1 T o the Overseer, to Jeduthun. -- A Psalm of David. I have said, `I observe my ways, Against sinning with my tongue, I keep for my mouth a curb, while the wicked 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 muzzle, while the wicked is before me.

2 I was dumb silence, I kept silent from good, and my pain is excited.

I was dumb with silence, I held my peace from good; and my sorrow was stirred.

3 H ot my heart within me, In my meditating doth the fire burn, I have spoken with my tongue.

My heart burned within me; the fire was kindled in my musing: I spoke with my tongue,

4 ` Cause me to know, O Jehovah, mine end, And the measure of my days -- what it,' I know how frail I.

Make me to know, Jehovah, mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: I shall know how frail I am.

5 L o, handbreadths Thou hast made my days, And mine age as nothing before Thee, Only, all vanity every man set up. Selah.

Behold, thou hast made my days hand-breadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before thee; verily, every man, the high placed, is altogether vanity. Selah.

6 O nly, in an image doth each walk habitually, Only, vain, they are disquieted, He heapeth up and knoweth not who gathereth them.

Verily, man walketh in a vain show; verily they are disquieted in vain; he heapeth up, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

7 A nd, now, what have I expected? O Lord, my hope -- it of Thee.

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

8 F rom all my transgressions deliver me, A reproach of the fool make me not.

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

9 I have been dumb, I open not my mouth, Because Thou -- Thou hast done.

I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; for thou hast done.

10 T urn aside from off me Thy stroke, From the striving of Thy hand I have been consumed.

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

11 W ith reproofs against iniquity, Thou hast corrected man, And dost waste as a moth his desirableness, Only, vanity every man. Selah.

When thou with rebukes dost correct a man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely, every man is vanity. Selah.

12 H ear my prayer, O Jehovah, And my cry give ear, Unto my tear be not silent, For a sojourner I with Thee, A settler like all my fathers.

Hear my prayer, Jehovah, and give ear unto my cry; be not silent at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, a sojourner, like all my fathers.

13 L ook from me, and I brighten up before I go and am not!

Look away from me, and let me recover strength, before I go hence and be no more.