Psalms 39
1 For the choirmaster. For Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. I said, “I will watch my ways so that I will not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle as long as the wicked are present.”
To the excellent musician Ieduthun. I thought, I will take heede to my wayes, that I sinne not with my tongue: I will keepe my mouth brideled, while the wicked is in my sight.
2 I was speechless and still; I remained silent, even from speaking good, and my sorrow was stirred.
I was dumme and spake nothing: I kept silece euen from good, and my sorow was more stirred.
3 My heart grew hot within me; as I mused, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue:
Mine heart was hote within me, and while I was musing, the fire kindeled, and I spake with my tongue, saying,
4 “Show me, O LORD, my end and the measure of my days. Let me know how fleeting my life is.
Lord, let me know mine ende, and the measure of my dayes, what it is: let mee knowe howe long I haue to liue.
5 You, indeed, have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing before You. Truly each man at his best exists as but a breath.
Beholde, thou hast made my dayes as an hand breadth, and mine age as nothing in respect of thee: surely euery man in his best state is altogether vanitie. (Selah)
6 Surely every man goes about like a phantom; surely he bustles in vain; he heaps up riches not knowing who will haul them away.
Doubtlesse man walketh in a shadowe, and disquieteth himselfe in vaine: he heapeth vp riches, and cannot tell who shall gather them.
7 And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You.
And now Lord, what wait I for? mine hope is euen in thee.
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions; do not make me the reproach of fools.
Deliuer me from all my transgressions, and make me not a rebuke vnto the foolish.
9 I have become mute; I do not open my mouth because of what You have done.
I should haue bene dumme, and not haue opened my mouth, because thou didest it.
10 Remove Your scourge from me; I am perishing by the force of Your hand.
Take thy plague away from mee: for I am consumed by the stroke of thine hand.
11 You discipline and correct a man for his iniquity, consuming like a moth what he holds dear; surely each man is but a vapor.
When thou with rebukes doest chastise man for iniquitie, thou as a mothe makest his beautie to consume: surely euery man is vanitie. (Selah)
12 Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. For I am a foreigner dwelling with You, a stranger like all my fathers.
Heare my prayer, O Lord, and hearken vnto my cry: keepe not silence at my teares, for I am a strager with thee, and a soiourner as all my fathers.
13 Turn Your gaze away from me, that I may again be cheered before I depart and am no more.”
Stay thine anger from me, that I may recouer my strength, before I go hence and be not.
