1 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.

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.

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

I was dumb with silence, I held my peace without profit and had no comfort away from good, while my distress was renewed.

3 M y heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I 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 mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am.

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

5 B ehold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

Behold, 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!

6 S urely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

Surely 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.

7 A nd now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.

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

8 D eliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish.

Deliver me from all my transgressions; make me not the scorn and reproach of the fool!

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

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

10 R emove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thine hand.

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

11 W hen thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah.

When 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!

12 H ear 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.

Hear 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.

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

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!