A psalm written by David for Jeduthun, the choir director

1I said to myself, “I will be careful not to sin by the things that I say [MTY].
I will not say anything to complain while wicked people are near to me and can hear me.”

2So I was completely silent [DOU], and I did not even talk about things that were good, but it was useless, because I began to suffer even more.

3I became very anxious/worried [IDM]. As I thought about my troubles, I became more worried. Then finally I said [MTY],

4“Yahweh, show/tell me how long I will live. Tell me when I will die.
Tell me how many years I will live!

5It seems that you have caused me to live only a short time; ◄my lifetime/all the time that I have lived► seems like nothing to you.
The time that all we humans live is as short as [MET] a puff of wind. (Think about that!)

6Then we disappear like a shadow does. It seems that all that we do is for nothing/useless.
We sometimes get a lot of money, but we do not know who will get it after we die.

7So now, Yahweh, if I expect [RHQ] to receive blessings from other people, I will be disappointed. You are the only one from whom I confidently expect to receive blessings.

8Save me from being punished for all the sins that I have committed. And do not allow foolish people to make fun of me.

9I did not say anything when you punished me, because I knew that you were the one who caused me to suffer.

10But now, please stop punishing me! If you do not do that, I am about to die because of the ways that you [SYN] have struck/afflicted me.

11When you rebuke someone and punish him for the sin that he has committed, you destroy the things that ◄he loves/are precious to him►, like moths’ larva destroy clothing.
Our lives disappear like a puff of wind. (Think about that!)

12Yahweh, listen to me while I pray; pay attention to me while I cry out to you.
Help me while I am crying. I am here on the earth for only a short time, like all my ancestors.

13Now please leave me alone, and do not punish me any more in order that I may smile and be happy for a while before I die. [EUP, DOU]”