Psalms, 39

1. [For the choirmaster For Jeduthun Psalm Of David] I said, 'I will watch how I behave so that I do not sin by my tongue. I will keep a muzzle on my mouth as long as any sinner is near.'

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.

2. I stayed dumb, silent, speechless, but the sinner's prosperity redoubled my torment.

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

3. My heart had been smouldering within me, but at the thought of this it flared up and the words came bursting out,

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

4. 'Yahweh, let me know my fate, how much longer I have to live. Show me just how frail I am.

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].

5. 'Look, you have given me but a hand's breadth or two of life, the length of my life is as nothing to you. Every human being that stands on earth is a mere puff of wind,

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.

6. every human being that walks only a shadow; a mere puff of wind is the wealth stored away -- no knowing who will profit from it.'

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.

7. So now, Lord, what am I to hope for? My hope is in you.

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

8. Save me from all my sins, do not make me the butt of fools.

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

9. I keep silence, I speak no more since you yourself have been at work.

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

10. Take your scourge away from me. I am worn out by the blows you deal me.

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

11. You correct human beings by punishing sin, like a moth you eat away all their desires -- a human being is a mere puff of wind.

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.

12. Yahweh, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for help, do not remain deaf to my weeping. For I am a stranger in your house, a nomad like all my ancestors.

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].

13. Turn away your gaze that I may breathe freely before I depart and am no more!

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