Psalms 39
1 Unto the end, for Idithun himself, a canticle of David. I said: I will take heed to my ways: that I sin not with my tongue. I have set guard to my mouth, when the sinner stood 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 dumb, and was humbled, and kept silence from 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 in my meditation a fire shall flame out.
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 is the number of my days: that I may know what is wanting 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 thou hast made my days measurable: and my substance is as nothing before thee. And indeed all things are vanity: every man living.
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 Surely man passeth as an image: yea, and he is disquieted in vain. He storeth up: and he knoweth not for whom he shall 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 my hope? is it not the Lord? and my substance is with thee.
And now, what wait I for, Lord? My hope is in you.
8 Deliver thou me from all my iniquities: thou hast made me a reproach to the fool.
From all my transgressions deliver me; make me not the scorn of the fool.
9 I was dumb, and I opened not my mouth, because thou hast done it.
I am dumb, never opening my mouth, for this is your own doing.
10 Remove thy scourges from me. The strength of thy hand hath made me faint in rebukes:
Remove your stroke from off me: by the might of your hand I am spent.
11 Thou hast corrected man for iniquity. And thou hast made his soul to waste away like a spider: surely in vain is any man disquieted.
When you rebuke someone to punish their sins, you consume, like a moth, what they treasures. Everyone is only a breath. (Selah)
12 Hear my prayer, O Lord, and my supplication: give ear to my tears. Be not silent: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner 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 O forgive me, that I may be refreshed, before I go hence, and be no more.
Look away from me, let me smile again, before I die and am gone.
