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.

I said, “I will watch my ways, so that I don’t sin ·err (the standard goal)· with my tongue. I will keep my mouth with a bridle 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 mute with silence. I held my peace, even from good. My sorrow was stirred.

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

My heart was hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned: I spoke with my tongue:

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

“Adonai, show me my end, what is the measure of my days. Let me know how frail I am.

5 Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. (Selah)

Behold, you have made my days hand widths. My lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely every man stands as a breath.” (Selah) ·contemplation with musical interlude·.

6 Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

“Surely every man walks like a shadow. Surely they busy themselves in vain. He heaps up, and does not know who shall gather.

7 And now, YHWH, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.

Now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you.

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

Deliver me from all my rebellious breaches of relationships. Don’t make me the reproach of the foolish.

9 I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it.

I was mute. I didn’t open my mouth, because you did it.

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

Remove your scourge away from me. I am overcome by the blow of your hand.

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

When you rebuke and correct man for depravity (moral evil), You consume his wealth like a moth. Surely every man is but a breath.” (Selah) ·contemplation with musical interlude·.

12 Hear my prayer, O YHWH, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.

“Sh'ma ·Hear obey· my prayer, Adonai, and give ear to my cry. Don’t be silent at my tears. For I am a stranger with you, a foreigner, as all my fathers were.

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

Oh spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go away, and exist no more.”