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And they that seek my hurt speak crafty devices,

And utter deceits all the day.

¹⁴But I am as a deaf man, I hear not;

And I am as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.

¹⁵Yea, I am become as a man that heareth not,

And in whose mouth are no arguments.

 

¹⁶For in Thee, O Lord, do I hope;

Thou wilt answer, O Lord my God.

¹⁷For I said: 'Lest they rejoice over me;

When my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.'

¹⁸For I am ready to halt,

And my pain is continually before me.

¹⁹For I do declare mine iniquity;

I am full of care because of my sin.

²⁰But mine enemies are strong in health;

And they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied. ²¹They also that repay evil for good

Are adversaries unto me, because I follow the thing that is good.

²²Forsake me not, O Lord;

O my God, be not far from me.

²³Make haste to help me,

O Lord, my salvation.

39 For the Leader, for Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

²I said: 'I will take heed to my ways,

That I sin not with my tongue;

I will keep a curb upon my mouth,

While the wicked is before me.'

³I was dumb with silence; I held my peace, had no comfort;

And my pain was held in check.

⁴My heart waxed hot within me;

While I was musing, the fire kindled;

Then spoke I with my tongue:

 

⁵'Lord, make me to know mine end,

And the measure of my days, what it is;

Let me know how short-lived I am.

⁶Behold, Thou hast made my days as hand-breadths;

And mine age is as nothing before Thee;

Surely every man at his best estate is altogether vanity. Selah

⁷Surely man walketh as a mere semblance;

Surely for vanity they are in turmoil;

He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

 

⁸And now, Lord, what wait I for?

My hope, it is in Thee.

⁹Deliver me from all my transgressions;

Make me not the reproach of the base.

¹⁰I am dumb, I open not my mouth;

Because Thou hast done it.

¹¹Remove Thy stroke from off me;

I am consumed by the blow of Thy hand.

¹²With rebukes dost Thou chasten man for iniquity,

And like a moth Thou makest his beauty to consume away;

Surely every man is vanity. Selah

 

¹³Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear unto my cry;

Keep not silence at my tears;

For I am a stranger with Thee,

A sojourner, as all my fathers were.

¹⁴Look away from me, that I may take comfort,

Before I go hence, and be no more.'

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