Psalms 39

1 Unto the end. For Jeduthun himself. A Canticle of David. I said, “I will keep to my ways, so that I will not offend with my tongue.” I posted a guard at my mouth, when a sinner took up a position against me.

For the Leader, for Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. I said: 'I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue; I will keep a curb upon my mouth, while the wicked is before me.'

2 I was silenced and humbled, and I was quiet before good things, and my sorrow was renewed.

I was dumb with silence; I held my peace, had no comfort; and my pain was held in check.

3 My heart grew hot within me, and, during my (meditation) a fire would flare up.

My heart waxed hot within me; while I was musing, the fire kindled; then spoke I with my tongue:

4 I spoke with my tongue, “O Lord, make me know my end, and what the number of my days will be, so that I may know what is lacking to me.”

'LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; let me know how short-lived I am.

5 Behold, you have made my days measurable, and, before you, my substance is as nothing. Yet truly, all things are vanity: every living man.

Behold, Thou hast made my days as hand-breadths; and mine age is as nothing before Thee; surely every man at his best estate is altogether vanity. (Selah)

6 So then, truly man passes by like an image; even so, he is disquieted in vain. He stores up, and he knows not for whom he will gather these things.

Surely man walketh as a mere semblance; surely for vanity they are in turmoil; he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

7 And now, what is it that awaits me? Is it not the Lord? And my substance is with you.

And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope, it is in Thee.

8 Rescue me from all my iniquities. You have handed me over as a reproach to the foolish.

Deliver me from all my transgressions; make me not the reproach of the base.

9 I was silenced, and I did not open my mouth, because it was you who acted.

I am dumb, I open not my mouth; because Thou hast done it.

10 Remove your scourges from me.

Remove Thy stroke from off me; I am consumed by the blow of Thy hand.

11 I fall short at corrections from the strength of your hand. For you have chastised man for iniquity. And you have made his soul shrink away like a spider. Nevertheless, it is in vain that any man be disquieted.

With rebukes dost Thou chasten man for iniquity, and like a moth Thou makest his beauty to consume away; surely every man is vanity. (Selah)

12 O Lord, heed my prayer and my supplication. Pay attention to my tears. Do not be silent. For I am a newcomer with you, and a sojourner, just as all my fathers were.

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; keep not silence at my tears; for I am a stranger with Thee, a sojourner, as all my fathers were.

13 Forgive me, so that I may be refreshed, before I will go forth and be no more.

Look away from me, that I may take comfort, before I go hence, and be no more.'