Psalm 39

The Vanity of Life.

For the choir director, for Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

1 I said, "I will guard my ways
That I may not sin with my tongue;
I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle
While the wicked are in my presence."

2 I was mute and silent,
I trefrained even from good,
And my tsorrow grew worse.

3 My heart was hot within me,
While I was musing the fire burned;
Then I spoke with my tongue:

4 "LORD, make me to know my end
And what is the extent of my days;
Let me know how transient I am.

5 "Behold, You have made my days as handbreadths,
And my lifetime as nothing in Your sight;
Surely every man at his best is a mere breath. Selah.

6 "Surely every man walks about as ta phantom;
Surely they make an uproar for nothing;
He amasses riches and does not know who will gather them.

7 "And now, Lord, for what do I wait?
My hope is in You.

8 "Deliver me from all my transgressions;
Make me not the reproach of the foolish.

9 "I have become mute, I do not open my mouth,
Because it is You who have done it.

10 "Remove Your plague from me;
Because of the opposition of Your hand I am perishing.

11 "With reproofs You chasten a man for iniquity;
You consume as a moth what is precious to him;
Surely every man is a mere breath. Selah.

12 "Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry;
Do not be silent at my tears;
For I am a stranger with You,
A sojourner like all my fathers.

13 "Turn Your gaze away from me, that I may tsmile again
Before I depart and am no more."

Psalm 39

For the music director, Jeduthun; a psalm of David.

1 I decided, “I will watch what I say
and make sure I do not sin with my tongue.
I will put a muzzle over my mouth
while in the presence of an evil man.”

2 I was stone silent;
I held back the urge to speak.
My frustration grew;

3 my anxiety intensified.
As I thought about it, I became impatient.
Finally I spoke these words:

4 “O Lord, help me understand my mortality
and the brevity of life!
Let me realize how quickly my life will pass!

5 Look, you make my days short-lived,
and my life span is nothing from your perspective.
Surely all people, even those who seem secure, are nothing but vapor.

6 Surely people go through life as mere ghosts.
Surely they accumulate worthless wealth
without knowing who will eventually haul it away.”

7 But now, O Lord, upon what am I relying?
You are my only hope!

8 Deliver me from all my sins of rebellion!
Do not make me the object of fools’ insults!

9 I am silent and cannot open my mouth
because of what you have done.

10 Please stop wounding me!
You have almost beaten me to death!

11 You severely discipline people for their sins;
like a moth you slowly devour their strength.
Surely all people are a mere vapor. (Selah)

12 Hear my prayer, O Lord!
Listen to my cry for help!
Do not ignore my sobbing!
For I am dependent on you, like one residing outside his native land;
I am at your mercy, just as all my ancestors were.

13 Turn your angry gaze away from me, so I can be happy
before I pass away.