Psalms 39

1 To the chief Musician, [even] to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. 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.

For the leader; for Jeduthun. A psalm of David. I vowed to watch my words, and sin not with my tongue, but to put on my mouth a muzzle, while the wicked were in my presence.

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

I was silent and dumb, speechless: but my pain was stirred up.

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

My heart grew hot within me; as I mused, the fire was kindled, till at last the words came to my tongue.

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

‘Teach me, O Lord, my end, and the sum of my days what it is. Let me know how transient 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)

See! My days you have made but a span, and my life is as nothing before you. It is but as a breath that everyone stands: (Selah)

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.

it is but in mere semblance we walk to and fro, and all our noise is for nothing. We heap up, and know not who will gather.’

7 And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope [is] in thee.

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

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

From all my transgressions deliver me; make me not the scorn of the fool.

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

I am dumb, never opening my mouth, for this is your own doing.

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

Remove your stroke from off me: by the might of your hand I am spent.

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 someone to punish their sins, you consume, like a moth, what they treasures. Everyone is only a breath. (Selah)

12 Hear my prayer, O LORD, 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].

Hear my prayer, O Lord; attend to my cry for help. Hold not your peace at my tears. For I am but a guest of yours, a stranger visiting, like all my ancestors.

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

Look away from me, let me smile again, before I die and am gone.