Psalm 39

¹ I SAID, I will take heed to my ways * that I offend not in my tongue.

² I will keep my mouth as it were with a bridle * while the ungodly is in my sight.

³ I held my tongue, and spake nothing * I kept silence, yea, even from good words; but it was pain and grief to me.

⁴ My heart was hot within me, and while I was thus musing the fire kindled * and at the last I spake with my tongue;

⁵ Lord, let me know mine end, and the number of my days * that I may be certified how long I have to live.

⁶ Behold, thou hast made my days as it were a span long * and mine age is even as nothing in respect of thee; and verily every man living is altogether vanity.

⁷ For man walketh in a vain shadow, and disquieteth himself in vain * he heapeth up riches, and cannot tell who shall gather them.

⁸ And now, Lord, what is my hope * truly my hope is even in thee.

⁹ Deliver me from all mine offences * and make me not a rebuke unto the foolish.

¹⁰ I became dumb, and opened not my mouth * for it was thy doing.

¹¹ Take thy plague away from me * I am even consumed by the means of thy heavy hand.

¹² When thou with rebukes dost chasten man for sin, thou makest his beauty to consume away, like as it were a moth fretting a garment * every man therefore is but vanity.

¹³ Hear my prayer, O Lord, and with thine ears consider my calling * hold not thy peace at my tears.

¹⁴ For I am a stranger with thee * and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.

¹⁵ O spare me a little, that I may recover my strength * before I go hence, and be no more seen.