Psalms 39
1 “A psalm of David. For the leader of the music of the Jeduthunites.” I said, I will take heed to my ways, That I may not sin with my tongue; I will keep my mouth with a bridle, While the wicked is before me.
For the leader; for Jeduthun. A psalm of David. I vowed to watch my words, and sin not with my tongue, but to put on my mouth a muzzle, while the wicked were in my presence.
2 I was dumb with silence; I spake not even what was good; But my pain was increased.
I was silent and dumb, speechless: but my pain was stirred up.
3 My heart was hot within me; In my anguish the fire burst forth, And I spake with my tongue:
My heart grew hot within me; as I mused, the fire was kindled, till at last the words came to my tongue.
4 LORD, make me to know mine end, And the number of my days, That I may know how frail I am!
“Teach me, O Lord, my end, and the sum of my days what it is. Let me know how transient I am.
5 Behold, thou hast made my days as a hand-breadth, And my life is as nothing before thee; Yea, every man in his firmest state is altogether vanity. (Pause)
See! My days you have made but a span, and my life is as nothing before you. It is but as a breath that everyone stands: (Selah)
6 Surely every man walketh in a vain show; Surely he disquieteth himself in vain; He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.
it is but in mere semblance we walk to and fro, and all our noise is for nothing. We heap up, and know not who will gather.”
7 What, then, O Lord! is my hope? My hope is in thee!
And now, what wait I for, Lord? My hope is in you.
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions; Let me not be the reproach of scoffers!
From all my transgressions deliver me; make me not the scorn of the fool.
9 Yet I am dumb; I open not my mouth; For thou hast done it!
I am dumb, never opening my mouth, for this is your own doing.
10 But remove from me thine infliction; For I am perishing by the blow of thine hand.
Remove your stroke from off me: by the might of your hand I am spent.
11 When thou with rebukes dost chasten man for iniquity, Thou causest his glory to waste away like a moth! Surely every man is vanity.
When you rebuke someone to punish their sins, you consume, like a moth, what they treasures. Everyone is only a breath. (Selah)
12 Hear my prayer, O LORD! Give ear to my cry; Be not silent at my tears! For I am but a stranger with thee, A sojourner, as all my fathers were.
Hear my prayer, O Lord; attend to my cry for help. Hold not your peace at my tears. For I am but a guest of yours, a stranger visiting, like all my ancestors.
13 O spare me, that I may recover strength, Before I go away, and be no more!
Look away from me, let me smile again, before I die and am gone.
