< 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.
“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, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.
I was dumb in deep silence, I was quite still, even from [speaking] good; but my pain was greatly excited;
3 My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: 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 my end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail 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, 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, 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 every man walks in a vain show: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heaps up riches, and knows 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 is in you.
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 foolish.
From all my transgressions deliver thou me: render me not the object of reproach of the worthless.
9 I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because you did it.
I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou hadst done it.
10 Remove your stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of your hand.
Remove thou thy plague away from me: from the blows of thy hand am I consumed.
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)
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 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.
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 O spare me, that I may recover strength, 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.