Dixi custodiam.
A just man's peace and patience in his sufferings; considering the
vanity of the world, and the providence of God.
38:1. Unto the end, for Idithun himself, a canticle of David.
38:2. 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.
38:3. I was dumb, and was humbled, and kept silence from good things:
and my sorrow was renewed.
38:4. My heart grew hot within me: and in my meditation a fire shall
flame out.
38:5. 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.
38:6. Behold thou hast made my days measurable. and my substance is as
nothing before thee. And indeed all things are vanity: every man
living.
38:7. 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.
38:8. And now what is my hope? is it not the Lord? and my substance is
with thee.
38:9. Deliver thou me from all my iniquities: thou hast made me a
reproach to the fool.
38:10. I was dumb, and I opened not my mouth, because thou hast done
it.
38:11. Remove thy scourges from me. The strength of thy hand hath made
me faint in rebukes:
38:12. 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.
38:13. Hear my prayer, O Lord, and my supplication: give ear to my
tears. Be no silent: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner as
all my fathers were.
38:14. O forgive me, that I may be refreshed, before I go hence, and be
no more.