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 Chief Musician. For Jeduthun. A Psalm by David. I said, “I will watch my ways, so that I don’t sin with my tongue. I will keep my mouth with a bridle 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 mute with silence. I held my peace, even from good. My sorrow was stirred.

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

My heart was hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burnt. 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.

“LORD, show me my end, what is the measure of my days. Let me know how frail 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, you have made my days hand widths. My lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely every man stands as a breath.” (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 every man walks like a shadow. Surely they busy themselves in vain. He heaps up, and doesn’t know who shall gather.

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

Now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you.

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

Deliver me from all my transgressions. Don’t make me the reproach of the foolish.

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

I was mute. I didn’t open my mouth, because you did it.

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

Remove your scourge away from me. I am overcome by the blow of your 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)

When you rebuke and correct man for iniquity, you consume his wealth like a moth. Surely every man is but 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, LORD, and give ear to my cry. Don’t be silent at my tears. For I am a stranger with you, a foreigner, as all my fathers were.

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

Oh spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go away and exist no more.”