Psalm 132 is the 132nd psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "LORD, remember David, and all his afflictions". In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint version of the bible and in the Latin Vulgate, this psalm is Psalm 130. In Latin, it is known as "Memento Domine David". The psalm is one of the fifteen Songs of Ascents (Shir Hama'alot), the longest of these 15 psalms. Its author is not known. The psalm forms a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and other Protestant liturgies.

Text

Hebrew

The following table shows the Hebrew text of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).

King James Version

Overview

This psalm has 18 verses. The New Revised Standard Version associates it with "the Eternal Dwelling of God in Zion". The Jerusalem Bible describes it as a "messianic hymn" and an "anniversary hymn" recalling the finding and translation of the Ark of the Covenant, which are recounted in 1 Samuel 6 and 2 Samuel 6 in the Hebrew Bible. The words of verse 6, "we heard of it in Ephrathah", refer to the ark.

Verse 1

The New International Version refers to David's self-denial. Albert Barnes suggests that the specific afflictions under consideration were "his zeal, his labor, his trials in order that there might be a permanent place for [God's] worship".

Uses

Judaism

New Testament

In the New Testament,

Catholic Church

As St. Benedict of Nursia mostly attributed the last psalms to the vespers offices, this Psalm 132 was traditionally sung during the celebration of Vespers on Tuesday, according to the Rule of Saint Benedict, fixed at 530. In the current Liturgy of the Hours, Psalm 132 is recited at the Office of Readings on the Saturday of the first week of the four weekly cycle of liturgical prayers, and at Vespers on the Thursday of the third week. It is separated into two parts. In the liturgy of the Mass it is read for the feast of the Assumption.

Book of Common Prayer

In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, this psalm is appointed to be read on the morning of the twenty-eighth day of the month, as well as at Evensong on Christmas Day.

Musical settings

Heinrich Schütz composed a metred paraphrase of Psalm 132 in German, "In Gnaden, Herr, wollst eindenk sein", SWV 137, for the Becker Psalter, published first in 1628. Marc-Antoine Charpentier set the psalm in Latin, Memento Domine, H.155, for soloists, chorus, 2 treble instruments and continuo (c. 1670). "Let David Be Remembered" was thaxted by Martin E. Leckebusch in 2003