Song Collection

“I will take heed and guard my ways,” I said, “that I might keep my tongue away from sin; I with a muzzle watch and guard my mouth, when in the presence of the wicked men.” Silent and mute I stayed to no avail; I held my peace, and my distress increased. Hot was my heart, the fire burned as I mused; then, with my tongue I spoke my earnest plea: “LORD, make me know the end of all my days; teach me the measure of my fleeting life. You made my days a meager handbreath long; my lifetime is as nothing in your sight. “Surely mankind stands as a fleeting breath! Surely a shadow, man walks to and fro! Surely for naught he toils to gather wealth. Who will inherit? He will never know. “And now, O Lord, what am I waiting for? I put my hope and trust in you alone. Save me from all my wickedness and sin. O make me not the scorn of foolish men. “I am a mute; I open not my mouth, Lord, for this work was done at your command. But now remove your stroke away from me; I waste away beneath your hostile hand. “When you rebuke and chasten those who sin, you, like a moth, consume their gathered wealth. Lord, your rebukes destroy all they hold dear; O surely all mankind is but a breath. “LORD, hear my pray’r, my cry; hold not your peace! Like all my fathers, I’m a stranger here. Look not in wrath, that I may smile again, ere I depart in death to be no more.”