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.

“A psalm of David. For the leader of the music of the Jeduthunites.” I said, I will take heed to my ways, That I may 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 dumb with silence; I spake not even what was good; But my pain was increased.

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; In my anguish the fire burst forth, And I spake 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, make me to know mine end, And the number of my days, That I may 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, thou hast made my days as a hand-breadth, And my life is as nothing before thee; Yea, every man in his firmest state is altogether vanity. (Pause)

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 walketh in a vain show; Surely he disquieteth himself in vain; He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

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

What, then, O Lord! is my hope? My hope is in thee!

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

Deliver me from all my transgressions; Let me not be the reproach of scoffers!

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

Yet I am dumb; I open not my mouth; For thou hast done it!

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

But remove from me thine infliction; For I am perishing by the blow of thine 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 thou with rebukes dost chasten man for iniquity, Thou causest his glory to waste away like a moth! Surely every man is vanity.

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, O LORD! Give ear to my cry; Be not silent at my tears! For I am but a stranger with thee, A sojourner, as all my fathers were.

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

O spare me, that I may recover strength, Before I go away, and be no more!