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 vowed to watch my words, and sin not with my tongue, but to put on my mouth a muzzle, while the wicked were in my presence.
2 I was silenced and humbled, and I was quiet before good things, and my sorrow was renewed.
I was silent and dumb, speechless: but my pain was stirred up.
3 My heart grew hot within me, and, during my (meditation) a fire would flare up.
My heart grew hot within me; as I mused, the fire was kindled, till at last the words came to 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.”
“Teach me, O Lord, my end, and the sum of my days what it is. Let me know how transient 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.
See! My days you have made but a span, and my life is as nothing before you. It is but as a breath that everyone stands: (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.
it is but in mere semblance we walk to and fro, and all our noise is for nothing. We heap up, and know not who will gather.”
7 And now, what is it that awaits me? Is it not the Lord? And my substance is with you.
And now, what wait I for, Lord? My hope is in you.
8 Rescue me from all my iniquities. You have handed me over as a reproach to the foolish.
From all my transgressions deliver me; make me not the scorn of the fool.
9 I was silenced, and I did not open my mouth, because it was you who acted.
I am dumb, never opening my mouth, for this is your own doing.
10 Remove your scourges from me.
Remove your stroke from off me: by the might of your hand I am spent.
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 you rebuke someone to punish their sins, you consume, like a moth, what they treasures. Everyone is only a breath. (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; attend to my cry for help. Hold not your peace at my tears. For I am but a guest of yours, a stranger visiting, like all my ancestors.
13 Forgive me, so that I may be refreshed, before I will go forth and be no more.
Look away from me, let me smile again, before I die and am gone.
