Psalm 38 (39)

1 In finem, ipsi Idithun. Canticum David.

1 Unto the end, for Idithun himself, a canticle of David.

2 Dixi : Custodiam vias meas : ut non delinquam in lingua mea. Posui ori meo custodiam, cum consisteret peccator adversum me.

2 I said: I will take heed to my ways: that I sin not with my tongue. I have set a guard to my mouth, when the sinner stood against me.

3 Obmutui, et humiliatus sum, et silui a bonis ; et dolor meus renovatus est.

3 I was dumb, and was humbled, and kept silence from good things: and my sorrow was renewed.

4 Concaluit cor meum intra me ; et in meditatione mea exardescet ignis.

4 My heart grew hot within me: and in my meditation a fire shall flame out.

5 Locutus sum in lingua mea : Notum fac mihi, Domine, finem meum, et numerum dierum meorum quis est, ut sciam quid desit mihi.

5 I spoke with my tongue: O Lord, make me know my end. And what is the number of my days: that I may know what is wanting to me.

6 Ecce mensurabiles posuisti dies meos, et substantia mea tamquam nihilum ante te. Verumtamen universa vanitas, omnis homo vivens.

6 Behold thou hast made my days measurable. and my substance is as nothing before thee. And indeed all things are vanity: every man living.

7 Verumtamen in imagine pertransit homo ; sed et frustra conturbatur : thesaurizat, et ignorat cui congregabit ea.

7 Surely man passeth as an image: yea, and he is disquieted in vain. He storeth up: and he knoweth not for whom he shall gather these things.

8 Et nunc quæ est exspectatio mea : nonne Dominus ? et substantia mea apud te est.

8 And now what is my hope? is it not the Lord? and my substance is with thee.

9 Ab omnibus iniquitatibus meis erue me : opprobrium insipienti dedisti me.

9 Deliver thou me from all my iniquities: thou hast made me a reproach to the fool.

10 Obmutui, et non aperui os meum, quoniam tu fecisti ;

10 I was dumb, and I opened not my mouth, because thou hast done it.

11 amove a me plagas tuas.

11 Remove thy scourges from me.

12 A fortitudine manus tuæ ego defeci in increpationibus : propter iniquitatem corripuisti hominem. Et tabescere fecisti sicut araneam animam ejus : verumtamen vane conturbatur omnis homo.

12 The strength of thy hand hath made me faint in rebukes: Thou hast corrected man for iniquity. And thou hast made his soul to waste away like a spider: surely in vain is any man disquieted.

13 Exaudi orationem meam, Domine, et deprecationem meam ; auribus percipe lacrimas meas. Ne sileas, quoniam advena ego sum apud te, et peregrinus sicut omnes patres mei.

13 Hear my prayer, O Lord, and my supplication: give ear to my tears. Be not silent: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner as all my fathers were.

14 Remitte mihi, ut refrigerer priusquam abeam et amplius non ero.

14 O forgive me, that I may be refreshed, before I go hence, and be no more.