Psalm 20 – Domine, in virtute

Praise to God for Christ’s exaltation after his passion.

[1] Unto the end. A psalm for David. [2] In thy strength, O Lord, the king shall joy; and in thy salvation he shall rejoice exceedingly. [3] Thou hast given him his heart’s desire: and hast not withholden from him the will of his lips. [4] For thou hast prevented him with blessings of sweetness: thou hast set on his head a crown of precious stones. [5] He asked life of thee: and thou hast given him length of days for ever and ever.

[6] His glory is great in thy salvation: glory and great beauty shalt thou lay upon him. [7] For thou shalt give him to be a blessing for ever and ever: thou shalt make him joyful in gladness with thy countenance. [8] For the king hopeth in the Lord: and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved. [9] Let thy hand be found by all thy enemies: let thy right hand find out all them that hate thee. [10] Thou shalt make them as an oven of fire, in the time of thy anger: the Lord shall trouble them in his wrath, and fire shall devour them.

[11] Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth: and their seed from among the children of men. [12] For they have intended evils against thee: they have devised counsels which they have not been able to establish. [13] For thou shalt make them turn their back: in thy remnants thou shalt prepare their face. [14] Be thou exalted, O Lord, in thy own strength: we will sing and praise thy power.

Commentary

[13] “In thy remnants thou shalt prepare their face”: Or thou shalt set thy remnants against their faces. That is, thou shalt 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.