Psalms 39
1 “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.
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 spake not even what was good; But my pain was increased.
I was dumb, and was humbled, and kept silence from good things: and my sorrow was renewed.
3 My heart was hot within me; In my anguish the fire burst forth, And I spake with my tongue:
My heart grew hot within me: and in my meditation a fire shall flame out.
4 LORD, make me to know mine end, And the number of my days, That I may 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 a hand-breadth, And my life is as nothing before thee; Yea, every man in his firmest state is altogether vanity. (Pause)
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 he disquieteth himself 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 What, then, O Lord! is my hope? 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; Let me not be the reproach of scoffers!
Deliver thou me from all my iniquities: thou hast made me a reproach to the fool.
9 Yet I am dumb; I open not my mouth; For thou hast done it!
I was dumb, and I opened not my mouth, because thou hast done it.
10 But remove from me thine infliction; For I am perishing by the blow of thine hand.
Remove thy scourges from me. The strength of thy hand hath made me faint in rebukes:
11 When thou with rebukes dost chasten man for iniquity, Thou causest his glory to waste away like a moth! Surely every man is vanity.
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 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.
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 O spare me, that I may recover strength, Before I go away, and be no more!
O forgive me, that I may be refreshed, before I go hence, and be no more.
