Psalm 108 is a morning song of confidence: “My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready: I will sing, and will give praise… I will arise in the morning early.” It is made by joining the end of Psalm 57 to the end of Psalm 60, turning a lament and a defeat into a song of trust. In the Douay-Rheims it is numbered Psalm 107. Below is the full Catholic text, what the psalm means, how the Church uses it, and a prayer.
Psalm 108 in the Douay-Rheims Bible
A canticle of a psalm for David himself.
My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready: I will sing, and will give praise, with my glory.
Arise, my glory; arise, psaltery and harp: I will arise in the morning early.
I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: and I will sing unto thee among the populations.
For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth even unto the clouds.
Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens, and thy glory over all the earth:
That thy beloved may be delivered. Save with thy right hand and hear me.
God hath spoken in his holiness. I will rejoice, and I will divide Sichem and I will mete out the vale of tabernacles.
Galaad is mine, and Manasses is mine and Ephraim the protection of my head. Juda is my king:
Moab the pot of my hope. Over Edom I will stretch out my shoe: the aliens are become my friends.
Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?
Wilt not thou, O God, who hast cast us off? and wilt not thou, O God, go forth with our armies?
O grant us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.
Through God we shall do mightily: and he will bring our enemies to nothing.
Psalm 108 or Psalm 107?
The Douay-Rheims Bible follows the numbering of the Latin Vulgate and the Greek Septuagint, while most modern Bibles follow the Hebrew. So the Douay’s Psalm 107 is Psalm 108 in the New American Bible and other modern translations. In Latin the psalm begins Paratum cor meum, Deus. See how many psalms are there?
What the psalm means
- A ready heart: prepared to praise God at any hour.
- Waking the dawn: “I will arise in the morning early.”
- God’s mercy above the heavens: “thy mercy is great above the heavens.”
- God’s promises: God speaks from his sanctuary and claims the nations.
- Through God: “Through God we shall do mightily.”
How the Church uses Psalm 108
- At Morning Prayer (Lauds) in the Liturgy of the Hours. See Lauds.
- At the start of the day, as a song of readiness.
A prayer with Psalm 108
Written for this page:
My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready; I will sing your praise.
I will awake the dawn and praise you among the nations.
Your mercy is higher than the heavens, your faithfulness reaches the clouds.
Give us help in trouble, for with you we shall do valiantly. Amen.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Psalm 108 so similar to Psalms 57 and 60?
It combines Psalm 57:8–12 with Psalm 60:7–14 into a new psalm of praise and confidence.
Where is “My heart is ready, O God”?
Psalm 108:2 (107:2 in the Douay-Rheims).
More psalms and prayers
Texts and sources
- Scripture: Psalm 107 (108), Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
- The prayer was written for this page.