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.'
“A psalm of David. For the leader of the music of the Jeduthunites.” I said, I will take heed to my ways, That I may not sin 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 spake not even what was good; But my pain was increased.
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; In my anguish the fire burst forth, And I spake 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 number of my days, 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, thou hast made my days as a hand-breadth, And my life is as nothing before thee; Yea, every man in his firmest state 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 every man walketh in a vain show; Surely he disquieteth himself in vain; 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.
What, then, O Lord! is my hope? My hope is in thee!
8 From all my transgressions deliver me, A reproach of the fool make me not.
Deliver me from all my transgressions; Let me not be the reproach of scoffers!
9 I have been dumb, I open not my mouth, Because Thou — Thou hast done [it].
Yet I am dumb; I open not my mouth; For thou hast done it!
10 Turn aside from off me Thy stroke, From the striving of Thy hand I have been consumed.
But remove from me thine infliction; For I am perishing by the blow 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)
When thou with rebukes dost chasten man for iniquity, Thou causest his glory to waste away like a moth! Surely every man is vanity.
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! Give ear to my cry; Be not silent at my tears! For I am but 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!
O spare me, that I may recover strength, Before I go away, and be no more!
