiritual dryness. Acedia, the 'noonday devil,' attacks the soul with sadness and despair; this psalm provides the antidote of hope.