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 chief musician, for Jeduthun. A psalm of David. I decided, “I will watch what I say so that I do not sin with my tongue. I will muzzle my mouth while in the presence of an evil man.”

2 Obmutui, et humiliatus sum, et silui a bonis: et dolor meus renovatus est.

I kept silent; I kept back my words even from saying anything good, and my pain grew worse.

3 Concaluit cor meum intra me: et in meditatione mea exardescet ignis.

My heart became hot; when I thought about these things, it burned like a fire. Then finally I spoke.

4 Locutus sum in lingua mea: Notum fac mihi Domine finem meum. Et numerum dierum meorum quis est: ut sciam quid desit mihi.

“Yahweh, make me know when will be the end of my life and the extent of my days. Show me how transient I am.

5 Ecce mensurabiles posuisti dies meos: et substantia mea tamquam nihilum ante te. Verumtamen universa vanitas, omnis homo vivens.

See, you have made my days only the width of my hand, and my lifetime is like nothing before you. Surely every man is a single breath. (Selah)

6 Verumtamen in imagine pertransit homo: sed et frustra conturbatur. Thesaurizat: et ignorat cui congregabit ea.

Surely every man walks about like a shadow. Surely everyone hurries about to accumulate riches although they do not know who will receive them.

7 Et nunc quæ est expectatio mea? nonne Dominus? et substantia mea apud te est.

Now, Lord, for what am I waiting? You are my only hope.

8 Ab omnibus iniquitatibus meis erue me: opprobrium insipienti dedisti me.

Rescue me from my sins; do not make me the reproach of fools.

9 Obmutui, et non aperui os meum, quoniam tu fecisti:

I am silent and cannot open my mouth, because it is you who has done it.

10 amove a me plagas tuas.

Stop wounding me; I am overwhelmed by the blow of your hand.

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 discipline people for sin, you consume the things they desire like a moth; surely all people are nothing but vapor. (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, Yahweh, and listen to me; listen to my weeping! Do not be deaf to me, for I am like a foreigner with you, a refugee like all my ancestors were.

13 Remitte mihi, ut refrigerer priusquam abeam, et amplius non ero.

Turn your gaze from me so that I may smile again before I die.”