1 I said, “I will guard my ways That I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle While the wicked are in my presence.”

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 mute and silent, I refrained even from good, And my sorrow grew worse.

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 “ Lord, make me to know my end And what is the extent of my days; Let me know how transient I am.

Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am.

5 “ Behold, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my lifetime as nothing in Your sight; Surely every man at his best is a mere breath. Selah.

Behold, 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.

6 “ Surely every man walks about as a phantom; Surely they make an uproar for nothing; He amasses riches and does not know who will gather them.

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

7 “ And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You.

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

8 “ Deliver me from all my transgressions; Make me not the reproach of the foolish.

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

9 “ I have become mute, I do not open my mouth, Because it is You who have done it.

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

10 “ Remove Your plague from me; Because of the opposition of Your hand I am perishing.

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

11 “ With reproofs You chasten a man for iniquity; You consume as a moth what is precious to him; 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 “ 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 like all my fathers.

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 “ Turn Your gaze away from me, that I may smile again Before I depart and am no more.”

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