Psalm 37 (vulgate numbering) / 38 (Hebrew numbering)

Biblical translations

• Vulgate
• Coverdale (1535)
• Geneva
• Douay Rheims (1609/10)
• 1611 Authorized Edition

English paraphrases

• Sir Thomas Wyatt (1503-1542)
• Sir Philip Sidney and Mary Sidney Herbert, Countess of Pembroke (1580s)

Vulgate:

1. Psalmus David, in rememorationem de sabbato.
2. Domine, ne in furore tuo arguas me, neque in ira tua corripias me:
3. quoniam sagittae tuae infixae sunt mihi, et confirmasti super me manum tuam.
4. Non est sanitas in carne mea, a facie irae tuae; non est pax ossibus meis, a facie peccatorum meorum:
5. quoniam iniquitates meae supergressae sunt caput meum, et sicut onus grave gravatae sunt super me.
6. Putruerunt et corruptae sunt cicatrices meae, a facie insipientiae meae.
7. Miser factus sum et curvatus sum usque in finem; tota die contristatus ingrediebar.
8. Quoniam lumbi mei impleti sunt illusionibus, et non est sanitas in carne mea.
9. Afflictus sum, et humiliatus sum nimis; rugiebam a gemitu cordis mei.
10. Domine, ante te omne desiderium meum, et gemitus meus a te non est absconditus.
11. Cor meum conturbatum est; dereliquit me virtus mea, et lumen oculorum meorum, et ipsum non est mecum.
12. 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.
13. Et qui inquirebant mala mihi, locuti sunt vanitates, et dolos tota die meditabantur.
14. Ego autem, tamquam surdus, non audiebam; et sicut mutus non aperiens os suum.
15. Et factus sum sicut homo non audiens, et non habens in ore suo redargutiones.
16. Quoniam in te, Domine, speravi; tu exaudies me, Domine Deus meus.
17. Quia dixi: Nequando supergaudeant mihi inimici mei; et dum commoventur pedes mei, super me magna locuti sunt.
18. Quoniam ego in flagella paratus sum, et dolor meus in conspectu meo semper.
19. Quoniam iniquitatem meam annuntiabo, et cogitabo pro peccato meo.
20. Inimici autem mei vivunt, et confirmati sunt super me: et multiplicati sunt qui oderunt me inique.
21. Qui retribuunt mala pro bonis detrahebant mihi, quoniam sequebar bonitatem.
22. Ne derelinquas me, Domine Deus meus; ne discesseris a me.
23. Intende in adjutorium meum, Domine Deus salutis meae.

Coverdale (1535)

1. Pvt me not to rebuke (Oh LORDE) in thine anger: Oh chaste me not in thy heuy displeasure.
2. For thy arowes stick fast in me, and thy honde presseth me sore.
3. There is no whole parte in my body, because of thy displeasure: there is no rest in my bones, by reason of my synnes.
4. For my wickednesses are gone ouer my heade, and are like a sore burthen, to heuy forme to beare.
5. My woundes styncke & are corrupte, thorow my folishnesse.
6. I am brought into so greate trouble and misery, that I go mournynge all the daye longe.
7. For my loynes are clene dried vp, and there is no whole parte in my body.
8. I am feble and sore smytte, I roare for the very disquietnes of my hert.
9. LORDE, thou knowest all my desyre, & my gronynge is not hyd from the.
10. My hert paunteth, my strength hath fayled me, & the light of myne eyes is gone fro me.
11. My louers & frendes stonde lokynge vpon my trouble, and my kynsmen are gone a farre of.
12. They that sought after my life, and to do me euell, spake of lyes and ymagined disceate all the daye longe.
13. As for me, I was like a deaf ma, and herde not: and as one that were domme, not openynge his mouth.
14. I am become as a man that heareth not, and that can make no resistaunce wt his mouth.
15. For in the (O LORDE) is my trust, thou shalt heare me, O LORDE my God.
16. My desyre is, yt myne enemies triumphe not ouer me: for yf my fote slippe, they reioyse greatly against me.
17. I am redy to suffre trouble, and my heuynesse is euer in my sight.
18. For I cofesse my wickednesse, & my synne greueth me.
19. But myne enemies lyue, and are mightie: and they that hate me without a cause, are many in nombre.
20. They that rewarde me euell for good, speake euell of me, because I folowe the thinge that good is.
21. Forsake me not (O LORDE my God) O go not farre fro me.
22. Haist the to helpe me, O LORDE my succoure.

