Sing a New Psalm:
Communicating with God Through
the Prayers of the Church
Volume II: Vigils, Day Prayer & Compline
Lesson 29 In Peace I Will Lie Down
Psalm 91 (RSVCE)
—Compline on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
Psalm 4 (RSVCE) and Psalm 134 (RSVCE)
—Compline on Monday, Thursday, Saturday
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition*
New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE)*
Catechism of the Catholic Church
ex libris (in our library)
glossary for Volume II of Sing a New Psalm
next lesson (Lesson 1): He Who Sits in the Heavens Laughs
This material coordinates with Lesson 29, “In Peace I Will Lie Down,” on pages 106–109 in Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume II: Vigils, Day Prayer & Compline. Our Catholic Bible study is based on
The Abbey Psalms and Canticles, a translation of the psalms prepared by the monks at Conception Abbey in 2010 and first published as The Revised Grail Psalms. The Abbey Psalms and Canticles is a revision of that work, finished in 2020 and published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Wording and numbering of some psalms and verses in other translations may differ. The Abbey Psalms and Canticles is being added to Liturgy of the Hours books used in the United States. While the Turning to God’s Word study book is based on The Abbey Psalms and Canticles translation, all online links to the psalms are to the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE) translation. A separate copy of The Abbey Psalms and Canticles is needed to read the translation on which the psalms in this study are based.
“Unlike other prayers in sacred Scripture, the prayers contained in the psalms are not inserted into a narrative story that specifies their meaning and function. Instead, the psalms are given to the believer precisely as a text of prayer. Since they are the Word of God, the believer who prays the psalms speaks to God using the very words that God himself has given to us. Thus, in praying the psalms we learn to pray. The psalms are a school of prayer.”—Pope Benedict XVI
welcome to our continuing in-depth study of the psalms
We invite groups and individuals to check out the sample Introduction and Lesson 1 from this 29-
lesson Turning to 
God’s Word Catholic Bible study. Our online study pages include additional questions, commentary, and prayers based on the psalm texts, plus an online glossary. Both Volume I and Volume II of Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church have been granted imprimaturs. A digital version of Volume I: Lauds & Vespers can be purchased from our website shop. Volume II: Vigils, Day Prayer & Compline is available in hard copy. If you have a Bible-related question or comment, click on one of the “ask us your question” or “what do you think” buttons on any online study page.
open with prayer
It’s always wise to begin any Bible study with prayer, whether reading the Scriptures alone or meeting with others in a discussion study group. You can pray using your own words, pray one of the psalms in this lesson, or use one of the opening prayers on our website. We especially like the following:
Lord Jesus, you promised to send your Holy Spirit
to teach us all things.
As we read and study your word today,
allow it to touch our hearts and change our lives. Amen.
think about praying Compline every night
In addition to the sample for this Bible study, Turning to God’s Word is providing a copy of Lesson 29 In Peace I Will Lie Down, which addresses the nightly Compline prayers based on Psalm 91, Psalm 4, and Psalm 134. The monks at Conception Abbey pray these short psalms each evening—Psalm 91 on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday; Psalm 4 and Psalm 134 on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.
about the psalms in this lesson**
This lesson covers the psalms prayed for Compline by the monks at Conception Abbey. There are two versions, depending on the day of the week. On Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, the monks 
pray Psalm 91, a song of trust; its composer is unknown. On Monday, Thursday and Saturday, the monks replace Psalm 91 with Psalm 4 and Psalm 134; Psalm 4 in classified as an individual or personal lament attributed to David. Scholars are in disagreement about how best to categorize Psalm 134; it most often is classified as “miscellaneous,” and its composer is unknown.
classifying the psalms
The classification of the psalms, though somewhat standardized, retains an arbitrary nature. Some psalms are classified according to form or type; such forms include the hymn, the lament, and the song of thanksgiving. Psalms also may be classified according to subject matter—royal psalms, for instance, portray the political king of the descendants of Jacob as both the representative of God to the community and the representative of the community to God—or they may be classified according to their use; scholars generally think that hymns exalting Zion were part of a ritual reenactment of the great deeds of God in maintaining Mount Zion and Jerusalem as a home base. Turning to God’s Word is indebted to Fr. Felix Just, a Jesuit priest and biblical scholar, for his organized listing of the psalms by classification and author.
the largest number of psalms are laments
Forty-three of the psalms, including Psalm 4 in this lesson, are classified as individual laments. The word “lament” means “a passionate expression of regret.” An additional 18 psalms are classified as communal laments, which means they were written to be used by an entire community. Refer to the above-mentioned work of Fr. Felix Just for a complete online listing of psalms classified as individual or communal laments.
what is a lament?
