Psalm 38:3–6

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Douay-Rheims Bible

2 So I remained utterly silent,

not even saying anything good.

But my anguish increased;

3 my heart grew hot within me.

While I meditated, the fire burned;

then I spoke with my tongue:

4 “Show me, Lord, my life’s end

and the number of my days;

let me know how fleeting my life is.

5 You have made my days a mere handbreadth;

the span of my years is as nothing before you.

Everyone is but a breath,

even those who seem secure.

2 I was mute and silent;

I held my peace to no avail,

and my distress grew worse.

3 My heart became hot within me.

As I mused, the fire burned;

then I spoke with my tongue:

4 “O Lord, make me know my end

and what is the measure of my days;

let me know how fleeting I am!

5 Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,

and my lifetime is as nothing before you.

Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah

2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good;

And my sorrow was stirred.

3 My heart was hot within me,

While I was musing the fire burned:

Then spake I with my tongue,

4 Lord, Make me to know mine end,

And the measure of my days, what it is;

That I may know how frail I am.

5 Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth;

And mine age is as nothing before thee:

Verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

2 But as I stood there in silence—

not even speaking of good things—

the turmoil within me grew worse.

3 The more I thought about it,

the hotter I got,

igniting a fire of words:

4 “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.

Remind me that my days are numbered—

how fleeting my life is.

5 You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.

My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;

at best, each of us is but a breath.”

Interlude

2 I was mute with silence,

I held my peace even from good;

And my sorrow was stirred up.

3 My heart was hot within me;

While I was musing, the fire burned.

Then I spoke with my tongue:

4 “Lord, make me to know my end,

And what is the measure of my days,

That I may know how frail I am.

5 Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths,

And my age is as nothing before You;

Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor.

Selah

2 So I kept very quiet.

I didn’t even say anything good,

but I became even more upset.

3 I became very angry inside,

and as I thought about it, my anger burned.

So I spoke:

4 “Lord, tell me when the end will come

and how long I will live.

Let me know how long I have.

5 You have given me only a short life;

my lifetime is like nothing to you.

Everyone’s life is only a breath.

Selah

2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good;

And my sorrow was stirred.

3 My heart was hot within me;

While I was musing the fire burned:

Then spake I with my tongue:

4 Jehovah, make me to know mine end,

And the measure of my days, what it is;

Let me know how frail I am.

5 Behold, thou hast made my days as handbreadths;

And my life-time is as nothing before thee:

Surely every man at his best estate is altogether vanity. Selah

2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace from good; and my sorrow was stirred. 3 My heart burned within me; the fire was kindled in my musing: I spoke with my tongue, 4 Make me to know, Jehovah, mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: I shall know how frail I am. 5 Behold, thou hast made my days as hand-breadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before thee; verily, every man, even the high placed, is altogether vanity. Selah.

2 I remained totally speechless. 

I kept silent, although it did me no good. 

While I was deep in thought, my pain grew worse. 

3 My heart burned like a fire flaring up within me. 

Then I spoke with my tongue: 

4 “Teach me, O Lord, about the end of my life. 

Teach me about the number of days I have left 

so that I may know how temporary my life is. 

5 Indeed, you have made the length of my days ⸤only⸥ a few inches. 

My life span is nothing compared to yours. 

Certainly, everyone alive is like a whisper in the wind. 

Selah 

2 I was speechless and quiet;

I kept silent, even from speaking good,

and my pain intensified.

3 My heart grew hot within me;

as I mused, a fire burned.

I spoke with my tongue:

4 “Lord, reveal to me the end of my life

and the number of my days.

Let me know how short-lived I am.

5 You, indeed, have made my days short in length,

and my life span as nothing in Your sight.

Yes, every mortal man is only a vapor. Selah

2 I was silent and still;

I held my peace to no avail;

my distress grew worse;

3 my heart became hot within me.

While I mused, the fire burned;

then I spoke with my tongue:

4 “Lord, let me know my end

and what is the measure of my days;

let me know how fleeting my life is.

5 You have made my days a few handbreadths,

and my lifetime is as nothing in your sight.

Surely everyone stands as a mere breath.   Selah

2 I was mute with silence. I was silent even from saying good things,

and my pain was stirred up.

3 My heart grew hot inside me;

in my sighing a fire burned.

Then I spoke with my tongue,

4 “Let me know, O Yahweh, my end,

and what is the measure of my days.

Let me know how transient I am.”

5 Look, you have made my days mere handbreadths,

and my lifespan as nothing next to you.

Surely every person standing firm is complete vanity. Selah

2 I was silent and kept quiet.

I didn’t even say anything good.

But the pain inside me grew worse.

3 My heart was deeply troubled.

As I thought about what was happening to me,

I became even more troubled.

Then I spoke out.

4 I said, “Lord, show me when my life will end.

Show me how many days I have left.

Tell me how short my life will be.

5 You have given me only a few days to live.

My whole life doesn’t seem like anything to you.

No man’s life lasts any longer than a breath. Selah

2 I was mute and silent,

I refrained even from good,

And my sorrow grew worse.

3 My heart was hot within me,

While I was musing the fire burned;

Then I spoke with my tongue:

4 “Lord, make me to know my end

And what is the extent of my days;

Let me know how transient I am.

5 “Behold, You have made my days as handbreadths,

And my lifetime as nothing in Your sight;

Surely every man at his best is a mere breath.

Selah.