Psalms 39

1 For the Chief Musician. For Jeduthun. A Psalm by David. I said, “I will watch my ways, so that I don’t sin with my tongue. I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked 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 mute with silence. I held my peace, even from good. My sorrow was stirred.

I was dumb with silence; I held my peace, had no comfort; and my pain was held in check.

3 My heart was hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned. I spoke with my tongue:

My heart waxed hot within me; while I was musing, the fire kindled; then spoke I with my tongue:

4 “Yahweh, show me my end, what is the measure of my days. Let me know how frail 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 Behold, you have made my days hand widths. My lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely every man stands as a breath.” (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 every man walks like a shadow. Surely they busy themselves in vain. He heaps up, and doesn’t know who shall gather.

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, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you.

And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope, it is in Thee.

8 Deliver me from all my transgressions. Don’t make me the reproach of the foolish.

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

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

I am dumb, I open not my mouth; because Thou hast done it.

10 Remove your scourge away from me. I am overcome by the blow of your hand.

Remove Thy stroke from off me; I am consumed by the blow of Thy hand.

11 When you rebuke and correct man for iniquity, you consume his wealth like a moth. Surely every man is but a breath.” (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, Yahweh, 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.

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

Look away from me, that I may take comfort, before I go hence, and be no more.'