| The Book of Psalms. The Harvard Classics. 1909–14. |
| Book I |
| XXXIX |
| The Vanity of Life |
| For the Chief Musician, for Jeduthun. 1 A Psalm of David. |
| [1] | I SAID, I will take heed to my ways, That I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my 2 mouth with a bridle, While the wicked is before me. |
| [2] | I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even 3 from good; And my sorrow was stirred. |
| [3] | My heart was hot within me; While I was musing the fire burned; Then spake I with my tongue: |
| [4] | Jehovah, make me to know mine end, And the measure of my days, what it is; Let me know how frail I am. |
| [5] | Behold, thou hast made my days as handbreadths; And my life-time is as nothing before thee: Surely every man at 4 his best estate is altogether vanity. 5 [Selah |
| [6] | Surely every man walketh in 6 a vain show; Surely they are disquieted in 7 vain: He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them. |
| [7] | And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in thee. |
| [8] | Deliver me from all my transgressions: Make me not the reproach of the foolish. |
| [9] | I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; Because thou didst it. |
| [10] | Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow 8 of thy hand. |
| [11] | When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, Thou makest 9 his beauty to consume away like a moth: Surely every man is vanity. 10 [Selah |
| [12] | Hear my prayer, O Jehovah, and give ear unto my cry; Hold not thy peace at my tears: For I am a stranger with thee, A sojourner, as all my fathers were. |
| [13] | Oh spare 11 me, that I may recover 12 strength, Before I go hence, and be no more. |
| Note 1. Ps. 62. title; 77. title; 1 Chr. 16. 41; 25. 1. [back] |
| Note 2. Heb. a bridle (or, muzzle) for my mouth. [back] |
| Note 3. Or, and had no comfort.Heb. away from good. [back] |
| Note 4. Heb. standing firm. [back] |
| Note 5. Heb. a breath. [back] |
| Note 6. Or, as a shadow. [back] |
| Note 7. Or, for vanity. [back] |
| Note 8. Heb. conflict. [back] |
| Note 9. Or, consumest like a moth his delights. [back] |
| Note 10. Heb. a breath. [back] |
| Note 11. Or, look away from me. [back] |
| Note 12. Heb. brighten up. [back] |
| CONTENTS · BOOK CONTENTS · BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD | ||||
 | ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| Click here to shop the Bartleby Bookstore. | ||||
| ||||
| Welcome · Press · Advertising · Linking · Terms of Use · © 2008 Bartleby.com | ||||
