Ψαλμοί 39

1 εἰς τὸ τέλος τῷ Ιδιθουν ᾠδὴ τῷ Δαυιδ εἶπα φυλάξω τὰς ὁδούς μου τοῦ μὴ ἁμαρτάνειν ἐν γλώσσῃ μου ἐθέμην τῷ στόματί μου φυλακὴν ἐν τῷ συστῆναι τὸν ἁμαρτωλὸν ἐναντίον μου

For Jeduthun, the music director. A psalm of David. I told myself, “I will be careful in what I do, and not sin in what I say. I will keep my mouth shut when the wicked are around.”

2 ἐκωφώθην καὶ ἐταπεινώθην καὶ ἐσίγησα ἐξ ἀγαθῶν καὶ τὸ ἄλγημά μου ἀνεκαινίσθη

So I was completely silent—I didn't even say anything good. But the pain inside only got worse.

3 ἐθερμάνθη ἡ καρδία μου ἐντός μου καὶ ἐν τῇ μελέτῃ μου ἐκκαυθήσεται πῦρ ἐλάλησα ἐν γλώσσῃ μου

My mind burned as if on fire; I had to say what I was thinking:

4 γνώρισόν μοι κύριε τὸ πέρας μου καὶ τὸν ἀριθμὸν τῶν ἡμερῶν μου τίς ἐστιν ἵνα γνῶ τί ὑστερῶ ἐγώ

Lord, remind me. How short is my life? How long do I have? Remind me how quickly my life will pass.

5 ἰδοὺ παλαιστὰς ἔθου τὰς ἡμέρας μου καὶ ἡ ὑπόστασίς μου ὡσεὶ οὐθὲν ἐνώπιόν σου πλὴν τὰ σύμπαντα ματαιότης πᾶς ἄνθρωπος ζῶν διάψαλμα

Just look at the tiny amount of days you have given me! In your eyes my whole lifetime is like nothing. Our lives here are just a breath… (Selah)

6 μέντοιγε ἐν εἰκόνι διαπορεύεται ἄνθρωπος πλὴν μάτην ταράσσονται θησαυρίζει καὶ οὐ γινώσκει τίνι συνάξει αὐτά

Human beings are just shadows walking around. They pointlessly rush through life, trying to pile up possessions without knowing who will get them.

7 καὶ νῦν τίς ἡ ὑπομονή μου οὐχὶ ὁ κύριος καὶ ἡ ὑπόστασίς μου παρὰ σοῦ ἐστιν

So Lord, what am I looking for? I put my hope in you.

8 ἀπὸ πασῶν τῶν ἀνομιῶν μου ῥῦσαί με ὄνειδος ἄφρονι ἔδωκάς με

Save me from my rebellion. Don't let me be mocked by fools.

9 ἐκωφώθην καὶ οὐκ ἤνοιξα τὸ στόμα μου ὅτι σὺ εἶ ὁ ποιήσας με

I will stay quiet, I won't say a word, for it's you who has done this to me.

10 ἀπόστησον ἀπ’ ἐμοῦ τὰς μάστιγάς σου ἀπὸ τῆς ἰσχύος τῆς χειρός σου ἐγὼ ἐξέλιπον

Please stop hitting me! Your beating has worn me out!

11 ἐν ἐλεγμοῖς ὑπὲρ ἀνομίας ἐπαίδευσας ἄνθρωπον καὶ ἐξέτηξας ὡς ἀράχνην τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ πλὴν μάτην ταράσσεται πᾶς ἄνθρωπος διάψαλμα

When you discipline us, reprimanding us for our sins, it's like a moth eating up what is precious to us. All of us are just a breath… (Selah)

12 εἰσάκουσον τῆς προσευχῆς μου κύριε καὶ τῆς δεήσεώς μου ἐνώτισαι τῶν δακρύων μου μὴ παρασιωπήσῃς ὅτι πάροικος ἐγώ εἰμι παρὰ σοὶ καὶ παρεπίδημος καθὼς πάντες οἱ πατέρες μου

Please hear my prayer, Lord! Listen to my cry for help! Don't be deaf to my weeping. Please treat me as your guest, passing through, just like my forefathers.

13 ἄνες μοι ἵνα ἀναψύξω πρὸ τοῦ με ἀπελθεῖν καὶ οὐκέτι μὴ ὑπάρξω

Please leave me alone so I can be cheerful again, before I am dead and gone.