Challoner’s heading
Dixi custodiam.
Psalm 38 in the Vulgate numbering this edition follows; Psalm 39 in the Hebrew numbering of most modern Bibles.
1Unto the end, for Idithun himself, a canticle of David. 2I 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. 3I was dumb, and was humbled, and kept silence from good things: and my sorrow was renewed. 4My heart grew hot within me: and in my meditation a fire shall flame out. 5I 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. 6Behold thou hast made my days measurable, and my substance is as nothing before thee. And indeed all things are vanity: every man living. 7Surely man passeth as an image: yea, and he is disquieted in vain. He storeth up: and he knoweth not for whom he shall gather these things. 8And now what is my hope? is it not the Lord? and my substance is with thee. 9Deliver thou me from all my iniquities: thou hast made me a reproach to the fool. 10I was dumb, and I opened not my mouth, because thou hast done it. 11Remove thy scourges from me. The strength of thy hand hath made me faint in rebukes: 12Thou hast corrected man for iniquity. And thou hast made his soul to waste away like a spider: surely in vain is any man disquieted. 13Hear 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. 14O forgive me, that I may be refreshed, before I go hence, and be no more.