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 Leader, 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 a curb upon my mouth, 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, had no comfort; and my pain was held in check.

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

My heart waxed hot within me; while I was musing, the fire kindled; then spoke 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].

'LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; let me know how short-lived 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 hand-breadths; and mine age 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 man walketh as a mere semblance; surely for vanity they are in turmoil; 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, it 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 base.

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

I am dumb, I open not my mouth; because Thou hast done it.

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

Remove Thy stroke from off 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)

With rebukes dost Thou chasten man for iniquity, and like a moth Thou makest his beauty to consume away; 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 LORD, and give ear unto my cry; keep not silence 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!

Look away from me, that I may take comfort, before I go hence, and be no more.'