1 I said, "I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth while in the presence of the wicked."2 So I remained utterly silent, not even saying anything good. But my anguish increased;3 my heart grew hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:4 "Show me, LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.5 You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure. [^1]6 "Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be.7 "But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.8 Save me from all my transgressions; do not make me the scorn of fools.9 I was silent; I would not open my mouth, for you are the one who has done this.10 Remove your scourge from me; I am overcome by the blow of your hand.11 When you rebuke and discipline anyone for their sin, you consume their wealth like a moth — surely everyone is but a breath.12 "Hear my prayer, LORD, listen to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. I dwell with you as a foreigner, a stranger, as all my ancestors were.13 Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again before I depart and am no more."

1 In finem. Psalmus ipsi David. 2 [Exspectans exspectavi Dominum,et intendit mihi.3 Et exaudivit preces meas,et eduxit me de lacu miseri et de luto fcis.Et statuit super petram pedes meos,et direxit gressus meos.4 Et immisit in os meum canticum novum,carmen Deo nostro.Videbunt multi, et timebunt,et sperabunt in Domino.5 Beatus vir cujus est nomen Domini spes ejus,et non respexit in vanitates et insanias falsas.6 Multa fecisti tu, Domine Deus meus, mirabilia tua ;et cogitationibus tuis non est qui similis sit tibi.Annuntiavi et locutus sum :multiplicati sunt super numerum.7 Sacrificium et oblationem noluisti ;aures autem perfecisti mihi.Holocaustum et pro peccato non postulasti ;8 tunc dixi : Ecce venio.In capite libri scriptum est de me,9 ut facerem voluntatem tuam.Deus meus, volui,et legem tuam in medio cordis mei.10 Annuntiavi justitiam tuam in ecclesia magna ;ecce labia mea non prohibebo : Domine, tu scisti.11 Justitiam tuam non abscondi in corde meo ;veritatem tuam et salutare tuum dixi ;non abscondi misericordiam tuam et veritatem tuam a concilio multo.12 Tu autem, Domine, ne longe facias miserationes tuas a me ;misericordia tua et veritas tua semper susceperunt me.13 Quoniam circumdederunt me mala quorum non est numerus ;comprehenderunt me iniquitates me, et non potui ut viderem.Multiplicat sunt super capillos capitis mei,et cor meum dereliquit me.14 Complaceat tibi, Domine, ut eruas me ;Domine, ad adjuvandum me respice.15 Confundantur et revereantur simul,qui qurunt animam meam ut auferant eam ;convertantur retrorsum et revereantur,qui volunt mihi mala.16 Ferant confestim confusionem suam,qui dicunt mihi : Euge, euge !17 Exsultent et ltentur super te omnes qurentes te ;et dicant semper : Magnificetur Dominus, qui diligunt salutare tuum.18 Ego autem mendicus sum et pauper ;Dominus sollicitus est mei.Adjutor meus et protector meus tu es ;Deus meus, ne tardaveris.]