Psalms 39

1 For the Chief Musician, 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 my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.

For the choirmaster. For Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. I said, “I will watch my ways so that I will not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle as long as the wicked are present.”

2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.

I was speechless and still; I remained silent, even from speaking good, and my sorrow was stirred.

3 My heart was hot within me; while I was musing the fire kindled: [then] spake I with my tongue:

My heart grew hot within me; as I mused, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue:

4 LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; let me know how frail I am.

“Show me, O LORD, my end and the measure of my days. Let me know how fleeting my life is.

5 Behold, thou hast made my days [as] handbreadths; and mine age is as nothing before thee: surely every man at his best estate is altogether vanity. (Selah)

You, indeed, have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing before You. Truly each man at his best exists as but a breath.

6 Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up [riches], and knoweth not who shall gather them.

Surely every man goes about like a phantom; surely he bustles in vain; he heaps up riches not knowing who will haul them away.

7 And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.

And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You.

8 Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish.

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

9 I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it.

I have become mute; I do not open my mouth because of what You have done.

10 Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thine hand.

Remove Your scourge from me; I am perishing by the force of Your hand.

11 When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. (Selah)

You discipline and correct a man for his iniquity, consuming like a moth what he holds dear; surely each man is but a vapor.

12 Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, a sojourner, as all my fathers were.

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. For I am a foreigner dwelling with You, a stranger like all my fathers.

13 O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.

Turn Your gaze away from me, that I may again be cheered before I depart and am no more.”