1 I said, “I will watch my ways so I may not sin with my tongue. I will keep my mouth shut as if it were tied with ropes, while the sinful are near 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 stayed quiet, not even saying anything 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. As I thought about things, 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 “ O Lord, let me know my end and how many days I have to live. Let me know that I do not have long to stay here.

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 Y ou have made each of my days as long as a hand is wide. My whole life is nothing in Your eyes. Every man at his best is only a breath.

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 E very man walks here and there like a shadow. He makes a noise about nothing. He stores up riches, not knowing 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 A nd 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 S ave me from all my sins. Do not let me be put to shame by the foolish.

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

9 I cannot speak. I do not open my mouth because it is You Who has done it.

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

10 D o not punish me any more. I am growing weak by the beatings of Your hand.

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

11 W ith sharp words You punish a man for sin. You destroy like a moth what is of worth to him. For sure, every man is only a breath.

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 O Lord, hear my prayer, and listen to my cry. Do not be quiet when You see my tears. For I am a stranger with You, a visitor 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 L ook away from me, so I may have joy again before I go and am no more.”

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