Psalms 39

1 To the chief music-maker. Of Jeduthun. A Psalm. Of David. I said, I will give attention to my ways, so that my tongue may do no wrong; I will keep my mouth under control, while the sinner is before me.

“To the chief musician, to Jeduthun, a psalm of David.” I said, I will guard my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, while the wicked is before me.

2 I made no sound, I said no word, even of good; and I was moved with sorrow.

I was dumb in deep silence, I was quite still, even from [speaking] good; but my pain was greatly excited;

3 My heart was burning in my breast; while I was deep in thought the fire was lighted; then I said with my tongue,

My heart was hot within me, in my self-communing there burnt a fire: [then] spoke I with my tongue,

4 Lord, give me knowledge of my end, and of the measure of my days, so that I may see how feeble I am.

Let me know, O Lord, my end, and the measure of my days, what it is: I wish to know when I shall cease to be.

5 You have made my days no longer than a hand's measure; and my years are nothing in your eyes; truly, every man is but a breath. (Selah)

Behold, measured out with the span hast thou made my days; and my whole duration is nothing before thee: yea, as nothing but vanity doth every man stand here. (Selah)

6 Truly, every man goes on his way like an image; he is troubled for no purpose: he makes a great store of wealth, and has no knowledge of who will get it.

As nothing but a shadowy image doth man walk about, yea, for vanity only do all make a noise: he heapeth up his gains, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

7 And now, Lord, what am I waiting for? my hope is in you.

And now, what shall I wait for, O Lord? my hope is in thee.

8 Make me free from all my sins; do not let me be shamed by the man of evil behaviour.

From all my transgressions deliver thou me: render me not the object of reproach of the worthless.

9 I was quiet, and kept my mouth shut; because you had done it.

I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou hadst done it.

10 No longer let your hand be hard on me; I am wasted by the blows of your hand.

Remove thou thy plague away from me: from the blows of thy hand am I consumed.

11 By the weight of your wrath against man's sin, the glory of his form is wasted away; truly every man is but a breath. (Selah)

When thou with corrections chastisest man for iniquity, thou causest his excellence to melt away as [if eaten by] the moth: yea, nothing but vanity is every man. (Selah)

12 Let my prayer come to your ears, O Lord, and give attention to my cry, make an answer to my weeping: for my time here is short before you, and in a little time I will be gone, like all my fathers.

Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear unto my cry; be not silent at my tears; for a stranger am I with thee, a sojourner, like all my fathers.

13 Let your wrath be turned away from me, so that I may be comforted, before I go away from here, and become nothing.

Leave off from me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and am no more.