Psalm 39

Dixi Custodiam

  1. I SAID, I will take heed to my ways, that I offend not in my tongue.
  2. I will keep my mouth as it were with a bridle, while the ungodly is in my sight.
  3. I held my tongue, and spake nothing: I kept silence, yea, even from good words; but it was pain and grief to me.
  4. My heart was hot within me, and while I was musing, the fire kindled: and at the last I spake with my tongue,
  5. LORD, let me know mine end, and the number of my days; that I may be certified how long I have to live.
  6. Behold, thou hast made my days as it were an hand-breadth long, and mine age is even as nothing in respect of thee; and verily every man living is altogether vanity.
  7. For man walketh in a vain shadow, and disquieteth himself in vain; he heapeth up riches, and cannot tell who shall gather them.
  8. And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is even in thee.
  9. Deliver me from all my offences, and make me not a rebuke unto the foolish.
  10. I became dumb, and opened not my mouth; for it was thy doing.
  11. Take thy plague away from me: I am even consumed by the means of thy heavy hand.
  12. When thou with rebukes dost chasten man for sin, thou makest his beauty to consume away, like as it were a moth fretting a garment: every man therefore is but vanity.
  13. Hear my prayer, O LORD, and with thine ears consider my calling: hold not thy peace at my tears.
  14. For I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.
  15. O spare me a little, that I may recover my strength, before I go hence, and be no more seen.
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