The Brevity of Life

Psalms 38

Addressed to Idithun, the psalmist resolves to guard his tongue and keeps silent even while his heart burns within him, then asks the Lord to make known the shortness and vanity of human life. He prays for the Lord to remove his afflictions and grant him relief before he departs from this life.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

Thomson—

BrentonFor the end, a Song of David, to Idithun.

GreekΕἰς τὸ τέλος, τῷ Ἰδιθοὺν ᾠδὴ τῷ Δαυίδ.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonI SAID, Let me watch my ways; that I may not sin with my tongue. I set a guard on my mouth; when the sinner stood before me.

BrentonI said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I set a guard on my mouth, while the sinner stood in my presence.

GreekΕἶπα, φυλάξω τὰς ὁδούς μου, τοῦ μὴ ἁμαρτάνειν ἐν γλώσσῃ μου· ἐθέμην τῷ στόματί μου φυλακὴν, ἐν τῷ συστῆναι τὸν ἁμαρτωλὸν ἐναντίον μου.

KJVI 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.

JPSI said: 'I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue; I will keep a curb upon my mouth, while the wicked is before me.'

ThomsonI was dumb and humbled and silent from good things; and my grief was renewed.

BrentonI was dumb, and humbled myself, and kept silence from good words; and my grief was renewed.

GreekἘκωφώθην καὶ ἐταπεινώθην καὶ ἐσίγησα ἐξ ἀγαθῶν, καὶ τὸ ἄλγημά μου ἀνεκαινίσθη.

KJVI was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.

JPS—

ThomsonMy heart was warmed within me. That by my meditation a fire might be kindled; I spake with my tongue—

BrentonMy heart grew hot within me, and a fire would kindle in my meditation: I spoke with my tongue,

GreekἘθερμάνθη ἡ καρδία μου ἐντός μου, καὶ ἐν τῇ μελέτῃ μου ἐκκαυθήσεται πῦρ· ἐλάλησα ἐν γλώσσῃ μου,

KJVMy heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,

JPSMy heart waxed hot within me; while I was musing, the fire kindled; Then spoke I with my tongue:

ThomsonMake known to me, O Lord mine end; and the number of my days, what it is. That I may know what I lack of it.

BrentonO Lord, make me to know mine end, and the number of my days, what it is; that I may know what I lack.

GreekΓνώρισόν μοι Κύριε τὸ πέρας μου, καὶ τὸν ἀριθμὸν τῶν ἡμερῶν μου τίς ἐστιν, ἵνα γνῶ τί ὑστερῶ ἐγώ.

KJVLORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am.

JPS'LORD, make me to know mine end, And the measure of my days, what it is; Let me know how short-lived I am.

ThomsonBehold Thou hast made my days old; and mine existence is as nothing before Thee. The universe—every man living—is vanity.

BrentonBehold, thou hast made my days old; and my existence is as nothing before thee: nay, every man living is altogether vanity. Pause.

GreekἸδοὺ παλαιὰς ἔθου τὰς ἡμέρας μου, καὶ ὑπόστασίς μου ὡσεὶ οὐθὲν ἐνώπιόν σου· πλὴν τὰ σύμπαντα ματαιότης, πᾶς ἄνθρωπος ζῶν· διάψαλμα.

KJVBehold, 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.

JPSBehold, Thou hast made my days as hand-breadths; and mine age is as nothing before Thee; surely every man at his best estate is altogether vanity. Selah

ThomsonMan indeed walketh about as an image; still he troubleth himself in vain. He heapeth up treasures and knoweth not for whom he is to gather them.

BrentonSurely man walks in a shadow; nay, he is disquieted in vain: he lays up treasures, and knows not for whom he shall gather them.

GreekΜέντοιγε ἐν εἰκόνι διαπορεύεται ἄνθρωπος, πλὴν μάτην ταράσσεται· θησαυρίζει, καὶ οὐ γινώσκει τίνι συνάξει αὐτά.

