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 by David. I said, “I will watch my ways, so that I don’t sin 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 mute with silence. I held my peace, even from good. 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 meditated, the fire burned. I spoke 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, show me my end, what is the measure of my days. 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, you have made my days hand widths. My lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely every man stands as 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.

“Surely every man walks like a shadow. Surely they busy themselves in vain. He heaps up, and doesn’t know who shall gather.

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

Now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you.

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

Deliver me from all my transgressions. Don’t make me the reproach of the foolish.

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

I was mute. I didn’t open my mouth, because you did it.

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

Remove your scourge away from me. I am overcome by the blow 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)

When you rebuke and correct man for iniquity, you consume his wealth like a moth. Surely 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.

“Hear my prayer, LORD, and give ear to my cry. Don’t be silent at my tears. For I am a stranger with you, a foreigner, 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 away and exist no more.”