Psalms 39

1 “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.

For the Chief Musician. For Jeduthun. A Psalm by David. I said, “I will watch my ways, so that I do not sin with my tongue. I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me.”

2 I was dumb in deep silence, I was quite still, even from [speaking] good; but my pain was greatly excited;

I was mute with silence. I held my peace, even from good. My sorrow was stirred.

3 My heart was hot within me, in my self-communing there burnt a fire: [then] spoke I with my tongue,

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

4 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.

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

5 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)

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

6 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.

“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, what shall I wait for, O Lord? my hope is in thee.

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

8 From all my transgressions deliver thou me: render me not the object of reproach of the worthless.

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

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

I was mute. I did not open my mouth, because you did it.

10 Remove thou thy plague away from me: from the blows of thy hand am I consumed.

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

11 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)

When you rebuke and correct man for iniquity, you consume his wealth like a moth. Surely every man is but a breath.” (Selah)

12 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.

“Hear my prayer, LORD, and give ear to my cry. Do not be silent at my tears. For I am a stranger with you, a foreigner, as all my fathers were.

13 Leave off from me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and am no more.

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