Psalms 39:1-6 in English

¹ For the Chief Musician, for Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. 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 with silence, I held my peace, even 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 his best estate is altogether vanity. Selah

⁶ Surely every man walketh in a vain show; Surely they are disquieted in vain: He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

¹ For the end, a Psalm of David.

² I waited patiently for the Lord; and he attended to me, and hearkened to my supplication.

³ And he brought me up out of a pit of misery, and from miry clay: and he set my feet on a rock, and ordered my goings aright.

⁴ And he put a new song into my mouth, even a hymn to our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall hope in the Lord.

⁵ Blessed is the man whose hope is the name of the Lord, and who has not regarded vanities and false frenzies.

⁶ O Lord my God, thou hast multiplied thy wonderful works, and in thy thoughts there is none who shall be likened to thee: I declared and spoke of them: they exceeded number.

¹ To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. 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 with silence, I held my peace, even 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 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 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 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.

¹ To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. 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 with silence, I held my peace, even 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 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 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 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.

¹ (40) For the end, a Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the Lord; and he attended to me, and listened to my supplication.

² And he brought me up out of a pit of misery, and from miry clay: and he set my feet on a rock, and ordered my goings aright.

³ And he put a new song into my mouth, even a hymn to our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall hope in the Lord.

⁴ Blessed is the man whose hope is in the name of the Lord, and who has not regarded vanities and false frenzies.

⁵ O Lord my God, you have multiplied your wonderful works, and in your thoughts there is none who shall be likened to you: I declared and spoke of them: they exceeded number.

⁶ Sacrifice and offering you would not; but a body have you prepared me: whole burnt offering and sacrifice for sin you did not require.

¹ For the Chief Musician, for Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. 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 with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.

³ My heart was hot within me; while I was musing the fire kindled: then spake I with my tongue:

⁴ LORD, 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 mine age is as nothing before thee: surely every man at his best estate is altogether vanity. Selah

⁶ 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.

¹ I said to myself, “I will be careful not to sin by the things that I say MTY. I will not say anything to complain while wicked people are near to me and can hear me.”

² So I was completely silent DOU, and I did not even talk about things that were good, but it was useless, because I began to suffer even more.

³ I became very anxious/worried IDM. As I thought about my troubles, I became more worried. Then finally I said MTY,

⁴ “Yahweh, show/tell me how long I will live. Tell me when I will die. Tell me how many years I will live!

⁵ It seems that you have caused me to live only a short time; ◄my lifetime/all the time that I have lived► seems like nothing to you. The time that all we humans live is as short as MET a puff of wind.

⁶ Then we disappear like a shadow does. It seems that all that we do is for nothing/useless. We sometimes get a lot of money, but we do not know who will get it after we die.

¹ (40) For the end, a Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the Lord; and he attended to me, and listened to my supplication.

² And he brought me up out of a pit of misery, and from miry clay: and he set my feet on a rock, and ordered my goings aright.

³ And he put a new song into my mouth, even a hymn to our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall hope in the Lord.

⁴ Blessed is the man whose hope is in the name of the Lord, and who has not regarded vanities and false frenzies.

⁵ O Lord my God, you have multiplied your wonderful works, and in your thoughts there is none who shall be likened to you: I declared and spoke of them: they exceeded number.

⁶ Sacrifice and offering you would not; but a body have you prepared me: whole burnt offering and sacrifice for sin you did not require.

¹ For the Chief Musician. For Jeduthun. A Psalm by David. 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.”

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

³ My heart was hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned. 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.

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

¹ For the Chief Musician. For Jeduthun. A Psalm by David. 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.”

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

³ My heart was hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned. 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.

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

¹ For the Chief Musician. For Jeduthun. A Psalm by David. 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.”

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

³ My heart was hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burnt. I spoke with my tongue:

⁴ “LORD, show me my end, what is the measure of my days. Let me know how frail I am.

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

¹ To the chief music-maker. Of Jeduthun. A Psalm. Of David. I said, I will give attention to my ways, so that my tongue may do no wrong; I will keep my mouth under control, while the sinner is before me.

