38
1 For the end, a Song of David, to Idithun.
2 I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I set a guard on my mouth, while the sinner stood in my presence. 3 I was dumb, and humbled myself, and kept silence from good words; and my grief was renewed. 4 My heart grew hot within me, and a fire would kindle in my meditation: I spoke with my tongue,
5 O Lord, make me to know mine end, and the number of my days, what it is; that I may know what I lack. 6 Behold, thou hast made my days *old; and my existence is as nothing before thee: nay, every man living is altogether vanity. Pause. 7 Surely man walks in a †shadow; nay, he is disquieted in vain: he lays up treasures, and knows not for whom he shall gather them.
8 And now what is my expectation? is it not the Lord? and my ground of hope is with thee. Pause. 9 Deliver me from all my transgressions: thou hast made me a reproach to the foolish. 10 I was ‡dumb, and opened not my mouth; for thou art he that made me. 11 Remove thy scourges from me: I have fainted by reason of the strength of thine hand. 12 Thou chastenest man with rebukes for iniquity, and thou makest his life to consume away like a spider's web: nay, every man is disquieted in vain. Pause.
13 O Lord, hearken to my prayer and my supplication: attend to my tears: be not silent, for I am a sojourner in the land, and a stranger, as all my fathers were. 14 Spare me, that I may be refreshed, before I depart, and be no more.
* 38:6 Alex. a span long. † 38:7 Gr. image. ‡ 38:10 Gr. made dumb.