Psalms 39

1 To the excellent musician Ieduthun. I thought, I will take heede to my wayes, that I sinne not with my tongue: I will keepe my mouth brideled, while the wicked is in my sight.

For the Chief Musician. For Jeduthun. A Psalm by David. I said, “I will watch my ways, so that I do not sin with my tongue. I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me.”

2 I was dumme and spake nothing: I kept silece euen from good, and my sorow was more stirred.

I was mute with silence. I held my peace, even from good. My sorrow was stirred.

3 Mine heart was hote within me, and while I was musing, the fire kindeled, and I spake with my tongue, saying,

My heart was hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned. I spoke with my tongue:

4 Lord, let me know mine ende, and the measure of my dayes, what it is: let mee knowe howe long I haue to liue.

“LORD, show me my end, what is the measure of my days. Let me know how frail I am.

5 Beholde, thou hast made my dayes as an hand breadth, and mine age as nothing in respect of thee: surely euery man in his best state is altogether vanitie. (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 Doubtlesse man walketh in a shadowe, and disquieteth himselfe in vaine: he heapeth vp riches, and cannot tell who shall gather them.

“Surely every man walks like a shadow. Surely they busy themselves in vain. He heaps up, and does not know who shall gather.

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

Now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you.

8 Deliuer me from all my transgressions, and make me not a rebuke vnto the foolish.

Deliver me from all my transgressions. Do not make me the reproach of the foolish.

9 I should haue bene dumme, and not haue opened my mouth, because thou didest it.

I was mute. I did not open my mouth, because you did it.

10 Take thy plague away from mee: for I am consumed by the stroke of thine hand.

Remove your scourge away from me. I am overcome by the blow of your hand.

11 When thou with rebukes doest chastise man for iniquitie, thou as a mothe makest his beautie to consume: surely euery man is vanitie. (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 Heare my prayer, O Lord, and hearken vnto my cry: keepe not silence at my teares, for I am a strager with thee, and a soiourner as all my fathers.

“Hear my prayer, LORD, and give ear to my cry. Do not be silent at my tears. For I am a stranger with you, a foreigner, as all my fathers were.

13 Stay thine anger from me, that I may recouer my strength, before I go hence and be not.

Oh spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go away and exist no more.”