The Book of Psalms. The Harvard Classics. 190914.
Book I
XXXIX
The Vanity of Life
For the Chief Musician, for Jeduthun. 1 A Psalm of David.
[1 ] I SAID, I will take heed to my ways, That I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my 2 mouth with a bridle, While the wicked is before me.
[2 ] I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even 3 from good; And my sorrow was stirred.
[3 ] My heart was hot within me; While I was musing the fire burned;Then spake I with my tongue:
[4 ] Jehovah, make me to know mine end, And the measure of my days, what it is; Let me know how frail I am.
[5 ] Behold, thou hast made my days as handbreadths; And my life-time is as nothing before thee: Surely every man at 4 his best estate is altogether vanity. 5 [Selah
[6 ] Surely every man walketh in 6 a vain show; Surely they are disquieted in 7 vain: He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.
[7 ] And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in thee.
[8 ] Deliver me from all my transgressions: Make me not the reproach of the foolish.
[9 ] I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; Because thou didst it.
[10 ] Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow 8 of thy hand.
[11 ] When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, Thou makest 9 his beauty to consume away like a moth: Surely every man is vanity. 10 [Selah
[12 ] Hear my prayer, O Jehovah, and give ear unto my cry; Hold not thy peace at my tears: For I am a stranger with thee, A sojourner, as all my fathers were.
[13 ] Oh spare 11 me, that I may recover 12 strength, Before I go hence, and be no more.