New Living Translation NLT
King James Version KJV
1 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.”
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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 But as I stood there in silence— not even speaking of good things— the turmoil within me grew worse.
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I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.
3 The more I thought about it, the hotter I got, igniting a fire of words:
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My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,
4 “ LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is.
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LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.
5 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
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Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.
6 We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it.
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Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.
7 And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.
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And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.
8 Rescue me from my rebellion. Do not let fools mock me.
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Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish.
9 I am silent before you; I won’t say a word, for my punishment is from you.
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I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it.
10 But please stop striking me! I am exhausted by the blows from your hand.
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Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thine hand.
11 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
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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 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.
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Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.
13 Leave me alone so I can smile again before I am gone and exist no more.
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O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
The King James Version is in the public domain.