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 bridle, 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, even 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 was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I 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.

Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may 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 as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state 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.

Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

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

And now, Lord, what wait I for? 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; because thou didst it.

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 thine 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 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, 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 from me, and I brighten up before I go and am not!

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