KJVSurely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

JPS—

ThomsonNow then what is my expectation? Is it not the Lord?

BrentonAnd now what is my expectation? is it not the Lord? and my ground of hope is with thee. Pause.

GreekΚαὶ νῦν τίς ἡ ὑπομονή μου; οὐχὶ ὁ Κύριος; καὶ ἡ ὑπόστασίς μου παρὰ σοί ἐστι· διάψαλμα.

KJVAnd now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.

JPSAnd now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope, it is in Thee.

ThomsonIn Thee is my hope. Deliver me from all my transgressions. Thou hast made me the reproach of a fool:

BrentonDeliver me from all my transgressions: thou hast made me a reproach to the foolish.

GreekἈπὸ πασῶν τῶν ἀνομιῶν μου ῥῦσαί με, ὄνειδος ἄφρονι ἔδωκάς με.

KJVDeliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish.

JPSDeliver me from all my transgressions; make me not the reproach of the base.

ThomsonI was dumb and opened not my mouth: because Thou art He who didst make me.

BrentonI was dumb, and opened not my mouth; for thou art he that made me.

GreekἘκωφώθην καὶ οὐκ ἤνοιξα τὸ στόμα μου, ὅτι σὺ εἶ ὁ ποιήσας με.

KJVI was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it.

JPSI am dumb, I open not my mouth; because Thou hast done it.

ThomsonO! Remove Thy scourges from me: by the blow of Thy hand I fainted.

BrentonRemove thy scourges from me: I have fainted by reason of the strength of thine hand.

GreekἈπόστησον ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ τὰς μάστιγάς σου· ἀπὸ τῆς ἰσχύος τῆς χειρός σου ἐγὼ ἐξέλιπον.

KJVRemove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thine hand.

JPSRemove Thy stroke from off me; I am consumed by the blow of Thy hand.

ThomsonWith rebukes Thou hast corrected man for iniquity; and caused his life to waste like a spider. Still every man troubleth himself in vain.

BrentonThou chastenest man with rebukes for iniquity, and thou makest his life to consume away like a spider's web: nay, every man is disquieted in vain. Pause.

GreekἘν ἐλεγμοῖς ὑπὲρ ἀνομίας ἐπαίδευσας ἄνθρωπον· καὶ ἐξέτηξας ὡς ἀράχνην τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ, πλὴν μάτην ταράσσεται πᾶς ἄνθρωπος· διάψαλμα.

KJVWhen thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah.

JPSWith rebukes dost Thou chasten man for iniquity, and like a moth Thou makest his beauty to consume away; surely every man is vanity. Selah

ThomsonHearken, O Lord, to my prayer: give ear to my supplication: hold not Thy peace at my tears: since I am a sojourner in the land; and a stranger as all my fathers were;

BrentonO Lord, hearken to my prayer and my supplication: attend to my tears: be not silent, for I am a sojourner in the land, and a stranger, as all my fathers were.

GreekΕἰσάκουσον τῆς προσευχῆς μου Κύριε καὶ τῆς δεήσεώς μου· ἐνώτισαι τῶν δακρύων μου· μὴ παρασιωπήσῃς, ὅτι πάροικος ἐγώ εἰμι ἐν τῇ γῇ καὶ παρεπίδημος, καθὼς πάντες οἱ πατέρες μου.

KJVHear 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.

JPSHear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; keep not silence at my tears; for I am a stranger with Thee, a sojourner, as all my fathers were.

ThomsonO spare me that I may recover strength; before I go hence and be no more.

BrentonSpare me, that I may be refreshed, before I depart, and be no more.

GreekἌνες μοι ἵνα ἀναψύξω πρὸ τοῦ με ἀπελθεῖν, καὶ οὐκέτι μὴ ὑπάρξω.

KJVO spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.

JPSLook away from me, that I may take comfort, before I go hence, and be no more.'