Psalms Chapter 38
Dixi custodiam.
A just man"s peace and patience in his sufferings; considering the vanity of the world, and the providence of G.o.d.
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 meditqation 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 vantiy: every man living.
38:7. Surely man pa.s.seth 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.
Psalms Chapter 39
Expectans expectavi.
Christ"s coming, and redeeming mankind.
39:1. Unto the end, a psalm for David himself.
39:2. With expectation I have waited for the Lord, and he was attentive to me.
39:3. And he heard my prayers, and brought me out of the pit of misery and the mire of dregs. And he set my feet upon a rock, and directed my steps.
39:4. And he put a new canticle into my mouth, a song to our G.o.d. Many shall see, and shall fear: and they shall hope in the Lord.
39:5. Blessed is the man whose trust is in the name of the Lord; and who hath not had regard to vanities, and lying follies.
39:6. Thou hast multiplied thy wonderful works, O Lord my G.o.d: and in thy thoughts there is no one like to thee. I have declared and I have spoken they are multiplied above number.
39:7. Sacrifice and oblation thou didst not desire; but thou hast pierced ears for me. Burnt offering and sin offering thou didst not require:
39:8. Then said I, Behold I come. In the head of the book it is written of me
39:9. That I should do thy will: O my G.o.d, I have desired it, and thy law in the midst of my heart.
39:10. I have declared thy justice in a great church, lo, I will not restrain my lips: O Lord, thou knowest it.
39:11. I have not hid thy justice within my heart: I have declared thy truth and thy salvation. I have not concealed thy mercy and thy truth from a great council.
39:12. Withhold not thou, O Lord, thy tender mercies from me: thy mercy and thy truth have always upheld me.
39:13. For evils without number have surrounded me; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I was not able to see. They are multiplied above the hairs of my head: and my heart hath forsaken me.
My iniquities... That is, the sins of all mankind, which I have taken upon me.
39:14. Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me. Look down, O Lord, to help me.
39:15. Let them be confounded and ashamed together, that seek after my soul to take it away. Let them be turned backward and be ashamed that desire evils to me.
39:16. Let them immediately bear their confusion, that say to me: "T is well, t" is well.
"T is well... The Hebrew here is an interjection of insult and derision, like the Vah. Matt. 27.49.
39:17. Let all that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say always: The Lord be magnified.
39:18. But I am a beggar and poor: the Lord is careful for me. Thou art my helper and my protector: O my G.o.d, be not slack.
Psalms Chapter 40
Beatus qui intelligit.
The happiness of him that shall believe in Christ; notwithstanding the humility and poverty in which he shall come: the malice of his enemies, especially of the traitor Judas.
40:1. Unto the end, a psalm for David himself.
40:2. Blessed is he that understandeth concerning the needy and the poor: the Lord will deliver him in the evil day.
40:3. The Lord preserve him and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth: and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies.
40:4. The Lord help him on his bed of sorrow: thou hast turned all his couch in his sickness.
40:5. I said: O Lord, be thou merciful to me: heal my soul, for I have sinned against thee.
40:6. My enemies have spoken evils against me: when shall he die and his name perish?