I Will Watch My Ways

1To the one directing. For Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

1 I said, “I will guard my ways

from sinning with my tongue;

I will guard my mouth with a muzzle,

as long as a wicked one is before me.”

2I was mute in silence,

I kept silent from good,

and my sorrow was stirred up.

3My heart became hot within me;

in my musing, a fire was kindled;

I have spoken with my tongue:

4“Cause me to know, O YHWH, my end,

and the measure of my days—

what is it?—That I may know how fleeting I am.

5Behold, as handbreadths have made my days,

and my lifetime as nothing before You.

Truly each one is a vapor,

each man is stationary.

Selah

6surely like a shadow every man goes about;

surely in vain they are in commotion;

he heaps up,

and does not know who will gather them.

7And now, what am I waiting, O Lord?

My hope, it is in You.

8May You deliver me from all my transgressions;

do not make me the reproach of the fool!

9I have become mute,

and cannot open my mouth—

O that You would act!

10Turn Your plague away from me!

By the blow of Your hand I am consumed.

11With rebukes over iniquity, You discipline a man,

the things he desires you melt away like a moth;

surely every man is a vapor.

Selah

12hear my prayer, O YHWH,

and turn your ear to my cry;

at my tears may You not be silent!

For I am a sojourner with You,

a sojourner like all my fathers.

13Turn Your gaze from me,

that I might be made glad,

before I go on and am no more.”