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 Chief Musician. For Jeduthun. A Psalm by David. I said, “I will watch my ways, so that I don’t 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 mute with silence. I held my peace, even from good. 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 meditated, the fire burned. 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].
“LORD, show me my end, what is the measure of my days. Let me 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 hand widths. My lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely every man stands as a breath.” (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 like a shadow. Surely they busy themselves in vain. He heaps up, and doesn’t know who shall gather.
7 And, now, what have I expected? O Lord, my hope — it [is] of Thee.
Now, Lord, what do I wait 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. Don’t make me the reproach of the foolish.
9 I have been dumb, I open not my mouth, Because Thou — Thou hast done [it].
I was mute. I didn’t open 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 scourge away from me. I am overcome 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 rebuke and correct man for iniquity, you consume his wealth like a moth. Surely every man is but 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, LORD, and give ear to my cry. Don’t be silent at my tears. For I am a stranger with you, a foreigner, as all my fathers were.
13 Look from me, and I brighten up before I go and am not!
Oh spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go away and exist no more.”
