Psalms 39

1 For the end, a Song of David, to Idithun. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I set a guard on my mouth, while the sinner stood in my presence.

I said, “I will watch my ways, so that I don’t sin ·err (the standard goal)· with my tongue. I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me.”

2 I was dumb, and humbled myself, and kept silence from good [words]; and my grief was renewed.

I was mute with silence. I held my peace, even from good. My sorrow was stirred.

3 My heart grew hot within me, and a fire would kindle in my (meditation) I spoke with my tongue,

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

4 O Lord, make me to know mine end, and the number of my days, what it is; that I may know what I lack.

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

5 Behold, you have made my days old; and my existence [is] as nothing before you: nay, every man living [is] altogether vanity. (Pause)

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

6 Surely man walks in a shadow; nay, he is disquieted in vain: he lays up treasures, and knows not for whom he shall gather them.

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

7 And now what [is] my expectation? [is it] not the Lord? and my ground [of hope] is with you. (Pause)

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

8 Deliver me from all my transgressions: you have made me a reproach to the foolish.

Deliver me from all my rebellious breaches of relationships. Don’t make me the reproach of the foolish.

9 I was dumb, and opened not my mouth; for you are he that made me.

I was mute. I didn’t open my mouth, because you did it.

10 Remove your scourges from me: I have fainted by reason of the strength of your hand.

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

11 You chasten man with rebukes for iniquity, and you make his life to consume away like a spider's web; nay, every man is disquieted in vain. (Pause)

When you rebuke and correct man for depravity (moral evil), You consume his wealth like a moth. Surely every man is but a breath.” (Selah) ·contemplation with musical interlude·.

12 O Lord, listen to my prayer and my supplication: attend to my tears: be not silent, for I am a sojourner in the land, and a stranger, as all my fathers [were].

“Sh'ma ·Hear obey· my prayer, Adonai, and give ear to my cry. Don’t be silent at my tears. For I am a stranger with you, a foreigner, as all my fathers were.

13 Spare me, that I may be refreshed, before I depart, and be no more.

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