Dixi: Custodiam vias meas
(A meditation on human frailty and the brevity of life)
Summary:
David, struck silent by suffering, reflects on the vanity of life and the brevity of human days. He prays for wisdom to measure his end rightly, to turn from sin, and to place all hope in God.
Verse 1
Dixi: Custodiam vias meas, ut non delinquam in lingua mea.
I said: I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue.
Word notes:
- dixi — dico, dicere, dixi, dictum (3rd) = to say. Perfect active.
- custodiam — custodio, custodire, custodivi, custoditum (4th) = to guard, keep. Future active.
- via, viae (f.) = way, path.
- delinquam — delinquo, delinquere, deliqui, delictum (3rd) = to do wrong, sin. Present subjunctive.
- lingua, linguae (f.) = tongue, speech.
Verse 2
Posui ori meo custodiam, cum consisteret peccator adversum me.
I set a guard to my mouth, while the sinner stood against me.
Word notes:
- posui — pono, ponere, posui, positum (3rd) = to place, put. Perfect active.
- os, oris (n.) = mouth. (Here abl. ori = “to my mouth.”)
- consisteret — consisto, consistere, constiti (3rd) = to stand, take position. Imperfect subjunctive.
- peccator, peccatoris (m.) = sinner.
- adversum (prep. + acc.) = against.
Verse 3
Obmutui, et humiliatus sum, et silui a bonis; et dolor meus renovatus est.
I was struck dumb, humbled, and silent even from good things; and my sorrow was renewed.
Word notes:
- obmutui — obmutesco, obmutescere, obmutui (3rd) = to become mute. Perfect.
- humilio, humiliare (1st) = to humble.
- sileo, silere, silui (2nd) = to be silent. Perfect.
- renovatus est — renovo, renovare, renovavi, renovatum (1st) = to renew. Perfect passive.
Verse 4
Concaluit cor meum intra me, et in meditatione mea exardescet ignis.
My heart grew hot within me, and in my meditation a fire will burn.
Word notes:
- concaluit — concaleo, concalere, concalui (2nd) = to grow warm. Perfect active.
- intra (prep. + acc.) = within.
- meditatio, meditationis (f.) = meditation, thought.
- exardescet — exardesco, exardescere, exarsi, exarsum (3rd) = to blaze up, burn. Future active.
- ignis, ignis (m.) = fire.
Verse 5
Locutus sum in lingua mea: Notum fac mihi, Domine, finem meum.
Then I spoke with my tongue: Make known to me, O Lord, my end.
Word notes:
- locutus sum — loquor, loqui, locutus sum (3rd dep.) = to speak. Perfect deponent.
- notum fac — facio, facere, feci, factum (3rd) = to make. Imperative phrase: “make known.”
- finis, finis (m.) = end, limit.
Verse 6
Et numerum dierum meorum quis est, ut sciam quid desit mihi.
And the number of my days—what it is—that I may know how frail I am.
Word notes:
- numerus, numeri (m.) = number.
- dies, diei (m./f.) = day.
- sciam — scio, scire, scivi, scitum (4th) = to know. Present subjunctive.
- desit — desum, deesse, defui (irreg.) = to be lacking. Present subjunctive.
Verse 7
Ecce mensurabiles posuisti dies meos, et substantia mea tamquam nihilum ante te.
Behold, you have made my days measurable, and my substance as nothing before you.
Word notes:
- mensurabilis, -e = measurable.
- posuisti — pono (3rd) = to place. Perfect.
- substantia, substantiae (f.) = substance, being.
- nihilum, nihili (n.) = nothingness.
Verse 8
Verumtamen universa vanitas omnis homo vivens.
Yet indeed, every living man is altogether vanity.
Word notes:
- verumtamen = nevertheless, yet indeed.
- universus, -a, -um = whole, entire.
- vanitas, vanitatis (f.) = emptiness, vanity.
- vivens — participle of vivo, vivere, vixi, victum (3rd) = living.
Verse 9
Verumtamen in imagine pertransit homo; sed et frustra conturbatur.
Surely man walks as in a mere image; indeed he is troubled in vain.
Word notes:
- imago, imaginis (f.) = image, appearance.
- pertransit — pertranseo, pertransire, pertransii, pertransitum (irreg.) = to pass through.
- conturbatur — conturbo, conturbare (1st) = to be disturbed, agitated. Present passive.
Verse 10
Thesaurizat, et ignorat cui congregabit ea.
He heaps up riches, and knows not who shall gather them.
Word notes:
- thesaurizo, thesaurizare, thesaurizavi, thesaurizatum (1st) = to treasure up.
- ignorat — ignoro, ignorare (1st) = to be ignorant, not know.
- congregabit — congrego, congregare, congregavi, congregatum (1st) = to gather together. Future active.
Verse 11
Et nunc quae est exspectatio mea? nonne Dominus? et substantia mea apud te est.
