Psalms 39

1 TO THE OVERSEER. FOR JEDUTHUN. A PSALM OF DAVID. I have said, “I observe my ways, Against sinning with my tongue, I keep a curb for my mouth, While the wicked [is] before me.”

For the Chief Musician, for 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.

2 I was mute [with] silence, I kept silent from good, and my pain is excited.

I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; And my sorrow was stirred.

3 My heart [is] hot within me, In my meditating the fire burns, I have spoken with my tongue.

My heart was hot within me; While I was musing the fire burned; [Then] spake I with my tongue:

4 “Cause me to know, O YHWH, my end, And the measure of my days—what it [is],” I know how frail I [am].

Jehovah, make me to know mine end, And the measure of my days, what it is; Let me know how frail I am.

5 Behold, You have made my days handbreadths, And my age [is] as nothing before You, Only, every man set up [is] all vanity. (Selah)

Behold, thou hast made my days [as] handbreadths; And my life-time is as nothing before thee: Surely every man at his best estate is altogether vanity. (Selah)

6 Only, each habitually walks in an image, Only, [in] vain, they are disquieted, He heaps up and does not know who gathers them.

Surely every man walketh in a vain show; Surely they are disquieted in vain: He heapeth up [riches], and knoweth not who shall gather them.

7 And now, what have I expected? O Lord, my hope—it [is] of You.

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

8 Deliver me from all my transgressions, Do not make me a reproach of the fool.

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

9 I have been mute, I do not open my mouth, Because You have done [it].

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

10 Turn aside Your stroke from off me, From the striving of Your hand I have been consumed.

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

11 With reproofs against iniquity, You have corrected man, And dissolve his desirableness as a moth, Only, every man [is] vanity. (Selah)

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)

12 Hear my prayer, O YHWH, And give ear [to] my cry, Do not be silent to my tear, For I [am] a sojourner with You, A settler like all my fathers.

Hear my prayer, O Jehovah, and give ear unto my cry; Hold not thy peace at my tears: For I am a stranger with thee, A sojourner, as all my fathers were.

13 Look from me, and I brighten up before I go and am not!

Oh spare me, that I may recover strength, Before I go hence, and be no more.