Psalm 39:1-13
To the Chief Musician. For Jeduthun. A Melody of David.
39 I said [to myself] I will take heed to my ways That I sin not with my tongue,—I will put on my mouth a muzzle, So long as the lawless is before me.
2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace afar from happiness, But my pain had been stirred:
3 Hot was my heart within me While I was musing there was kindled a fire, I spake with my tongue!
4 Let me know, O Yahweh, mine end And the measure of my days—what it is, I would know how short-lived I am.
5 Lo! as hand-breadths hast thou granted my days, And my life-time is as nothing before thee,—Surely a mere breath are all men, [even] such as stand firm. [Selah.
6 Surely as a shadow doth every man wander, Surely in vain do they bustle about, He heapeth things up, and knoweth not who shall gather them in.
7 Now therefore for what have I waited, O My Lord? My hope is in thee.
8 From all my transgressions rescue thou me,—The reproach of the base oh do not make me!
9 I am dumb, I cannot open my mouth, For thou hast done it.
10 Remove from off me thy stroke, Because of the hostility of thy hand am I consumed.
11 When by rebukes for iniquity thou hast corrected a man Then hast thou consumed as a moth all that was delightful within him, Surely a breath are all men. [Selah.
12 Hear my prayer, O Yahweh, And unto my cry for help give ear, At my tears do not be silent,—For a sojourner am I with thee, A stranger like all my fathers.
13 Look away from me that I may brighten up, Ere yet I depart and am no more.