² I made no sound, I said no word, even of good; and I was moved with sorrow.

³ My heart was burning in my breast; while I was deep in thought the fire was lighted; then I said with my tongue,

⁴ Lord, give me knowledge of my end, and of the measure of my days, so that I may see how feeble I am.

⁵ You have made my days no longer than a hand's measure; and my years are nothing in your eyes; truly, every man is but a breath. (Selah.)

⁶ Truly, every man goes on his way like an image; he is troubled for no purpose: he makes a great store of wealth, and has no knowledge of who will get it.

¹ To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. 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 with silence, I held my peace from good; and my sorrow was stirred.

³ My heart burned within me; the fire was kindled in my musing: I spoke with my tongue,

⁴ Make me to know, Jehovah, mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: I shall know how frail I am.

⁵ Behold, thou hast made my days as hand-breadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before thee; verily, every man, even the high placed, is altogether vanity. Selah.

⁶ Verily, man walketh in a vain show; verily they are disquieted in vain; he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

¹ Unto the end, a psalm for David himself.

² With expectation I have waited for the Lord, and he was attentive to me.

³ And he heard my prayers, and brought me out of the pit of misery and the mire of dregs. And he set my feet upon a rock, and directed my steps.

⁴ And he put a new canticle into my mouth, a song to our God. Many shall see, and shall fear: and they shall hope in the Lord.

⁵ Blessed is the man whose trust is in the name of the Lord; and who hath not had regard to vanities, and lying follies.

⁶ Thou hast multiplied thy wonderful works, O Lord my God: and in thy thoughts there is no one like to thee. I have declared and I have spoken they are multiplied above number.

¹ For Jeduthun, the music director. A psalm of David. I told myself, “I will be careful in what I do, and not sin in what I say. I will keep my mouth shut when the wicked are around.”

² So I was completely silent—I didn't even say anything good. But the pain inside only got worse.

³ My mind burned as if on fire; I had to say what I was thinking:

⁴ Lord, remind me. How short is my life? How long do I have? Remind me how quickly my life will pass.

⁵ Just look at the tiny amount of days you have given me! In your eyes my whole lifetime is like nothing. Our lives here are just a breath… Selah.

⁶ Human beings are just shadows walking around. They pointlessly rush through life, trying to pile up possessions without knowing who will get them.

¹ To the excellent musician Ieduthun. I thought, I will take heede to my wayes, that I sinne not with my tongue: I will keepe my mouth brideled, while the wicked is in my sight.

² I was dumme and spake nothing: I kept silece euen from good, and my sorow was more stirred.

³ Mine heart was hote within me, and while I was musing, the fire kindeled, and I spake with my tongue, saying,

⁴ Lord, let me know mine ende, and the measure of my dayes, what it is: let mee knowe howe long I haue to liue.

⁵ Beholde, thou hast made my dayes as an hand breadth, and mine age as nothing in respect of thee: surely euery man in his best state is altogether vanitie. Selah.

⁶ Doubtlesse man walketh in a shadowe, and disquieteth himselfe in vaine: he heapeth vp riches, and cannot tell who shall gather them.

¹ (39-1) For the Leader, for Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. (39-2) I said: 'I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue; I will keep a curb upon my mouth, while the wicked is before me.'

² (39-3) I was dumb with silence; I held my peace, had no comfort; and my pain was held in check.

³ (39-4) My heart waxed hot within me; while I was musing, the fire kindled; then spoke I with my tongue:

⁴ (39-5) 'LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; let me know how short-lived I am.

⁵ (39-6) Behold, Thou hast made my days as hand-breadths; and mine age is as nothing before Thee; surely every man at his best estate is altogether vanity. Selah

⁶ (39-7) Surely man walketh as a mere semblance; surely for vanity they are in turmoil; he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

¹ To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. 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 with silence, I held my peace, even 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 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 Behold, thou hast made my days as a handbreadth; And mine age is as nothing before thee: Verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

⁶ 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.

