PSALM 39 [†] I said, “I will  w guard my ways,

that I  x may not sin with my tongue;

I will  y guard my mouth with a muzzle,

so long as the wicked are in my presence.”

2 I was  z mute and silent;

I held my peace to no avail,

and my distress grew worse.

3 My  a heart became hot within me.

As I mused, the fire burned;

then I spoke with my tongue:

4[^][†] “O LORD,  b make me know my end

and what is the measure of my days;

let me know how fleeting I am!

5 Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,

and  c my lifetime is as nothing before you.

Surely  d all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah

6 Surely a man  e goes about as a shadow!

Surely for nothing [1] they are in turmoil;

man  f heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!

7[†] “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?

 g My hope is in you.

8 Deliver me from all my transgressions.

 h Do not make me the scorn of the fool!

9  i I am mute; I do not open my mouth,

 j for it is you who have done it.

10  k Remove your stroke from me;

I am spent by the hostility of your hand.

11 When you discipline a man

with  l rebukes for sin,

you  m consume like a  n moth what is dear to him;

 o surely all mankind is a mere breath! Selah

12  p “Hear my prayer, O LORD,

and give ear to my cry;

hold not your peace at my tears!

For I am  q a sojourner with you,

 q a guest, like all my fathers.

13  r Look away from me, that I may smile again,

 s before I depart and  t am no more!”

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.