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For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.

39 I said, “I will be careful about how I live.
    I will not sin by what I say.
I will keep my mouth closed
    when I am near sinful people.”
So I was completely silent.
    I didn’t even say anything good.
    But the pain inside me grew worse.
My heart was deeply troubled.
    As I thought about what was happening to me,
I became even more troubled.
    Then I spoke out.

I said, “Lord, show me when my life will end.
    Show me how many days I have left.
    Tell me how short my life will be.
You have given me only a few days to live.
    My whole life doesn’t seem like anything to you.
    No one lasts any longer than a breath.
    This is true even for those who feel secure.
People are only shadows as they go here and there.
    They rush around, but it doesn’t mean anything.
    They pile up wealth, but they don’t know who will finally get it.

“Lord, what can I look forward to now?
    You are the only hope I have.
Save me from all the wrong things I’ve done.
    Don’t let foolish people make fun of me.
I keep silent. I don’t open my mouth.
    You are the one who has caused all this to happen.
10 Please stop beating me.
    I’m about to die from the blows of your hand.
11 You correct and punish people for their sin.
    Then, just as a moth eats cloth, you destroy their wealth.
    No one lasts any longer than a breath.

12 Lord, hear my prayer.
    Listen to my cry for help.
    Pay attention to my weeping.
I’m like an outsider in your home.
    I’m just a stranger, like all my family who lived before me.
13 Leave me alone.
    Let me enjoy life again before I die.”

Psalm 39[a]

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.

I said, “I will watch my ways(A)
    and keep my tongue from sin;(B)
I will put a muzzle on my mouth(C)
    while in the presence of the wicked.”
So I remained utterly silent,(D)
    not even saying anything good.
But my anguish(E) increased;
    my heart grew hot(F) within me.
While I meditated,(G) the fire(H) burned;
    then I spoke with my tongue:

“Show me, Lord, my life’s end
    and the number of my days;(I)
    let me know how fleeting(J) my life is.(K)
You have made my days(L) a mere handbreadth;
    the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath,(M)
    even those who seem secure.[b]

“Surely everyone goes around(N) like a mere phantom;(O)
    in vain they rush about,(P) heaping up wealth(Q)
    without knowing whose it will finally be.(R)

“But now, Lord, what do I look for?
    My hope is in you.(S)
Save me(T) from all my transgressions;(U)
    do not make me the scorn(V) of fools.
I was silent;(W) I would not open my mouth,(X)
    for you are the one who has done this.(Y)
10 Remove your scourge from me;
    I am overcome by the blow(Z) of your hand.(AA)
11 When you rebuke(AB) and discipline(AC) anyone for their sin,
    you consume(AD) their wealth like a moth(AE)
    surely everyone is but a breath.(AF)

12 “Hear my prayer, Lord,
    listen to my cry for help;(AG)
    do not be deaf(AH) to my weeping.(AI)
I dwell with you as a foreigner,(AJ)
    a stranger,(AK) as all my ancestors were.(AL)
13 Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again
    before I depart and am no more.”(AM)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 39:1 In Hebrew texts 39:1-13 is numbered 39:2-14.
  2. Psalm 39:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 11.

39 I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.

I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.

My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,

Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am.

Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.

Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish.

I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it.

10 Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thine hand.

11 When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah.

12 Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.

13 O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.