Because the word “lament” as a verb means to wail, moan, or sob in sorrow, when the same word “lament” is used as a noun it means an expression of mourning. It is this meaning that it holds in the psalms in this lesson. In addition to the laments in the psalms, Scripture also includes a book called Lamentations (sometimes referred to as the Lamentations of Jeremiah, although many scholars contest the prophet Jeremiah’s authorship of that work). A lament frequently refers to a funeral dirge, elegy, or burial hymn.
Psalm 91 is classified as a psalm of individual trust
In addition to Psalm 91 in this lesson, the six other psalms of individual trust are: Psalm 11, Psalm 16, Psalm 23, Psalm 62, Psalm 121, and Psalm 131. The also are three psalms classified as psalms of communal trust. They are: Psalm 115, Psalm 125, and Psalm 129.
there are a dozen ‘miscellaneous’ psalms
Some of the psalms exhibit a number of themes, making it difficult for scholars to classify them under a single category. All told, there are a dozen such psalms, which are classified as “miscellaneous.” They include Psalm 134 in this lesson, as well as Psalm 15, Psalm 24, Psalm 50, Psalm 78, Psalm 81, Psalm 82, Psalm 95, Psalm 105, Psalm 108, Psalm 133, and Psalm 139.
what is Compline?
The English word “Compline” is derived from the Latin completorium, and is used to indicate the completion of the waking day. Compline liturgies are a part of Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox, and other Christian liturgical traditions. Compline (sometimes called Night Prayer or the Prayer at the End of the Day) is the final prayer liturgy of the day in the Christian tradition of canonical hours, which are prayed at fixed times. At Conception Abbey, the monks pray Compline each day at 7:15 p.m. Compline traditionally is followed by the Grand Silence, during which monks maintain quiet and avoid talking throughout the night until the morning prayers of Vigils, which start at 6:15 p.m.
what’s the point of Compline?
At Conception Abbey, Compline tends to be a contemplative office that emphasizes spiritual peace. It includes a short examination of conscience in which the monks have time to reflect on the just-completed day and consider any changes in their behavior that they may wish to make in the next day. The psalms prayed at Compline also emphasize rest and peace, and they can deal with sleeplessness related to stress and an inability to slow down.
penance is an integral part of Compline
The brief examination of conscience built into the Compline format at Conception Abbey is a necessary aspect of what many Catholics call the sacrament of Confession. This sacrament of healing also is known as the sacrament of Penance or the sacrament of Reconciliation. All three aspects are essential when seeking God’s forgiveness. Confession emphasizes that it is necessary to admit to our sins. Penance stresses the importance of being genuinely sorry for having offended God. Reconciliation describes the unity with God that is restored through the sacrament.
read the Catechism—all of the sacraments are liturgical
The regular practice of examining our actions at the end of each day helps us to prepare to receive the sacrament of Penance on a regular basis. Paragraph 1420 through paragraph 1498 consists of an entire section of the Catechism of the Catholic Church devoted to teaching about the sacrament of Penance. Paragraph 1480 explains the elements of the sacrament.
1480 Like all sacraments, Penance is a liturgical action. The elements of the celebration are ordinarily these: a greeting and blessing from the priest, reading the word of God to illuminate the conscience and elicit contrition, and an exhortation to repentance; the confession, which acknowledges sins and makes them known to the priest; the imposition and acceptance of a penance; the priest’s absolution; a prayer of thanksgiving and praise and dismissal with the blessing of the priest.
Psalm 134—the final song of ascent
The Songs of Ascent—sometimes called Pilgrim Psalms or Gradual Psalms—are a collection of 15 psalms (Psalm 120 through Psalm 134) that are thought to have been sung by pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem for religious festivals. These psalms are characterized by themes of divine protection, joyful worship, dependence on God, and unity as a blessing. The term “ascent” refers to the physical journey up the hills toward Jerusalem, the holy city. All biblical references to going to Jerusalem are references to going “up.” In later Christian tradition, these 15 psalms also were thought to describe the spiritual ascent into heaven, which led to their frequent recitation for the dead. Psalm 134 in this lesson concludes the collection of Songs of Ascent.
rest—you could look it up in our archives
The psalms prayed at Conception Abbey for Compline emphasize the rest that allows for and leads to restorative sleep. To learn what Jesus meant when he promised rest to humanity, read Lost in Translation, an online column in which Turning to God’s Word author Matthew Phelps helps readers connect with ideas expressed in the original languages of the Scriptures. New Lost in Translation entries are posted on Mondays, and past entries are archived on our website. Contact us if you’d like to receive Lost in Translation by email every week.
dealing with the burdens of life
Think about the labors in your life. Consider whether you’d like to be relieved of some of your responsibilities related to work. 
