What does Psalms Chapter 38 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

Guarded speech accompanies renewed sorrow and a hot heart. The speaker asks knowledge of his end and reflects on measurable days and uncertain possessions. Hope and submission lead to pleas for forgiveness and refreshment.

Chapter breakdown

The Latin incipit is Dixi custodiam. The separate heading concerns a just person's peace and patience amid sufferings, worldly vanity and God's providence. The inscription is unto the end, for Idithun himself, a canticle of David. The speaker resolves to heed ways and avoid sin with his tongue, setting a mouth guard when the sinner stood against him. Dumb and humbled, silent from good things, his sorrow renewed. His heart grew hot and in meditation a fire shall flame out; this future expression is not a recorded completed fire compelling speech.

He spoke asking knowledge of his end, number of days and what is wanting. His days are measurable and substance nothing before God; every living man and all things are vanity. Man passes as an image and is disquieted in vain, storing things without knowing for whom he gathers. Hope is in the Lord and substance with Him.

He asks release from iniquities, saying God made him a reproach to the fool. He was dumb and did not open his mouth because God did it. Asking removal of scourges, he says God's hand made him faint in rebukes, correcting for iniquity and making his soul waste like a spider; the admitted text does not say web or handbreadths. He seeks hearing of prayer, supplication and tears and no silence because he is a stranger with God and sojourner like his fathers. He asks forgiveness and refreshment before departing and being no more. Peace is not reported as already regained.

The story inside

Opening: Guarded speech accompanies renewed sorrow and a hot heart. Development: The speaker asks knowledge of his end and reflects on measurable days and uncertain possessions. Conclusion: Hope and submission lead to pleas for forgiveness and refreshment.

Lessons worth keeping

1
Guarded speech accompanies renewed sorrow and a hot heart.
2
The speaker asks knowledge of his end and reflects on measurable days and uncertain possessions.
3
Hope and submission lead to pleas for forgiveness and refreshment.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 59980–59982
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.
Lines 59990–59991
O Lord, make me know my end. And what is the number of my days: that I may know what is wanting to me.
Lines 59993–59995
Behold thou hast made my days measurable, and my substance is as nothing before thee. And indeed all things are vanity: every man living.
Lines 60001–60002
And now what is my hope? is it not the Lord? and my substance is with thee.
Lines 60007–60008
I was dumb, and I opened not my mouth, because thou hast done it.
Lines 60016–60018
Hear 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.