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 Leader, for Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. I said: 'I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue; I will keep a curb upon my mouth, while the wicked is before me.'

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

I was dumb with silence; I held my peace, had no comfort; and my pain was held in check.

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

My heart waxed hot within me; while I was musing, the fire kindled; then spoke I 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!

'LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; let me know how short-lived I am.

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 as hand-breadths; and mine age is as nothing before Thee; surely every man at his best estate is altogether vanity. (Selah)

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 walketh as a mere semblance; surely for vanity they are in turmoil; he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

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

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

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

Deliver me from all my transgressions; make me not the reproach of the base.

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

I am dumb, I open not my mouth; because Thou hast done it.

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

Remove Thy stroke from off me; I am consumed by the blow of Thy 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.

With rebukes dost Thou chasten man for iniquity, and like a moth Thou makest his beauty to consume away; surely every man is vanity. (Selah)

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.

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; keep not silence at my tears; for I am a stranger with Thee, a sojourner, as all my fathers were.

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

Look away from me, that I may take comfort, before I go hence, and be no more.'