1 Unto the end. For Jeduthun himself. A Canticle of David. 2 I said, “I will keep to my ways, so that I will not offend with my tongue.” I posted a guard at my mouth, when a sinner took up a position against me. 3 I was silenced and humbled, and I was quiet before good things, and my sorrow was renewed. 4 My heart grew hot within me, and, during my meditation, a fire would flare up. 5 I spoke with my tongue, “O Lord, make me know my end, and what the number of my days will be, so that I may know what is lacking to me.” 6 Behold, you have made my days measurable, and, before you, my substance is as nothing. Yet truly, all things are vanity: every living man. 7 So then, truly man passes by like an image; even so, he is disquieted in vain. He stores up, and he knows not for whom he will gather these things. 8 And now, what is it that awaits me? Is it not the Lord? And my substance is with you. 9 Rescue me from all my iniquities. You have handed me over as a reproach to the foolish. 10 I was silenced, and I did not open my mouth, because it was you who acted. 11 Remove your scourges from me. 12 I fall short at corrections from the strength of your hand. For you have chastised man for iniquity. And you have made his soul shrink away like a spider. Nevertheless, it is in vain that any man be disquieted. 13 O Lord, heed my prayer and my supplication. Pay attention to my tears. Do not be silent. For I am a newcomer with you, and a sojourner, just as all my fathers were. 14 Forgive me, so that I may be refreshed, before I will go forth and be no more.
Psalms · Catholic Public Domain Version
Psalm 38 (39) Catholic Public Domain Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · Psalm 39 · About the recordings
Notes on this text (4)
- Greek and Latin Bibles number most Psalms one lower than Hebrew and English Bibles.
- Psalms follow the Greek/Latin numbering, with the psalm titles counted as verse 1 (as in the Vulgate).
- Esther and Daniel are the Vulgate books (Esther 1–16 with the Greek additions as chapters 10:4–16; Daniel 1–14 with the Song of the Three, Susanna and Bel). Baruch 6 is the Letter of Jeremiah.
- The translator's footnotes, cross-references, chapter summaries and book introductions in the CrossWire module are not shown.
Cross references (14)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info. References use English (Hebrew-based) verse numbers; links open the passage in CPDV.
- 1 Proverbs 21:23; Psalm 141:3; James 1:26; Psalm 119:9; Micah 7:5–6
- 2 Proverbs 21:23; Psalm 141:3; James 1:26; Psalm 119:9; Micah 7:5–6
- 3 Matthew 27:12–14; Acts 4:20; Psalm 38:13–14; Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 7:6
- 4 Jeremiah 20:9; Luke 24:32; Ezekiel 3:14
- 5 Psalm 90:12; Psalm 103:14; Psalm 119:84; Job 14:13
- 6 Psalm 144:4; Psalm 89:47; Psalm 62:9; Psalm 90:9–10; Ecclesiastes 2:11
- 7 Luke 12:20–21; James 4:14; Ecclesiastes 2:26; Psalm 127:2; Ecclesiastes 12:13
- 8 Romans 15:13; Psalm 38:15; Psalm 119:81; Genesis 49:18; Psalm 119:166
- 9 Psalm 51:14; Psalm 44:13; Joel 2:17; Micah 7:19; Psalm 79:4
- 10 Job 2:10; 1 Samuel 3:18; Job 40:4–5; Daniel 4:35; 2 Samuel 16:10
- 11 Job 9:34; Job 13:21; Psalm 32:4; Psalm 25:16–17; Psalm 38:3–4
- 12 Job 13:28; Hebrews 12:6; Isaiah 50:9; Revelation 3:19; 1 Corinthians 11:30–32
- 13 1 Peter 2:11; Hebrews 11:13; 2 Kings 20:5; Leviticus 25:23; Psalm 116:3
- 14 Job 14:5–6; Job 10:20–21; Job 14:10–12; Job 7:19; Genesis 5:24
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations). Verse numbers below follow the Hebrew/English numbering: 39.
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
What doth this recollection of the Sabbath mean? What is this Sabbath? For it is with groaning that he "calls it to recollection." You have both heard already when the Psalm was read, and you will now hear it when we shall go over it, how great is his groaning, his mourning, his tears, his misery.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)
… feed upon me; nor shall thou convert me, like the food of thy flesh, into thee, but thou shall be converted into me." And I learned that Thou for iniquity dost correct man, and Thou dost make my soul to consume away like a spider. And I said, "Is Truth, therefore, nothing because it is neither diffused through space, finite, …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
"For I am a stranger," saith he, "and a sojourner, as all my fathers were." For this man, and all that are like him, let pass them that had sinned, and thought of those who had approved themselves.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
This is my hope; for this do I live, that I may contemplate the delights of the Lord. Behold, Thou hast made my days old, and they pass away, and in what manner I know not.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)