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.

Unto the end. For Jeduthun himself. A Canticle of David. I said, “I will keep to my ways, so that I will not offend with my tongue.” I posted a guard at my mouth, when a sinner took up a position against me.

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

I was silenced and humbled, and I was quiet before good things, and my sorrow was renewed.

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

My heart grew hot within me, and, during my (meditation) a fire would flare up.

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

I spoke with my tongue, “O Lord, make me know my end, and what the number of my days will be, so that I may know what is lacking to me.”

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

Behold, you have made my days measurable, and, before you, my substance is as nothing. Yet truly, all things are vanity: every living man.

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

So then, truly man passes by like an image; even so, he is disquieted in vain. He stores up, and he knows not for whom he will gather these things.

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

And now, what is it that awaits me? Is it not the Lord? And my substance is with you.

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

Rescue me from all my iniquities. You have handed me over as a reproach to the foolish.

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

I was silenced, and I did not open my mouth, because it was you who acted.

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

Remove your scourges from me.

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)

I fall short at corrections from the strength of your hand. For you have chastised man for iniquity. And you have made his soul shrink away like a spider. Nevertheless, it is in vain that any man be disquieted.

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

O Lord, heed my prayer and my supplication. Pay attention to my tears. Do not be silent. For I am a newcomer with you, and a sojourner, just as all my fathers were.

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

Forgive me, so that I may be refreshed, before I will go forth and be no more.