PSALTERIVM

PSALMVS V — VERBA MEA

Give Ear, O Lord, to My Words

Verba mea auribus is a morning prayer for divine guidance and protection from enemies, particularly from those whose speech is deceitful. In the 1962 Breviary it appears at Lauds on Monday. The verse 'In the morning I will stand before thee' expresses the orientation of the Christian toward God at the day's beginning.

LATINE
Verba mea auribus percipe, Domine, intellige clamorem meum.
Intende voci orationis meae, Rex meus et Deus meus.
Quoniam ad te orabo: Domine, mane exaudies vocem meam.
Mane astabo tibi et videbo: quoniam non Deus volens iniquitatem tu es.
Neque habitabit iuxta te malignus: neque permanebunt iniusti ante oculos tuos.
Odisti omnes, qui operantur iniquitatem: perdes omnes, qui loquuntur mendacium.
Virum sanguinum et dolosum abominabitur Dominus.
Ego autem in multitudine misericordiae tuae, introibo in domum tuam: adorabo ad templum sanctum tuum in timore tuo.
Domine, deduc me in iustitia tua: propter inimicos meos dirige in conspectu tuo viam meam.
ENGLISH
Give ear, O Lord, to my words, understand my cry.
Hearken to the voice of my prayer, O my King and my God.
For to thee will I pray: O Lord, in the morning thou shalt hear my voice.
In the morning I will stand before thee, and will see: because thou art not a God that willest iniquity.
Neither shall the wicked dwell near thee: nor shall the unjust abide before thy eyes.
Thou hatest all the workers of iniquity: thou wilt destroy all that speak a lie.
The bloody and the deceitful man the Lord will abhor.
But as for me in the multitude of thy mercy, I will come into thy house; I will worship towards thy holy temple, in thy fear.
Conduct me, O Lord, in thy justice: because of my enemies, direct my way in thy sight.
NOTA
FONS
Douay-Rheims (1609) / Vulgata
USUS
Prime, Morning Prayer
CONTEXT
Traditional morning psalm. The emphasis on worship 'in thy fear' reflects the reverential approach to the sanctuary.