< Psalms 39 >
1 [For the Chief Musician. For Jeduthun. A Psalm by David.] I said, "I will watch my ways, so that I do not sin with my tongue. I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me."
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 held my peace, even from good. My sorrow was stirred.
I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.
3 My heart was hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned: I spoke with my tongue:
My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spoke I with my tongue,
4 "LORD, show me my end, what is the measure of my days. Let me know how frail I am.
LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am.
5 Look, you have made my days handbreadths. My lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely every man stands as a breath." (Selah)
Behold, you have made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before you: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. (Selah)
6 "Surely a person goes about like a shadow. Surely he heaps up vain things of wealth, and doesn't know who shall gather them.
Surely every man walks in a vain show: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heaps up riches, and knows not who shall gather them.
7 And now, LORD, what do I wait for? My hope is in you.
And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in you.
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions. Do not make me the taunt of fools.
Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish.
9 I was mute. I did not open my mouth, because you did it.
I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because you did it.
10 Remove your scourge away from me. I am overcome by the blow of your hand.
Remove your stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of your hand.
11 When you rebuke and correct man for iniquity, You consume his wealth like a moth. Surely every man is but a breath." (Selah)
When you with rebukes do correct man for iniquity, you make his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. (Selah)
12 "Hear my prayer, LORD, and give ear to my cry. Do not be silent at my tears. For I am a stranger with you, a foreigner, as all my fathers were.
Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not your peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with you, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.
13 Oh spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go away, and exist no more."
O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go behind, and be no more.