? What would stopping or pausing from work and other labors in your life look like?
? How might Jesus be able to provide you with such rest?
? Jesus and the Church encourage resting on the sabbath day. What could you do to find time to carve out some more rest each Sunday?
three translation differences in one verse
The Abbey Psalms and Canticles translates Psalm 4:2 (Psalm 4:1 in Revised Standard Version Catholic Editions): “O God of justice, give answer when I call; from anguish you released me, have mercy and hear me!” The Revised Grail Psalms translates the same passage: “I called, the God of justice gave answer; from anguish you released me, have mercy and hear me!” The primary content change is that The Revised Grail Psalms translation credits the God of justice with having already answered David’s prayer, while The Abbey Psalms and Canticles translation does not, although that translation retains the past tense to indicate that God already has released David from anguish. (Note that it is not possible to link to either The Abbey Psalms and Canticles or The Revised Grail Psalms; all links on the online pages are to the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition [RSVCE].)
a translation difference: O you people vs. children of man
The Abbey Psalms and Canticles translates Psalm 4:3 (Psalm 4:2 in Revised Standard Version Catholic Editions): “O you people, how long will my glory be dishonored, will you love what is futile and seek what is false?” The Revised Grail Psalms translates the same verse: “Children of man, how long will my glory be dishonored, will you love what is futile and seek what is false?” This change is consistent with a number of other changes made to Conception Abbey’s original translation and appears to be an attempt to eliminate sexist language from Scripture.
a translation difference that does seem to affect meaning
The Abbey Psalms and Canticles translates Psalm 4:7 (Psalm 4:6 in Revised Standard Version Catholic Editions): “’O that we might see better times,’ many say. Lift up the light of your face on us, O LORD.” The Revised Grail Psalms translates the same verse: “’What can bring us happiness?‘ many say. Lift up the light of your face on us, O LORD.” There seems to be some difference between seeing better times and being happy, although an argument can be made that happiness always is tied to better times. Which translation do you find easier to understand?
two translation differences that may be tied to meter
The Abbey Psalms and Canticles translates Psalm 134:1: “O come and bless the LORD,
all you servants of the LORD, who stand by night in the house of the LORD.” The Revised Grail Psalms translates the same verse: “O come, bless the LORD,
all you servants of the LORD, who stand by night in the courts of the house of the LORD.” Both translation changes in this verse look to have more to do with meter than with content. Can you think of any other reason the editors of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) wanted this change made?
WHAT DO YOU THINK about this Catholic Bible study?
Send us an email to share your experience studying Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume II: Vigils, Day Prayer & Compline. We’d love to hear from you.
? Which psalm that you studied in Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church —Volume II: Vigils, Day Prayer & Compline did you find to be the most relevant in your life, and why?
? How have your ideas about the Catholic faith changed as a result of studying Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume II: Vigils, Day Prayer & Compline?
? What’s one unexpected way that this Bible study has touched your life?
? What’s something you’ve learned from studying the Sing a New Psalm that you’d like to share with others?
? To whom would you like to recommend Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume II: Vigils, Day Prayer & Compline?
? What book of the Bible would you like to study next, and why?
the best Catholic commentary about Scripture
To find out more about how Church teaching is supported by passages in Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume II: Vigils, Day Prayer & Compline, check out the Index of Citations in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Links to the primary Scripture passages in the lesson (Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition [RSVCE*]) and relevant paragraphs in the Catechism are provided here. Not every passage in the biblical text for this study is referenced in a Catechism paragraph, however, including Psalm 4 in this lesson.
Psalm 91:10–13—paragraph 336
Psalm 134:3—paragraph 287
ways our glossary might prove helpful
In addition to providing extra information about geographical locations, our glossary also points out 
persons or places mentioned in the biblical text under more than one name or more than one spelling. If you can remember a name but aren’t sure in which lesson it shows up, you can find it in the glossary, which lists every proper noun that appears in the biblical text for every lesson in Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume II: Vigils, Day Prayer & Compline.
don’t forget about our indexes & extra online material
If you’re trying to locate information about a passage in Scripture, you can look it up in the index at the back of the study book. If you want to revisit a particular commentary, you can look that up by title in the topics index. If you want to learn more about another book of the Bible for which there’s a Turning to God’s Word study, you can read the online commentaries and watch any accompanying videos by going to the online study directories. Finally, if you have a question or would like to make a comment about any of our studies, you can use one of the “ask us your question” or “what do you think” buttons to email our authors.
ex libris—Church documents & books about religious topics
You can find links to magisterial documents referred to in Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible studies 
at ex libris—magisterial documents. This page includes a listing of significant recent encyclicals as well as a number of historical Church documents. Recommended books related to Scripture study can be found at ex libris—main bookshelf.
wondering how to pronounce some of these words?
