Psalm 38 is the 38th psalm of the Book of Psalms, entitled "A psalm of David to bring to remembrance",[1] is one of the 7 Penitential Psalms.[2] In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint version of the Bible, and in the Latin Vulgate, this psalm is Psalm 37.
In the English King James Version of the Bible, it begins: "O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath". In Latin, it is known as "Domine, ne in furore tuo arguas me".[3]
The title "to bring to remembrance" also applies to Psalm 70.[2]
Content
The psalm's topic is God's displeasure at sin (verses 1–11), and the psalmist's sufferings and prayers (verses 12–22).[4][5] The psalm opens with a prayer, David felt as if he had been forgotten of his God. It then passes intermittently between complaint and hope.[6] Benjamin Weiss noted the "depth of misery into which the psalmist gradually plunges in his complaints, then the sudden grasp at the arm of mercy and omnipotence".[7]
Possibly written late in David's life,[8] although Coffman's believes it was early in David's reign,[9] it was often conjectured as a biography of sorts for David.[10]John Calvin thought rather it was David's intent to commit to music to transmit what he had learnt through his life of the relationship he had with his Lord, before he died.[11]
Verse 22 is part of the long Tachanun recited on Mondays and Thursdays.[13][14]
Catholic Church
Psalm motet Domine ne in furore, a setting of Psalm37 (Vulgate numbering, a.k.a. Psalm38 in Hebrew numbering) by Josquin des Prez.
From around AD 530, this Psalm was traditionally sung in monasteries during matins on Mondays, according to the Rule of St. Benedict.[15][16][17] Since reform of the Office of Readings after Vatican II, Psalm 37 is now recited during the liturgy of the hours on Friday in the second week of the four-weekly cycle of liturgical prayers.[citation needed]
Verse 1 (which is almost identical to verse 1 of Psalm 6) is quoted in chapter 6 of 1 Meqabyan, a book considered canonical by this church.[20]
Musical settings
Musical settings of Psalm 38 include:
Domine ne in furore (psalm 37 according to the Vulgate numbering) was set by Josquin des Prez.[21]
"Herr, straf mich nicht in deinem Zorn / Lass mich dein Grimm verzehren nicht" (not to be confused with "Herr, straf mich nicht in deinem Zorn / Das bitt ich dich von Herzen", a paraphrase of Psalm 6),[22] Psalm38 in the Becker Psalter,[23] was set by Heinrich Schütz (SWV135, Zahn No. 5859).[24][25]
The following table shows the Hebrew text[26][27] of the Psalm with vowels, alongside the Koine Greek text in the Septuagint[28] and the English translation from the King James Version. Note that the meaning can slightly differ between these versions, as the Septuagint and the Masoretic Text come from different textual traditions.[note 1] In the Septuagint, this psalm is numbered Psalm 37.
↑In the Jewish verse numbering, the ascription of this psalm is verse 1, and the rest of the psalm begins from verse 2. However, the Christian verse numbering does not count the ascription as a separate verse.
