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.”

To the chief music-maker. Of Jeduthun. A Psalm. Of David. I said, I will give attention to my ways, so that my tongue may do no wrong; I will keep my mouth under control, while the sinner is before me.

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

I made no sound, I said no word, even of good; and I was moved with sorrow.

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

My heart was burning in my breast; while I was deep in thought the fire was lighted; then I said 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].

Lord, give me knowledge of my end, and of the measure of my days, so that I may see how feeble 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)

You have made my days no longer than a hand's measure; and my years are nothing in your eyes; truly, every man is but a breath. (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.

Truly, every man goes on his way like an image; he is troubled for no purpose: he makes a great store of wealth, and has no knowledge of who will get it.

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

And now, Lord, what am I waiting for? my hope is in you.

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

Make me free from all my sins; do not let me be shamed by the man of evil behaviour.

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

I was quiet, and kept my mouth shut; because you had done it.

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

No longer let your hand be hard on me; I am wasted by the blows of your hand.

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

By the weight of your wrath against man's sin, the glory of his form is wasted away; truly every man is but a breath. (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.

Let my prayer come to your ears, O Lord, and give attention to my cry, make an answer to my weeping: for my time here is short before you, and in a little time I will be gone, like all my fathers.

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

Let your wrath be turned away from me, so that I may be comforted, before I go away from here, and become nothing.