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 Leader, for Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. I said: 'I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue; I will keep a curb upon my mouth, while the wicked is before me.'

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

I was dumb with silence; I held my peace, had no comfort; and my pain was held in check.

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

My heart waxed hot within me; while I was musing, the fire kindled; then spoke I 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.

'LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; let me know how short-lived I am.

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, Thou hast made my days as hand-breadths; and mine age is as nothing before Thee; surely every man at his best estate is altogether vanity. (Selah)

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

Surely man walketh as a mere semblance; surely for vanity they are in turmoil; he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

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

And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope, it is in Thee.

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

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

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

I am dumb, I open not my mouth; because Thou hast done it.

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

Remove Thy stroke from off me; I am consumed by the blow of Thy 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)

With rebukes dost Thou chasten man for iniquity, and like a moth Thou makest his beauty to consume away; surely every man is vanity. (Selah)

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 unto my cry; keep not silence at my tears; for I am a stranger with Thee, a sojourner, as all my fathers were.

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

Look away from me, that I may take comfort, before I go hence, and be no more.'