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 of David. I decided, “I will watch what I say so that I do not sin with my tongue. I will muzzle my mouth while in the presence of an evil man.”

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

I kept silent; I kept back my words even from saying anything good, and my pain grew worse.

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

My heart became hot; when I thought about these things, it burned like a fire. Then finally I spoke.

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.

“Yahweh, make me know when will be the end of my life and the extent of my days. Show me 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, you have made my days only the width of my hand, and my lifetime is like nothing before you. Surely every man is a single 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 every man walks about like a shadow. Surely everyone hurries about to accumulate riches although they do not know who will receive them.

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

Now, Lord, for what am I waiting? You are my only hope.

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

Rescue me from my sins; 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 am silent and cannot open my mouth, because it is you who has done it.

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

Stop wounding me; I am overwhelmed 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 discipline people for sin, you consume the things they desire like a moth; surely all people are nothing but vapor. (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, Yahweh, and listen to me; listen to my weeping! Do not be deaf to me, for I am like a foreigner with you, a refugee like all my ancestors were.

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

Turn your gaze from me so that I may smile again before I die.”