PSALTERIVM

PSALMVS LXXXIV — BENEDIXISTI DOMINE

Lord, Thou Hast Blessed Thy Land

Benedixisti, Domine, terram tuam is a psalm of national restoration that became a prophecy of redemption. The announcement 'Mercy and truth have met together; justice and peace have kissed' is read of the Incarnation. Advent liturgy draws heavily on this psalm's themes of God's return to His people.

LATINE
Benedixisti, Domine, terram tuam: avertisti captivitatem Iacob.
Remisisti iniquitatem plebis tuae: operuisti omnia peccata eorum.
Mitigasti omnem iram tuam: avertisti ab ira indignationis tuae.
Converte nos, Deus, salutaris noster: et averte iram tuam a nobis.
Numquid in aeternum irasceris nobis? aut extendes iram tuam a generatione in generationem?
Deus, tu conversus vivificabis nos: et plebs tua laetabitur in te.
Ostende nobis, Domine, misericordiam tuam: et salutare tuum da nobis.
Audiam quid loquatur in me Dominus Deus: quoniam loquetur pacem in plebem suam.
Et super sanctos suos: et in eos, qui convertuntur ad cor.
Verumtamen prope timentes eum salutare ipsius: ut inhabitet gloria in terra nostra.
Misericordia et veritas obviaverunt sibi: iustitia et pax osculatae sunt.
Veritas de terra orta est: et iustitia de caelo prospexit.
Etenim Dominus dabit benignitatem: et terra nostra dabit fructum suum.
Iustitia ante eum ambulabit: et ponet in via gressus suos.
ENGLISH
Lord, thou hast blessed thy land: thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob.
Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people: thou hast covered all their sins.
Thou hast mitigated all thy anger: thou hast turned away from the wrath of thy indignation.
Convert us, O God our saviour: and turn off thy anger from us.
Wilt thou be angry with us for ever: or wilt thou extend thy wrath from generation to generation?
Thou wilt turn, O God, and bring us to life: and thy people shall rejoice in thee.
Shew us, O Lord, thy mercy; and grant us thy salvation.
I will hear what the Lord God will speak in me: for he will speak peace unto his people:
And unto his saints: and unto them that are converted to the heart.
Surely his salvation is near to them that fear him: that glory may dwell in our land.
Mercy and truth have met each other: justice and peace have kissed.
Truth is sprung out of the earth: and justice hath looked down from heaven.
For the Lord will give goodness: and our earth shall yield her fruit.
Justice shall walk before him: and shall set his steps in the way.
NOTA
FONS
Douay-Rheims (1609) / Vulgata
USUS
Advent, Christmas, Reconciliation
CONTEXT
Psalm 85 in Hebrew numbering. V. 11 'Truth is sprung out of the earth' is applied to Christ born of Mary. V. 10 'Mercy and truth have met' depicts the Redemption.