Psalm

⁴Lord, make me to know my end and [to appreciate] the measure of my days–what it is; let me know and realize how frail I am [how transient is my stay here]. ⁵Behold, You have made my days as [short as] handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing in Your sight. Truly every man at his best is merely a breath! Selah [pause, and think calmly of that]! ⁶Surely every man walks to and fro–like a shadow in a pantomime; surely for futility and emptiness he is in turmoil; each one heaps up riches, not knowing who will gather them. [I Cor. 7:31; James 4:14.] ⁷And now, Lord, what do I wait for and expect? My hope and expectation are in You. ⁸Deliver me from all my transgressions; make me not the scorn and reproach of the [self-confident] fool! ⁹I am dumb, I open not my mouth, for it is You Who has done it. ¹⁰Remove Your stroke away from me; I am consumed by the conflict and the blow of Your hand.