The Vanity of Life.

To the Chief Musician; for Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

1I said, “I will guard my ways

That I may not sin with my tongue;

I will muzzle my mouth

While the wicked are in my presence.”

2I was mute and silent [before my enemies],

I refrained even from good,

And my [a]distress grew worse.

3My heart was hot within me.

While I was musing the fire burned;

Then I spoke with my tongue:

4“LORD, let me know my [life’s] end

And [to appreciate] the extent of my days;

Let me know how frail I am [how transient is my stay here].

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]! Selah.

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.

7“And now, Lord, for what do I expectantly wait?

My hope [my confident expectation] is in You.

8“Save me from all my transgressions;

Do not make me the scorn and reproach of the [self-righteous, arrogant] fool.

9“I am mute, I do not open my mouth,

Because it is You who has done it.

10“Remove Your plague from me;

I am wasting away because of the conflict and opposition of Your hand.

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 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 look away from me, that I may smile and again know joy

Before I depart and am no more.”