I said, I will take heed | to my ways,

* that I of- | -fend not in my tongue.

2 I will keep my mouth as it were | with a bridle,

* while the un- | -godly• is in my sight.

3 I held my tongue, and | spake nothing:

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

4 My heart was hot within me: and while I was thus musing the | fire kindled,

* and at the last I | spake with my tongue:

5 LORD, let me know mine end, and the number | of my days;

* that I may be certified how | long I have to live.

6 Behold, thou hast made my days as it were a span long, and mine age is even as nothing in re- | -spect of thee;

* and verily every man living is | altogether vanity.

7 For man walketh in a vain shadow, and disquieteth him- | -self in vain;

* he heapeth up riches, and cannot tell | who shall gather them.

8 And now, Lord, what | is my hope?

* truly my | hope is •even• in thee.

9 Deliver me from all | mine offences;

* and make me not a re- | -buke unto the foolish.

10 I became dumb, and opened | not my mouth;

* for | it was thy doing.

11 Take thy plague a- | -way from me:

* I am even consumed by the means | of thy heavy hand.

12 When thou with rebukes dost chasten man for sin, thou makest his beauty to consume away, like as it were a moth | fretting• a garment:

* every man | therefore is but vanity.

13 Hear my prayer, O LORD, and with thine ears con- | -sider• my calling;

* hold not thy | peace at my tears;

14 For I am a stranger with thee, | and a sojourner,

* as | all my fathers were.

15 O spare me a little, that I may re- | -cover• my strength,

* before I go hence, and | be no more seen.

Glory be to the Father, and | to the Son,

* and | to the Holy Ghost,

As it was in the beginning, is now, and | ever shall be,

* world without | end.  Amen.