Psalm 43


Psalm 43 is the 43rd psalm from the Book of Psalms. As a continuation of Psalm 42, which was written by the sons of Korah, it too is also commonly attributed to them. In the Greek Septuagint version of the bible, and in its Latin translation in the Vulgate, this psalm is Psalm 42 in a slightly different numbering system.

Uses

Catholic Church

This psalm was traditionally recited or sung, from the rule of St. Benedict of 530 AD, in the Office for the Lauds of Tuesday, following Psalm 50.
Above all, it was the psalm the priest recited before entering the altar to celebrate mass. In the traditional Roman Rite, the psalm is recited by the priest and altar servers during the prayers at the foot of the altar. The recitation of this psalm at the beginning of Mass was suppressed in 1964 with the Instruction on Implementing Liturgical Norms, Inter Oecumenici.
In the Liturgy of the Hours today, Psalm 43 is recited or sung at Lauds of Tuesday of the second week of the four week psalter.

Music

wrote a great motet to this psalm in 1693.

Latin Translations

The Clementine Vulgate

This version was officially adopted as part of the Roman Breviary in 1592. It had also been in use in dialogue form as a preparation for Mass, in what is now called the Extraordinary Form.
Judica me, Deus, et discerne causam meam de gente non sancta: ab homine iniquo et doloso erue me.
Quia tu es, Deus, fortitudo mea: quare me repulisti? et quare tristis incedo, dum affligit me inimicus? Emitte lucem tuam et veritatem tuam: ipsa me deduxerunt, et adduxerunt in montem sanctum tuum, et in tabernacula tua. Et introibo ad altare Dei, ad Deum qui laetificat juventutem meam. Confitebor tibi in cithara, Deus, Deus meus. Quare tristis es, anima mea? et quare conturbas me? Spera in Deo, quoniam adhuc confitebor illi, salutare vultus mei, et Deus meus.

Pian Translation

This version was completed in 1945 and printed in most Breviaries thereafter.
Ius redde mihi, Deus, et age causam meam adversus gentem non sanctam; ab homine doloso et iniquo libera me,
Quia tu es, Deus, fortitudo mea: Quare me reppulisti? Quare tristis incedo, ab inimico oppressus? Emitte lucem tuam et fidelitatem tuam: ipsae me ducant, adducant me in montem sanctum tuum et in tabernacula tua. Et introibo ad altare Dei, ad Deum laetitiae et exsultationis meae, Et laudabo te cum cithara, Deus, Deus meus! 5 Quare deprimeris, anima mea, et tumultuaris in me? Spera in Deum: quia rursus celebrabo eum, Salutem vultus mei et Deum meum.

Nova Vulgata

This version, a new translation from the Hebrew the was completed in 1979 for liturgical use. It is the version used in the current typical edition of the Liturgia Horarum.
Iúdica me, Deus, et discérne causam meam de gente non sancta; ab hómine iníquo et dolóso érue me. Quia tu es Deus refúgii mei; quare me reppulísti, et quare tristis incédo, dum afflígit me inimícus? Emítte lucem tuam et veritátem tuam;ipsæ me dedúcant et addúcant in montem sanctum tuum et in tabernácula tua. Et introíbo ad altáre Dei, ad Deum lætítiæ exsultatiónis meæ. Confitébor tibi in cíthara, Deus, Deus meus. Quare tristis es, ánima mea, et quare conturbáris in me? Spera in Deo, quóniam adhuc confitébor illi, salutáre vultus mei et Deus meus.

Stuttgart Vulgate

This version, completed in 1969, is a non-liturgical version translated for scholarly use.
Iudica me Deus et discerne causam meam a gente non sancta a viro doloso et iniquo salva me.
Tu enim Deus fortitudo mea quare proiecisti me quare tristis incedo adfligente inimico. Mitte lucem tuam et veritatem tuam ipsae ducent me et introducent ad montem sanctum tuum et ad tabernaculum tuum. Et introibo ad altare tuum ad Deum laetitiae et exultationis meae. Et confitebor tibi in cithara Deus Deus meus, quare incurvaris anima mea et quare conturbas me? Expecta Dominum quoniam adhuc confitebor ei salutibus vultus mei et Deo meo.