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 Leader, for Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. I said: 'I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue; I will keep a curb upon my mouth, while the wicked is before me.'

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

I was dumb with silence; I held my peace, had no comfort; and my pain was held in check.

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

My heart waxed hot within me; while I was musing, the fire kindled; then spoke I 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.

'LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; let me know how short-lived I am.

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 as hand-breadths; and mine age is as nothing before Thee; surely every man at his best estate is altogether vanity. (Selah)

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 walketh as a mere semblance; surely for vanity they are in turmoil; he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

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

And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope, it is in Thee.

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

Deliver me from all my transgressions; make me not the reproach of the base.

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

I am dumb, I open not my mouth; because Thou hast done it.

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

Remove Thy stroke from off me; I am consumed by the blow of Thy 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)

With rebukes dost Thou chasten man for iniquity, and like a moth Thou makest his beauty to consume away; surely every man is vanity. (Selah)

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.

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; keep not silence at my tears; for I am a stranger with Thee, a sojourner, as all my fathers were.

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

Look away from me, that I may take comfort, before I go hence, and be no more.'