Psalm 38 (39)

Psalm 38, Catholic Public Domain Version

1. Unto the end. For Jeduthun himself. A Canticle of David.

   In finem, ipsi Idithun. Canticum David.

2. 2

   I said, “I will keep to my ways, so that I will not offend with my tongue.” I posted a guard at my mouth, when a sinner took up a position against me.

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

3. 3

   I was silenced and humbled, and I was quiet before good things, and my sorrow was renewed.

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

4. 4

   My heart grew hot within me, and, during my meditation, a fire would flare up.

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

5. 5

   I spoke with my tongue, “O Lord, make me know my end, and what the number of my days will be, so that I may know what is lacking to me.”

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

6. 6

   Behold, you have made my days measurable, and, before you, my substance is as nothing. Yet truly, all things are vanity: every living man.

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

7. 7

   So then, truly man passes by like an image; even so, he is disquieted in vain. He stores up, and he knows not for whom he will gather these things.

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

8. 8

   And now, what is it that awaits me? Is it not the Lord? And my substance is with you.

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

9. 9

   Rescue me from all my iniquities. You have handed me over as a reproach to the foolish.

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

10. 10

    I was silenced, and I did not open my mouth, because it was you who acted.

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

11. 11

    Remove your scourges from me.

    amove a me plagas tuas.

12. 12

    I fall short at corrections from the strength of your hand. For you have chastised man for iniquity. And you have made his soul shrink away like a spider. Nevertheless, it is in vain that any man be disquieted.

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

13. 13

    O Lord, heed my prayer and my supplication. Pay attention to my tears. Do not be silent. For I am a newcomer with you, and a sojourner, just as all my fathers were.

    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.

14. 14

    Forgive me, so that I may be refreshed, before I will go forth and be no more.

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

Catholic Public Domain Version (Ronald L. Conte Jr., 2009), public domain · Latin: Clementine Vulgate (1592)