Psalm 138/2 v 13-14

The final two verses of Psalm 138 in effect recapitulate the opening lines of the psalm.

13/ 22	V	Proba me, Deus, et scito cor meum: * intérroga me, et cognósce sémitas meas.
	NV	Scrutare me, Deus, et scito cor meum; proba me et cognosce semitas meas
	JH	Scrutare me, Deus, et cognosce cor meum; proba me, et scito cogitationes meas.
		δοκίμασόν με ὁ θεός καὶ γνῶθι τὴν καρδίαν μου ἔτασόν με καὶ γνῶθι τὰς τρίβους μου

Proba (test/prove) me (me), Deus (God), et (and) scito (know) cor (the heart) meum (my); interroga (examine/test) me, et (and) cognosce (know) semitas (the paths/ways) meas (my).  

Note: Scito: 2nd sg fut imperat act

probo, avi, atum, are  to try, to test, prove, examine; to search, prove

scio, ivi and ii, itum, ire, to know.

cor, cordis, n., the heart, regarded as the seat of the faculties, feelings, emotions, passions; the mind, the soul.

interrogo, avi, atum, are, to ask, to question; to request, demand; to examine, try, test

cognosco, gnovi, gnitum, ere 3, to know, see, learn, perceive, be come acquainted with

semita, ae, f, a path, way; course of life, action, conduct, or procedure

DR	Prove me, O God, and know my heart: examine me, and know my paths.
MD	Search me O Lord and know my heart, examine me and know my thoughts
RSV	Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!
Cover	Try me, O God, and seek the ground of my heart; prove me, and examine my thoughts.
Knox	Scrutinize me, O God, as thou wilt, and read my heart; put me to the test, and examine my restless thoughts.
Grail	O search me, God, and know my heart. O test me and know my thoughts.

Cassiodorus comments on this:

No one can say this but he who also says Behold the prince of this world cometh and in me he will not find anything.  He alone is known to be free from sin who is seen also to have borne the sins of men.  Prove denotes his patience, know reveals 'I knew not sin, despite the agitation of my condition'; examine suggests a most detailed scrutiny, for no-one can deny what has happened when questioned by one with knowledge.  Paths also refers to the activities which he continuously performed with heavenly holiness.

14/ 23	V	Et vide, si via iniquitátis in me est: * et deduc me in via æterna.
	NV	et vide, si via vanitatis in me est, et deduc me in via aeterna.
	JH	Et uide si uia doli in me est, et deduc me in uia aeterna.
		καὶ ἰδὲ εἰ ὁδὸς ἀνομίας ἐν ἐμοί καὶ ὁδήγησόν με ἐν ὁδῷ αἰωνίᾳ

Et (and) vide (see) si (if) via (the way) iniquitatis (of wickedness) in me (in me) est (it is), et (and) deduc (lead) me in (me in) via (the way) æterna (eternal).

video, vidi, visum, ere 2,  to see, behold; consider; experience, undergo, suffer, realize; keep watch, look for, meditate on

via, ae, a way, road, path, street. God's way, God's policy, way of life

iniquitas, atis, f iniquity, injustice, sin

deduco, duxi ductum, ere 3, to lead or bring down;  guide, lead, conduct

aeternus, a, um eternal. forever

DR	And see if there be in me the way of iniquity: and lead me in the eternal way.
Brenton	and see if there is any way of iniquity in me, and lead me in an everlasting way.
MD	And see, if I am on the way of evil, and lead me on the path of life eternal
Cover	Look well if there be any way of wickedness in me; and lead me in the way everlasting.
Knox	See if on any false paths my heart is set, and thyself lead me in the ways of old.
Grail	See that I follow not the wrong path and lead me in the path of life eternal.

Cassiodorus again puts these words in the mouth of Christ:

Observe how the good Master teaches us the perfect order of things: first He said that He was proved and known, and then exam­ined, so that when no wickedness was uncovered He could be led to that way in which He reigns with wonderful power and everlasting glory in company with the holy Spirit. The way of iniquity is the work of the devil, which he never ceases to practise by means of his evil promptings in the progress of this world. The Lord rightly said that this way is not in Him who is the Rock, for no trace of the ancient serpent could be established in His unshifting presence. So His human substance did well to beg to be led into the eternal way, in which the devil's path could not be found; the Lord Christ often begs the Father for what is actually His own, so that the unity of love, power or nature between them can be recognised.

