Psalm 39

A reading from the 1928 Prayer Book burial service, with the full text in the King James Version and the Douay-Rheims.

Reads in about 2 minutes13 versesEpiscopal 1928

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King James Version

1. 1I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.
2. 2I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.
3. 3My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,
4. 4LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.
5. 5Behold, 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.
6. 6Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.
7. 7And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.
8. 8Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish.
9. 9I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it.
10. 10Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thine hand.
11. 11When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah.
12. 12Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.
13. 13O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.

Douay-Rheims

Psalm 38 in the Douay-Rheims numbering.

1. 1Unto the end, for Idithun himself, a canticle of David.
2. 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.
3. 3I was dumb, and was humbled, and kept silence from good things: and my sorrow was renewed.
4. 4My heart grew hot within me: and in my meditation a fire shall flame out.
5. 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.
6. 6Behold thou hast made my days measurable, and my substance is as nothing before thee. And indeed all things are vanity: every man living.
7. 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.
8. 8And now what is my hope? is it not the Lord? and my substance is with thee.
9. 9Deliver thou me from all my iniquities: thou hast made me a reproach to the fool.
10. 10I was dumb, and I opened not my mouth, because thou hast done it.
11. 11Remove thy scourges from me. The strength of thy hand hath made me faint in rebukes:
12. 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.
13. 13Hear my prayer, O Lord, and my supplication: give ear to my tears. Be not silent: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner as all my fathers were.
14. 14O forgive me, that I may be refreshed, before I go hence, and be no more.

Most Catholic parishes in the US read the New American Bible. Read Psalm 39 in the NABRE at usccb.org.

Where this reading is used

• Episcopal: a psalm in the 1928 Prayer Book burial office

Scripture: King James Version (1769 text) and Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner revision (Project Gutenberg #1581); both public domain. Citation as listed in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer.