Chapter 38

Ps.39:1. Finally, Idithum, a song to David. Idithum, the sacred singer, crowned with the gift of prophecy, proclaims the song, introducing the face of David himself, confessing his sin. Ps.39:2. Reh: I will preserve my ways. A clear sign of an established heart. He kept with my mouth, so that the sinner would never stand before me, because the mental enemies around him reproached him for his sin. Ps.38:3. I became numb and humbled and kept silent from the blessings. Reproached, I did not respond with reproaches, realizing that I had lost benefits. Instead of answering the scolders, I brought sin to mind; and the remembrance of sin was like fire to my heart. Ps.38:4. And in my teaching a fire will flare up. When I remembered my sin, then I burned with fire. Ps.38:5. tell me, Lord, my death. “Verbs with the tongue,” that is, quietly, in a whisper, so that the word does not reach many. And in this word was the question about the remaining days. He asked, wanting to know whether the rest of his days would be enough for him to repent. Ps.38:6. Behold, Thou hast laid down my days, and my composition is as nothing before Thee. Although my life will last for a long time, he says, it will be counted as nothing before You. If a thousand years are like one day in Your sight, what will one man's time be? Symmachus also translated this passage as follows: “Behold, I have given my days as spans, and my life is like nothing before You.” You are beginningless and endless, and our life is measured in a few palms or spans. This depicted the short duration of human life. Otherwise, all sorts of vanity, every living person. Ps.38:7. For a man walks like this, but he rests in vain. If a person walks like a ghost and not truly, then he rightly called it vanity, because we do not live a true life, but as if in a ghost and do not care about essential goods. That’s why we’re worrying in vain. The life of those on earth, focused on worldly concerns, can be considered vanity. Or another way: all the years of our life are vapor before You. For Symmachus replaced the word “vanity” with “steam.” There is a treasure, and no one knows who will collect it for me. Because now we do not live a true life, but as if in a ghost, and we do not care about essential goods; then we worry in vain, indulging in worldly desires, and collecting treasures whose heirs are unknown to us. Ps.38:8. And now who is my patience? Isn't it the Lord? He rightly says that he has trust in the Lord, as one who pronounced judgment on worldly entertainments. And my composition is from You, that is, my aspiration, or my patience. Ps.39:9. You have given me reproach to the fool. Do not give me up to reproach, because in me they reproach You. Ps.38:10. I was dumb and did not open my mouth, as You have created. Reproached, I remained silent, knowing exactly that You, as a punishment or admonition, had determined that I should be reproached for this very thing. Ps.39:11. Leave Your wounds behind Me. He calls the punishments imposed on him by demons punishments from God, because God allowed him to suffer them for his sin. From the strength of Thy hand I disappeared. We have already mentioned many times that the punitive force is called the hand of God. When God severely punishes people, the person being punished “disappears” because he is weak and cannot withstand the blows for long. Ps.38:12. In reproaching them for their iniquity, You punished man. By convicting me of sin, You brought me to my senses. Otherwise, every person worries in vain, that is, living in lawlessness, so that he needs such admonition. Ps.38:13. Inspire my prayer, that is, hear and forgive sin before death. For this means what is said: Ps.38:14. Relax and let me rest. Before my death, he says, grant me remission of sins, so that I can go to hell with firm hope. I will not be what I could have been after the freedom You gave me. Freedom, bestowed by God, is the dispassion of the soul with true knowledge of existence. You might be interested in: