< Psalms 39 >
1 For the end, a Song of David, to Idithun. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I set a guard on my mouth, while the sinner stood in my presence.
To the excellent musician Ieduthun. I thought, I will take heede to my wayes, that I sinne not with my tongue: I will keepe my mouth brideled, while the wicked is in my sight.
2 I was dumb, and humbled myself, and kept silence from good [words]; and my grief was renewed.
I was dumme and spake nothing: I kept silece euen from good, and my sorow was more stirred.
3 My heart grew hot within me, and a fire would kindle in my (meditation) I spoke with my tongue,
Mine heart was hote within me, and while I was musing, the fire kindeled, and I spake with my tongue, saying,
4 O Lord, make me to know mine end, and the number of my days, what it is; that I may know what I lack.
Lord, let me know mine ende, and the measure of my dayes, what it is: let mee knowe howe long I haue to liue.
5 Behold, you have made my days old; and my existence [is] as nothing before you: nay, every man living [is] altogether vanity. (Pause)
Beholde, thou hast made my dayes as an hand breadth, and mine age as nothing in respect of thee: surely euery man in his best state is altogether vanitie. (Selah)
6 Surely man walks in a shadow; nay, he is disquieted in vain: he lays up treasures, and knows not for whom he shall gather them.
Doubtlesse man walketh in a shadowe, and disquieteth himselfe in vaine: he heapeth vp riches, and cannot tell who shall gather them.
7 And now what [is] my expectation? [is it] not the Lord? and my ground [of hope] is with you. (Pause)
And now Lord, what wait I for? mine hope is euen in thee.
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions: you have made me a reproach to the foolish.
Deliuer me from all my transgressions, and make me not a rebuke vnto the foolish.
9 I was dumb, and opened not my mouth; for you are he that made me.
I should haue bene dumme, and not haue opened my mouth, because thou didest it.
10 Remove your scourges from me: I have fainted by reason of the strength of your hand.
Take thy plague away from mee: for I am consumed by the stroke of thine hand.
11 You chasten man with rebukes for iniquity, and you make his life to consume away like a spider's web; nay, every man is disquieted in vain. (Pause)
When thou with rebukes doest chastise man for iniquitie, thou as a mothe makest his beautie to consume: surely euery man is vanitie. (Selah)
12 O Lord, listen to my prayer and my supplication: attend to my tears: be not silent, for I am a sojourner in the land, and a stranger, as all my fathers [were].
Heare my prayer, O Lord, and hearken vnto my cry: keepe not silence at my teares, for I am a strager with thee, and a soiourner as all my fathers.
13 Spare me, that I may be refreshed, before I depart, and be no more.
Stay thine anger from me, that I may recouer my strength, before I go hence and be not.