New King James Version NKJV
New Living Translation NLT
1 To the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. I said, "I will guard my ways, Lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, While the wicked are before me."
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I said to myself, “I will watch what I do and not sin in what I say. I will hold my tongue when the ungodly are around me.”
2 I was mute with silence, I held my peace even from good; And my sorrow was stirred up.
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But as I stood there in silence— not even speaking of good things— the turmoil within me grew worse.
3 My heart was hot within me; While I was musing, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue:
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The more I thought about it, the hotter I got, igniting a fire of words:
4 "Lord, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am.
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“ LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is.
5 Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah
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You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.” Interlude
6 Surely every man walks about like a shadow; Surely they busy themselves in vain; He heaps up riches, And does not know who will gather them.
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We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it.
7 "And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You.
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And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions; Do not make me the reproach of the foolish.
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Rescue me from my rebellion. Do not let fools mock me.
9 I was mute, I did not open my mouth, Because it was You who did it.
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I am silent before you; I won’t say a word, for my punishment is from you.
10 Remove Your plague from me; I am consumed by the blow of Your hand.
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But please stop striking me! I am exhausted by the blows from your hand.
11 When with rebukes You correct man for iniquity, You make his beauty melt away like a moth; Surely every man is vapor. Selah
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When you discipline us for our sins, you consume like a moth what is precious to us. Each of us is but a breath. Interlude
12 "Hear my prayer, O Lord, And give ear to my cry; Do not be silent at my tears; For I am a stranger with You, A sojourner, as all my fathers were.
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Hear my prayer, O LORD ! Listen to my cries for help! Don’t ignore my tears. For I am your guest— a traveler passing through, as my ancestors were before me.
13 Remove Your gaze from me, that I may regain strength, Before I go away and am no more."
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Leave me alone so I can smile again before I am gone and exist no more.