PSALM 39

¹For the lead player, for Jeduthun. A David psalm.

    ²I thought, “Let me keep my ways from offending with my tongue.

          Let me keep a muzzle on my mouth

              as long as the wicked is before me.”

    ³I was mute—in silence.

          I kept still, deprived of good,

              and my pain was grievous.

    ⁴My heart was hot within me.

          In my thoughts a fire burned.

              I spoke with my tongue:

    ⁵Let me know, O LORD, my end

          and what is the measure of my days.

              I would know how fleeting I am.

    ⁶Look, mere hand-spans You made my days,

          and my lot is as nothing before You.

              Mere breath is each man standing.

selah

    ⁷In but shadow a man goes about.

          Mere breath he murmurs—he stores

              and knows not who will gather.

    ⁸And now, what I expect, O Master,

          my hope is in You.

    ⁹From all my sins save me.

          Make me not the scoundrel’s scorn.

    ¹⁰I was mute, my mouth did not open,

          for it is You who acted.

    ¹¹Take away from me Your scourge,

          from the blow of Your hand I perish.

    ¹²In rebuke for crime You chastise a man,

          melt like the moth his treasure.

              Mere breath all humankind.

selah

    ¹³Hear my prayer, O LORD,

          to my cry hearken,

              to my tears be not deaf.

    For I am a sojourner with You,

          a new settler like all my fathers.

    ¹⁴Look away from me, that I may catch my breath

          before I depart and am not.