2 I cieli immensi narrano del grande 
Iddio la gloria, e'l firmamento lucido a 
l'universo annunzia quanto sieno 
mirabili de la sua destra l'opere.
3 Al di che nasce di lui ragiona il di
che more; ed una notte racconta
a l'altra la spienza del loro Autore.
4 on avvi popolo ctanto barbaro 
da cui non odasi tal favellar.
5 Lor suono spandesi sino negli ultimi
remoti termini, che bagna il mar.
Per magnifica tenda l'Altissimo diede
al sol questi cieli, e per talamo,
6 donde a guisa di sposo levandosi 
qual fastoso campion robustissimo,
7 la carriera esultando incomincia, da 
oriete veloce movendosi, e del cielo
poggiando su'l vertice
segue il corso leggiero, instancabile
sin che arrivi a posarsi a l'occaso:
non v'e mare, non terra, non popolo.
non v'e pianta, non fera, non arbore
cui non giunga il calor suo benefico.
8 O immacolata e pura, santa, ivina
legge ch'ogn'anima rivolge all'alto suo
Fattor, ch'e testimon fedele del suo
voler sovrano e sapienza infonde
de'semplici nel cor.
9 O giusta legge e retta che di gioja 
riempie l'alme, che in osservarla
pongono il lor piacer; ripieni i suoi
precetti son di divino lume, che co'so
rai la mente illumina e'l pensier.
10 Di Dio'l timor ch'e santo perche
d'amore e figlio nel cor suo regno
fonda, e fin giammai non ha; gli eterni
alti decreti di lui che'l mondo regge
in se medesmi sono giustizia e verita.
11 O quanto piu dell'oro, quanto piu
delle gemme son presiozie, e quanto
piu dennosi bramar ! O quanto son piu
dolci del mele e piu soavi che l'ape
industriosa da'fior sappia formar.
12 Percio 'l tuo servo umile, Signor,
gelosamente li guarda, e guarderalli
ogn'or quan' ei potra; che nel guar-
darli ei trova un;ampia ricompensa
ch'e tutto il suo piacer, la sua felicita.
13 Me lasso, e chi fia mai, che giunger possa tutte a conoscer chiaro le colpe ond' ei t'offende?
Deh, mio Signor, da quelle,  che in me nascose son,  mondo mi  rendi;  e dagli altrui delitti onde il tuo servo esser può fatto reo, tu lo difendi;
14 Se dall'impero lor libero, e sciolto fia tua mercè,  ch'io resti; allora il mio cor sarà senza macchia a te dinante;
e dalla sempre ardita superbia 
baldanzosa d'ogni colpa più rea prima fonte e cagione io sarò mondo.
15 Allor tu gradirai, Signor, le preci
e i voti che umil ti porgerò,
e del core i segreti pensieri,
ch'io per sempre a te rivolgerò. 
Nell' alta tua, Signor, pietà infinita,
sta la salvezza mia, sta la mia vita.

2 The boundless heavens tell the glory
of the great God, and the bright firma-
ment declares to the universe how mar-
vellous are the works of his right hand.
3 The day that dies talks of him to the     
day that is born; and one night recounts
to the next its knowledge of their Au-	
thor.  4 There is no people no matter
how barbarous from whom such speech  
is not heard. 5 Their sound extends to
the remotest places bathed by the sea.
As a grand canopy the Almighty gave    
these heavens to the sun, and as a nup-   
tial bed, whence, 6  rising like a bride-       
groom, like a magnificent champion        
supremely strong, 7 joyfully he begins    
his circuit, moving swiftly from the         
East, and, passing lightly over the top
of the heavens, he follows his course,
untiring 'til he reaches his post in the
West: and there is no sea or people or       
plant or beast or tree that is not touched
by his beneficent warmth.
8 O sacred divine law, perfect & pure,	
that turns each spirit toward its maker
on high, faithful testimony of his sov-
ereign will, that infuses the heart of the
simple with wisdom.
9 O just and upright law that fills with	
joy those souls that put their pleasure in 
observing it; its precepts are full of a di- 
vine light that enlightens mind and	
thoughts with its radiance.
10 The fear of God, sacred because it is
the child oflove, founds its kingdom in 
the heart, and has no end; eternal high	
decrees of him who rules the world are
in themselves justice and truth.
11 O how much more precious than
gold and gems, and how much more to
be desired! O how much sweeter are	
they even than the honey that the hard-	
working bee knows how to make from	
a flower!  12 So your servant, Lord,
jealously guards them, and will guard
them every hour that he can; for in
guarding them he finds an ample re-
ward: all his pleasure, his happiness.
13  Alas, who can ever gain clear knowledge of the faults by which he offends you? Please cleanse me, Lord, of those which are hidden in me; and defend your servant from the sins of others, by which he could be made guilty.

