Psalm 38

Domine, ne in furore

Put me not to rebuke, O Lord, in thine anger *

neither chasten me in thy heavy displeasure.

For thine arrows stick fast in me *

and thy hand presseth me sore.

There is no health in my flesh, because of thy displeasure *

neither is there any rest in my bones, by reason of my sin.

For my wickednesses are gone over my head *

and are like a sore burden, too heavy for me to bear.

My wounds stink, and are corrupt *

through my foolishness.

I am brought into so great trouble and misery *

that I go mourning all the day long.

For my loins are filled with a sore disease *

and there is no whole part in my body.

I am feeble, and sore smitten *

I have roared for the very disquietness of my heart.

Lord, thou knowest all my desire *

and my groaning is not hid from thee.

My heart panteth, my strength hath failed me *

and the sight of mine eyes is gone from me.

My lovers and my neighbours did stand looking upon my trouble *

and my kinsmen stood afar off.

They also that sought after my life laid snares for me *

and they that went about to do me evil talked of wickedness, and imagined deceit all the day long.

As for me, I was like a deaf man, and heard not *

and as one that is dumb, who doth not open his mouth.

I became even as a man that heareth not *

and in whose mouth are no reproofs.

For in thee, O Lord, have I put my trust *

thou shalt answer for me, O Lord my God.

I have required that they, even mine enemies, should not triumph over me *

for when my foot slipped, they rejoiced greatly against me.

And I, truly, am set in the plague *

and my heaviness is ever in my sight.

For I will confess my wickedness *

and be sorry for my sin.

But mine enemies live, and are mighty *

and they that hate me wrongfully are many in number.

They also that reward evil for good are against me *

because I follow the thing that good is.

Forsake me not, O Lord my God *

be not thou far from me.

Haste thee to help me *

O Lord God of my salvation.

Psalm 39

Dixi, Custodiam

I said, I will take heed to my ways *

that I offend not in my tongue.

I will keep my mouth as it were with a bridle *

while the ungodly is in my sight.

I held my tongue, and spake nothing *

I kept silence, yea, even from good words; but it was pain and grief to me.

My heart was hot within me, and while I was thus musing the fire kindled *

and at the last I spake with my tongue;

Lord, let me know mine end, and the number of my days *

that I may be certified how long I have to live.

Behold, thou hast made my days as it were a span long *

and mine age is even as nothing in respect of thee; and verily every man living is altogether vanity.

For man walketh in a vain shadow, and disquieteth himself in vain *

he heapeth up riches, and cannot tell who shall gather them.

And now, Lord, what is my hope *

truly my hope is even in thee.

Deliver me from all mine offences *

and make me not a rebuke unto the foolish.

I became dumb, and opened not my mouth *

for it was thy doing.

Take thy plague away from me *

I am even consumed by the means of thy heavy hand.

When thou with rebukes dost chasten man for sin, thou makest his beauty to consume away, like as it were a moth fretting a garment *

every man therefore is but vanity.

Hear my prayer, O Lord, and with thine ears consider my calling *

hold not thy peace at my tears.

For I am a stranger with thee *

and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.

O spare me a little, that I may recover my strength *

before I go hence, and be no more seen.

Psalm 40

Expectans expectavi

I waited patiently for the Lord *

and he inclined unto me, and heard my calling.

He brought me also out of the horrible pit, out of the mire and clay *

and set my feet upon the rock, and ordered my goings.

And he hath put a new song in my mouth *

even a thanksgiving unto our God.

Many shall see it, and fear *

and shall put their trust in the Lord.

Blessed is the man that hath set his hope in the Lord *

and turned not unto the proud, and to such as go about with lies.

O Lord my God, great are the wondrous works which thou hast done, like as be also thy thoughts which are to us-ward *

and yet there is no man that ordereth them unto thee.

If I should declare them, and speak of them *

they should be more than I am able to express.

Sacrifice and meat-offering thou wouldest not *

but mine ears hast thou opened.

Burnt-offerings, and sacrifice for sin, hast thou not required *

then said I, Lo, I come,

In the volume of the book it is written of me, that I should fulfil thy will, O my God *

I am content to do it; yea, thy law is within my heart.

I have declared thy righteousness in the great congregation *

lo, I will not refrain my lips, O Lord, and that thou knowest.

I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart *

my talk hath been of thy truth and of thy salvation.

I have not kept back thy loving mercy and truth *

from the great congregation.

Withdraw not thou thy mercy from me, O Lord *

let thy loving-kindness and thy truth alway preserve me.

For innumerable troubles are come about me; my sins have taken such hold upon me that I am not able to look up *

yea, they are more in number than the hairs of my head, and my heart hath failed me.

O Lord, let it be thy pleasure to deliver me *

make haste, O Lord, to help me.

Let them be ashamed and confounded together, that seek after my soul to destroy it *

let them be driven backward and put to rebuke, that wish me evil.

Let them be desolate, and rewarded with shame *

that say unto me, Fie upon thee, fie upon thee.

Let all those that seek thee be joyful and glad in thee *

and let such as love thy salvation say alway, The Lord be praised.

As for me, I am poor and needy *

but the Lord careth for me.

Thou art my helper and redeemer *

make no long tarrying, O my God.