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 bit while the wicked is against 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 I spoke 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.

LORD, make me to know my end and the measure of my days, what it is that I may know how long I am to be of this world.

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 a handbreadth, and my age is as nothing before thee; verily every man that lives 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 man walks in darkness; surely they are disquieted in vain; they heap up riches not knowing 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 shall I wait 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 rebellions; do not make me 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 thine 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 chastening dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his greatness 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 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 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!

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