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.

1.

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

2. I said, "I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will muzzle my mouth in front of the wicked."

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

3. So I did. But as I kept silent, their happiness made my anguish grow.

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].

4. My heart began to burn within, and finally, I blurted out:

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.

5. "Lord, let me know when my end will come, let me know the number of my days; show me how frail and fleeting is my life."

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.

6. You allow me to live but a short span; before you, all my years are nothing. Human existence is a mere whiff of breath.

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

7. Humans are mere shadows that go about relentlessly. Being but a breath they toil and rake in wealth, not knowing who will take it next.

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

8. But now, O Lord, what do I await? All my hope rests in you.

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

9. Rescue me from all my sins and let me not be derided by fools.

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

10. I shall keep silent and not open my mouth, since this is your work.

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.

11. Only remove from me your scourge; for I am done in with your blows.

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].

12. When you want to correct the mortals and punish their sin, you eat like moth what they hold dear. Mortals are a mere puff of wind!

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

13. Hear, O Lord, my supplication, listen to my cry for protection; do not be deaf to my lamentation. For I dwell with you as an alien - a pilgrim, as all my ancestors have been.

14.

14. Turn from me awhile, that I may find relief, before I depart and be no more."