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.

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.

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, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.

3 Hot was my heart within me, While I was musing, there was kindled a fire, I spake with my tongue!

My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake 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.

Yhwh, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail 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 an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state 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 every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: 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 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 foolish.

9 I am dumb, I cannot open my mouth, for, thou, hast done it.

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

10 Remove from off me thy stroke, Because of the hostility of thy hand, am, I, consumed.

Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thine 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)

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)

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 Yhwh, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and 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.

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