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.'
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 dumb with silence; I held my peace, had no comfort; and my pain was held in check.
I was silent and dumb, speechless: but my pain was stirred up.
3 My heart waxed hot within me; while I was musing, the fire kindled; then spoke I with my tongue:
My heart grew hot within me; as I mused, the fire was kindled, till at last the words came to 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.
‘Teach me, O Lord, my end, and the sum of my days what it is. Let me know how transient I am.
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)
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 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.
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? My hope, it is in Thee.
And now, what wait I for, Lord? My hope is in you.
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions; make me not the reproach of the base.
From all my transgressions deliver me; make me not the scorn of the fool.
9 I am dumb, I open not my mouth; because Thou hast done it.
I am dumb, never opening my mouth, for this is your own doing.
10 Remove Thy stroke from off me; I am consumed by the blow of Thy hand.
Remove your stroke from off me: by the might of your hand I am spent.
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 you rebuke someone to punish their sins, you consume, like a moth, what they treasures. Everyone is only a breath. (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; 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 Look away from me, that I may take comfort, before I go hence, and be no more.'
Look away from me, let me smile again, before I die and am gone.
