Good News Translation GNT
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 I said, "I will be careful about what I do and will not let my tongue make me sin; I will not say anything while evil people are near."
1
To the choirmaster: to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. I said, "I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will bridle my mouth, so long as the wicked are in my presence."
2 I kept quiet, not saying a word, not even about anything good! But my suffering only grew worse,
2
I was dumb and silent, I held my peace to no avail; my distress grew worse,
3 and I was overcome with anxiety. The more I thought, the more troubled I became; I could not keep from asking:
3
my heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:
4 "Lord, how long will I live? When will I die? Tell me how soon my life will end."
4
"LORD, let me know my end, and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is!
5 How short you have made my life! In your sight my lifetime seems nothing. Indeed every living being is no more than a puff of wind,
5
Behold, thou hast made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing in thy sight. Surely every man stands as a mere breath! [Selah]
6 no more than a shadow. All we do is for nothing; we gather wealth, but don't know who will get it.
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Surely man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nought are they in turmoil; man heaps up, and knows not who will gather!
7 What, then, can I hope for, Lord? I put my hope in you.
7
"And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in thee.
8 Save me from all my sins, and don't let fools make fun of me.
8
Deliver me from all my transgressions. Make me not the scorn of the fool!
9 I will keep quiet, I will not say a word, for you are the one who made me suffer like this.
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I am dumb, I do not open my mouth; for it is thou who hast done it.
10 Don't punish me any more! I am about to die from your blows.
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Remove thy stroke from me; I am spent by the blows of thy hand.
11 You punish our sins by your rebukes, and like a moth you destroy what we love. Indeed we are no more than a puff of wind!
11
When thou dost chasten man with rebukes for sin, thou dost consume like a moth what is dear to him; surely every man is a mere breath! [Selah]
12 Hear my prayer, Lord, and listen to my cry; come to my aid when I weep. Like all my ancestors I am only your guest for a little while.
12
"Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears! For I am thy passing guest, a sojourner, like all my fathers.
13 Leave me alone so that I may have some happiness before I go away and am no more.
13
Look away from me, that I may know gladness, before I depart and be no more!"
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.