The Seven Penitential Psalms

[Stone]

Psalm 37

The royal prophet feels the consequences left in him by his past sins, and he begs God to have pity on him.

Domine, ne in furore tuo arguas me, neque in ira tua corripias me; quoniam sagittae tuae infixae sunt mihi, et confirmasti super me manum tuam. Non est sanitas in carne mea, a facie irae tuae; non est pax ossibus meis, a facie peccatorum meorum: quoniam iniquitates meae supergressae sunt caput meum, et sicut onus grave gravatae sunt super me. Putruerunt et corruptae sunt cicatrices meae, a facie insipientiae meae. Miser factus sum et curvatus sum usque in finem; tota die contristatus ingrediebar. Quoniam lumbi mei impleti sunt illusionibus, et non est sanitas in carne mea. Afflictus sum, et humiliatus sum nimis; rugiebam a gemitu cordis mei. Domine, ante te omne desiderium meum, et gemitus meus a te non est absconditus. Cor meum conturbatum est, dereliquit me virtus mea, et lumen oculorum meorum, et ipsum non est mecum. Amici mei et proximi mei adversum me appropinquaverunt, et steterunt; et qui juxta me erant, de longe steterunt, et vim faciebant qui quaerebant animam meam. Et qui inquirebant mala mihi, locuti sunt vanitates, et dolos tota die meditabantur. Ego autem, tamquam surdus, non audiebam; et sicut mutus non aperiens os suum. Et factus sum sicut homo non audiens, et non habens in ore suo redargutiones. Quoniam in te, Domine, speravi; tu exaudies me, Domine Deus meus. Quia dixi: Nequando supergaudeant mihi inimici mei; et dum commoventur pedes mei, super me magna locuti sunt. Quoniam ego in flagella paratus sum, et dolor meus in conspectu meo semper. Quoniam iniquitatem meam annuntiabo, et cogitabo pro peccato meo. Inimici autem mei vivunt, et confirmati sunt super me: et multiplicati sunt qui oderunt me inique. Qui retribuunt mala pro bonis detrahebant mihi, quoniam sequebar bonitatem. Ne derelinquas me, Domine Deus meus; ne discesseris a me. Intende in adjutorium meum, Domine, Deus salutis meae. 


Rebuke me not, O Lord, in thy indignation; nor chastise me in thy wrath. For thy arrows are fastened in me: and thy hand hath been strong upon me. There is no health in my flesh, because of thy wrath: there is no peace for my bones, because of my sins. For my iniquities are gone over my head: and as a heavy burden are become heavy upon me. My sores are putrified and corrupted, because of my foolishness. I am become miserable, and am bowed down even to the end: I walked sorrowful all the day long. For my loins are filled with illusions; and there is no health in my flesh. I am afflicted and humbled exceedingly: I roared with the groaning of my heart. Lord, all my desire is before thee, and my groaning is not hidden from thee. My heart is troubled, my strength hath left me, and the light of my eyes itself is not with me. My friends and my neighbours have drawn near, and stood against me. And they that were near me stood afar off: And they that sought my soul used violence. And they that sought evils to me spoke vain things, and studied deceits all the day long. But I, as a deaf man, heard not: and as a dumb man not opening his mouth. And I became as a man that heareth not: and that hath no reproofs in his mouth. For in thee, O Lord, have I hoped: thou wilt hear me, O Lord my God. For I said: Lest at any time my enemies rejoice over me: and whilst my feet are moved, they speak great things against me. For I am ready for scourges: and my sorrow is continually before me. For I will declare my iniquity: and I will think for my sin. But my enemies live, and are stronger than I: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied. They that render evil for good, have detracted me, because I followed goodness. Forsake me not, O Lord my God: do not thou depart from me. Attend unto my help, O Lord, the God of my salvation.