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 vowed to watch my words, and sin not with my tongue, but to put on my mouth a muzzle, while the wicked were in my presence.

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

I was silent and dumb, speechless: but my pain was stirred up.

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

My heart grew hot within me; as I mused, the fire was kindled, till at last the words came to 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].

“Teach me, O Lord, my end, and the sum of my days what it is. Let me know how transient 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)

See! My days you have made but a span, and my life is as nothing before you. It is but as a breath that everyone stands: (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.

it is but in mere semblance we walk to and fro, and all our noise is for nothing. We heap up, and know not who will gather.”

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

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

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

From all my transgressions deliver me; make me not the scorn of the fool.

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

I am dumb, never opening my mouth, for this is your own doing.

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

Remove your stroke from off me: by the might of your hand I am spent.

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

When you rebuke someone to punish their sins, you consume, like a moth, what they treasures. Everyone is only 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.

Hear my prayer, O Lord; attend to my cry for help. Hold not your peace at my tears. For I am but a guest of yours, a stranger visiting, like all my ancestors.

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

Look away from me, let me smile again, before I die and am gone.