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. For Jeduthun. A Melody of David. I said, [to myself, ] I will take heed to my ways, That I sin not with my tongue, —I will put on my mouth a muzzle, So long as the lawless is before me.

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

I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, afar from happiness, But, my pain had been stirred:

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

Hot was my heart within me, While I was musing, there was kindled a fire, I spake 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 Yahweh, mine end, And the measure of my days—what it is, I would know how short-lived I am.

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)

Lo! as hand-breadths, hast thou granted my days, and my life-time, is as nothing before thee, —Surely, a mere breath, are all men, [even] such as stand firm. (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.

Surely as a shadow, doth every man wander, Surely in vain, do they bustle about, he heapeth things up, and knoweth not who shall gather them in.

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

Now, therefore, for what have I waited, O My 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, rescue thou me, —The reproach of the base, oh do not make me!

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

I am dumb, I cannot open my mouth, for, thou, hast done it.

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

Remove from off me thy stroke, Because of the hostility 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, by rebukes for iniquity, thou hast corrected a man, Then hast thou consumed, as a moth, all that was delightful within him, Surely, a breath, are all men. (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 Yahweh, And, unto my cry for help, give ear, At my tears, do not be silent, —For, a sojourner, am, I, with thee, A stranger, like all my fathers.

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

Look away from me that I may brighten up, Ere yet I depart and am no more.