Psalms 39
39
PSALM 39
Common Meter: 8,6,8,6
To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthan,
A Psalm of David.
1I said, I will look to my ways,
lest with my tongue I sin:
In sight of wicked men my mouth
with bridle I'll keep in.
2With silence I as dumb became,
I did myself restrain
From speaking good; but then the more
increased was my pain.
3My heart within me waxed hot;
and, while I musing was,
The fire did burn; and from my tongue
these words I did let pass:
4Mine end, and measure of my days,
O Lord, unto me show
What is the same; that I thereby
my frailty well may know.
5Lo, thou my days an handbreadth mad'st;
mine age is in thine eye
As nothing: sure each man at best
is wholly vanity.
6Sure each man walks in a vain show;
they vex themselves in vain:
He heaps up wealth, and doth not know
to whom it shall pertain.
7And now, O Lord, what wait I for?
my hope is fix'd on thee.
8Free me from all my trespasses,
the fool's scorn make not me.
9Dumb was I, op'ning not my mouth,
because this work was thine.
10Thy stroke take from me; by the blow
of thine hand I do pine.
11When with rebukes thou dost correct
man for iniquity,
Thou wastes his beauty like a moth:
sure each man's vanity.
12Attend my cry, Lord, at my tears
and pray'rs not silent be:
I sojourn as my fathers all,
and stranger am with thee.
13O spare thou me, that I my strength
recover may again,
Before from hence I do depart,
and here no more remain.
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maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society
Psalms 39
39
Psalm 39
David wrote this song for Jeduthun, the leader of the music.
Life is short #39:1 David thinks about death in this psalm. He says that life is short and people soon go from the earth. They are like shadows, or a breath. So David finishes with a prayer: let me live a little longer and be happy.
1I said, ‘I will be careful what I do,
so that I do not sin.
I will also be careful what I say.
When wicked people are listening,
I will not even open my mouth.’
2So I did not speak a word,
even about good things.
That made me very upset.
3It was like a fire inside me!
As I thought more about it,
I just had to say something!
So I said this:
4‘Lord, tell me about my life.
Tell me how long it will be,
and when it will finish.
I need to remember that life is only short.
5Yes, you have made the days of my life only a few!
The time that I live seems very short to you.
Human life is only a breath,
even for those who seem to be strong.
Selah.
6As we live, we are just like shadows.
We work to get things for ourselves.
We may get a lot of money,
but we do not know who will have it after we die.’
7So, my Lord, what help can I hope to get?
You are the only one that I can really trust!
8Save me from all my sins!
Do not let fools insult me.
9I will not say anything more.
I will not open my mouth,
because it is you who have punished me!
10Please do not hurt me any more!
You have already punished me enough,
so that I am almost dead!
11When people do wrong things,
you warn them and you punish them.
You destroy their valuable things,
like a moth eats cloth! #39:11 A moth is an insect that may lay its eggs in clothes and spoil the clothes.
Yes, our lives are only a breath!
Selah.
12 Lord, please hear my prayer.
Listen to me when I call to you for help.
Do not turn away from me when I weep.
I need your help,
like a foreign person who lives away from his home.
I live on earth as a stranger,
like all my ancestors did.
13Stop being angry with me,
so that I can be happy again before I die.
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