The Fleeting Nature Of Life

1 {To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.} 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.

1 For the choir director, for (a)Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.I said, “I will (A)guard my waysThat I (B)may not sin with my tongue;I will guard (C)my mouth as with a muzzleWhile the wicked are in my presence.”

1 For the choir director, for Jeduthun. A Davidic psalm.I said, “I will guard my waysso that I may not sin with my tongue;I will guard my mouth with a muzzleas long as the wicked are in my presence.”(A)

1 I told myself, "I will keep watch over my tongue to keep from sinning. I will muzzle my mouth when the wicked are around."

1 I said, “I will guard my waysThat I may not sin with my tongue;I will muzzle my mouthWhile the wicked are in my presence.”

2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.

2 I was (D)mute (b)and silent,I (c)refrained even from good,And my (d)sorrow grew worse.

2 I was speechless and quiet;I kept silent, even from speaking good,and my pain intensified.(B)

2 I was as silent as a mute person; I said nothing, not even something good, and my distress deepened.

2 I was mute and silent [before my enemies],I refrained even from good,And my (a)distress grew worse.

3 My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,

3 My (E)heart was hot within me,While I was musing the fire burned;Then I spoke with my tongue:

3 My heart grew hot within me;as I mused, a fire burned.(C)I spoke with my tongue:

3 My heart within me became incensed; as I thought about it, the fire burned. Then I spoke out:

3 My heart was hot within me.While I was musing the fire burned;Then I spoke with my tongue:

4 LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.

4 Lord, make me to know (F)my endAnd what is the extent of my days;Let me know how (G)transient I am.

4 Lord, reveal to me the end of my lifeand the number of my days.Let me know how short-lived I am.(D)

4 "LORD, let me know how my life ends, and the standard by which you will measure my days, whatever it is! Then I will know how transient my life is.

4 Lord, let me know my [life’s] endAnd [to appreciate] the extent of my days;Let me know how frail I am [how transient is my stay here].

5 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.

5 “Behold, You have made (H)my days as handbreadths,And my (I)lifetime as nothing in Your sight;Surely every man (e)at his best is (f)a mere (J)breath. (g)Selah.

5 You, indeed, have made my days short in length,and my life span as nothing in Your sight.Yes, every mortal man is only a vapor.(E)Selah

5 Look, you have made my life span fit in your hand; It is nothing compared to yours. Surely every person at their best is a puff of wind. Interlude

5 “Behold, You have made my days as [short as] hand widths,And my lifetime is as nothing in Your sight.Surely every man at his best is a mere breath [a wisp of smoke, a vapor that vanishes]!(A) Selah.

6 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.

6 “Surely every man (K)walks about as (h)a phantom;Surely they make an (L)uproar for nothing;He (M)amasses riches and does not know who will gather them.

6 “Certainly, man walks about like a mere shadow.Indeed, they frantically rush around in vain,gathering possessionswithout knowing who will get them.(F)

6 In fact, people walk around as shadows. Surely, they busy themselves for nothing, heaping up possessions but not knowing who will get them.

6 “Surely every man walks around like a shadow [in a charade];Surely they make an uproar for nothing;Each one builds up riches, not knowing who will receive them.(B)

7 And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.

7 “And now, Lord, for what do I wait?My (N)hope is in You.

7 Now, Lord, what do I wait for?My hope is in You.(G)

7 How long, LORD, will I wait expectantly? I have placed my hope in you.

7 “And now, Lord, for what do I expectantly wait?My hope [my confident expectation] is in You.

8 Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish.

8 (O)Deliver me from all my transgressions;Make me not the (P)reproach of the foolish.

8 Deliver me from all my transgressions;do not make me the taunt of fools.(H)

8 Deliver me from all my transgressions, and do not let fools scorn me."

8 “Save me from all my transgressions;Do not make me the scorn and reproach of the [self-righteous, arrogant] fool.

9 I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it.

9 “I have become (Q)mute, I do not open my mouth,Because it is (R)You who have done it.

9 I am speechless; I do not open my mouthbecause of what You have done.(I)

9 I remain silent; I do not open my mouth, for you are the one who acted.

9 “I am mute, I do not open my mouth,Because it is You who has done it.

10 Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thine hand.

10 (S)Remove Your plague from me;Because of (T)the opposition of Your hand I am (i)perishing.

10 Remove Your torment from me;I fade away because of the force of Your hand.(J)

10 Stop scourging me, since I have been crushed by your heavy hand.

10 “Remove Your plague from me;I am wasting away because of the conflict and opposition of Your hand.

11 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.

11 “With (U)reproofs You chasten a man for iniquity;You (V)consume as a moth what is precious to him;Surely (W)every man is a mere breath. Selah.

11 You discipline a man with punishment for sin,consuming like a moth what is precious to him;(K)every man is only a vapor.(L)Selah

11 You rebuke by chastening a man with the consequence of iniquities; you destroy what is attractive to him, as one would treat a moth. Indeed, every person is a puff of wind. Interlude

11 “With rebukes You discipline man for sin;You consume like a moth what is precious to him;Surely every man is a mere breath [a wisp of smoke, a vapor that vanishes]. Selah.

12 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.

12 (X)Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my cry;Do not be silent (Y)at my tears;For I am (Z)a stranger with You,A (AA)sojourner like all my fathers.

12 “Hear my prayer, Lord,and listen to my cry for help;do not be silent at my tears.(M)For I am a foreigner residing with You,a temporary resident like all my fathers.(N)

12 Hear my prayer, LORD, pay attention to my cry, and do not ignore my tears. I am an alien in your presence, a stranger just like my ancestors were.

12 “Hear my prayer, O Lord, and listen to my cry;Do not be silent at my tears;For I am Your temporary guest,A sojourner like all my fathers.

13 O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.

13 (AB)Turn Your gaze away from me, that I may (j)smile againBefore I depart and am no more.”

13 Turn Your angry gaze from meso that I may be cheered upbefore I die and am gone.”(O)

13 Stop looking at me with chastisement, so I can smile again, before I depart and am no more. To the Director: A Davidic Psalm.

13 “O look away from me, that I may smile and again know joyBefore I depart and am no more.”

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