Psalms - Chapter 38

Passage

To the end, for Idithun himself, a canticle of David. 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. I was dumb, and was humbled, and kept silence from good things: and my sorrow was renewed. My heart grew hot within me: and in my meditation a fire shall flame out. 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. Behold have made my days measurable, and my substance is as nothing before you. And indeed all things are vanity: every man living. Surely man passes as an image: yea, and he is disquieted in vain. He stores up: and he does not know for whom he shall gather these things. And now what is my hope? is it not the Lord? and my substance is with you. Deliver me from all my iniquities: you have made me a reproach to the fool. I was dumb, and I opened not my mouth, because you have done it. Remove your scourges from me. The strength of your hand has made me faint in rebukes: You have corrected man for iniquity. And you have made his soul to waste away like a spider: surely in vain is any man disquieted. Hear my prayer, O Lord, and my supplication: give ear to my tears. Be no silent: for I am a stranger with you, and a sojourner as all my fathers were. O forgive me, that I may be refreshed, before I go hence, and be no more.