Psalms 39

1 I said, “I will watch my ways, so that I don’t sin with my tongue. I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me.”

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

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

3 My heart was hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned: 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 “Adonai, show me my end, what is the measure of my days. Let me know how frail I am.

“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 hand widths. My lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely every man stands as a breath.” (Selah) ·contemplation with musical interlude·.

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

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

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

8 Deliver me from all my transgressions. Don’t make me the reproach of the foolish.

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

9 I was mute. I didn’t open my mouth, because you did it.

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

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

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

11 When you rebuke and correct man for iniquity, You consume his wealth like a moth. Surely every man is but a breath.” (Selah) ·contemplation with musical interlude·.

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

12 “Sh'ma ·Hear obey· my prayer, Adonai, and give ear to my cry. Don’t be silent at my tears. For I am a stranger with you, a foreigner, 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 Oh spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go away, and exist no more.”

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