Psalms 39

1 For the end, a Song of David, to Idithun. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I set a guard on my mouth, while the sinner stood in my presence.

For the leader; for Jeduthun. A psalm of David. I vowed to watch my words, and sin not with my tongue, but to put on my mouth a muzzle, while the wicked were in my presence.

2 I was dumb, and humbled myself, and kept silence from good [words]; and my grief was renewed.

I was silent and dumb, speechless: but my pain was stirred up.

3 My heart grew hot within me, and a fire would kindle in my (meditation) I spoke with my tongue,

My heart grew hot within me; as I mused, the fire was kindled, till at last the words came to my tongue.

4 O Lord, make me to know mine end, and the number of my days, what it is; that I may know what I lack.

‘Teach me, O Lord, my end, and the sum of my days what it is. Let me know how transient I am.

5 Behold, you have made my days old; and my existence [is] as nothing before you: nay, every man living [is] altogether vanity. (Pause)

See! My days you have made but a span, and my life is as nothing before you. It is but as a breath that everyone stands: (Selah)

6 Surely man walks in a shadow; nay, he is disquieted in vain: he lays up treasures, and knows not for whom he shall gather them.

it is but in mere semblance we walk to and fro, and all our noise is for nothing. We heap up, and know not who will gather.’

7 And now what [is] my expectation? [is it] not the Lord? and my ground [of hope] is with you. (Pause)

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

8 Deliver me from all my transgressions: you have made me a reproach to the foolish.

From all my transgressions deliver me; make me not the scorn of the fool.

9 I was dumb, and opened not my mouth; for you are he that made me.

I am dumb, never opening my mouth, for this is your own doing.

10 Remove your scourges from me: I have fainted by reason of the strength of your hand.

Remove your stroke from off me: by the might of your hand I am spent.

11 You chasten man with rebukes for iniquity, and you make his life to consume away like a spider's web; nay, every man is disquieted in vain. (Pause)

When you rebuke someone to punish their sins, you consume, like a moth, what they treasures. Everyone is only a breath. (Selah)

12 O Lord, listen to my prayer and my supplication: attend to my tears: be not silent, for I am a sojourner in the land, and a stranger, as all my fathers [were].

Hear my prayer, O Lord; attend to my cry for help. Hold not your peace at my tears. For I am but a guest of yours, a stranger visiting, like all my ancestors.

13 Spare me, that I may be refreshed, before I depart, and be no more.

Look away from me, let me smile again, before I die and am gone.