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.

“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.

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

I was dumb with silence; I spake not even what was good; But my pain was increased.

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

My heart was hot within me; In my anguish the fire burst forth, And I spake with my tongue:

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

LORD, make me to know mine end, And the number of my days, That I may know how frail I am!

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 as a hand-breadth, And my life is as nothing before thee; Yea, every man in his firmest state is altogether vanity. (Pause)

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 every man walketh in a vain show; Surely he disquieteth himself in vain; He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

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

What, then, O Lord! is my hope? My hope is in thee!

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

Deliver me from all my transgressions; Let me not be the reproach of scoffers!

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

Yet I am dumb; I open not my mouth; For thou hast done it!

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

But remove from me thine infliction; For I am perishing by the blow of thine hand.

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)

When thou with rebukes dost chasten man for iniquity, Thou causest his glory to waste away like a moth! Surely every man is vanity.

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! 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.

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

O spare me, that I may recover strength, Before I go away, and be no more!