Psalm 132 remembers David’s vow to find a dwelling for the Lord and God’s promise in return: “O Lord, remember David, and all his meekness… Arise, O Lord, into thy resting place: thou and the ark, which thou hast sanctified.” The Church sings it on the Vigil of the Assumption, because Mary is the new Ark of the Covenant who carried God within her. In the Douay-Rheims it is numbered Psalm 131. Below is the full Catholic text, what the psalm means, how the Church uses it, and a prayer.
Psalm 132 in the Douay-Rheims Bible
O Lord, remember David, and all his meekness.
How he swore to the Lord, he vowed a vow to the God of Jacob:
If I shall enter into the tabernacle of my house: if I shall go up into the bed wherein I lie:
If I shall give sleep to my eyes, or slumber to my eyelids,
Or rest to my temples: until I find out a place for the Lord, a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.
Behold we have heard of it in Ephrata: we have found it in the fields of the wood.
We will go into his tabernacle: We will adore in the place where his feet stood.
Arise, O Lord, into thy resting place: thou and the ark, which thou hast sanctified.
Let thy priests be clothed with justice: and let thy saints rejoice.
For thy servant David’s sake, turn not away the face of thy anointed.
The Lord hath sworn truth to David, and he will not make it void: of the fruit of thy womb I will set upon thy throne.
If thy children will keep thy covenant, and these my testimonies which I shall teach them: Their children also for evermore shall sit upon thy throne.
For the Lord hath chosen Sion: he hath chosen it for his dwelling.
This is my rest for ever and ever: here will I dwell, for I have chosen it.
Blessing, I will bless her widow: I will satisfy her poor with bread.
I will clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall rejoice with exceeding great joy.
There will I bring forth a horn to David: I have prepared a lamp for my anointed.
His enemies I will clothe with confusion: but upon him will my sanctification flourish.
Psalm 132 or Psalm 131?
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 131 is Psalm 132 in the New American Bible and other modern translations. In Latin the psalm begins Memento, Domine, David et omnis mansuetudinis eius. See how many psalms are there?
What the psalm means
- David’s vow: he would not sleep until he found a place for the Lord.
- The Ark comes home: the Ark of the Covenant is carried to Jerusalem with joy.
- Mary, the new Ark: as the Ark held the tablets of the Law and the manna, Mary carried Jesus, the Word and the Bread of Life. “Arise, O Lord, into thy resting place: thou and the ark” is applied to her Assumption into heaven.
- God’s oath to David: “Of the fruit of thy womb I will set upon thy throne,” fulfilled in Jesus, Son of David (Luke 1:32; Acts 2:30).
- Sion, God’s chosen dwelling: “This is my rest for ever and ever.”
How the Church uses Psalm 132
- At the Vigil Mass of the Assumption (August 14): “Lord, go up to the place of your rest, you and the ark of your holiness.” See the Assumption.
- On Marian feasts, where Mary is honored as the Ark of the Covenant, a title in the Litany of Loreto. See Marian feast days.
- One of the Songs of Ascents.
A prayer with Psalm 132
Written for this page:
Lord, remember David and the promise you made to him.
Arise and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your holiness.
Mary, Ark of the Covenant, who carried the Son of David, pray for us.
Let your priests be clothed with justice and your saints shout for joy. Amen.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Psalm 132 read on the Assumption?
Because it speaks of the Ark of the Covenant going up to God’s resting place, and the Church honors Mary as the new Ark, taken up into heaven.
What promise does God make in Psalm 132?
That a descendant of David would sit on his throne for ever, fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
More psalms and prayers
Texts and sources
- Scripture: Psalm 131 (132); Luke 1:32; Acts 2:30, Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
- The prayer was written for this page.