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.”

“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 speechless and still; I remained silent, even from speaking good, and my sorrow was stirred.

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

3 My heart grew hot within me; as I mused, the fire burned. Then 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 “Show me, O LORD, my end and the measure of my days. Let me know how fleeting my life is.

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

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.

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 goes about like a phantom; surely he bustles in vain; he heaps up riches not knowing who will haul them away.

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 And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? 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 fools.

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

9 I have become mute; I do not open my mouth because of what You have done.

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

10 Remove Your scourge from me; I am perishing by the force of Your hand.

But remove from me thine infliction; For I am perishing by the blow 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 dost chasten man for iniquity, Thou causest his glory to waste away like a moth! Surely every man is vanity.

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.

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 Turn Your gaze away from me, that I may again be cheered before I depart and am no more.”

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