Psalms 39

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[1]David's care not to offend with his tongue: [4]his reflections upon the shortness and vanity of human life, which lead him to hope in God: [8]he prayeth for pardon and comfort before his death.

To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.

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. Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.

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

6. Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: 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 thine 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 LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.

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

Metrical version

Psalm 39

C.M. Ballerma, St. Mary

I said, I will look to my ways,
lest with my tongue I sin:
In sight of wicked men my mouth
with bridle I'll keep in.

With silence I as dumb became,
I did myself restrain
From speaking good; but then the more
increased was my pain.

My heart within me waxed hot;
and, while I musing was,
The fire did burn; and from my tongue
these words I did let pass:

Mine end, and measure of my days,
O LORD, unto me show
What is the same; that I thereby
my frailty well may know.

Lo, thou my days an handbreadth mad'st;
mine age is in thine eye
As nothing: sure each man at best
is wholly vanity.

Sure each man walks in a vain show;
they vex themselves in vain:
He heaps up wealth, and doth not know
to whom it shall pertain.

And now, O Lord, what wait I for?
my hope is fixed on thee.
Free me from all my trespasses,
the fool's scorn make not me.

Dumb was I, op'ning not my mouth,
because this work was thine.
Thy stroke take from me; by the blow
of thine hand I do pine.

When with rebukes thou dost correct
man for iniquity,
Thou wastes his beauty like a moth:
sure each man's vanity.

Attend my cry, LORD, at my tears
and pray'rs not silent be:
I sojourn as my fathers all,
and stranger am with thee.

O spare thou me, that I my strength
recover may again,
Before from hence I do depart,
and here no more remain.