1 In finem. Psalmus David. Usquequo, Domine, oblivisceris me in finem? usquequo avertis faciem tuam a me?
2 quamdiu ponam consilia in anima mea; dolorem in corde meo per diem?
3 usquequo exaltabitur inimicus meus super me?
4 Respice, et exaudi me, Domine Deus meus. Illumina oculos meos, ne umquam obdormiam in morte;
5 nequando dicat inimicus meus: Praevalui adversus eum.
Qui tribulant me exsultabunt si motus fuero;
6 ego autem in misericordia tua speravi. Exsultabit cor meum in salutari tuo.
Cantabo Domino qui bona tribuit mihi; et psallam nomini Domini altissimi.
King James Version
English text
1 How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep in death.
4 Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble rejoice when I am moved.
5 But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.
6 I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.
Douay-Rheims Bible (Psalm 12)
English translation
1 Unto the end, a psalm for David. How long, O Lord, wilt thou forget me unto the end? how long dost thou turn away thy face from me?
2 How long shall I take counsels in my soul, sorrow in my heart all the day?
3 How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
4 Consider, and hear me, O Lord my God. Enlighten my eyes that I never sleep in death:
5 Lest at any time my enemy say: I have prevailed against him. They that trouble me will rejoice when I am moved:
6 But I have trusted in thy mercy. My heart shall rejoice in thy salvation: I will sing to the Lord, who giveth me good things: yea I will sing to the name of the Lord the most high.
Church of England 1662 Book of Common Prayer
English text
1 How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord, for ever: how long wilt thou hide
thy face from me?
2 How long shall I seek counsel in my soul, and be so vexed in my heart:
how long shall mine enemies triumph over me?
3 Consider, and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, that I sleep not in death.
4 Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him:
for if I be cast down, they that trouble me will rejoice at it.
5 But my trust is in thy mercy: and my heart is joyful in thy salvation.
6 I will sing of the Lord, because he hath dealt so lovingly with me: yea, I will praise the Name of the Lord most Highest.
How long, O Lord, shall I complain,
Like one that seeks his God in vain?
Canst thou thy face for ever hide,
And I still pray, and be denied?
Shall I for ever be forgot,
As one whom thou regardest not?
Still shall my soul thine absence mourn,
And still despair of thy return?
How long shall my poor troubled breast
Be with these anxious thoughts oppress'd?
And Satan, my malicious foe,
Rejoice to see me sunk so low?
Hear, Lord, and grant me quick relief,
Before my death conclude my grief:
If thou withhold thy heav'nly light,
I sleep in everlasting night.
How will the powers of darkness boast,
If but one praying soul be lost!
But I have trusted in thy grace,
And shall again behold thy face.
Whate'er my fears or foes suggest,
Thou art my hope, my joy, my rest:
My heart shall feel thy love, and raise
My cheerful voice to songs of praise.
Version 2. Common meter
How long wilt thou conceal thy face?
My God, how long delay?
When shall I feel those heav'nly rays
That chase my fears away?
How long shall my poor lab'ring soul
Wrestle and toil in vain?
Thy word can all my foes control,
And ease my raging pain.
See how the prince of darkness tries
All his malicious arts
He spreads a mist around my eyes,
And throws his fiery darts.
Be thou my sun, and thou my shield,
My soul in safety keep;
Make haste, before mine eyes are seal'd
In death's eternal sleep.
How would the tempter boast aloud
If I become his prey!
Behold, the sons of hell grow proud
At thy so long delay.
But they shall fly at thy rebuke,
And Satan hide his head;
He knows the terrors of thy look,
And hears thy voice with dread.
Thou wilt display that sovereign grace,
Where all my hopes have hung;
I shall employ my lips in praise,
And victory shall be sung.
Luther Bible 1545
German translation
1 Herr, wie lang willt du mein so gar vergessen? Wie lang verbirgest du dein Antlitz für mir?
2 Wie lang soll ich sorgen in meiner Seele, wie lang soll ich mich ängsten in meinem Herzen täglich? Wie lange soll sich mein Feind über mich erheben?
3 Schau doch und erhöre mich, Herr, mein Gott! Erleuchte meine Augen, dass ich nicht im Tod entschlafe,
4 dass sich mein Feind nicht rühme, er sei mein mächtig worden, und meine Widersacher sich nicht freuen, dass ich niederliege.
5 Ich hoffe aber drauf, dass du so gnädig bist; mein Herz freuet sich, dass du so gerne hilfst.
6 Ich will dem Herren singen, dass er so wohl an mir thut.
Káldi fordítás (12. zsoltár)
Hungarian translation
Végig Dávid zsoltára.
Uram! meddig feledsz el engem egészen? meddig fordítod el tőlem orczádat?
Meddig tartok még tanácsot lelkemben, fájdalmat szivemben naponként?
Meddig emelkedik föl ellenségem fölöttem?
Tekints rám, és hallgass meg engem, Uram, Istenem!
Világosítsd meg szemeimet, hogy valaha el ne alugyam a halálban,
s valamikor ne mondja ellenségem: Hatalmat vettem rajta;
mert a kik szorongatnak engem, örvendenek, ha megingattatom.
Én pedig irgalmasságodban bízom; szivem örvend a te szabadításodban;
éneklek az Úrnak, ki jót tett velem, és dicséretet mondok a fölséges Úr nevének.
How long shall I, my God, in vain,
Pressed by a weight of griefs, complain?
Say, shall I sink in deep despair,
For ever banished from thy care?
Condemned thy absent beams to mourn,
Still to divided counsels turn
My laboring thought, and hear the foe
Exulting triumph in my woe?
Thy suppliant's voice attentive weigh,
And bid, O bid, thy heavenly ray
With healing influence o'er me rise,
E'er death's dark slumber close my eyes.
What transport would my fall impart
To each incensed opposer's heart!
"Behold, the hostile tongue would cry,
Beneath my feet behold him lie
The wretch that, hasting to his end,
With power superior durst contend."
But, while their ceaseless threats I hear,
Thy mercy, Lord, dispels my fear;
My hopes on thy salvation rest,
And fill with conscious joy my breast.
Well pleased that mercy to proclaim,
To Thee, instinct with holy flame,
To Thee my tongue from day to day
Shall meditate the grateful lay.
___________________ N. B. Originally published in 26 lines, as above, with no indication of stanzas