^{1 Ref} > 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 Ref} I was mute with silence. I held my peace, even from good. My sorrow was stirred.

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

^{4 Ref} "Yahweh, show me my end, What is the measure of my days. Let me know how frail I am.

^{5 Ref} Behold, you have made my days handbreadths. My lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely every man stands as a breath." Selah.

^{6 Ref} "Surely every man walks like a shadow. Surely they busy themselves in vain. He heaps up, and doesn't know who shall gather.

^{7 Ref} Now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you.

^{8 Ref} Deliver me from all my transgressions. Don't make me the reproach of the foolish.

^{9 Ref} I was mute. I didn't open my mouth, Because you did it.

^{10 Ref} Remove your scourge away from me. I am overcome by the blow of your hand.

^{11 Ref} When you rebuke and correct man for iniquity, You consume his wealth like a moth. Surely every man is but a breath." Selah.

^{12 Ref} "Hear my prayer, Yahweh, and give ear to my cry. Don't be silent at my tears. For I am a stranger with you, A foreigner, as all my fathers were.

^{13 Ref} Oh spare me, that I may recover strength, Before I go away, and be no more."

^{1 Ref} 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 Ref} I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; And my sorrow was stirred.

^{3 Ref} My heart was hot within me; While I was musing the fire burned: `Then' spake I with my tongue:

^{4 Ref} Jehovah, make me to know mine end, And the measure of my days, what it is; Let me know how frail I am.

^{5 Ref} 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 Ref} 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 Ref} And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in thee.

^{8 Ref} Deliver me from all my transgressions: Make me not the reproach of the foolish.

^{9 Ref} I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; Because thou didst it.

^{10 Ref} Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thy hand.

^{11 Ref} 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 Ref} 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 Ref} Oh spare me, that I may recover strength, Before I go hence, and be no more. Psalm 40 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

^{1 Ref} <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 Ref} I made no sound, I said no word, even of good; and I was moved with sorrow.

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

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

^{5 Ref} 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 Ref} 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.

^{7 Ref} And now, Lord, what am I waiting for? my hope is in you.

^{8 Ref} Make me free from all my sins; do not let me be shamed by the man of evil behaviour.

^{9 Ref} I was quiet, and kept my mouth shut; because you had done it.

^{10 Ref} No longer let your hand be hard on me; I am wasted by the blows of your hand.

^{11 Ref} By the weight of your wrath against man's sin, the glory of his form is wasted away; truly every man is but a breath. (Selah.)

^{12 Ref} Let my prayer come to your ears, O Lord, and give attention to my cry, make an answer to my weeping: for my time here is short before you, and in a little time I will be gone, like all my fathers.

^{13 Ref} Let your wrath be turned away from me, so that I may be comforted, before I go away from here, and become nothing.