Psalms 38
Dixi custodiam. A just man’s peace and patience in his sufferings; considering the vanity of the world, and the providence of God.
U nto the end, for Idithun himself,
a canticle of David.
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 I was dumb, and was humbled, and kept silence from good things:
and my sorrow was renewed.
4 My heart grew hot within me:
and in my meditation a fire shall flame out.
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 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 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 And now what is my hope? is it not
the Lord? and my substance is with thee.
9 Deliver thou me from all my iniquities:
thou hast made me a reproach to the fool.
10 I was dumb, and I opened not my mouth,
because thou hast done it.
11 Remove thy scourges from me. The strength of
thy hand hath made me faint in rebukes:
12 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 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 O forgive me, that I may be refreshed,
before I go hence, and be no more.