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 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 dumb [with] silence, I kept silent from good, and my pain is excited.
I was dumb with silence; I held my peace, had no comfort; and my pain was held in check.
3 Hot [is] my heart within me, In my meditating doth the fire burn, I have spoken with my tongue.
My heart waxed hot within me; while I was musing, the fire kindled; then spoke I 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].
'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 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 as hand-breadths; and mine age is as nothing before Thee; surely every man at his best estate is altogether vanity. (Selah)
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 walketh as a mere semblance; surely for vanity they are in turmoil; he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.
7 And, now, what have I expected? O Lord, my hope — it [is] of Thee.
And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope, it is in Thee.
8 From all my transgressions deliver me, A reproach of the fool make me not.
Deliver me from all my transgressions; make me not the reproach of the base.
9 I have been dumb, I open not my mouth, Because Thou — Thou hast done [it].
I am dumb, I open not my mouth; because Thou hast done it.
10 Turn aside from off me Thy stroke, From the striving of Thy hand I have been consumed.
Remove Thy stroke from off me; I am consumed by the blow of Thy hand.
11 With reproofs against iniquity, Thou hast corrected man, And dost waste as a moth his desirableness, Only, vanity [is] every man. (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, 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.
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 Look from me, and I brighten up before I go and am not!
Look away from me, that I may take comfort, before I go hence, and be no more.'
