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.'
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.
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, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.
3 Hot [is] my heart within me, In my meditating doth the fire burn, I have spoken with my tongue.
My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: 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 my end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail 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, you have made my days as an handbreadth; and my age is as nothing before you: truly every man at his best state 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 every man walks in a vain show: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heaps up riches, and knows 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 is in you.
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 foolish.
9 I have been dumb, I open not my mouth, Because Thou — Thou hast done [it].
I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because you did it.
10 Turn aside from off me Thy stroke, From the striving of Thy hand I have been consumed.
Remove your stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of your hand.
11 With reproofs against iniquity, Thou hast corrected man, And dost waste as a moth his desirableness, Only, vanity [is] every man. (Selah)
When you with rebukes do correct man for iniquity, you make his beauty to consume away like a moth: 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 to my cry; hold not your peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with you, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.
13 Look from me, and I brighten up before I go and am not!
O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.
