I said, “I will take heed to my ways, *

that I may not offend with my tongue.

I will keep my mouth as with a bridle *

while the ungodly are in my sight.”

I held my tongue and spoke nothing; *

I kept silence, even from good words; but it was pain and grief to me.

My heart was hot within me, and while I was thus pondering the fire kindled, *

and at the last I spoke with my tongue:

“Lord, let me know my end and the number of my days, *

that I may learn how short my life is.

Behold, you have made my days as a span in length, *

and my age is even as nothing before you; and truly everyone living is but a breath.

For everyone walks about as a shadow, and disquiets himself in vain; *

he heaps up riches and cannot tell who shall gather them.

And now, Lord, what is my hope? *

Truly, my hope is in you.

Deliver me from all my offences, *

and make me not a taunt of the foolish.

I became mute and opened not my mouth, *

for it was you that brought it to pass.

Take your affliction from me; *

I am consumed by the blows of your heavy hand.

When you, with rebukes, chasten someone for sin, you consume what is dear to him, like a moth eating a garment; *

everyone therefore is but vanity.

Hear my prayer, O Lord, and with your ears consider my cry; *

hold not your peace at my tears.

For I am a stranger with you, *

and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.

O turn your gaze from me, that I may again be glad, *

before I go away to be seen no more.”

Blessed is the one who considers the poor and needy; *

the Lord shall deliver him in the time of trouble.

The Lord preserves him and keeps him alive, that he may be blessed upon earth, *

and delivers him not over to the will of his enemies.

The Lord comforts him when he lies sick upon his bed, *

and restores him from his bed of sickness.

I said, “Lord, be merciful to me; *

heal my soul, for I have sinned against you.”

My enemies speak evil of me: *

“When shall he die, and his name perish?”

And if anyone comes to see me, he speaks empty words; *

his heart conceives falsehood within him, and when he goes forth, he tells it.

All my enemies whisper together against me; *

even against me are they devising evil:

“A deadly thing has taken hold of him, *

and now that he lies down, he will rise up no more.”

Indeed, even my own familiar friend, whom I trusted, who also ate of my bread, *

has lifted up his heel against me.

But be merciful to me, O Lord; *

raise me up again, and I shall repay them.

By this I know you favor me, *

that my enemy does not triumph over me.

And when I am in health, you uphold me *

and shall set me before your face for ever.

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; *

world without end. Amen.