The Book of Psalms

⭑ Geneva Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 39 -

I will take heed to my ways

To the excellent musician Ieduthun. I thought, I will take heede to my wayes, that I sinne not with my tongue: I will keepe my mouth brideled, while the wicked is in my sight.

I was dumme and spake nothing: I kept silece euen from good, and my sorow was more stirred.

Mine heart was hote within me, and while I was musing, the fire kindeled, and I spake with my tongue, saying,

Lord, let me know mine ende, and the measure of my dayes, what it is: let mee knowe howe long I haue to liue.

Beholde, thou hast made my dayes as an hand breadth, and mine age as nothing in respect of thee: surely euery man in his best state is altogether vanitie. Selah.

Doubtlesse man walketh in a shadowe, and disquieteth himselfe in vaine: he heapeth vp riches, and cannot tell who shall gather them.

And now Lord, what wait I for? mine hope is euen in thee.

Deliuer me from all my transgressions, and make me not a rebuke vnto the foolish.

I should haue bene dumme, and not haue opened my mouth, because thou didest it.

Take thy plague away from mee: for I am consumed by the stroke of thine hand.

When thou with rebukes doest chastise man for iniquitie, thou as a mothe makest his beautie to consume: surely euery man is vanitie. Selah.

Heare my prayer, O Lord, and hearken vnto my cry: keepe not silence at my teares, for I am a strager with thee, and a soiourner as all my fathers.

Stay thine anger from me, that I may recouer my strength, before I go hence and be not.

I will take heed to my ways

I said, “I will watch my ways, so that I don’t sin with my tongue. I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me.”

I was mute with silence. I held my peace, even from good. My sorrow was stirred.

My heart was hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned. I spoke with my tongue:

“LORD, show me my end, what is the measure of my days. Let me know how frail I am.

Behold, you have made my days hand widths. My lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely every man stands as a breath.” Selah.

“Surely every man walks like a shadow. Surely they busy themselves in vain. He heaps up, and doesn’t know who shall gather.

Now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you.

Deliver me from all my transgressions. Don’t make me the reproach of the foolish.

I was mute. I didn’t open my mouth, because you did it.

Remove your scourge away from me. I am overcome by the blow of your hand.

When you rebuke and correct man for iniquity, you consume his wealth like a moth. Surely every man is but a breath.” Selah.

“Hear my prayer, LORD, and give ear to my cry. Don’t be silent at my tears. For I am a stranger with you, a foreigner, as all my fathers were.

Oh spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go away and exist no more.”