Psalm 39
Psalm 39
ST. MARY  |  Bible Passage
Author: 1650 Scottish Psalter
Musician: Melody from Prys's Llyfr y Psalmau, 1621

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  1  I said, I will look to my ways,
        lest with my tongue I sin:
     In sight of wicked men my mouth
         with bridle I'll keep in.
  2  With silence I as dumb became,
        I did myself restrain
     From speaking good; but then the more
        increasèd was my pain.

  3  My heart within me waxèd hot;
        and, while I musing was,
     The fire did burn; and from my tongue
        these words I did let pass:
  4  Mine end, and measure of my days,
        O Lord, unto me show
     What is the same; that I thereby
        my frailty well may know.

  5  Lo, thou my days an handbreadth mad'st;
        mine age is in thine eye
     As nothing: sure each man at best
        is wholly vanity.
  6  Sure each man walks in a vain show;
        they vex themselves in vain:
     He heaps up wealth, and doth not know
        to whom it shall pertain.

  7  And now, O Lord, what wait I for?
        my hope is fixed on thee.
  8  Free me from all my trespasses,
        the fool's scorn make not me.
  9  Dumb was I, op'ning not my mouth,
       because this work was thine.
 10  Thy stroke take from me; by the blow
        of thine hand I do pine.

 11  When with rebukes thou dost correct
        man for iniquity,
     Thou wastes his beauty like a moth:
        sure each man's vanity.

 12  Attend my cry, Lord, at my tears
        and pray'rs not silent be:
     I sojourn as my fathers all,
        and stranger am with thee.

 13  O spare thou me, that I my strength
        recover may again,
     Before from hence I do depart,
        and here no more remain.


BIBLE PASSAGE:

1 ¶ 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 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even 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 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 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 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 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 of thine 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.
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.
13 O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.