Psalms 39
1 For the chief musician, for Jeduthun. A psalm of David. I decided, “I will watch what I say so that I do not sin with my tongue. I will muzzle my mouth while in the presence of an evil man.”
For the Chief Musician. For Jeduthun. A Psalm by David. I said, “I will watch my ways, so that I don’t sin with my tongue. I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me.”
2 I kept silent; I kept back my words even from saying anything good, and my pain grew worse.
I was mute with silence. I held my peace, even from good. My sorrow was stirred.
3 My heart became hot; when I thought about these things, it burned like a fire. Then finally I spoke.
My heart was hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burnt. I spoke with my tongue:
4 “Yahweh, make me know when will be the end of my life and the extent of my days. Show me how transient I am.
“LORD, show me my end, what is the measure of my days. Let me know how frail I am.
5 See, you have made my days only the width of my hand, and my lifetime is like nothing before you. Surely every man is a single breath. (Selah)
Behold, you have made my days hand widths. My lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely every man stands as a breath.” (Selah)
6 Surely every man walks about like a shadow. Surely everyone hurries about to accumulate riches although they do not know who will receive them.
“Surely every man walks like a shadow. Surely they busy themselves in vain. He heaps up, and doesn’t know who shall gather.
7 Now, Lord, for what am I waiting? You are my only hope.
Now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you.
8 Rescue me from my sins; do not make me the reproach of fools.
Deliver me from all my transgressions. Don’t make me the reproach of the foolish.
9 I am silent and cannot open my mouth, because it is you who has done it.
I was mute. I didn’t open my mouth, because you did it.
10 Stop wounding me; I am overwhelmed by the blow of your hand.
Remove your scourge away from me. I am overcome by the blow of your hand.
11 When you discipline people for sin, you consume the things they desire like a moth; surely all people are nothing but vapor. (Selah)
When you rebuke and correct man for iniquity, you consume his wealth like a moth. Surely every man is but a breath.” (Selah)
12 Hear my prayer, Yahweh, and listen to me; listen to my weeping! Do not be deaf to me, for I am like a foreigner with you, a refugee like all my ancestors were.
“Hear my prayer, LORD, and give ear to my cry. Don’t be silent at my tears. For I am a stranger with you, a foreigner, as all my fathers were.
13 Turn your gaze from me so that I may smile again before I die.”
Oh spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go away and exist no more.”
