< 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 Chief Musician. For Jeduthun. A Psalm by David.] I said, "I will watch my ways, so that I do not sin with my tongue. I will keep my mouth with a bridle 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 mute with silence. I held my peace, even from good. 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 was hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned: 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.
"YHWH, show me my end, what is the measure of my days. Let me know how frail 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)
Look, you have made my days handbreadths. My lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely every man stands as a breath." (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 a person goes about like a shadow. Surely he heaps up vain things of wealth, and doesn't know who shall gather them.
7 And now Lord, what wait I for? mine hope is euen in thee.
And now, YHWH, what do I wait for? 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 taunt of fools.
9 I should haue bene dumme, and not haue opened my mouth, because thou didest it.
I was mute. I did not open my mouth, because you did it.
10 Take thy plague away from mee: for I am consumed by the stroke of thine hand.
Remove your scourge away from me. I am overcome by the blow 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)
When you rebuke and correct man for iniquity, You consume his wealth like a moth. Surely every man is but a breath." (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, YHWH, and give ear to my cry. Do not be silent at my tears. For I am a stranger with you, a foreigner, as all my fathers were.
13 Stay thine anger from me, that I may recouer my strength, before I go hence and be not.
Oh spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go away, and exist no more."