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.

“To the chief musician, to Jeduthun, a psalm of David.” I said, I will guard my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, while the wicked is before me.

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

I was dumb in deep silence, I was quite still, even from [speaking] good; but my pain was greatly excited;

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

My heart was hot within me, in my self-communing there burnt a fire: [then] spoke I 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.

Let me know, O Lord, my end, and the measure of my days, what it is: I wish to know when I shall cease to be.

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)

Behold, measured out with the span hast thou made my days; and my whole duration is nothing before thee: yea, as nothing but vanity doth every man stand here. (Selah)

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.

As nothing but a shadowy image doth man walk about, yea, for vanity only do all make a noise: he heapeth up his gains, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

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

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

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

From all my transgressions deliver thou me: render me not the object of reproach of the worthless.

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

I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou hadst done it.

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

Remove thou thy plague away from me: from the blows of thy hand am I consumed.

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)

When thou with corrections chastisest man for iniquity, thou causest his excellence to melt away as [if eaten by] the moth: yea, nothing but vanity is every man. (Selah)

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 unto my cry; be not silent at my tears; for a stranger am I with thee, a sojourner, like all my fathers.

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

Leave off from me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and am no more.