1 To the Overseer, to Jeduthun. --A Psalm of David. I have said, `I observe my ways, Against sinning with my tongue, I keep for my mouth a curb, while the wicked is before me.'

2 I was dumb with silence, I kept silent from good, and my pain is excited.

3 Hot is my heart within me, In my meditating doth the fire burn, I have spoken with my tongue.

4 `Cause me to know, O Jehovah, mine end, And the measure of my days--what it is ,' I know how frail I am .

5 Lo, handbreadths Thou hast made my days, And mine age is as nothing before Thee, Only, all vanity is every man set up. Selah.

6 Only, in an image doth each walk habitually, Only, in vain, they are disquieted, He heapeth up and knoweth not who gathereth them.

7 And, now, what have I expected? O Lord, my hope--it is of Thee.

8 From all my transgressions deliver me, A reproach of the fool make me not.

9 I have been dumb, I open not my mouth, Because Thou--Thou hast done it .

10 Turn aside from off me Thy stroke, From the striving of Thy hand I have been consumed.

11 With reproofs against iniquity, Thou hast corrected man, And dost waste as a moth his desirableness, Only, vanity is every man. Selah.

12 Hear my prayer, O Jehovah, And to my cry give ear, Unto my tear be not silent, For a sojourner I am with Thee, A settler like all my fathers.

13 Look from me, and I brighten up before I go and am not!