Geneva Bible (1560)

1. A Psalme of Dauid for remembrance.
2. O Lorde, rebuke mee not in thine anger, neither chastise me in thy wrath.
3. For thine arrowes haue light vpon me, and thine hand lyeth vpon me.
4. There is nothing sound in my flesh, because of thine anger: neither is there rest in my bones because of my sinne.
5. For mine iniquities are gone ouer mine head, and as a weightie burden they are too heauie for me.
6. My woundes are putrified, and corrupt because of my foolishnes.
7. I am bowed, and crooked very sore: I goe mourning all the day.
8. For my reines are full of burning, and there is nothing sound in my flesh.
9. I am weakened and sore broken: I roare for the very griefe of mine heart.
10. Lorde, I powre my whole desire before thee, and my sighing is not hid from thee.
11. Mine heart panteth: my strength faileth me, and the light of mine eyes, euen they are not mine owne.
12. My louers and my friends stand aside from my plague, and my kinsmen stand a farre off.
13. They also, that seeke after my life, laye snares, and they that go about to do me euil, talke wicked things and imagine deceite continually.
14. But I as a deafe man heard not, and am as a dumme man, which openeth not his mouth.
15. Thus am I as a man, that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofes.
16. For on thee, O Lord, do I waite: thou wilt heare me, my Lord, my God.
17. For I said, Heare me, least they reioyce ouer me: for when my foote slippeth, they extol themselues against me.
18. Surely I am ready to halte, and my sorow is euer before me.
19. When I declare my paine, and am sory for my sinne,
20. Then mine enemies are aliue & are mightie, and they that hate me wrongfully are many.
21. They also, that rewarde euill for good, are mine aduersaries, because I followe goodnesse.
22. Forsake me not, O Lord: be not thou farre from me, my God.
23. Haste thee to helpe mee, O my Lorde, my saluation.

Douay Rheims (1609/1610)

1. A psalm for David, for a remembrance of the sabbath.
2. Rebuke me not, O Lord, in thy indignation; nor chastise me in thy wrath.
3. For thy arrows are fastened in me: and thy hand hath been strong upon me.
4. There is no health in my flesh, because of thy wrath: there is no peace for my bones, because of my sins.
5. For my iniquities are gone over my head: and as a heavy burden are become heavy upon me.
6. My sores are putrified and corrupted, because of my foolishness.
7. I am bcome miserable, and am bowed down even to the end: I walked sorrowfull all the day long.
8. For my loins are filled with illusions; and there isno health in my flesh.
9. I am afflicted and humbled exceedingly: I roared with the groaning of my heart.
10. Lord, all my desire is before thee, and my groaning is not hidden from thee.
11. My heart is troubled, my strength hath left me, and the light of my eyes itself is not with me.
12. My friends and my neighbours have drawn near, and stood against me. And they that were near me stood afar off:
13. 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.
14. But I, as a deaf man, heard not: and as a dumb man not opening his mouth.
15. And I became as a man that heareth not: and that hath no reproofs in his mouth.
16. For in thee, O Lord, have I hoped: thou wilt hear me, O Lord my God.
17. For I said: Lest at any time my enemies rejoice over me: and whilst my feet are moved, they speak great things against me.
18. For I am ready for scourges: and my sorrow is continually before me.
19. For I will declare my iniquity: and I will think formy sin.
20. But my enemies live, and are stronger than I: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.
21. They that render evil for good, have detracted me, because I followed goodness.
22. For sake me not, O Lord my God: do not thou depart from me.
23. Attend unto my help, O Lord, the God of my salvation.

Authorized Edition (1611)

1. [A Psalme of Dauid, to bring to remembrance.] O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
2. For thine arrowes sticke fast in me; and thy hand presseth me sore.
3. There is no soundnesse in my flesh, because of thine anger: neither is there any rest in my bones, because of my sinne.
4. For mine iniquities are gone ouer mine head: as an heauy burden, they are too heauie for me.
5. My wounds stinke, and are corrupt: because of my foolishnesse.
6. I am troubled, I am bowed downe greatly; I goe mourning all the day long.
7. For my loynes are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundnesse in my flesh.
8. I am feeble and sore broken; I haue roared by reason of the disquietnesse of my heart.
9. Lord, all my desire is before thee: and my groning is not hid from thee.
10. My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eies, it also is gone from me.
11. My louers and my friends stand a loofe from my sore: and my kinsmen stand a farre off.
12. They also that seeke after my life, lay snares for me: and they that seeke my hurt, speake mischieuous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.
13. But I, as a deafe man, heard not; and I was as a dumbe man that openeth not his mouth.
14. Thus I was as a man that heareth not; and in whose mouth are no reproofes.
15. For in thee, O Lord, doe I hope: thou wilt heare, O Lord my God.
16. For I said, heare me, least otherwise they should reioyce ouer me: when my foot slippeth, they magnifie themselues against me.
17. For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me.
18. For I will declare mine iniquitie; I will be sory for my sinne.
19. But mine enemies are liuely, and they are strong: and they that hate mee wrongfully, are multiplied.
20. They also that render euill for good, are mine aduersaries: because I follow the thing that good is.
21. Forsake me not, O Lord: O my God, be not farre from me.
22. Make haste to helpe mee, O Lord my saluation.

Sir Thomas Wyatt

Sir Philip Sidney