Psalms 39

1 For the choirmaster. For Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. I said, “I will watch my ways so that I will not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle as long as the wicked are present.”

2 I was speechless and still; I remained silent, even from speaking good, and my sorrow was stirred.

3 My heart grew hot within me; as I mused, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue:

4 “Show me, O LORD, my end and the measure of my days. Let me know how fleeting my life is.

5 You, indeed, have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing before You. Truly each man at his best exists as but a breath. Selah

6 Surely every man goes about like a phantom; surely he bustles in vain; he heaps up riches not knowing who will haul them away.

7 And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You.

8 Deliver me from all my transgressions; do not make me the reproach of fools.

9 I have become mute; I do not open my mouth because of what You have done.

10 Remove Your scourge from me; I am perishing by the force of Your hand.

11 You discipline and correct a man for his iniquity, consuming like a moth what he holds dear; surely each man is but a vapor. Selah

12 Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. For I am a foreigner dwelling with You, a stranger like all my fathers.

13 Turn Your gaze away from me, that I may again be cheered before I depart and am no more.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1 A psalm of David, to be sung for Jeduthun.

2 I have purposed myself, I will take heed lest I sin with my tongue. I will bridle my mouth, because I see the wicked before me.

3 I am dumb and silent, and keep silence of joys, and eat my sorrows within me.

4 My heart is kindled in my flesh, and when I remember it, I am kindled; I speak with my tongue.

5 But teach me, O Lord, that there must be an end to me, and that my life must have an end, and that I must depart from it.

6 Behold, my days are a handbreadth unto thee, and my life is as nothing before thee. How nothing are all men, who yet live so securely! Sela.

7 They go therefore as a shadow, and make them much vain trouble; they gather, and know not who shall get it.

8 Now, O Lord, what shall I comfort myself with? I hope in thee.

9 Cleanse me from all my sin, and let me not be a mockery to fools.

10 I will hold my peace, and will not open my mouth: thou shalt do it well.

11 Turn away thy plague from me: for I am faint at the punishment of thine hand.

12 If thou chasten a man for sin, his beauty shall be devoured as by moths. Alas, how nothing are all men! Sela.

13 Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry, and be not silent over my tears: for I am both thy pilgrim and thy citizen, as are all my fathers.

14 Depart from me, that I may rest before I go, and be no more here.