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.

To the Chief Musician. For Jeduthun. A Melody of David. I said, [to myself, ] I will take heed to my ways, That I sin not with my tongue, —I will put on my mouth a muzzle, So long as the lawless is before me.

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

I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, afar from happiness, But, my pain had been stirred:

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

Hot was my heart within me, While I was musing, there was kindled a fire, I spake 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.

Let me know, O Yahweh, mine end, And the measure of my days—what it is, I would know how short-lived 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)

Lo! as hand-breadths, hast thou granted my days, and my life-time, is as nothing before thee, —Surely, a mere breath, are all men, [even] such as stand firm. (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 as a shadow, doth every man wander, Surely in vain, do they bustle about, he heapeth things up, and knoweth not who shall gather them in.

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

Now, therefore, for what have I waited, O My Lord? My hope, is, in thee.

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

From all my transgressions, rescue thou me, —The reproach of the base, oh do not make me!

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

I am dumb, I cannot open my mouth, for, thou, hast done it.

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

Remove from off me thy stroke, Because of the hostility of thy hand, am, I, consumed.

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, by rebukes for iniquity, thou hast corrected a man, Then hast thou consumed, as a moth, all that was delightful within him, Surely, a breath, are all men. (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, O Yahweh, And, unto my cry for help, give ear, At my tears, do not be silent, —For, a sojourner, am, I, with thee, A stranger, like all my fathers.

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

Look away from me that I may brighten up, Ere yet I depart and am no more.