Psalms 39

1 I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue. I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked man is before me.

For the end, a Song of David, to Idithun. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I set a guard on my mouth, while the sinner stood in my presence.

2 I was mute with silence. I held my peace, even from good, and my sorrow was stirred.

I was dumb, and humbled myself, and kept silence from good [words]; and my grief was renewed.

3 My heart was hot within me. While I was musing the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue:

My heart grew hot within me, and a fire would kindle in my (meditation) I spoke with my tongue,

4 Jehovah, make me to know my end, and the measure of my days, what it is. Let me know how frail I am.

O Lord, make me to know mine end, and the number of my days, what it is; that I may know what I lack.

5 Behold, thou have made my days as handbreadths, and my life-time is as nothing before thee. Surely every man at his best condition is altogether vanity. (Selah)

Behold, thou hast made my days old; and my existence [is] as nothing before thee: nay, every man living [is] altogether vanity. (Pause)

6 Surely every man walks in a shadow. Surely they are disquieted in vain. He heaps up, and knows not who shall gather them.

Surely man walks in a shadow; nay, he is disquieted in vain: he lays up treasures, and knows not for whom he shall gather them.

7 And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in thee.

And now what [is] my expectation? [is it] not the Lord? and my ground [of hope] is with thee. (Pause)

8 Deliver me from all my transgressions. Make me not the reproach of the foolish.

Deliver me from all my transgressions: thou hast made me a reproach to the foolish.

9 I was mute. I opened not my mouth, because thou did it.

I was dumb, and opened not my mouth; for thou art he that made me.

10 Remove thy stroke away from me. I am consumed by the blow of thy hand.

Remove thy scourges from me: I have fainted by reason of the strength of thine hand.

11 When thou have corrected man with rebukes for iniquity, thou make his beauty to disintegrate like a moth. Surely every man is vanity. (Selah)

Thou chastenest man with rebukes for iniquity, and thou makest his life to consume away like a spider's web; nay, every man is disquieted in vain. (Pause)

12 Hear my prayer, O Jehovah, and give ear to my cry. Keep not silent at my tears, for I am a stranger with thee, a sojourner, as all my fathers were.

O Lord, hearken to my prayer and my supplication: attend to my tears: be not silent, for I am a sojourner in the land, and a stranger, as all my fathers [were].

13 O spare me, that I may recover strength before I go from here, and be no more.

Spare me, that I may be refreshed, before I depart, and be no more.