Psalms 39
1 To the Overseer, to Jeduthun. — A Psalm of David. I have said, 'I observe my ways, Against sinning with my tongue, I keep for my mouth a curb, while the wicked [is] before me.'
For the end, a Song of David, to Idithun. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I set a guard on my mouth, while the sinner stood in my presence.
2 I was dumb [with] silence, I kept silent from good, and my pain is excited.
I was dumb, and humbled myself, and kept silence from good [words]; and my grief was renewed.
3 Hot [is] my heart within me, In my meditating doth the fire burn, I have spoken with my tongue.
My heart grew hot within me, and a fire would kindle in my (meditation) I spoke with my tongue,
4 'Cause me to know, O Jehovah, mine end, And the measure of my days — what it [is],' I know how frail I [am].
O Lord, make me to know mine end, and the number of my days, what it is; that I may know what I lack.
5 Lo, handbreadths Thou hast made my days, And mine age [is] as nothing before Thee, Only, all vanity [is] every man set up. (Selah)
Behold, thou hast made my days old; and my existence [is] as nothing before thee: nay, every man living [is] altogether vanity. (Pause)
6 Only, in an image doth each walk habitually, Only, [in] vain, they are disquieted, He heapeth up and knoweth not who gathereth them.
Surely man walks in a shadow; nay, he is disquieted in vain: he lays up treasures, and knows not for whom he shall gather them.
7 And, now, what have I expected? O Lord, my hope — it [is] of Thee.
And now what [is] my expectation? [is it] not the Lord? and my ground [of hope] is with thee. (Pause)
8 From all my transgressions deliver me, A reproach of the fool make me not.
Deliver me from all my transgressions: thou hast made me a reproach to the foolish.
9 I have been dumb, I open not my mouth, Because Thou — Thou hast done [it].
I was dumb, and opened not my mouth; for thou art he that made me.
10 Turn aside from off me Thy stroke, From the striving of Thy hand I have been consumed.
Remove thy scourges from me: I have fainted by reason of the strength of thine hand.
11 With reproofs against iniquity, Thou hast corrected man, And dost waste as a moth his desirableness, Only, vanity [is] every man. (Selah)
Thou chastenest man with rebukes for iniquity, and thou makest his life to consume away like a spider's web; nay, every man is disquieted in vain. (Pause)
12 Hear my prayer, O Jehovah, And [to] my cry give ear, Unto my tear be not silent, For a sojourner I [am] with Thee, A settler like all my fathers.
O Lord, hearken to my prayer and my supplication: attend to my tears: be not silent, for I am a sojourner in the land, and a stranger, as all my fathers [were].
13 Look from me, and I brighten up before I go and am not!
Spare me, that I may be refreshed, before I depart, and be no more.
