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 "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.

7 Now, Lord, what do I wait for?

My hope is in you.

8 Deliver me from all my transgressions.

Don’t make me the reproach of the foolish.

9 I was mute.

I didn’t open my mouth,

because you did it.

10 Remove your scourge away from me.

I am overcome by the blow of your hand.

11 When you rebuke and correct man for iniquity,

you consume his wealth like a moth.

Surely every man is but a breath." Selah.

12 "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 Oh spare me, that I may recover strength,

before I go away and exist no more."

1 Vir die musiekleier; vir Jedutun. 'n Psalm van Dawid.

2 Ek het gesê: Ek wil my weë bewaar, sodat ek nie sondig met my tong nie; ek wil my mond in toom hou solank as die goddelose nog voor my is.

3 Ek was stom in stilte, ek het geswyg, ver van die goeie af; maar my smart is aangewakker.

4 My hart het warm geword in my binneste; 'n vuur het ontvlam by my gesug; ek het gespreek met my tong:

5 HERE, maak my einde aan my bekend en wat die maat van my dae is; laat my weet hoe verganklik ek is.

6 Kyk, U het my dae 'n paar handbreedtes gemaak, en my leeftyd is soos niks voor U nie; ja, as pure nietigheid staan elke mens daar! Sela.

7 Waarlik, die mens wandel as skadubeeld rond; ja, hulle woel verniet; hulle stapel op en weet nie wie dit sal insamel nie.

8 En nou, wat verwag ek, o Here? My hoop is op U.

9 Red my van al my oortredinge; maak my nie 'n smaad van die dwaas nie.

10 Ek is stom, ek sal my mond nie oopmaak nie; want U het dit gedoen.

11 Neem u plaag van my weg; ek vergaan vanweë die bestryding van u hand.

12 Tugtig U die mens met strawwe oor die ongeregtigheid, dan laat U sy skoonheid vergaan soos deur 'n mot; ja, elke mens is 'n asemtog! Sela.

13 Hoor, HERE, my gebed, en luister na my hulpgeroep; swyg nie by my trane nie; want ek is 'n vreemdeling by U, 'n bywoner soos al my vaders. [ (Psalms 39:14) Wend u oog van my af, dat ek vrolik kan word voordat ek heengaan en daar nie meer is nie. ]