The following links are to readings from the New International Version (NIV) Bible. To listen, open one of the links and click on the audio icon above the printed text. Although not taken from the translations used in our study materials, the NIV readings provide an audio guide to pronunciation of words in this lesson’s primary biblical texts. An online version of the translation of the Bible used in Catholic liturgy in the United States as well as an audio guide for daily Mass readings for the current three months can be found on the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
Psalm 4 (NIV)
Psalm 91 (NIV)
Psalm 134 (NIV)
close with a psalms-based prayer for Compline (Weeks I & II)
Many of our Catholic study groups like to conclude discussions with a prayer based on the scriptural focus of their lesson. If you’re uncomfortable composing Bible-based prayers, you can follow our four easy steps. If you prefer, you can pray any of the psalms in this lesson, or you can use the following short prayer with which the monks at Conception Abbey close Compline each evening. The monks end their short prayer with the Canticle of Simeon, found in the Gospel According to Luke 2:29–32.
Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake;
watch over us as we sleep,
that awake we may keep watch with Christ,
and asleep rest in his peace.
Now you dismiss your servant in peace,
according to your word, O Master;
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you made ready in the sight of all the peoples:
A light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for Israel your people. Amen.
Lesson 1 He Who Sits in the Heavens Laughs, Sunday Vigils (Week I)—Psalm 95 (the Invitatory), Psalm 1, Psalm 2, Psalm 23, Psalm 76, and Psalm 103
Lesson 28 My Lips Shall Proclaim Your Praise, Saturday Day Prayer (Week II)—Psalm 119:153–160, Psalm 119:161–168, and Psalm 119:169–176
you also may like our free Lenten study of Jesus’ Passion
Jesus’ Passion: The Story of Redemptive Suffering is a five-lesson Catholic Bible study offering an in-depth look at the biblical foundations of the movie The Passion of the Christ. This revised study, which has been granted an imprimatur, contains all of the original material of the 2004 edition as well as many new features in an improved, reader-friendly format. Click on the book’s cover to view the introduction. Free digital lessons of Jesus’ Passion: The Story of Redemptive Suffering are available on our website during Lent.
start a Turning to God’s Word Bible study
Thank you for your interest in Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume II. 
Information about beginning a Turning to God’s Word Bible study can be found at start a Bible study. Tami, Matthew, and I are available to answer questions. Contact us if you’d like to start one of our studies or have your schedule listed with other TtGW study groups on our website. —Jennifer
*There are seven deuterocanonical books in the Old Testament—Baruch, Judith, Sirach, Tobit, Wisdom, and First and Second Maccabees—and there are some deuterocanonical passages in the Books of Daniel and Esther. Protestants usually refer to these works as “apocryphal,” a word that means “outside the (Protestant) canon” because they’re excluded from most Protestant Bibles. Deuterocanonical means “second canon”; Catholics use that word to refer to any section of the Catholic Old Testament for which there are no extant, or existing, Hebrew manuscripts. All of the deuterocanonical books appear in the Septuagint, the earliest remaining versions of which date to the 1st century B.C. This Greek translation of the Old Testament was in common use by Jews at the time of Jesus. Learn more by reading How Do Catholic & Protestant Bibles Differ?
**You can learn more about the psalms by viewing a sample lesson from the Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church. The first volume covers psalms prayed at Lauds and Vespers; the second covers psalms prayed at Vigils, Day Prayer, and Compline. Numbering of psalms and verses may vary in other translations.
Turning to God’s Word printed Bible studies use the 2006 Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition (RSV2CE) translation for all Scripture references except those to the psalms, which are taken from The Abbey Psalms and Canticles, prepared by the Benedictine monks of Conception Abbey and published in 2020 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). All Scripture links for the online study pages for Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume II: Vigils, Day Prayer & Compline are to the 1966 Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE) translation. The New International Version (NIV) audio recordings follow the same chapter and verse numbering as the RSV Catholic translations, but the NIV translation doesn’t include the deuterocanonical books and passages.
The 1966 RSVCE uses archaic pronouns and verb forms such as “thee,” “thou,” “didst” in the psalms and in direct quotations attributed to God. The 2006 RSV2CE replaces these with more accessible English. The few significant translation changes in the RSV2CE include rendering almah as “virgin” in the Book of Isaiah 7:14 and restoring the term “begotten” in the Gospel According to John 3:16.
Numbering for some passages in this Bible study will vary. Turning to God’s Word studies (print and digital) follow the numbering in the Revised Standard Version Catholic translations (RSV2CE and RSVCE). Discrepancies in the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE) are noted in the Index of Scripture Citations in the study book.