1 I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I set a guard on my mouth, while the sinner stood in my presence.

2 I was dumb, and humbled myself, and kept silence from good words; and my grief was renewed.

3 My heart grew hot within me, and a fire would kindle in my meditation: I spoke with my tongue,

4 O Lord, make me to know mine end, and the number of my days, what it is; that I may know what I lack.

5 Behold, thou hast made my days * Alex. a span long. old; and my existence is as nothing before thee: nay, every man living is altogether vanity. Pause.

6 Surely man walks in a † Gr. image. shadow; nay, he is disquieted in vain: he lays up treasures, and knows not for whom he shall gather them.

7 And now what is my expectation? is it not the Lord? and my ground of hope is with thee. Pause.

8 Deliver me from all my transgressions: thou hast made me a reproach to the foolish.

9 I was ‡ Gr. made dumb. dumb, and opened not my mouth; for thou art he that made me.

10 Remove thy scourges from me: I have fainted by reason of the strength of thine hand.

11 Thou chastenest man with rebukes for iniquity, and thou makest his life to consume away like a spider's web; nay, every man is disquieted in vain. Pause.

12 O Lord, hearken to my prayer and my supplication: attend to my tears: be not silent, for I am a sojourner in the land, and a stranger, as all my fathers were.

13 Spare me, that I may be refreshed, before I depart, and be no more.