Psalmorum 39
1 In finem, ipsi Idithun, Canticum David. Dixi: Custodiam vias meas: ut non delinquam in lingua mea. Posui ori meo custodiam, cum consisteret peccator adversum me.
For the leader; for Jeduthun. A psalm of David. I vowed to watch my words, and sin not with my tongue, but to put on my mouth a muzzle, while the wicked were in my presence.
2 Obmutui, et humiliatus sum, et silui a bonis: et dolor meus renovatus est.
I was silent and dumb, speechless: but my pain was stirred up.
3 Concaluit cor meum intra me: et in meditatione mea exardescet ignis.
My heart grew hot within me; as I mused, the fire was kindled, till at last the words came to my tongue.
4 Locutus sum in lingua mea: Notum fac mihi Domine finem meum. Et numerum dierum meorum quis est: ut sciam quid desit mihi.
‘Teach me, O Lord, my end, and the sum of my days what it is. Let me know how transient I am.
5 Ecce mensurabiles posuisti dies meos: et substantia mea tamquam nihilum ante te. Verumtamen universa vanitas, omnis homo vivens.
See! My days you have made but a span, and my life is as nothing before you. It is but as a breath that everyone stands: (Selah)
6 Verumtamen in imagine pertransit homo: sed et frustra conturbatur. Thesaurizat: et ignorat cui congregabit ea.
it is but in mere semblance we walk to and fro, and all our noise is for nothing. We heap up, and know not who will gather.’
7 Et nunc quæ est expectatio mea? nonne Dominus? et substantia mea apud te est.
And now, what wait I for, Lord? My hope is in you.
8 Ab omnibus iniquitatibus meis erue me: opprobrium insipienti dedisti me.
From all my transgressions deliver me; make me not the scorn of the fool.
9 Obmutui, et non aperui os meum, quoniam tu fecisti:
I am dumb, never opening my mouth, for this is your own doing.
10 amove a me plagas tuas.
Remove your stroke from off me: by the might of your hand I am spent.
11 A fortitudine manus tuæ ego defeci in increpationibus: propter iniquitatem corripuisti hominem. Et tabescere fecisti sicut araneam animam eius: verumtamen vane conturbatur omnis homo.
When you rebuke someone to punish their sins, you consume, like a moth, what they treasures. Everyone is only a breath. (Selah)
12 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.
Hear my prayer, O Lord; attend to my cry for help. Hold not your peace at my tears. For I am but a guest of yours, a stranger visiting, like all my ancestors.
13 Remitte mihi, ut refrigerer priusquam abeam, et amplius non ero.
Look away from me, let me smile again, before I die and am gone.
