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 guard my ways, Lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, While the wicked are 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 mute with silence, I held my peace even from good; And my sorrow was stirred up.

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 what is the measure of my days, That I may 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!

Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. 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 walks about like a shadow; Surely they busy themselves in vain; He heaps up riches, And does not know who will 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 do I wait for? My hope is in You.

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

Deliver me from all my transgressions; 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 mute, I did not open my mouth, Because it was You who did it.

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

Remove Your plague from me; I am consumed by the blow of Your 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 with rebukes You correct man for iniquity, You make his beauty melt away like a moth; Surely every man is vapor. 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 to my cry; Do not be silent at my tears; For I am a stranger with You, 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!

Remove Your gaze from me, that I may regain strength, Before I go away and am no more.”