1 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.”

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

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 “ Lord, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know 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 I ndeed, 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

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 about like a shadow; Surely they busy themselves in vain; He heaps up riches, And does not know 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 “ And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You.

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

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

Deliver me from all my rebellions; do not make me the reproach of the foolish.

9 I was mute, I did not open my mouth, Because it was You who did it.

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

10 R emove Your plague from me; I am consumed by 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 man for iniquity, You make his beauty melt away like a moth; Surely every man is vapor. 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 “ 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.

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

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