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 vowed to watch my words, and sin not with my tongue, but to put on my mouth a muzzle, while the wicked were in my presence.

2 I was dumb [with] silence, I kept silent from good, and my pain is excited.

I was silent and dumb, speechless: but my pain was stirred up.

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; as I mused, the fire was kindled, till at last the words came to 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].

‘Teach me, O Lord, my end, and the sum of my days what it is. Let me know how transient 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)

See! My days you have made but a span, and my life is as nothing before you. It is but as a breath that everyone stands: (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.

it is but in mere semblance we walk to and fro, and all our noise is for nothing. We heap up, and know not who will gather.’

7 And, now, what have I expected? O Lord, my hope — it [is] of Thee.

And now, what wait I for, Lord? My hope is in you.

8 From all my transgressions deliver me, A reproach of the fool make me not.

From all my transgressions deliver me; make me not the scorn of the fool.

9 I have been dumb, I open not my mouth, Because Thou — Thou hast done [it].

I am dumb, never opening my mouth, for this is your own doing.

10 Turn aside from off me Thy stroke, From the striving of Thy hand I have been consumed.

Remove your stroke from off me: by the might of your hand I am spent.

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 rebuke someone to punish their sins, you consume, like a moth, what they treasures. Everyone is only a breath. (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; attend to my cry for help. Hold not your peace at my tears. For I am but a guest of yours, a stranger visiting, like all my ancestors.

13 Look from me, and I brighten up before I go and am not!

Look away from me, let me smile again, before I die and am gone.