Psalms 39

1 For the Chief Musician, 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 my mouth with a bridle, While the wicked is before me.

Unto the end, for Idithun himself, a canticle of David. I said: I will take heed to my ways: that I sin not with my tongue. I have set guard to my mouth, when the sinner stood against me.

2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; And my sorrow was stirred.

I was dumb, and was humbled, and kept silence from good things: and my sorrow was renewed.

3 My heart was hot within me; While I was musing the fire burned; [Then] spake I with my tongue:

My heart grew hot within me: and in my meditation a fire shall flame out.

4 Jehovah, make me to know mine end, And the measure of my days, what it is; Let me know how frail I am.

I spoke with my tongue: O Lord, make me know my end. And what is the number of my days: that I may know what is wanting to me.

5 Behold, thou hast made my days [as] handbreadths; And my life-time is as nothing before thee: Surely every man at his best estate is altogether vanity. (Selah)

Behold thou hast made my days measurable: and my substance is as nothing before thee. And indeed all things are vanity: every man living.

6 Surely every man walketh in a vain show; Surely they are disquieted in vain: He heapeth up [riches], and knoweth not who shall gather them.

Surely man passeth as an image: yea, and he is disquieted in vain. He storeth up: and he knoweth not for whom he shall gather these things.

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

And now what is my hope? is it not the Lord? and my substance is with thee.

8 Deliver me from all my transgressions: Make me not the reproach of the foolish.

Deliver thou me from all my iniquities: thou hast made me a reproach to the fool.

9 I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; Because thou didst it.

I was dumb, and I opened not my mouth, because thou hast done it.

10 Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thy hand.

Remove thy scourges from me. The strength of thy hand hath made me faint in rebukes:

11 When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, Thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: Surely every man is vanity. (Selah)

Thou hast corrected man for iniquity. And thou hast made his soul to waste away like a spider: surely in vain is any man disquieted.

12 Hear my prayer, O Jehovah, and give ear unto my cry; Hold not thy peace at my tears: For I am a stranger with thee, A sojourner, as all my fathers were.

Hear my prayer, O Lord, and my supplication: give ear to my tears. Be not silent: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner as all my fathers were.

13 Oh spare me, that I may recover strength, Before I go hence, and be no more.

O forgive me, that I may be refreshed, before I go hence, and be no more.