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 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."

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

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

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

My heart was hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned: 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!

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

Look, you have made my days handbreadths. My lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely every man stands as a breath." (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 a person goes about like a shadow. Surely he heaps up vain things of wealth, and doesn't know who shall gather them.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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, 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.

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

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