Psalms 39

1 To the chief Musician, [even] to 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.

I said, “I will watch my ways, so that I don’t sin ·err (the standard goal)· 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, [even] from good; and my sorrow was stirred.

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

3 My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: [then] I spoke 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 my end, and the measure of my days, what it [is]; [that] I may know how frail I [am].

“Adonai, 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 age [is] as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state [is] altogether vanity. (Selah)

Behold, you have made my days hand widths. My lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely every man stands as a breath.” (Selah) ·contemplation with musical interlude·.

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

“Surely every man walks like a shadow. Surely they busy themselves in vain. He heaps up, and does not know who shall gather.

7 And now, LORD, what wait I for? my hope [is] in thee.

Now, Lord, what do I wait for? 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 rebellious breaches of relationships. Don’t make me the reproach of the foolish.

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

I was mute. I didn’t open my mouth, because you did it.

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

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

When you rebuke and correct man for depravity (moral evil), You consume his wealth like a moth. Surely every man is but a breath.” (Selah) ·contemplation with musical interlude·.

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

“Sh'ma ·Hear obey· my prayer, Adonai, and give ear to my cry. Don’t 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 hence, and be no more.

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