Psalms 39

1 I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.

Unto the end. For Jeduthun himself. A Canticle of David. I said, “I will keep to my ways, so that I will not offend with my tongue.” I posted a guard at my mouth, when a sinner took up a position against me.

2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.

I was silenced and humbled, and I was quiet before good things, and my sorrow was renewed.

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

My heart grew hot within me, and, during my (meditation) a fire would flare up.

4 LORD, make me to know my end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am.

I spoke with my tongue, “O Lord, make me know my end, and what the number of my days will be, so that I may know what is lacking to me.”

5 Behold, you have made my days as an handbreadth; and my age is as nothing before you: truly every man at his best state is altogether vanity. (Selah)

Behold, you have made my days measurable, and, before you, my substance is as nothing. Yet truly, all things are vanity: every living man.

6 Surely every man walks in a vain show: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heaps up riches, and knows not who shall gather them.

So then, truly man passes by like an image; even so, he is disquieted in vain. He stores up, and he knows not for whom he will gather these things.

7 And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in you.

And now, what is it that awaits me? Is it not the Lord? And my substance is with you.

8 Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish.

Rescue me from all my iniquities. You have handed me over as a reproach to the foolish.

9 I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because you did it.

I was silenced, and I did not open my mouth, because it was you who acted.

10 Remove your stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of your hand.

Remove your scourges from me.

11 When you with rebukes do correct man for iniquity, you make his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. (Selah)

I fall short at corrections from the strength of your hand. For you have chastised man for iniquity. And you have made his soul shrink away like a spider. Nevertheless, it is in vain that any man be disquieted.

12 Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry; hold not your peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with you, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.

O Lord, heed my prayer and my supplication. Pay attention to my tears. Do not be silent. For I am a newcomer with you, and a sojourner, just as all my fathers were.

13 O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.

Forgive me, so that I may be refreshed, before I will go forth and be no more.