Psalms 39

1 “A psalm of David. For the leader of the music of the Jeduthunites.” I said, I will take heed to my ways, That I may not sin with my tongue; I will keep my mouth with a bridle, While the wicked is before me.

For the end, a Song of David, to Idithun. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I set a guard on my mouth, while the sinner stood in my presence.

2 I was dumb with silence; I spake not even what was good; But my pain was increased.

I was dumb, and humbled myself, and kept silence from good [words]; and my grief was renewed.

3 My heart was hot within me; In my anguish the fire burst forth, And I spake with my tongue:

My heart grew hot within me, and a fire would kindle in my (meditation) I spoke with my tongue,

4 LORD, make me to know mine end, And the number of my days, That I may know how frail I am!

O Lord, make me to know mine end, and the number of my days, what it is; that I may know what I lack.

5 Behold, thou hast made my days as a hand-breadth, And my life is as nothing before thee; Yea, every man in his firmest state is altogether vanity. (Pause)

Behold, thou hast made my days old; and my existence [is] as nothing before thee: nay, every man living [is] altogether vanity. (Pause)

6 Surely every man walketh in a vain show; Surely he disquieteth himself in vain; He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

Surely man walks in a shadow; nay, he is disquieted in vain: he lays up treasures, and knows not for whom he shall gather them.

7 What, then, O Lord! is my hope? My hope is in thee!

And now what [is] my expectation? [is it] not the Lord? and my ground [of hope] is with thee. (Pause)

8 Deliver me from all my transgressions; Let me not be the reproach of scoffers!

Deliver me from all my transgressions: thou hast made me a reproach to the foolish.

9 Yet I am dumb; I open not my mouth; For thou hast done it!

I was dumb, and opened not my mouth; for thou art he that made me.

10 But remove from me thine infliction; For I am perishing by the blow of thine hand.

Remove thy scourges from me: I have fainted by reason of the strength of thine hand.

11 When thou with rebukes dost chasten man for iniquity, Thou causest his glory to waste away like a moth! Surely every man is vanity.

Thou chastenest man with rebukes for iniquity, and thou makest his life to consume away like a spider's web; nay, every man is disquieted in vain. (Pause)

12 Hear my prayer, O LORD! Give ear to my cry; Be not silent at my tears! For I am but a stranger with thee, A sojourner, as all my fathers were.

O Lord, hearken to my prayer and my supplication: attend to my tears: be not silent, for I am a sojourner in the land, and a stranger, as all my fathers [were].

13 O spare me, that I may recover strength, Before I go away, and be no more!

Spare me, that I may be refreshed, before I depart, and be no more.