1  I said: 'I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue; I will keep a curb upon my mouth, while the wicked is before me.'

title  For the end, a Song of David, to Idithun.

1  I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I set a guard on my mouth, while the sinner stood in my presence.

title  Unto the end. For Jeduthun himself. A Canticle of David.

1  I said, “I will keep to my ways, so that I will not offend with my tongue.” I posted a guard at my mouth, when a sinner took up a position against me.

2  I was dumb with silence; I held my peace, had no comfort; and my pain was held in check.

2  I was dumb, and humbled myself, and kept silence from good words; and my grief was renewed.

2  I was dumb and sorrowful, I was wretched, I held myself aloof, even from good; and my sorrow was multiplied.

3  My heart waxed hot within me; while I was musing, the fire kindled; then spoke I with my tongue

Ps38:3  My heart grew hot within me, and, during my meditation, a fire would flare up.

3  My heart was hot within me; and my body was on fire; then spoke I with my tongue,

4  'YHWH, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; let me know how short-lived I am.

Ps38:4  I spoke with my tongue, “O Lord, make me know my end, and what the number of my days will be, so that I may know what is lacking to me.”

4  LORD, show me mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know my destiny.

5  Behold, Thou hast made my days as hand-breadths; and mine age is as nothing before Thee; surely every man at his best estate is altogether vanity. Selah

Ps38:5  Behold, you have made my days measurable, and, before you, my substance is as nothing. Yet truly, all things are vanity: every living man.

6  Surely man walketh as a mere semblance; surely for vanity they are in turmoil; he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

Ps38:6  So then, truly man passes by like an image; even so, he is disquieted in vain. He stores up, and he knows not for whom he will gather these things.

6  Because every man walks as an image, he disappears as a breath; he buries treasures and knows not who shall gather them.

7  And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope, it is in Thee.

7  And now what is my expectation? is it not the Lord? and my ground of hope is with thee. Pause.

7  Henceforth, what is my hope except in thee, O LORD?

8  Deliver me from all my transgressions; make me not the reproach of the base.

Ps38:8  Rescue me from all my iniquities. You have handed me over as reproach to the foolish.

9  I am dumb, I open not my mouth; because Thou hast done it.

9  I was dumb, and opened not my mouth; for thou art he that made me.

Ps38:9  I was silenced, and I did not open my mouth, because it was you who acted.

10  Remove Thy stroke from off me; I am consumed by the blow of Thy hand.

10  Remove thy scourges from me: I have fainted by reason of the strength of thine hand.

Ps38:10  Remove your scourges from me.

11  With rebukes dost Thou chasten man for iniquity, and like a moth Thou makest his beauty to consume away; surely every man is vanity. Selah

Ps38:11  I fall short at corrections from the strength of your hand. For you have chastised man for iniquity. And you have made his soul shrink away like a spider. Nevertheless, it is in vain that any man be disquieted.

12  Hear my prayer, O YHWH, and give ear unto my cry; keep not silence at my tears; for I am a stranger with Thee, a sojourner, as all my fathers were.

12  O Lord, hearken to my prayer and my supplication: attend to my tears: be not silent, for I am a sojourner in the land, and a stranger, as all my fathers were.

Ps38:12  O Lord, heed my prayer and my supplication. Pay attention to my tears. Do not be silent. For I am a newcomer with you, and a sojourner, just as all my fathers were.

13  Look away from me, that I may take comfort, before I go hence, and be no more.'

13  Spare me, that I may be refreshed, before I depart, and be no more.

Ps38:13  Forgive me, so that I may be refreshed, before I will go forth and be no more.