< Psalms 39 >

1 To the Chief Musician. For Jeduthun. A Melody of David. I said, [to myself, ] I will take heed to my ways, That I sin not with my tongue, —I will put on my mouth a muzzle, So long as the lawless 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 held my peace, afar from happiness, But, my pain had been stirred:
I was dumb with silence; I held my peace, had no comfort; and my pain was held in check.
3 Hot was my heart within me, While I was musing, there was kindled a fire, 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 Let me know, O Yahweh, mine end, And the measure of my days—what it is, I would know how short-lived 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 Lo! as hand-breadths, hast thou granted my days, and my life-time, is as nothing before thee, —Surely, a mere breath, are all men, [even] such as stand firm. (Selah)
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 as a shadow, doth every man wander, Surely in vain, do they bustle about, he heapeth things up, and knoweth not who shall gather them in.
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 Now, therefore, for what have I waited, O My Lord? My hope, is, in thee.
And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope, it is in Thee.
8 From all my transgressions, rescue thou me, —The reproach of the base, oh do not make me!
Deliver me from all my transgressions; make me not the reproach of the base.
9 I am dumb, I cannot open my mouth, for, thou, hast done it.
I am dumb, I open not my mouth; because Thou hast done it.
10 Remove from off me thy stroke, Because of the hostility of thy hand, am, I, consumed.
Remove Thy stroke from off me; I am consumed by the blow of Thy hand.
11 When, by rebukes for iniquity, thou hast corrected a man, Then hast thou consumed, as a moth, all that was delightful within him, Surely, a breath, are all men. (Selah)
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 Yahweh, And, unto my cry for help, give ear, At my tears, do not be silent, —For, a sojourner, am, I, with thee, A stranger, like all my fathers.
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 Look away from me that I may brighten up, Ere yet I depart and am no more.
Look away from me, that I may take comfort, before I go hence, and be no more.'

< Psalms 39 >