Psalms 39
1 For victorie, to Iditum, the song of Dauid. I seide, Y schal kepe my weies; that Y trespasse not in my tunge. I settide kepyng to my mouth; whanne a synnere stood ayens me.
For the choirmaster. For Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. I said, “I will watch my ways so that I will not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle as long as the wicked are present.”
2 I was doumb, and was mekid ful gretli, and was stille fro goodis; and my sorewe was renulid.
I was speechless and still; I remained silent, even from speaking good, and my sorrow was stirred.
3 Myn herte was hoot with ynne me; and fier schal brenne out in my thenkyng.
My heart grew hot within me; as I mused, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue:
4 I spak in my tunge; Lord, make thou myn eende knowun to me. And the noumbre of my daies what it is; that Y wite, what failith to me.
“Show me, O LORD, my end and the measure of my days. Let me know how fleeting my life is.
5 Lo! thou hast set my daies mesurable; and my substaunce is as nouyt bifor thee. Netheles al vanytee; ech man lyuynge.
You, indeed, have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing before You. Truly each man at his best exists as but a breath.
6 Netheles a man passith in ymage; but also he is disturblid veynli. He tresorith; and he noot, to whom he `schal gadere tho thingis.
Surely every man goes about like a phantom; surely he bustles in vain; he heaps up riches not knowing who will haul them away.
7 And now which is myn abiding? whether not the Lord? and my substaunce is at thee.
And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You.
8 Delyuere thou me fro alle my wickidnessis; thou hast youe me schenschip to the vnkunnynge.
Deliver me from all my transgressions; do not make me the reproach of fools.
9 I was doumbe, and openyde not my mouth; for thou hast maad,
I have become mute; I do not open my mouth because of what You have done.
10 remoue thou thi woundis fro me.
Remove Your scourge from me; I am perishing by the force of Your hand.
11 Fro the strengthe of thin hond Y failide in blamyngis; for wickidnesse thou hast chastisid man. And thou madist his lijf to faile as an yreyne; netheles ech man is disturblid in veyn.
You discipline and correct a man for his iniquity, consuming like a moth what he holds dear; surely each man is but a vapor.
12 Lord, here thou my preier and my bisechyng; perseyue thou with eeris my teeris.
Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. For I am a foreigner dwelling with You, a stranger like all my fathers.
13 Be thou not stille, for Y am a comelyng at thee; and a pilgrime, as alle my fadris. Foryyue thou to me, that Y be refreischid, bifor that Y go; and Y schal no more be.
Turn Your gaze away from me, that I may again be cheered before I depart and am no more.”
