Psalms 39
1 For the chief musician, for Jeduthun. A psalm of David. I decided, “I will watch what I say so that I do not sin with my tongue. I will muzzle my mouth while in the presence of an evil man.”
For the Leader, 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 a curb upon my mouth, while the wicked is before me.'
2 I kept silent; I kept back my words even from saying anything good, and my pain grew worse.
I was dumb with silence; I held my peace, had no comfort; and my pain was held in check.
3 My heart became hot; when I thought about these things, it burned like a fire. Then finally I spoke.
My heart waxed hot within me; while I was musing, the fire kindled; then spoke I with my tongue:
4 “Yahweh, make me know when will be the end of my life and the extent of my days. Show me how transient I am.
'LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; let me know how short-lived I am.
5 See, you have made my days only the width of my hand, and my lifetime is like nothing before you. Surely every man is a single breath. (Selah)
Behold, Thou hast made my days as hand-breadths; and mine age is as nothing before Thee; surely every man at his best estate is altogether vanity. (Selah)
6 Surely every man walks about like a shadow. Surely everyone hurries about to accumulate riches although they do not know who will receive them.
Surely man walketh as a mere semblance; surely for vanity they are in turmoil; he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.
7 Now, Lord, for what am I waiting? You are my only hope.
And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope, it is in Thee.
8 Rescue me from my sins; do not make me the reproach of fools.
Deliver me from all my transgressions; make me not the reproach of the base.
9 I am silent and cannot open my mouth, because it is you who has done it.
I am dumb, I open not my mouth; because Thou hast done it.
10 Stop wounding me; I am overwhelmed by the blow of your hand.
Remove Thy stroke from off me; I am consumed by the blow of Thy hand.
11 When you discipline people for sin, you consume the things they desire like a moth; surely all people are nothing but vapor. (Selah)
With rebukes dost Thou chasten man for iniquity, and like a moth Thou makest his beauty to consume away; surely every man is vanity. (Selah)
12 Hear my prayer, Yahweh, and listen to me; listen to my weeping! Do not be deaf to me, for I am like a foreigner with you, a refugee like all my ancestors were.
Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; keep not silence at my tears; for I am a stranger with Thee, a sojourner, as all my fathers were.
13 Turn your gaze from me so that I may smile again before I die.”
Look away from me, that I may take comfort, before I go hence, and be no more.'
