Psalms 39

1 To the chief Musician, [even] to 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.

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.”

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

I kept silent; I kept back my words even from saying anything good, and my pain grew worse.

3 My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: [ then] spake I with my tongue,

My heart became hot; when I thought about these things, it burned like a fire. Then finally I spoke.

4 LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it [is; that] I may know how frail I [am].

“Yahweh, make me know when will be the end of my life and the extent of my days. Show me how transient I am.

5 Behold, thou hast made my days [as] an handbreadth; and mine age [is] as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state [is] altogether vanity. (Selah)

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)

6 Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up [riches], and knoweth not who shall gather them.

Surely every man walks about like a shadow. Surely everyone hurries about to accumulate riches although they do not know who will receive them.

7 And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope [is] in thee.

Now, Lord, for what am I waiting? You are my only hope.

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

Rescue me from my sins; do not make me the reproach of fools.

9 I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst [it].

I am silent and cannot open my mouth, because it is you who has done it.

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

Stop wounding me; I am overwhelmed by the blow of your 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 you discipline people for sin, you consume the things they desire like a moth; surely all people are nothing but vapor. (Selah)

12 Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I [am] a stranger with thee, [and] a sojourner, as all my fathers [were].

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.

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

Turn your gaze from me so that I may smile again before I die.”