Psalms 39
39
Prayer for Wisdom and Forgiveness
To the leader: to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.
1I said, “I will guard my ways
that I may not sin with my tongue;
I will keep a muzzle on my mouth
as long as the wicked are in my presence.”
2I was silent and still;
I held my peace to no avail;
my distress grew worse,
3my heart became hot within me.
While I mused, the fire burned;
then I spoke with my tongue:
4“Lord, let me know my end,
and what is the measure of my days;
let me know how fleeting my life is.
5You have made my days a few handbreadths,
and my lifetime is as nothing in your sight.
Surely everyone stands as a mere breath. Selah
6Surely everyone goes about like a shadow.
Surely for nothing they are in turmoil;
they heap up, and do not know who will gather.
7“And now, O Lord, what do I wait for?
My hope is in you.
8Deliver me from all my transgressions.
Do not make me the scorn of the fool.
9I am silent; I do not open my mouth,
for it is you who have done it.
10Remove your stroke from me;
I am worn down by the blows#39.10 Heb hostility of your hand.
11“You chastise mortals
in punishment for sin,
consuming like a moth what is dear to them;
surely everyone is a mere breath. Selah
12“Hear my prayer, O Lord,
and give ear to my cry;
do not hold your peace at my tears.
For I am your passing guest,
an alien, like all my forebears.
13Turn your gaze away from me, that I may smile again,
before I depart and am no more.”
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Psalms 39: NRSV
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New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Psalms 39
39
Psalm 39
For the choir director; for Jeduthun; a psalm by David.
1I said,
“I will watch my ways so that I do not sin with my tongue.
I will bridle my mouth while wicked people are in my presence.”
2I remained totally speechless.
I kept silent, although it did me no good.
While I was deep in thought, my pain grew worse.
3My heart burned like a fire flaring up within me.
Then I spoke with my tongue:
4“Teach me, O Lord, about the end of my life.
Teach me about the number of days I have left
so that I may know how temporary my life is.
5Indeed, you have made the length of my days ⌞only⌟ a few inches.
My life span is nothing compared to yours.
Certainly, everyone alive is like a whisper in the wind. Selah
6Each person who walks around is like a shadow.
They are busy for no reason.
They accumulate riches without knowing who will get them.”
7And now, Lord, what am I waiting for?
My hope is in you!
8Rescue me from all my rebellious acts.
Do not disgrace me in front of godless fools.
9I remained speechless.
I did not open my mouth
because you are the one who has done this.
10Remove the sickness you laid upon me.
My life is over because you struck me with your hand.
11With stern warnings you discipline people for their crimes.
Like a moth you eat away at what is dear to them.
Certainly, everyone is like a whisper in the wind. Selah
12Listen to my prayer, O Lord.
Open your ear to my cry for help.
Do not be deaf to my tears,
for I am a foreign resident with you,
a stranger like all my ancestors.
13Look away from me so that I may smile again
before I go away and am no more.
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