Psalms 39
39
For Jeduthun, the choir director: A psalm of David.
1I said to myself, “I will watch what I do
and not sin in what I say.
I will hold my tongue
when the ungodly are around me.”
2But as I stood there in silence—
not even speaking of good things—
the turmoil within me grew worse.
3The more I thought about it,
the hotter I got,
igniting a fire of words:
4“Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered—
how fleeting my life is.
5You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;
at best, each of us is but a breath.” Interlude
6We are merely moving shadows,
and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.
We heap up wealth,
not knowing who will spend it.
7And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?
My only hope is in you.
8Rescue me from my rebellion.
Do not let fools mock me.
9I am silent before you; I won’t say a word,
for my punishment is from you.
10But please stop striking me!
I am exhausted by the blows from your hand.
11When you discipline us for our sins,
you consume like a moth what is precious to us.
Each of us is but a breath. Interlude
12Hear my prayer, O Lord!
Listen to my cries for help!
Don’t ignore my tears.
For I am your guest—
a traveler passing through,
as my ancestors were before me.
13Leave me alone so I can smile again
before I am gone and exist no more.
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Psalm 39
39
What Is the Measure of My Days?
To the choirmaster: to #Ps. 62, title; 77, title; 1 Chr. 16:41; 25:1Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.
1I said, “I will #1 Kgs. 2:4; 2 Kgs. 10:31 guard my ways,
that I #Job 2:10 may not sin with my tongue;
I will #See Ps. 34:13guard my mouth with a muzzle,
so long as the wicked are in my presence.”
2I was #ver. 9; Job 40:4, 5; See Ps. 38:13mute and silent;
I held my peace to no avail,
and my distress grew worse.
3My #Jer. 20:9; Luke 24:32; [Job 32:18, 19]heart became hot within me.
As I mused, the fire burned;
then I spoke with my tongue:
4“O Lord, #Ps. 90:12make me know my end
and what is the measure of my days;
let me know how fleeting I am!
5Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,
and #Ps. 89:47; 90:4 my lifetime is as nothing before you.
Surely #ver. 11; [Job 14:2]all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah
6Surely a man #[1 Cor. 7:31; James 4:14] goes about as a shadow!
Surely for nothing#39:6 Hebrew Surely as a breath they are in turmoil;
man #Ps. 49:10; Job 27:16, 17; Luke 12:20; [Eccles. 2:18, 21, 26; Jer. 17:11]heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!
7“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?
#
Ps. 38:15
My hope is in you.
8Deliver me from all my transgressions.
# See Ps. 44:13 Do not make me the scorn of the fool!
9 # ver. 2 I am mute; I do not open my mouth,
#
2 Sam. 16:10; Job 2:10 for it is you who have done it.
10 #
Job 9:34; 13:21 Remove your stroke from me;
I am spent by the hostility of your hand.
11When you discipline a man
with #Ps. 80:16 rebukes for sin,
you #Ps. 49:14 consume like a #Job 13:28; Isa. 50:9 moth what is dear to him;
# See ver. 5 surely all mankind is a mere breath! Selah
12 #
Ps. 102:1 “Hear my prayer, O Lord,
and give ear to my cry;
hold not your peace at my tears!
For I am #Ps. 119:19; Lev. 25:23; 1 Chr. 29:15; Heb. 11:13; 1 Pet. 2:11; [Gen. 47:9]a sojourner with you,
#
Ps. 119:19; Lev. 25:23; 1 Chr. 29:15; Heb. 11:13; 1 Pet. 2:11; [Gen. 47:9] a guest, like all my fathers.
13 #
Job 7:19 Look away from me, that I may smile again,
#
Job 10:21 before I depart and #Job 7:8; 14:10-12; 20:9am no more!”
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