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.

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

I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.

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

My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake 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; that I may know how frail 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 an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state 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 every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: 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 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 foolish.

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

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

10 Remove your scourges from me.

Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thine 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.

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 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; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and 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.

O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.