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 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.”

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

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

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 what is the extent of my days; Let me know how transient I am.

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, 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.

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 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

10 R emove Your plague from me; I am consumed by the blow of Your hand.

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

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

“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.

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 to my cry; Do not be silent at my tears; For I am a stranger with You, A sojourner like all my fathers.

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

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