14  If  I may stay free of their domination and, thanks to you,  unbound;  then my heart shall be without blemish before you; and from ever-bold overweening arrogance,  whatever its guilty source or cause,  I shall be cleansed.
15 Then, Lord, you will enjoy the prayers that I will humbly offer to you, and the secret thoughts of my heart that I shall  ever reveal to you.  
In your infinite mercy, Lord on high,
is my salvation and my life.

2 The heavens declare the glory of
God; and the firmament sheweth his
handywork.

3 Day unto day uttereth speech,
and night unto night sheweth 
knowledge.
4 There is no speech nor language,
where their voice is not heard.
5 Their line is gone out through all the
earth, and their words to the end of the world.
In them he set a tabernacle for the sun.
6  Which is as a bridegroom coming out
of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a
strong man to run a race.  7 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, 
and his circuit unto the ends of it:
and there is nothing hid from the heat
thereof.



8 The law of the Lord is perfect,
converting the soul:
the testimony of the Lord is sure, 
making wise the simple. 

9 The statutes of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is pure,
enlightening the eyes.

10 The fear of the LORD is clean,
enduring for ever:
the judgments of the LORD are true 
and righteous altogether.

11 More to be desired are they than
gold, yea, than much fine gold: 
sweeter also than honey and the 
honeycomb.

12 Moreover by them is thy servant
warned:
and in keeping of them
there is great reward.

13 Who can understand his errors? 
cleanse thou me from secret faults.





14 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; 
let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright 
and I shall be innocent 
from the great transgression.
15 Let the words of my mouth,
and the meditation of my heart, 
be acceptable in thy sight, 

O LORD, my strength, 
and my redeemer.

Signor, poiche ti piacque, in mezzo a'rei perigli essermi asilo, e non lasciar che i fieri miei nemici andasser del mio mal superbi e lieti; 
giusto e ben, che il mio labbro io sciolga al canto, onde per me s'esalti l'immensa tua pietà, la tua grandezza.

A te, mentre giacea mia salma inferma, 
ed era oppresso il cor da mille affanni e mille, alzai grida dolenti, e mi sanasti!

Tu, mio Dio, dalla tomba me uscir facesti, ei mi serbasti in vita fra l'infech'acerba 
lice innumerabil turba di quei morte 
cader faceva in fossa atra e profonda.

Alme, al servigio sacre di Signor, si possente, salmi cantate ed inni e celebrate del santo nome suo l'eccelse lodi!

Se per breve momento, di giusto sdegno acceso ei ne gastiga, tosto mosso a pietade ei vuol render a noi vita e salute!

Se la sera si piange, il Sol non sorge 
che il pianto amaro in dolce riso e volto.

Anch'io fra me dicea, allor ch'in mar di gioie e di contenti era il mio core immerso:  mai non sarà, ch'io cada 
da cosi alto e si felice stato.

