Psalm 39

1 I said, I will guard my ways, Lest I sin with my tongue;

Prayer for Wisdom and ForgivenessTo the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, While the wicked are before me.

2 I was mute with silence, I held my peace even from good; And my sorrow was stirred up.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 measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am. 5 Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah6 Surely every man walks about like a shadow; Surely they busy themselves in vain; He heaps up riches, And does not know who will gather them.7 And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You.8 Deliver me from all my transgressions; Do not make me the reproach of the foolish.9 I was mute, I did not open my mouth, Because it was You who did it. 10 Remove Your plague from me; I am consumed by the blow of Your hand.11 When with rebukes You correct man for iniquity, You make his beauty melt away like a moth; Surely every man is vapor. Selah12 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, as all my fathers were. 13 Remove Your gaze from me, that I may regain strength, Before I go away 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.