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."

For the chief musician, for Jeduthun. A psalm of David. I decided, “I will watch what I say so that I do not sin with my tongue. I will muzzle my mouth while in the presence of an evil man.”

2 I was mute with silence. I held my peace, even from good. My sorrow was stirred.

I kept silent; I kept back my words even from saying anything good, and my pain grew worse.

3 My heart was hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned: I spoke with my tongue:

My heart became hot; when I thought about these things, it burned like a fire. Then finally I spoke.

4 "YHWH, show me my end, what is the measure of my days. Let me know how frail I am.

“Yahweh, make me know when will be the end of my life and the extent of my days. Show me how transient 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)

See, you have made my days only the width of my hand, and my lifetime is like nothing before you. Surely every man is a single breath. (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 about like a shadow. Surely everyone hurries about to accumulate riches although they do not know who will receive them.

7 And now, YHWH, what do I wait for? My hope is in you.

Now, Lord, for what am I waiting? You are my only hope.

8 Deliver me from all my transgressions. Do not make me the taunt of fools.

Rescue me from my sins; do not make me the reproach of fools.

9 I was mute. I did not open my mouth, because you did it.

I am silent and cannot open my mouth, because it is you who has done it.

10 Remove your scourge away from me. I am overcome by the blow of your hand.

Stop wounding me; I am overwhelmed 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 discipline people for sin, you consume the things they desire like a moth; surely all people are nothing but vapor. (Selah)

12 "Hear my prayer, YHWH, 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, Yahweh, and listen to me; listen to my weeping! Do not be deaf to me, for I am like a foreigner with you, a refugee like all my ancestors were.

13 Oh spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go away, and exist no more."

Turn your gaze from me so that I may smile again before I die.”