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 vowed to watch my words, and sin not with my tongue, but to put on my mouth a muzzle, while the wicked were in my presence.

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

I was silent and dumb, speechless: but my pain was stirred up.

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; as I mused, the fire was kindled, till at last the words came to 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.

‘Teach me, O Lord, my end, and the sum of my days what it is. Let me know how transient 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)

See! My days you have made but a span, and my life is as nothing before you. It is but as a breath that everyone stands: (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.

it is but in mere semblance we walk to and fro, and all our noise is for nothing. We heap up, and know not who will gather.’

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

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

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

From all my transgressions deliver me; make me not the scorn of the fool.

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

I am dumb, never opening my mouth, for this is your own doing.

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

Remove your stroke from off me: by the might of your hand I am spent.

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)

When you rebuke someone to punish their sins, you consume, like a moth, what they treasures. Everyone is only a breath. (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; attend to my cry for help. Hold not your peace at my tears. For I am but a guest of yours, a stranger visiting, like all my ancestors.

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

Look away from me, let me smile again, before I die and am gone.