Chapter 39

To the chief Musician,¹⁸ [even] to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.
I said,¹ I will take heed⁴ to my ways, that I sin² not with my tongue: I will keep⁴ my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.

I was dumb⁸ with silence, I held my peace,⁵² [even] from good; and my sorrow was stirred.⁸

My heart was hot¹ within me, while I was musing the fire burned:⁴ [then] spake¹⁴ I with my tongue,

LORD, make me to know⁵⁴ mine end, and the measure of my days, what it [is; that] I may know⁴ how frail I [am].

Behold, thou hast made¹ my days [as] an handbreadth; and mine age [is] as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state¹² [is] altogether vanity. Selah.

Surely every man walketh¹⁰¹ in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted⁴ in vain: he heapeth up⁴ [riches], and knoweth⁴ not who shall gather⁶ them.

And now, Lord, what wait¹⁴ I for? my hope [is] in thee.

Deliver⁵⁴ me from all my transgressions: make⁴ me not the reproach of the foolish.

I was dumb,⁸ I opened⁴ not my mouth; because thou didst¹ [it].

Remove thy stroke away⁵⁴ from me: I am consumed¹ by the blow of thine hand.

When thou with rebukes dost correct¹⁴ man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty⁷ to consume away⁵⁵ like a moth: surely every man [is] vanity. Selah.

Hear³ my prayer, O LORD, and give ear⁵⁴ unto my cry; hold not thy peace⁴ at my tears: for I [am] a stranger with thee, [and] a sojourner, as all my fathers [were].

O spare⁵⁴ me, that I may recover strength,⁵⁵ before I go⁴ hence, and be no more.