1 I said, I will take heed and guard my ways, that I may sin not with my tongue; I will muzzle my mouth as with a bridle while the wicked are before me.

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 without profit and had no comfort away from good, while my distress was renewed.

I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; And my sorrow was stirred.

3 M y heart was hot within me. While I was musing, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:

My heart was hot within me; While I was musing the fire burned: Then spake I with my tongue:

4 L ord, make me to know my end and the measure of my days—what it is; let me know and realize how frail I am.

Jehovah, make me to know mine end, And the measure of my days, what it is; Let me know how frail I am.

5 B ehold, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing in Your sight. Truly every man at his best is merely a breath! Selah!

Behold, thou hast made my days as handbreadths; And my life-time is as nothing before thee: Surely every man at his best estate is altogether vanity. Selah

6 S urely every man walks to and fro—like a shadow in a pantomime; surely for futility and emptiness he is in turmoil; each one heaps up riches, not knowing who will gather them.

Surely every man walketh in a vain show; Surely they are disquieted in vain: He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

7 A nd now, Lord, what do I wait for and expect? My hope and expectation are in You.

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

8 D eliver me from all my transgressions; make me not the scorn and reproach of the fool!

Deliver me from all my transgressions: Make me not the reproach of the foolish.

9 I am dumb, I open not my mouth, for it is You Who has done it.

I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; Because thou didst it.

10 R emove Your stroke away from me; I am consumed by the conflict and the blow of Your hand.

Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thy hand.

11 W hen with rebukes You correct and chasten man for sin, You waste his beauty like a moth and what is dear to him consumes away; surely every man is a mere breath. Selah!

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 H ear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my cry; hold not Your peace at my tears! For I am Your passing guest, a temporary resident, as all my fathers were.

Hear my prayer, O Jehovah, and give ear unto my cry; Hold not thy peace at my tears: For I am a stranger with thee, A sojourner, as all my fathers were.

13 O look away from me and spare me, that I may recover cheerfulness and encouraging strength and know gladness before I go and am no more!

Oh spare me, that I may recover strength, Before I go hence, and be no more.