St Augustine, however, viewed it as an instruction to imitate Christ:

What else says he, but lead me in Christ? For who is the way everlasting, save He that is the life everlasting? For everlasting is He who said, I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. If then you find anything in my way which displeases Your eyes, since my way is mortal, do Thou lead me in the way everlasting, wherein is no iniquity; for even if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He is the propitiation for our sins;  He is the Way everlasting without sin; He is the Life everlasting without punishment. 

St John Chrysostom puts the moral message in more general terms:

Now what is the eternal path if not the spiritual path, which leads to heaven and of which there is no end?...But how is one guided towards it?  By enjoying grace from God and contributing what we have to offer - practicing virtue, dedicated to sound values, rendered superior to things of this life.  Progress on that path, you see, is not shortlived and temporary.  That is what virtue is like, in fact: its fruits are constantly ripening and never decaying, its goods are immortal, unlimited and unending.  May it be the good fortune of us all to attain them, thanks to the grace and lovingkindness of our Lord Jesus Christ...

Psalm 138/2 (139) – Et dixi: forsitan 

Vulgate	Douay-Rheims
1  Et dixi: Fórsitan ténebræ conculcábunt me: * et nox illuminátio mea in delíciis meis.	11 And I said: Perhaps darkness shall cover me: and night shall be my light in my pleasures.
2  Quia ténebræ non obscurabúntur a te, et nox sicut dies illuminábitur: * sicut ténebræ ejus, ita et lumen ejus.	12 But darkness shall not be dark to you, and night shall be light all the day: the darkness thereof, and the light thereof are alike to you.
3  Quia tu possedísti renes meos: * suscepísti me de útero matris meæ.	13 For you have possessed my reins: you have protected me from my mother's womb.
4  Confitébor tibi quia terribíliter magnificátus es: * mirabília ópera tua, et ánima mea cognóscit nimis.	14 I will praise you, for you are fearfully magnified: wonderful are your works, and my soul knows right well.
5  Non est occultátum os meum a te, quod fecísti in occúlto: * et substántia mea in inferióribus terræ.	15 My bone is not hidden from you, which you have made in secret: and my substance in the lower parts of the earth.
6  Imperféctum meum vidérunt óculi tui, et in libro tuo omnes scribéntur: * dies formabúntur, et nemo in eis.	16 Your eyes did see my imperfect being, and in your book all shall be written: days shall be formed, and no one in them.
7  Mihi autem nimis honorificáti sunt amíci tui, Deus: * nimis confortátus est principátus eórum.	17 But to me your friends, O God, are made exceedingly honourable: their principality is exceedingly strengthened.
8  Dinumerábo eos, et super arénam multiplicabúntur: * exsurréxi, et adhuc sum tecum.	18 I will number them, and they shall be multiplied above the sand, I rose up and am still with you.
9  Si occíderis, Deus, peccatóres: * viri sánguinum, declináte a me.	19 If you will kill the wicked, O God: you men of blood, depart from me:
10  Quia dícitis in cogitatióne: * Accípient in vanitáte civitátes tuas.	20 Because you say in thought: They shall receive your cities in vain.
11  Nonne qui odérunt te, Dómine, óderam? * et super inimícos tuos tabescébam?	21 Have I not hated them, O Lord, that hated you: and pined away because of your enemies?
12  Perfécto ódio óderam illos: * et inimíci facti sunt mihi.	22 I have hated them with a perfect hatred: and they have become enemies to me.
13  Proba me, Deus, et scito cor meum: * intérroga me, et cognósce sémitas meas.	23 Prove me, O God, and know my heart: examine me, and know my paths.
14  Et vide, si via iniquitátis in me est: * et deduc me in via æterna.	24 And see if there be in me the way of iniquity: and lead me in the eternal way