Psalm 39

Chant Psalter

Natural Speech Rhythm

1 I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I of- | fend not • in my | tongue. ||

2 I will keep my mouth as it were with a bridle, * while the un- | 3 godly is | in my | sight. ||

3 I held my | tongue, and • spake | nothing: ||

I kept silence, yea, even from good words; * 3 but | it was | pain and | grief • to me. ||

4 My heart was hot within me: and while I was thus | musing the • fire | kindled, ||

and at the | last I | spake • with my | tongue: ||

5 Lord, let me know mine end, and the | number • of my | days; ||

that I may be certified how | long I | have to | live. ||

6 Behold, thou hast made my days as it were a span long, * and mine age is even as nothing in re- | spect of | thee; ||

and verily every man | living • is | alto•gether | vani•ty. ||

7 For man walketh in a vain shadow, and dis- | quieteth him•self in | vain; ||

he heapeth up riches, and | cannot • tell | who shall | gather • them. ||

8 And now, Lord, 3 what | is my | hope? ||

truly my | hope is | 3 even in | thee. ||

9 Deliver me from | all • mine of- | fences; ||

and make me | 3 not a • re- | buke un•to the | foolish. ||

Or, 10 I became dumb, and | opened • not my | mouth; ||

3 for | it was | thy | doing. ||

§ 10 I became | dumb, and | opened ||

not my | mouth; * for | it was • thy | doing. ||

11 Take thy | plague a- | way • from me: ||

I am even consumed by the | 3 means of • thy | heavy | hand. ||

12 When thou with rebukes dost chasten man for sin, thou makest his beauty to consume away, * like as it were a moth | 3 fretting a | garment: ||

every man | therefore | is but | vani•ty. ||

13 Hear my prayer, O Lord, and with thine ears con- | 3 sider my | calling; ||

3 hold | not thy | peace • at my | tears; ||

14 For I am a | 3 stranger with | thee, ||

and a | sojourn•er, as | all my | fathers • were. ||

15 O spare me a little, that I may re- | 3 cover my | strength, ||

before I go | hence, • and be | no more | seen. ||

Glory | be • to the | Father, ||

and to the Son, | and • to the | Holy | Ghost; ||

As it | was in • the be- | ginning, ||

is now, and ever shall be, * | world with•out | end. A- | men. ||