Psalms 20
Domine, in virtute.
Praise to God for Christ’s exaltation after his passion.
1Unto the end. A Psalm of David. 2In your virtue, Lord, the king will rejoice,and over your salvation, he will exult exceedingly.
3You have granted him the desire of his heart,
and you have not cheated him of the wish of his lips.
4For you have gone ahead of him with blessings of sweetness.
You have placed a crown of precious stones on his head.
5He petitioned you for life, and you have granted him length of days,
in the present time, and forever and ever. ▼
6Great is his glory in your salvation.
Glory and great adornment, you will lay upon him.
7For you will give him as a blessing forever and ever.
You will make him rejoice with gladness in your presence. ▼
8Because the king hopes in the Lord,
and in the mercy of the Most High, he will not be disturbed.
9May your hand be found by all your enemies.
May your right hand discover all those who hate you.
10You will make them like an oven of fire, in the time of your presence.
The Lord will stir them up with his wrath, and fire will devour them.
11You will destroy their fruit from the earth and their offspring from the sons of men.
12For they have turned evils upon you; they have devised plans,
which they have not been able to accomplish.
13For you will make them turn their back; ▼
▼20:13 Turn their back: an idiomatic expression which refers to the back as a point of weakness, as in battle when one’s enemy turns their back to you.(Conte)
with your remnants, you will prepare their countenance. ▼
▼20:13 With your remnants you will prepare their countenance: Or you shall set thy remnants against their faces. That is, you shall make them see what punishments remain for them hereafter from thy justice. Instead of remnants, St. Jerome renders it funes, that is, cords or strings, viz., of the bow of divine justice, from which God directs his arrows against the faces of his enemies.(Challoner)
14Be exalted, Lord, by your own power.
We will play music and sing psalms to your virtues. ▼
▼20:14 Play music and sing psalms: The word ‘psallemus’ can refer to playing a musical instrument or to singing psalms. The word ‘cantabimus’ can refer to singing songs or playing a musical instrument. The overall meaning of those two words used together, in this context, is to play musical instruments and to sing psalms or hymns to God.(Conte)
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