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 chief Musician, [even] to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. 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 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 held my peace, [even] from good; and my sorrow was stirred.

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, while I was musing the fire burned: [then] I spoke 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 my end, and the measure of my days, what it [is]; [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 age [is] as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state [is] altogether vanity. (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.

Surely every man walketh in a vain show: surely they are disquieted 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.

And now, LORD, what wait I for? 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: make me not the reproach of the foolish.

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

I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst [it].

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

Remove thy stroke away from me; I am consumed by the blow of thy 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 correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man [is] vanity. (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.

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I [am] a stranger with thee, [and] 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 hence, and be no more.