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.

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 of thy hand.

¹¹ 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 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 me, that I may recover strength, Before I go hence, and be no more.