Psalm 39 - Julia E. Smith Translation 1876

¹ To the overseer, to Jeduthun: chanting of David. I said, I will watch my way from sinning with my tongue: I will watch for my mouth with a muzzle while yet the unjust one is before me.

² I was dumb with silence, I was silent from good, and my pain was moved.

³ My heart was hot in the midst of me; in my heat the fire will burn: I spake with my tongue.

⁴ O Jehovah, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; I shall know how I fail.

⁵ Behold, thou gavest my days a hand-breadth, and my life as nothing before thee: but every man stood all vanity. Silence.

⁶ Surely in a shadow a man will go about: surely they will be disquieted in vain: he will store up, and he knew not who shall gather them.

⁷ And now, what waited I for, O Jehovah? my hope it is to thee.

⁸ Deliver me from all my transgression: thou wilt not set me a reproach of the foolish one.

⁹ I was dumb, I will not open my mouth; for thou didst

¹⁰ Remove from me thy stroke: I was finished from the contention of thy hand.

¹¹ With corrections for iniquity thou didst correct man, and thou wilt melt down as a moth his beauty: surely every man is vanity. Silence.

¹² Hear my prayer, O Jehovah, and give ear to my cry; thou wilt not be silent at my tears, for I a sojourner with thee, a dweller, as all my fathers.

¹³ Look away from me, and I shall be cheerful, before I shall go and I not be.