| English Standard Version | New Living Translation |
| 1I said, “I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence.” | 1I said to myself, “I will watch what I do and not sin in what I say. I will hold my tongue when the ungodly are around me.” |
| 2I was mute and silent; I held my peace to no avail, and my distress grew worse. | 2But as I stood there in silence— not even speaking of good things— the turmoil within me grew worse. |
| 3My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue: | 3The more I thought about it, the hotter I got, igniting a fire of words: |
| 4“O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! | 4“LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is. |
| 5Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah | 5You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.” Interlude |
| 6Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather! | 6We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it. |
| 7“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you. | 7And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you. |
| 8Deliver me from all my transgressions. Do not make me the scorn of the fool! | 8Rescue me from my rebellion. Do not let fools mock me. |
| 9I am mute; I do not open my mouth, for it is you who have done it. | 9I am silent before you; I won’t say a word, for my punishment is from you. |
| 10Remove your stroke from me; I am spent by the hostility of your hand. | 10But please stop striking me! I am exhausted by the blows from your hand. |
| 11When you discipline a man with rebukes for sin, you consume like a moth what is dear to him; surely all mankind is a mere breath! Selah | 11When you discipline us for our sins, you consume like a moth what is precious to us. Each of us is but a breath. Interlude |
| 12“Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry; hold not your peace at my tears! For I am a sojourner with you, a guest, like all my fathers. | 12Hear my prayer, O LORD! Listen to my cries for help! Don’t ignore my tears. For I am your guest— a traveler passing through, as my ancestors were before me. |
| 13Look away from me, that I may smile again, before I depart and am no more!” | 13Leave me alone so I can smile again before I am gone and exist no more. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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