Psalms 39
39
The Vanity of Life
1For the leader, for Jeduthun.#1 Chr 16:41; Ps 62:1; 77:1. A psalm of David.
I
2I said, “I will watch my ways,
lest I sin with my tongue;
I will keep a muzzle on my mouth.”
3Mute and silent before the wicked,
I refrain from good things.
But my sorrow increases;
4my heart smolders within me.#Jer 20:9.
In my sighing a fire blazes up,
and I break into speech:
II
5Lord, let me know my end, the number of my days,
that I may learn how frail I am.
6To be sure, you establish the expanse of my days;
indeed, my life is as nothing before you.
Every man is but a breath.#Ps 62:10; 90:9–10; 144:4; Jb 7:6, 16; 14:1, 5; Eccl 6:12; Wis 2:5.
Selah
III
7Man goes about as a mere phantom;
they hurry about, although in vain;
he heaps up stores without knowing for whom.
8And now, Lord, for what do I wait?
You are my only hope.
9From all my sins deliver me;
let me not be the taunt of fools.
10I am silent and do not open my mouth
because you are the one who did this.
11Take your plague away from me;
I am ravaged by the touch of your hand.
12You chastise man with rebukes for sin;
like a moth you consume his treasures.
Every man is but a breath.
Selah
13Listen to my prayer, Lord, hear my cry;
do not be deaf to my weeping!
For I am with you like a foreigner,
a refugee, like my ancestors.#Ps 119:19; Gn 23:4; Heb 11:13; 1 Pt 2:11.
14Turn your gaze from me, that I may smile
before I depart to be no more.
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Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc
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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