Folle, ch'io non vedea esser un puro 
dono di tua clemenza, alto Signor, la mia felicitade!
Appena ritirasti da me lo sguardo, on'in profondo abisso di miseri'e di pianto cangiasi il mar di gioia, e la calma 
del core in ria procella!


Allor miei preci a te, Signor, io porsi, e gridai: 

Qual profitto aspetti mai di trar dalla mia morte quand'in oscura tomba il corpo mio sia sepolto e corrotto? 
Forse un cenere freddo potrà lodarti e al  mondo annunziar tua veritade eterna?

M'udi'l Signor e de'miei tristi guai 
pietà gli prese e me presto'l suo aiuto.

Si, tu, o mio Dio, cangiasti in dolce riso quel che si mi bagnava amaro pianto, e trattomi di dosso e in pezzi fatto l'orrido sacco, ond'io per segno di dolor cuopria mie membra; d'allegrezza e d'onor mi rivesti!

Dunque a cantar io prendo tue laudi eccelse e l'alma affatto e sgombra da quel cupo del dolor che l'opprimea! Signor, sinch'avrò spirto e ch'avrò vita, esalterò la tua pietà infinita!   

Lord, since it pleases you, amidst evil dangers, to be my refuge, and not let my proud enemies go from my distress arrogant and happy; it is right that I free my lips for singing, so that through me may be exalted your boundless mercy and your greatness.

To you, with my body ill & my  heart oppressed with myriad  troubles, I raised a doleful cry, & you healed me!

You, my God, brought me up from the grave, and kept me alive amidst the unhappy multitude of those whom bitter death has felled into a dark and deep pit.

Souls, to the sacred service of the almighty Lord, sing psalms and hymns & celebrate his sacred  name' s high praises! 

If for a moment, inflamed with justified anger, he punishes, soon, moved to compassion, he will give us back life & well-being!
If there is weeping at night, the sun will not rise until the the bitter plaint has turned to sweet laughter.
I too said to myself, when in a flood of joy and contentment my heart was immersed:  never will I  fall from such a high  and happy state.

I was a fool not to see my happiness as simply a gift of your mercy, Lord above!

As soon as you have withdrawn your regard from me, into a deep abyss of misery and lament my flood of joy is changed, and my heart's calm into a cruel  tempest!

So I appealed to you, Lord, 
and I cried out:

What profit do you hope ever to draw from my death, when in a dark grave my body is buried and decayed? 
Can cold ashes possibly praise you and proclaim your eternal truth to the world?

May the Lord hear me and may pity for my woes move him to lend me his help.

Yes, you, my God, have changed to sweet laughter the bitter lament that flooded me, and ripped to pieces the horrid sackcloth in which, as a sign of sadness, I had covered my limbs; with joy and honor you have clothed me anew!

So in singing I take up your lofty praises, 
& my soul is wholly free from that dark grief that oppressed it!  Lord, as long as 
I have life and breath, I shall extol your infinite mercy!

2.  I will exalt you, Lord, for you have raised me and not let my  foes rejoice over me.





3.  O Lord my God, I cried out to you, and you healed me.


4. Lord, you brought my soul out of hell; you preserved me from going down into the pit.


5.  Sing to the Lord, his faithful ones, and acknowledge  his holiness.



6a.  For a moment in anger,  but a lifetime in his favor;


6b.  weeping lodges for the night, but in the morning -- joy!

7.  But I, feeling secure, said:  "I shall never be moved."



8a.  Lord, at your pleasure, you made me a mountain of strength,

8b.  but when you hid your face, I was terrified.




9.  I called to you, Lord; I prayed to my Master:

10.  What profit is there in my blood, in my descent to the netherworld?  
Will the dust thank you, 
will it declare your truth?


11.  Hear, Lord, and pity me; Lord, be my helper.

12.  You have turned my lament to dancing, taken off my sackcloth & girded me with gladness.




13.  So that honor may sing to you and not be silent; Lord my God, I will thank you forever.