Psalms 39

1 To the excellent musician Ieduthun. I thought, I will take heede to my wayes, that I sinne not with my tongue: I will keepe my mouth brideled, while the wicked is in my sight.

For the choirmaster. For Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. I said, “I will watch my ways so that I will not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle as long as the wicked are present.”

2 I was dumme and spake nothing: I kept silece euen from good, and my sorow was more stirred.

I was speechless and still; I remained silent, even from speaking good, and my sorrow was stirred.

3 Mine heart was hote within me, and while I was musing, the fire kindeled, and I spake with my tongue, saying,

My heart grew hot within me; as I mused, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue:

4 Lord, let me know mine ende, and the measure of my dayes, what it is: let mee knowe howe long I haue to liue.

“Show me, O LORD, my end and the measure of my days. Let me know how fleeting my life is.

5 Beholde, thou hast made my dayes as an hand breadth, and mine age as nothing in respect of thee: surely euery man in his best state is altogether vanitie. (Selah)

You, indeed, have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing before You. Truly each man at his best exists as but a breath.

6 Doubtlesse man walketh in a shadowe, and disquieteth himselfe in vaine: he heapeth vp riches, and cannot tell who shall gather them.

Surely every man goes about like a phantom; surely he bustles in vain; he heaps up riches not knowing who will haul them away.

7 And now Lord, what wait I for? mine hope is euen in thee.

And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You.

8 Deliuer me from all my transgressions, and make me not a rebuke vnto the foolish.

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

9 I should haue bene dumme, and not haue opened my mouth, because thou didest it.

I have become mute; I do not open my mouth because of what You have done.

10 Take thy plague away from mee: for I am consumed by the stroke of thine hand.

Remove Your scourge from me; I am perishing by the force of Your hand.

11 When thou with rebukes doest chastise man for iniquitie, thou as a mothe makest his beautie to consume: surely euery man is vanitie. (Selah)

You discipline and correct a man for his iniquity, consuming like a moth what he holds dear; surely each man is but a vapor.

12 Heare my prayer, O Lord, and hearken vnto my cry: keepe not silence at my teares, for I am a strager with thee, and a soiourner as all my fathers.

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. For I am a foreigner dwelling with You, a stranger like all my fathers.

13 Stay thine anger from me, that I may recouer my strength, before I go hence and be not.

Turn Your gaze away from me, that I may again be cheered before I depart and am no more.”