| NET Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1For the music director, Jeduthun; a psalm of David. I decided, "I will watch what I say and make sure I do not sin with my tongue. I will put a muzzle over my mouth while in the presence of an evil man." | 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 stone silent; I held back the urge to speak. My frustration grew; | 2But as I stood there in silence— not even speaking of good things— the turmoil within me grew worse. |
| 3my anxiety intensified. As I thought about it, I became impatient. Finally I spoke these words: | 3The more I thought about it, the hotter I got, igniting a fire of words: |
| 4"O LORD, help me understand my mortality and the brevity of life! Let me realize how quickly my life will pass! | 4“LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is. |
| 5Look, you make my days short-lived, and my life span is nothing from your perspective. Surely all people, even those who seem secure, are nothing but vapor. | 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 people go through life as mere ghosts. Surely they accumulate worthless wealth without knowing who will eventually haul it away." | 6We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it. |
| 7But now, O Lord, upon what am I relying? You are my only hope! | 7And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you. |
| 8Deliver me from all my sins of rebellion! Do not make me the object of fools' insults! | 8Rescue me from my rebellion. Do not let fools mock me. |
| 9I am silent and cannot open my mouth because of what you have done. | 9I am silent before you; I won’t say a word, for my punishment is from you. |
| 10Please stop wounding me! You have almost beaten me to death! | 10But please stop striking me! I am exhausted by the blows from your hand. |
| 11You severely discipline people for their sins; like a moth you slowly devour their strength. Surely all people are a mere vapor. (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 |
| 12Hear my prayer, O LORD! Listen to my cry for help! Do not ignore my sobbing! For I am dependent on you, like one residing outside his native land; I am at your mercy, just 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. |
| 13Turn your angry gaze away from me, so I can be happy before I pass away. | 13Leave me alone so I can smile again before I am gone and exist no more. |
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