Psalm 39

Christ's coming, and redeeming mankind.

Does this psalm differ from what you were expecting? Don't be confused. There are two systems for arranging the psalms: the Septuagint and the Masoretic. We use the Septuagint system here. In the Masoretic system, which is used in most modern Bible translations, this psalm is called Psalm 40, and the previous psalm is known as Psalm 39.

English (Douay-Rheims)

1 Unto the end, a psalm for David himself.

2 With expectation I have waited for the Lord, and he was attentive to me.
3 And he heard my prayers, and brought me out of the pit of misery and the mire of dregs. And he set my feet upon a rock, and directed my steps.
4 And he put a new canticle into my mouth, a song to our God. Many shall see, and shall fear: and they shall hope in the Lord.
5 Blessed is the man whose trust is in the name of the Lord; and who hath not had regard to vanities, and lying follies.
6 Thou hast multiplied thy wonderful works, O Lord my God: and in thy thoughts there is no one like to thee. I have declared and I have spoken they are multiplied above number.
7 Sacrifice and oblation thou didst not desire; but thou hast pierced ears for me. Burnt offering and sin offering thou didst not require:
8 Then said I, Behold I come. In the head of the book it is written of me
9 That I should do thy will: O my God, I have desired it, and thy law in the midst of my heart.
10 I have declared thy justice in a great church, lo, I will not restrain my lips: O Lord, thou knowest it.
11 I have not hid thy justice within my heart: I have declared thy truth and thy salvation. I have not concealed thy mercy and thy truth from a great council.
12 Withhold not thou, O Lord, thy tender mercies from me: thy mercy and thy truth have always upheld me.
13 For evils without number have surrounded me; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I was not able to see. They are multiplied above the hairs of my head: and my heart hath forsaken me. My iniquities... That is, the sins of all mankind, which I have taken upon me.
14 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me. Look down, O Lord, to help me.
15 Let them be confounded and ashamed together, that seek after my soul to take it away. Let them be turned backward and be ashamed that desire evils to me.
16 Let them immediately bear their confusion, that say to me: 'T is well, 't is well. 'T is well... The Hebrew here is an interjection of insult and derision, like the Vah. Matthew 27:49.
17 Let all that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say always: The Lord be magnified.
18 But I am a beggar and poor: the Lord is careful for me. Thou art my helper and my protector: O my God, be not slack.

Old Testament first published 1609 by the English College at Douay
New Testament first published 1582 by the English College at Rheims
Revised and Annotated 1749 by Bishop Richard Challoner
Imprimatur. +James Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore, September 1, 1899

Latin (Clementine Vulgate)

1 In finem. Psalmus ipsi David.

2 Exspectans exspectavi Dominum,
et intendit mihi.
3 Et exaudivit preces meas,
et eduxit me de lacu miseriæ et de luto fæcis.
Et statuit super petram pedes meos,
et direxit gressus meos.
4 Et immisit in os meum canticum novum,
carmen Deo nostro.
Videbunt multi, et timebunt,
et sperabunt in Domino.
5 Beatus vir cujus est nomen Domini spes ejus,
et non respexit in vanitates et insanias falsas.
6 Multa fecisti tu, Domine Deus meus, mirabilia tua;
et cogitationibus tuis non est qui similis sit tibi.
Annuntiavi et locutus sum:
multiplicati sunt super numerum.
7 Sacrificium et oblationem noluisti;
aures autem perfecisti mihi.
Holocaustum et pro peccato non postulasti;
8 tunc dixi: Ecce venio.
In capite libri scriptum est de me,
9 ut facerem voluntatem tuam.
Deus meus, volui,
et legem tuam in medio cordis mei.
10 Annuntiavi justitiam tuam in ecclesia magna;
ecce labia mea non prohibebo: Domine, tu scisti.
11 Justitiam tuam non abscondi in corde meo;
veritatem tuam et salutare tuum dixi;
non abscondi misericordiam tuam et veritatem tuam a concilio multo.
12 Tu autem, Domine, ne longe facias miserationes tuas a me;
misericordia tua et veritas tua semper susceperunt me.
13 Quoniam circumdederunt me mala quorum non est numerus;
comprehenderunt me iniquitates meæ, et non potui ut viderem.
Multiplicatæ sunt super capillos capitis mei,
et cor meum dereliquit me.
14 Complaceat tibi, Domine, ut eruas me;
Domine, ad adjuvandum me respice.
15 Confundantur et revereantur simul,
qui quærunt animam meam ut auferant eam;
convertantur retrorsum et revereantur,
qui volunt mihi mala.
16 Ferant confestim confusionem suam,
qui dicunt mihi: Euge, euge!
17 Exsultent et lætentur super te omnes quærentes te;
et dicant semper: Magnificetur Dominus, qui diligunt salutare tuum.
18 Ego autem mendicus sum et pauper;
Dominus sollicitus est mei.
Adjutor meus et protector meus tu es;
Deus meus, ne tardaveris.

Transcribed as part of the Clementine Vulgate Project
Please notify the original transcriber (little.mouth@soon.com) of any errors in this Latin edition