| New International Version | New Living Translation |
| 1For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David. I said, "I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth while in the presence of the wicked." | 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.” |
| 2So I remained utterly silent, not even saying anything good. But my anguish increased; | 2But as I stood there in silence— not even speaking of good things— the turmoil within me grew worse. |
| 3my heart grew hot within me. While I meditated, 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"Show me, LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. | 4“LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is. |
| 5You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure. | 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 |
| 6"Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be. | 6We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it. |
| 7"But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you. | 7And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you. |
| 8Save me from all my transgressions; do not make me the scorn of fools. | 8Rescue me from my rebellion. Do not let fools mock me. |
| 9I was silent; I would not open my mouth, for you are the one who has done this. | 9I am silent before you; I won’t say a word, for my punishment is from you. |
| 10Remove your scourge from me; I am overcome by the blow of your hand. | 10But please stop striking me! I am exhausted by the blows from your hand. |
| 11When you rebuke and discipline anyone for their sin, you consume their wealth like a moth-- surely everyone is but a breath. | 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, LORD, listen to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. I dwell with you as a foreigner, a stranger, as all my ancestors were. | 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 enjoy life again before I depart and am no more." | 13Leave me alone so I can smile again before I am gone and exist no more. |
| New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | 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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