Psalm 41:1-6

1 in finem in intellectum filiis Core

2 quemadmodum desiderat cervus ad fontes aquarum ita desiderat anima mea ad te Deus

3 sitivit anima mea ad Deum *fortem; vivum quando veniam et parebo ante faciem Dei

4 fuerunt mihi lacrimae meae panis die ac nocte dum dicitur mihi cotidie ubi est Deus tuus

5 haec recordatus sum et effudi in me animam meam quoniam transibo in loco tabernaculi admirabilis usque ad domum Dei in voce exultationis et confessionis sonus epulantis

6 quare tristis es anima mea et quare conturbas me spera in Deo quoniam confitebor illi salutare vultus mei

Psalm 41:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician, a Psalm of David. In this psalm is a prophecy concerning Christ, and concerning Judas Iscariot, as runs part of the title in the Syriac version; and in the Arabic version it is called a prophecy concerning the incarnation, and the salutation of Judas; and certain it is that Psalm 41:9 is to be understood of him, and of his betraying Christ into the hands of his enemies, since it is cited and applied to him by our Lord himself, John 13:18; so that having such a sure rule of interpretation, we may safely venture to explain the whole psalm of Christ, which treats both of his humiliation and exaltation; for it neither agrees with David wholly, nor with Hezekiah, to whom some ascribe it, as Theodoret remarks.