Saam 39

1 Katoeng kruek zaehoikung hanah, Zeduthun hoi sak han koi David ih Saam laa. Palai hoi zaehaih ka sak han ai ah, ka caehhaih loklam ah ka coe han: kahoih ai kaminawk ka hmaa ah oh o nathung, pakha hae ka tamuep han, tiah ka thuih.

I said [to myself], “I will be careful not to sin by the things that I say [MTY]. I will not say anything [to complain] while wicked people are near to me [and can hear me].”

2 Lokpae ai ah ka oh duem, to tiah ka oh pongah hoikhanghaih om ai; palungsethaih to pung aep.

[So] I was completely silent [DOU], and I did not [even] talk about things that were good, but it was useless, because I began to suffer even more.

3 Ka palung loe bet, ka poek naah nung aep ah bet: to naah,

I became very anxious/worried [IDM]. As I thought [about my troubles], I became more worried. Then [finally] I said [MTY],

4 Aw Angraeng, kai loe amro thaikoi hmuen ah ni ka oh, nasetto maw ka hing han vop, tiah na panoeksak ah, tiah ka thuih.

“Yahweh, show/tell me how long I will live. Tell me when I will die. Tell me how many years I will live!

5 Khenah, ka hinghaih aninawk loe ban tamsum setto khue ni na sak; ka hinghaih loe na hmaa ah tiah doeh om ai: tangtang ni, kami loe kasang koek ahmuen ah pha cadoeh azom pui ni. (Selah)

[It seems that] you have caused me to live only a short time; (my lifetime/all the time that I have lived) seems like nothing to you. The time that all we humans live is [as short as] [MET] a puff of wind.

6 Tangtang ni, kami loe tidoeh avang ai tahlip thungah ni amkaeh: tangtang ni, kaminawk loe azom pui ah ni patang o: anih loe hmuenmae to patung, toe mi mah maw toep tih, tiah panoek ai.

Then we disappear like a shadow does. It seems that all that we do is for nothing/useless. We [sometimes] get a lot of money, but we do not know who will get it [after we die].

7 Vaihi timaw ka zing han vop? Angraeng, ka oephaih loe nang ni.

So now, Yahweh, if I expect [RHQ] [to receive blessings from other people], I will be disappointed. You are the [only] one from whom I confidently expect [to receive blessings].

8 Ka sakpazae ih hmuennawk thung hoiah na pahlong ah: amthu kaminawk mah kasaethuih hanah na sah hmah.

Save me from [being punished for] all the sins that I have committed. And do not allow foolish people to make fun of me.

9 Hae tiah nang ohsak boeh pongah, lok ka pae ai, pakha doeh ka aang ai.

I did not say anything [when you punished me], because [I knew that] you were the one who caused [me to suffer].

10 Dan nang paekhaih to kai khae hoiah na takhoe pae ah: ban hoi nang boh pongah ka thazok sut boeh.

But now, please stop punishing me! [If you do not do that], I am about to die because of the ways that you [SYN] have struck/afflicted me.

11 Zaehaih pongah kami to na thuitaek, dan na paek naah karaa mah caak ih baktih toengah, nihcae hoihaih to nam rosak: kaminawk loe azom pui ah ni oh o boih. (Selah)

When you rebuke someone and punish him for the sin that he has committed, you destroy the things that (he loves/are precious to him), like moths’ [larva] destroy clothing. Our lives [disappear like] a puff of wind.

12 Aw Angraeng, lawk ka thuihaih hae na thai paeh loe, ka hanghaih lok hae na tahngai paeh; ka mikkhraetui krakhaih hae na khen pae sut hmah: kai loe kam panawk baktiah kholong ka caeh moe, angvin baktiah ni ka oh.

Yahweh, listen to me while I pray; pay attention to me while I cry out to you. Help me while I am crying. I am here on the earth for only a short time, like all my ancestors.

13 Hae ahmuen hoi ka duek moe, ka caeh ai naah, tha ka oh let hanah, na tahmen rae ah.

[Now] please leave me alone, [and do not punish me any more] in order that I may smile and be happy for a while before I die. [EUP, DOU]”