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.

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.

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

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

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, and, during my (meditation) a fire would flare up.

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.

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.”

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)

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Remove your scourges from me.

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)

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.

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.

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.

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

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