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 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 dumme and spake nothing: I kept silece euen from good, and my sorow was more stirred.
I was silent and dumb, speechless: but my pain was stirred up.
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 was kindled, till at last the words came to 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.
“Teach me, O Lord, my end, and the sum of my days what it is. Let me know how transient 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)
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 Doubtlesse man walketh in a shadowe, and disquieteth himselfe in vaine: he heapeth vp riches, and cannot tell who shall gather them.
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 Lord, what wait I for? mine hope is euen in thee.
And now, what wait I for, Lord? My hope is in you.
8 Deliuer me from all my transgressions, and make me not a rebuke vnto the foolish.
From all my transgressions deliver me; make me not the scorn of the fool.
9 I should haue bene dumme, and not haue opened my mouth, because thou didest it.
I am dumb, never opening my mouth, for this is your own doing.
10 Take thy plague away from mee: for I am consumed by the stroke of thine hand.
Remove your stroke from off me: by the might of your hand I am spent.
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 someone to punish their sins, you consume, like a moth, what they treasures. Everyone is only 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, 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 Stay thine anger from me, that I may recouer my strength, before I go hence and be not.
Look away from me, let me smile again, before I die and am gone.
