Hope in the LORD
391 [1]I said, "I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth while in the presence of the wicked." 2 So I remained utterly silent, not even saying anything good. But my anguish increased; 3 my heart grew hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue: 4 "Show me, Lord, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. 5 You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure.[2] 6 "Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be.
7 "But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you. 8 Save me from all my transgressions; do not make me the scorn of fools. 9 I was silent; I would not open my mouth, for you are the one who has done this. 10 Remove your scourge from me; I am overcome by the blow of your hand. 11 When you rebuke and discipline anyone for their sin, you consume their wealth like a moth- surely everyone is but a breath. 12 "Hear my prayer, Lord, listen to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. I dwell with you as a foreigner, a stranger, as all my ancestors were. 13 Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again before I depart and am no more."
Hope in the LORD
391 I said , "I will guard my ways That I may not sin with my tongue ; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle While the wicked are in my presence ." 2 I was mute and silent , I refrained even from good , And my sorrow grew worse . 3 My heart was hot within me, While I was musing the fire burned ; Then I spoke with my tongue : 4 "Lord , make me to know my end And what is the extent of my days ; Let me know how transient I am. 5 "Behold , You have made my days as handbreadths , And my lifetime as nothing in Your sight ; Surely every man at his best is a mere breath . Selah . 6 "Surely every man walks about as a phantom ; Surely they make an uproar for nothing ; He amasses riches and does not know who will gather them.
7 "And now , Lord , for what do I wait ? My hope is in You. 8 " Deliver me from all my transgressions ; Make me not the reproach of the foolish . 9 "I have become mute , I do not open my mouth , Because it is You who have done it. 10 " Remove Your plague from me; Because of the opposition of Your hand I am perishing . 11 "With reproofs You chasten a man for iniquity ; You consume as a moth what is precious to him; Surely every man is a mere breath . Selah . 12 " Hear my prayer , O Lord , and give ear to my cry ; Do not be silent at my tears ; For I am a stranger with You, A sojourner like all my fathers . 13 " Turn Your gaze away from me, that I may smile again Before I depart and am no more ."
Hope in the LORD
391 I'm determined to watch steps and tongue so they won't land me in trouble. I decided to hold my tongue as long as Wicked is in the room. 2 "Mum's the word," I said, and kept quiet. But the longer I kept silence The worse it got - 3 my insides got hotter and hotter. My thoughts boiled over; I spilled my guts. 4 "Tell me, what's going on, God? How long do I have to live? Give me the bad news! 5 You've kept me on pretty short rations; my life is string too short to be saved. 6 Oh! we're all puffs of air. Oh! we're all shadows in a campfire. Oh! we're just spit in the wind. We make our pile, and then we leave it.
7 "What am I doing in the meantime, Lord? Hoping, that's what I'm doing - hoping 8 You'll save me from a rebel life, save me from the contempt of dunces. 9 I'll say no more, I'll shut my mouth, since you, Lord, are behind all this. 10 But I can't take it much longer. When you put us through the fire 11 to purge us from our sin, our dearest idols go up in smoke. Are we also nothing but smoke? 12 "Ah, God, listen to my prayer, my cry - open your ears. Don't be callous; just look at these tears of mine. I'm a stranger here. I don't know my way - a migrant like my whole family. 13 Give me a break, cut me some slack before it's too late and I'm out of here."