Psalm 39

The Vanity of Life.

For the choir director, for Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

1 I said, "I will guard my ways
That I may not sin with my tongue;
I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle
While the wicked are in my presence."

2 I was mute and silent,
I trefrained even from good,
And my tsorrow grew worse.

3 My heart was hot within me,
While I was musing the fire burned;
Then I spoke with my tongue:

4 "LORD, make me to know my end
And what is the extent of my days;
Let me know how transient I am.

5 "Behold, You have made my days as handbreadths,
And my lifetime as nothing in Your sight;
Surely every man at his best is a mere breath. Selah.

6 "Surely every man walks about as ta phantom;
Surely they make an uproar for nothing;
He amasses riches and does not know who will gather them.

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

8 "Deliver me from all my transgressions;
Make me not the reproach of the foolish.

9 "I have become mute, I do not open my mouth,
Because it is You who have done it.

10 "Remove Your plague from me;
Because of the opposition of Your hand I am perishing.

11 "With reproofs You chasten a man for iniquity;
You consume as a moth what is precious to him;
Surely every man is a mere breath. Selah.

12 "Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry;
Do not be silent at my tears;
For I am a stranger with You,
A sojourner like all my fathers.

13 "Turn Your gaze away from me, that I may tsmile again
Before I depart and am no more."

Psalm 39

1 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 Jehovah, make me to know mine end, And the measure of my days, what it is; Let me know how frail I am.

5 Behold, thou hast made my days as handbreadths; And my life-time is as nothing before thee: Surely every man at his best estate is altogether vanity. Selah

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.

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 thy 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 Jehovah, and give ear unto my cry; Hold not thy peace at my tears: For I am a stranger with thee, A sojourner, as all my fathers were.

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