¹ “To the chief musician, to Jeduthun, a psalm of David.” (39:2) I said, I will guard my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, while the wicked is before me.

² (39:3) I was dumb in deep silence, I was quite still, even from speaking good; but my pain was greatly excited;

³ (39:4) My heart was hot within me, in my self-communing there burnt a fire: then spoke I with my tongue,

⁴ (39:5) Let me know, O Lord, my end, and the measure of my days, what it is: I wish to know when I shall cease to be.

⁵ (39:6) Behold, measured out with the span hast thou made my days; and my whole duration is nothing before thee: yea, as nothing but vanity doth every man stand here. Selah.

⁶ (39:7) As nothing but a shadowy image doth man walk about, yea, for vanity only do all make a noise: he heapeth up his gains, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

¹ For the end, a Psalm of David.

² I waited patiently for the Lord; And he attended to me, and hearkened to my supplication.

³ And he brought me up out of a pit of misery, And from miry clay: And he set my feet on a rock, And ordered my goings aright.

⁴ And he put a new song into my mouth, Even a hymn to our God: Many shall see it, and fear, And shall hope in the Lord.

⁵ Blessed is the man whose hope is the name of the Lord, And who has not regarded vanities and false frenzies.

⁶ O Lord my God, thou hast multiplied thy wonderful works, And in thy thoughts there is none who shall be likened to thee: I declared and spoke of them: they exceeded number.

¹ “A psalm of David. For the leader of the music of the Jeduthunites.” I said, I will take heed to my ways, That I may not sin with my tongue; I will keep my mouth with a bridle, While the wicked is before me.

² I was dumb with silence; I spake not even what was good; But my pain was increased.

³ My heart was hot within me; In my anguish the fire burst forth, And I spake with my tongue:

⁴ LORD, make me to know mine end, And the number of my days, That I may know how frail I am!

⁵ Behold, thou hast made my days as a hand-breadth, And my life is as nothing before thee; Yea, every man in his firmest state is altogether vanity. Pause.

⁶ Surely every man walketh in a vain show; Surely he disquieteth himself in vain; He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

¹ For the leader; for Jeduthun. A psalm of David. I vowed to watch my words, and sin not with my tongue, but to put on my mouth a muzzle, while the wicked were in my presence.

² I was silent and dumb, speechless: but my pain was stirred up.

³ My heart grew hot within me; as I mused, the fire was kindled, till at last the words came to my tongue.

⁴ “Teach me, O Lord, my end, and the sum of my days what it is. Let me know how transient I am.

⁵ See! My days you have made but a span, and my life is as nothing before you. It is but as a breath that everyone stands: Selah

⁶ it is but in mere semblance we walk to and fro, and all our noise is for nothing. We heap up, and know not who will gather.”

¹ For the leader; for Jeduthun. A psalm of David. I vowed to watch my words, and sin not with my tongue, but to put on my mouth a muzzle, while the wicked were in my presence.

² I was silent and dumb, speechless: but my pain was stirred up.

³ My heart grew hot within me; as I mused, the fire was kindled, till at last the words came to my tongue.

⁴ “Teach me, O Lord, my end, and the sum of my days what it is. Let me know how transient I am.

⁵ See! My days you have made but a span, and my life is as nothing before you. It is but as a breath that everyone stands: Selah

⁶ it is but in mere semblance we walk to and fro, and all our noise is for nothing. We heap up, and know not who will gather.”

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.”

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

³ My heart was hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned: I spoke with my tongue:

⁴ “Adonai , show me my end, what is the measure of my days. Let me know how frail I am.

⁵ Behold, you have made my days hand widths. My lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely every man stands as a breath.” Selah ·contemplation with musical interlude·.

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

¹ For the chief musician, for Jeduthun. A psalm of David. I decided, “I will watch what I say so that I do not sin with my tongue. I will muzzle my mouth while in the presence of an evil man.”

