Psalms 39
1 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.'
“To the chief musician, to Jeduthun, a psalm of David.” I said, I will guard my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, while the wicked is before me.
2 I was dumb with silence; I held my peace, had no comfort; and my pain was held in check.
I was dumb in deep silence, I was quite still, even from [speaking] good; but my pain was greatly excited;
3 My heart waxed hot within me; while I was musing, the fire kindled; then spoke I with my tongue:
My heart was hot within me, in my self-communing there burnt a fire: [then] spoke I with my tongue,
4 'LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; let me know how short-lived I am.
Let me know, O Lord, my end, and the measure of my days, what it is: I wish to know when I shall cease to be.
5 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)
Behold, measured out with the span hast thou made my days; and my whole duration is nothing before thee: yea, as nothing but vanity doth every man stand here. (Selah)
6 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.
As nothing but a shadowy image doth man walk about, yea, for vanity only do all make a noise: he heapeth up his gains, and knoweth not who shall gather them.
7 And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope, it is in Thee.
And now, what shall I wait for, O Lord? my hope is in thee.
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions; make me not the reproach of the base.
From all my transgressions deliver thou me: render me not the object of reproach of the worthless.
9 I am dumb, I open not my mouth; because Thou hast done it.
I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou hadst done it.
10 Remove Thy stroke from off me; I am consumed by the blow of Thy hand.
Remove thou thy plague away from me: from the blows of thy hand am I consumed.
11 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)
When thou with corrections chastisest man for iniquity, thou causest his excellence to melt away as [if eaten by] the moth: yea, nothing but vanity is every man. (Selah)
12 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.
Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear unto my cry; be not silent at my tears; for a stranger am I with thee, a sojourner, like all my fathers.
13 Look away from me, that I may take comfort, before I go hence, and be no more.'
Leave off from me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and am no more.
