Psalms 39

1 For the Chief Musician. For Jeduthun. A Psalm by David. I said, “I will watch my ways, so that I do not sin with my tongue. I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me.”

“A psalm of David. For the leader of the music of the Jeduthunites.” I said, I will take heed to my ways, That I may not 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. My sorrow was stirred.

I was dumb with silence; I spake not even what was good; But my pain was increased.

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

My heart was hot within me; In my anguish the fire burst forth, And I spake with my tongue:

4 “LORD, show me my end, what is the measure of my days. Let me know how frail I am.

LORD, make me to know mine end, And the number of my days, That I may know how frail I am!

5 Behold, you have made my days hand widths. My lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely every man stands as a breath.” (Selah)

Behold, thou hast made my days as a hand-breadth, And my life is as nothing before thee; Yea, every man in his firmest state is altogether vanity. (Pause)

6 “Surely every man walks like a shadow. Surely they busy themselves in vain. He heaps up, and does not know who shall gather.

Surely every man walketh in a vain show; Surely he disquieteth himself in vain; He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

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

What, then, O Lord! is my hope? My hope is in thee!

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

Deliver me from all my transgressions; Let me not be the reproach of scoffers!

9 I was mute. I did not open my mouth, because you did it.

Yet I am dumb; I open not my mouth; For thou hast done it!

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

But remove from me thine infliction; For I am perishing by the blow of thine hand.

11 When you rebuke and correct man for iniquity, you consume his wealth like a moth. Surely every man is but a breath.” (Selah)

When thou with rebukes dost chasten man for iniquity, Thou causest his glory to waste away like a moth! Surely every man is vanity.

12 “Hear my prayer, LORD, and give ear to my cry. Do not be silent at my tears. For I am a stranger with you, a foreigner, as all my fathers were.

Hear my prayer, O LORD! Give ear to my cry; Be not silent at my tears! For I am but a stranger with thee, A sojourner, as all my fathers were.

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

O spare me, that I may recover strength, Before I go away, and be no more!