The Psalter of David with titles and collects according to the matter of each psalm.

PSALME 39. (Book 39)

A meditation of the shortnesse and vanity of our life, and a prayer preparatory to death.

I Said, I will take heed to my wayes: that I offend not in my tongue.

2 I will keep my mouth as it were with a bridle: while the ungodly 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 num∣ber of my dayes: that I may be certified how long I have to liue.

6 Behold, thou hast made my dayes as it were a span long: and mine age is even as no∣thing in respect of thee, and verily every man li∣ving is altogether vanitie.

7 For man walketh in a vain shadow, and disquieteth himselfe 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 rebuke unto the foolish.

10 I became dumbe, and opened not my mouth: for it was thy doing.

11 Take thy plague away from me: I am even consumed by the means of thy heavy hand.

12 When thou with rebukes dost chasten man for sinne, thou makest his beauty to consume away like as it were a moth fretting a garment: every man therefore is but vanitie.

13 Heare my prayer, O Lord, and with thine eares consider my calling: hold not thy peace at my teares.

14 For I am a stranger with thee, and a so∣journer: as all my fathers were.

15 O spare me a little, that I may recover my strength: before I go hence, and he no more seene.

The Prayer.

O Eternall God, who art without beginning or end of dayes, thou hast given us a short portion of time in the generations of this world; our condition is vaine, unsatisfying and full of dis∣quiet, and we have no hope but in thee, O Lord. O teach us to number our dayes, to remember,

and to know our end, that so we may never sinne against thee; and grant that we may live as al∣wayes dying, being of mortified soules & bodies, of bridled tongues and affections, and that instead of heaping up riches, we may strive for a treasure of good workes, laying up in store against the time to come, that having recovered out strength, lost by the commission of sinnes, when we go hence, and are no more seen, we ••ay have a residence in those mansions which are prepared for the Saints, by our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ. Amen.