1 I said, “I will watch my ways, so that I don’t sin with my tongue. I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me.”

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.”

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

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

3 M y heart was hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned: 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 “ Yahweh, show me my end, what is the measure of my days. Let me know how frail I am.

“ Lord, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am.

5 B ehold, you have made my days hand widths. My lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely every man stands as a breath.” Selah.

Indeed, 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

6 “ Surely every man walks like a shadow. Surely they busy themselves in vain. He heaps up, and doesn’t know who shall gather.

Surely 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.

7 N ow, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you.

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

8 D eliver me from all my transgressions. Don’t make me the reproach of the foolish.

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

9 I was mute. I didn’t open my mouth, because you did it.

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

10 R emove your scourge away from me. I am overcome by the blow of your hand.

Remove Your plague from me; I am consumed by the blow of Your hand.

11 W hen you rebuke and correct man for iniquity, You consume his wealth like a moth. Surely every man is but a breath.” Selah.

When with rebukes You correct man for iniquity, You make his beauty melt away like a moth; Surely every man is vapor. Selah

12 “ Hear my prayer, Yahweh, and give ear to my cry. Don’t be silent at my tears. For I am a stranger with you, a foreigner, 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, as all my fathers were.

13 O h spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go away, and exist no more.”

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