² I kept silent; I kept back my words even from saying anything good, and my pain grew worse.

³ My heart became hot; when I thought about these things, it burned like a fire. Then finally I spoke.

⁴ “Yahweh, make me know when will be the end of my life and the extent of my days. Show me how transient I am.

⁵ See, you have made my days only the width of my hand, and my lifetime is like nothing before you. Surely every man is a single breath. Selah

⁶ Surely every man walks about like a shadow. Surely everyone hurries about to accumulate riches although they do not know who will receive them.

¹ For the Chief Musician. For Jeduthun. A Psalm by David. 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.”

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

³ My heart was hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned. 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.

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

¹ For the Chief Musician. For Jeduthun. A Psalm by David. 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.”

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

³ My heart was hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burnt. I spoke with my tongue:

⁴ “LORD, show me my end, what is the measure of my days. Let me know how frail I am.

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

¹ To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. 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 with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.

³ My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then I spoke with my tongue.

⁴ LORD, make me to know my end, and the measure of my days, what it is ; that I may know how frail I am .

⁵ Behold, thou hast made my days as a hand-breadth; and my age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

⁶ Surely every man walketh in a vain show: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches , and knoweth not who shall gather them.

¹ For the Chief Musician. For Jeduthun. A Psalm by David. 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.”

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

³ My heart was hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned. I spoke with my tongue:

⁴ “LORD, show me my end, what is the measure of my days. Let me know how frail I am.

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

¹ For the Chief Musician. For Jeduthun. A Psalm by David. 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.”

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

³ My heart was hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burnt. I spoke with my tongue:

⁴ “LORD, show me my end, what is the measure of my days. Let me know how frail I am.

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

¹ For victory, to Jeduthun, the psalm of David. I said, I shall keep my ways; that I trespass not in my tongue. I setted or put keeping to my mouth; when a sinner stood against me.

² I was dumb, and I was meeked full greatly, and was still, even from goods; and my sorrow was renewed.

³ Mine heart was hot within me; and fire shall burn out in my thinking. I spake in my tongue;

⁴ Lord, make thou mine end known to me. And the number of my days, what it is; that I know, what faileth to me.

⁵ Lo! thou hast set or put my days measurable; and my substance is as nought before thee. Nevertheless all vanity; each man living.

⁶ Nevertheless a man passeth in an image; but also he is troubled vainly. He treasureth; and he know not, to whom he shall gather those things.

¹ For victory, to Jeduthun, the psalm of David. I said, I shall keep my ways; that I trespass not in my tongue. I setted keeping to my mouth; when a sinner stood against me. (For the choirmaster, for Jeduthun, a song by David. I said, I shall keep watch over my ways; so that I do not trespass with my tongue. And I guarded my mouth; when a sinner stood against me.)

² I was dumb, and I was meeked full greatly, and was still, (even) from goods; and my sorrow was renewed. (I was dumb, and was very greatly humbled, and I was silent, even about good things; and so my sorrow was renewed.)

³ Mine heart was hot within me; and fire shall burn out in my thinking. I spake in my tongue; (My heart was hot within me; and the fire burned forever as I thought about all this. And then I said with my tongue,)

⁴ Lord, make thou mine end known to me. And the number of my days, what it is; that I know, what faileth to me, (or so that I know, what falleth to me, or so that I know, when I shall fail, or die).

⁵ Lo! thou hast set my days measurable; and my substance is as nought before thee. Nevertheless all vanity; each man living. (Behold! thou hast made my days able to be measured, (or counted); and my substance is like but nothing before thee, yea, (but a puff of air). And all is emptiness, (or uselessness); for each person alive.)

⁶ Nevertheless a man passeth in an image; but also he is troubled vainly. He treasureth; and he know not, to whom he shall gather those things. (And a person passeth by like a shadow; and he travaileth, or laboureth, in vain, that is, he worketh for nothing. For he buildeth up treasure; yet he truly knoweth not, for whom he gathered those things.)

¹ To 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 is before me.'

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

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

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

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

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