I Will Watch My Ways

1For the end, a Song of David, to Idithun. 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

11Thou 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.

12O 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.

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