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].”

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 [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 silent and dumb, speechless: but my pain was stirred up.

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

My heart grew hot within me; as I mused, the fire was kindled, till at last the words came to 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!

“Teach me, O Lord, my end, and the sum of my days what it is. Let me know how transient 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.

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 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].

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 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].

And now, what wait I for, Lord? My hope is in you.

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.

From all my transgressions deliver me; make me not the scorn of the fool.

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

I am dumb, never opening my mouth, for this is your own doing.

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.

Remove your stroke from off me: by the might of your hand I am spent.

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 you rebuke someone to punish their sins, you consume, like a moth, what they treasures. Everyone is only a breath. (Selah)

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; 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 [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]”

Look away from me, let me smile again, before I die and am gone.