I held my tongue; I was dumb. I kept silence, yea even from good words, but it was pain and grief to me.

"LORD, let me know mine end, and the number of my days: that I may be certified how long I have to live.

{To the Chanter, for praising, a Psalm of David} I said, "I will take heed to my ways, that I offend not in my tongue. I will keep my mouth as it were with a bridle, while the ungodly is in my sight."

Behold, thou hast made my days a span long, and mine age is even as nothing in respect of thee; and verily every man living is altogether vanity. Selah

"And now, LORD, what is my hope? Truly my hope is even in thee.

Yea every man walketh as it were a shadow, and disquieteth himself in vain: he heapeth up riches, and cannot tell who shall gather them.

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and with thine ears consider my calling; hold not thy peace at my tears. For I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.

My heart was hot within me, and while I was thus musing, the fire kindled, and at the last I spoke with my tongue,

When thou with rebukes dost chasten man for sin, thou makest his beauty to consume away, like as it were a moth fretting a garment; every man therefore is but vanity. Selah.

O spare me a little that I may recover my strength, before I go hence, and be no more seen."

I became dumb, and opened not my mouth; for it was thy doing.

Deliver me from all mine offenses; and make me not a rebuke unto the foolish.

Turn thy plagues away from me, for I am consumed through the fear of thy hand.