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 Overseer, to Jeduthun. — A Psalm of David. I have said, 'I observe my ways, Against sinning with my tongue, I keep for my mouth a curb, 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 [with] silence, I kept silent from good, and my pain is excited.

3 My heart waxed hot within me; while I was musing, the fire kindled; then spoke I with my tongue:

Hot [is] my heart within me, In my meditating doth the fire burn, I have spoken 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.

'Cause me to know, O Jehovah, mine end, And the measure of my days — what it [is],' I know how frail 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)

Lo, handbreadths Thou hast made my days, And mine age [is] as nothing before Thee, Only, all vanity [is] every man set up. (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.

Only, in an image doth each walk habitually, Only, [in] vain, they are disquieted, He heapeth up and knoweth not who gathereth them.

7 And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope, it is in Thee.

And, now, what have I expected? O Lord, my hope — it [is] of Thee.

8 Deliver me from all my transgressions; make me not the reproach of the base.

From all my transgressions deliver me, A reproach of the fool make me not.

9 I am dumb, I open not my mouth; because Thou hast done it.

I have been dumb, I open not my mouth, Because Thou — Thou hast done [it].

10 Remove Thy stroke from off me; I am consumed by the blow of Thy hand.

Turn aside from off me Thy stroke, From the striving of Thy hand I have been 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)

With reproofs against iniquity, Thou hast corrected man, And dost waste as a moth his desirableness, Only, 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 Jehovah, And [to] my cry give ear, Unto my tear be not silent, For a sojourner I [am] with Thee, A settler like all my fathers.

13 Look away from me, that I may take comfort, before I go hence, and be no more.'

Look from me, and I brighten up before I go and am not!