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.”
To the chief music-maker. Of Jeduthun. A Psalm. Of David. I said, I will give attention to my ways, so that my tongue may do no wrong; I will keep my mouth under control, while the sinner is before me.
2 I kept silent; I kept back my words even from saying anything good, and my pain grew worse.
I made no sound, I said no word, even of good; and I was moved with sorrow.
3 My heart became hot; when I thought about these things, it burned like a fire. Then finally I spoke.
My heart was burning in my breast; while I was deep in thought the fire was lighted; then I said 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, give me knowledge of my end, and of the measure of my days, so that I may see how feeble 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)
You have made my days no longer than a hand's measure; and my years are nothing in your eyes; truly, every man is but 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.
Truly, every man goes on his way like an image; he is troubled for no purpose: he makes a great store of wealth, and has no knowledge of who will get it.
7 Now, Lord, for what am I waiting? You are my only hope.
And now, Lord, what am I waiting for? my hope is in you.
8 Rescue me from my sins; do not make me the reproach of fools.
Make me free from all my sins; do not let me be shamed by the man of evil behaviour.
9 I am silent and cannot open my mouth, because it is you who has done it.
I was quiet, and kept my mouth shut; because you had done it.
10 Stop wounding me; I am overwhelmed by the blow of your hand.
No longer let your hand be hard on me; I am wasted by the blows 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)
By the weight of your wrath against man's sin, the glory of his form is wasted away; truly 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.
Let my prayer come to your ears, O Lord, and give attention to my cry, make an answer to my weeping: for my time here is short before you, and in a little time I will be gone, like all my fathers.
13 Turn your gaze from me so that I may smile again before I die.”
Let your wrath be turned away from me, so that I may be comforted, before I go away from here, and become nothing.