And now, what is my expectation? Is it not the Lord? And my substance is with you.
Word notes:
- exspectatio, exspectationis (f.) = expectation, hope.
- nonne = is it not?
- apud (prep. + acc.) = with, beside.
Verse 12
Ab omnibus iniquitatibus meis erue me; opprobrium insipienti dedisti me.
Deliver me from all my iniquities; you have made me a reproach to the foolish.
Word notes:
- erue — eruo, eruere, erui, erutum (3rd) = to draw out, rescue. Imperative.
- opprobrium, opprobrii (n.) = reproach, disgrace.
- insipiens, insipientis (m.) = fool.
Verse 13
Obmutui, et non aperui os meum, quoniam tu fecisti.
I was dumb, and opened not my mouth, because it is you who have done it.
Word notes:
- obmutui — obmutesco, obmutescere, obmutui (3rd) = to become mute.
- aperui — aperio, aperire, aperui, apertum (4th) = to open. Perfect.
- fecisti — facio, facere, feci, factum (3rd) = to do. Perfect.
Verse 14
Amove a me plagas tuas; ab fortitudine manus tuae ego defeci.
Remove your plagues from me; by the strength of your hand I am spent.
Word notes:
- amove — amoveo, amovere, amovi, amotum (2nd) = to remove. Imperative.
- plaga, plagae (f.) = wound, blow, plague.
- defeci — deficio, deficere, defeci, defectum (3rd) = to fail, faint. Perfect.
Verse 15
In increpationibus pro iniquitate corripuisti hominem, et tabescere fecisti sicut araneam animam ejus.
With rebukes for sin you have corrected man, and made his soul waste away like a spider’s web.
Word notes:
- increpatio, increpationis (f.) = rebuke.
- corripuisti — corripio, corripere, corripui, correptum (3rd) = to correct, chasten. Perfect.
- tabescere — tabesco, tabescere, tabui (3rd) = to waste away, melt. Infinitive.
- aranea, araneae (f.) = spider.
Verse 16
Verumtamen vane conturbatur omnis homo.
Surely every man is disturbed in vain.
Word notes:
- vane = vainly, uselessly.
- conturbatur — conturbo, conturbare (1st) = to be troubled. Present passive.
Verse 17
Exaudi orationem meam, Domine, et clamorem meum auribus percipe; lacrimas meas ne sileas.
Hear my prayer, O Lord, and listen to my cry; do not keep silence at my tears.
Word notes:
- exaudi — exaudi, exaudire, exaudivi, exauditum (4th) = to hear favourably. Imperative.
- percipe — percipio, percipere, percepi, perceptum (3rd) = to perceive, attend. Imperative.
- lacrima, lacrimae (f.) = tear.
- sileas — sileo, silere, silui (2nd) = to be silent. Present subjunctive.
Verse 18
Quoniam advena ego sum apud te, et peregrinus sicut omnes patres mei.
For I am a stranger with you, and a sojourner, like all my fathers.
Word notes:
- advena, advenae (m.) = stranger, foreigner.
- peregrinus, peregrini (m.) = wanderer, pilgrim.
- pater, patris (m.) = father.
Verse 19
Remitte mihi, ut refrigerer priusquam abeam et amplius non ero.
Forgive me, that I may be refreshed before I depart and am no more.
Word notes:
- remitte — remitto, remittere, remisi, remissum (3rd) = to forgive, send back. Imperative.
- refrigerer — refrigero, refrigerare, refrigeravi, refrigeratum (1st) = to cool, refresh. Present subjunctive passive.
- abeam — abeo, abire, abii, abitum (irreg.) = to go away. Present subjunctive.
Study Exercise
I. Translate into Latin
- My days are as nothing before you.
- Man walks in an image.
- Deliver me from all my iniquities.
- I am a stranger before you.
- Forgive me, that I may rest.
II. Translate into English
- Notum fac mihi, Domine, finem meum.
- Ecce mensurabiles posuisti dies meos.
- Remitte mihi, ut refrigerer.
- Ab omnibus iniquitatibus meis erue me.
- Exaudi orationem meam, Domine.
III. Word Forms
| Latin verb | Meaning | Tense | Mood | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| custodiam | I shall keep | future | indicative | 4th |
| delinquam | I may sin | present | subjunctive | 3rd |
| exardescet | will burn | future | indicative | 3rd |
| desit | may be lacking | present | subjunctive | irregular |
| refrigerer | may be refreshed | present | subjunctive (passive) | 1st |
Answer Key
I. Latin Translations
- Dies mei tamquam nihilum ante te sunt.
- Homo in imagine pertransit.
- Ab omnibus iniquitatibus meis erue me.
- Advena sum apud te.
- Remitte mihi, ut quiescam.
II. English Translations
- Make known to me, O Lord, my end.
- Behold, you have made my days measurable.
- Forgive me, that I may be refreshed.
- Deliver me from all my iniquities.
- Hear my prayer, O Lord.