PSALTERIVM

PSALMVS CXVIII — BEATI IMMACVLATI

Beati immaculati in via is the longest psalm and chapter in the Bible, an alphabetic acrostic meditation on God's law. In the 1962 Breviary, sections are distributed across the Little Hours (Terce, Sext, None). Each of the 22 stanzas begins with a Hebrew letter and every verse contains a synonym for God's law. St. Augustine devoted an entire commentary to this psalm.

LATINE
Beati immaculati in via: qui ambulant in lege Domini.
Beati, qui scrutantur testimonia eius: in toto corde exquirunt eum.
Non enim qui operantur iniquitatem, in viis eius ambulaverunt.
Tu mandasti mandata tua custodiri nimis.
Utinam dirigantur viae meae, ad custodiendas iustificationes tuas!
Tunc non confundar, cum perspexero in omnibus mandatis tuis.
Confitebor tibi in directione cordis: in eo quod didici iudicia iustitiae tuae.
Iustificationes tuas custodiam: non me derelinquas usquequaque.
In quo corrigit adolescentior viam suam? In custodiendo sermones tuos.
In toto corde meo exquisivi te: ne repellas me a mandatis tuis.
In corde meo abscondi eloquia tua: ut non peccem tibi.
Benedictus es, Domine: doce me iustificationes tuas.
In labiis meis, pronuntiavi omnia iudicia oris tui.
In via testimoniorum tuorum delectatus sum, sicut in omnibus divitiis.
In mandatis tuis exercebor: et considerabo vias tuas.
In iustificationibus tuis meditabor: non obliviscar sermones tuos.
Retribue servo tuo, vivifica me: et custodiam sermones tuos.
Revela oculos meos: et considerabo mirabilia de lege tua.
Incola ego sum in terra: non abscondas a me mandata tua.
Concupivit anima mea desiderare iustificationes tuas, in omni tempore.
Increpasti superbos: maledicti qui declinant a mandatis tuis.
Aufer a me opprobrium, et contemptum: quia testimonia tua exquisivi.
Etenim sederunt principes, et adversum me loquebantur: servus autem tuus exercebatur in iustificationibus tuis.
Nam et testimonia tua meditatio mea est: et consilium meum iustificationes tuae.
ENGLISH
Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.
Blessed are they that search his testimonies: that seek him with their whole heart.
For they that work iniquity, have not walked in his ways.
Thou hast commanded thy commandments to be kept most diligently.
O! that my ways may be directed to keep thy justifications.
Then shall I not be confounded, when I shall look into all thy commandments.
I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned the judgments of thy justice.
I will keep thy justifications: O! do not thou utterly forsake me.
By what doth a young man correct his way? by observing thy words.
With my whole heart have I sought after thee: let me not stray from thy commandments.
Thy words have I hidden in my heart, that I may not sin against thee.
Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy justifications.
With my lips I have pronounced all the judgments of thy mouth.
I have been delighted in the way of thy testimonies, as in all riches.
I will meditate on thy commandments: and I will consider thy ways.
I will think of thy justifications: I will not forget thy words.
Give bountifully to thy servant, enliven me: and I shall keep thy words.
Open thou my eyes: and I will consider the wondrous things of thy law.
I am a sojourner on the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.
My soul hath coveted to long for thy justifications, at all times.
Thou hast rebuked the proud: they are cursed who decline from thy commandments.
Remove from me reproach and contempt: because I have sought after thy testimonies.
For princes sat, and spoke against me: but thy servant was employed in thy justifications.
For thy testimonies are my meditation: and thy justifications my counsel.
NOTA
FONS
Douay-Rheims / Vulgata