Psalms 39

1 I said [to myself], “I will be careful not to sin by the things that I say [MTY]. I will not say anything [to complain] while wicked people are near to me [and can hear me].”

“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.

2 [So] I was completely silent [DOU], and I did not [even] talk about things that were good, but it was useless, because I began to suffer even more.

I was dumb with silence; I spake not even what was good; But my pain was increased.

3 I became very anxious/worried [IDM]. As I thought [about my troubles], I became more worried. Then [finally] I said [MTY],

My heart was hot within me; In my anguish the fire burst forth, And I spake with my tongue:

4 “Yahweh, show/tell me how long I will live. Tell me when I will die. Tell me how many years I will live!

LORD, make me to know mine end, And the number of my days, That I may know how frail I am!

5 [It seems that] you have caused me to live only a short time; (my lifetime/all the time that I have lived) seems like nothing to you. The time that all we humans live is [as short as] [MET] a puff of wind.

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)

6 Then we disappear like a shadow does. It seems that all that we do is for nothing/useless. We [sometimes] get a lot of money, but we do not know who will get it [after we die].

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.

7 So now, Yahweh, if I expect [RHQ] [to receive blessings from other people], I will be disappointed. You are the [only] one from whom I confidently expect [to receive blessings].

What, then, O Lord! is my hope? My hope is in thee!

8 Save me from [being punished for] all the sins that I have committed. And do not allow foolish people to make fun of me.

Deliver me from all my transgressions; Let me not be the reproach of scoffers!

9 I did not say anything [when you punished me], because [I knew that] you were the one who caused [me to suffer].

Yet I am dumb; I open not my mouth; For thou hast done it!

10 But now, please stop punishing me! [If you do not do that], I am about to die because of the ways that you [SYN] have struck/afflicted me.

But remove from me thine infliction; For I am perishing by the blow of thine hand.

11 When you rebuke someone and punish him for the sin that he has committed, you destroy the things that (he loves/are precious to him), like moths’ [larva] destroy clothing. Our lives [disappear like] a puff of wind.

When thou with rebukes dost chasten man for iniquity, Thou causest his glory to waste away like a moth! Surely every man is vanity.

12 Yahweh, listen to me while I pray; pay attention to me while I cry out to you. Help me while I am crying. I am here on the earth for only a short time, like all my ancestors.

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.

13 [Now] please leave me alone, [and do not punish me any more] in order that I may smile and be happy for a while before I die. [EUP, DOU]”

O spare me, that I may recover strength, Before I go away, and be no more!