Psalms 39
39
A Cry for Help
For the Pure and Shining One
A song of praising by King David # 39 The Hebrew inscription includes the name Jeduthun, which can be translated “praising.”
1-2Here’s my life motto, the truth I live by:
I will guard my ways for all my days.
I will speak only what is right, guarding what I speak.
Like a watchman guards against an attack of the enemy,
I’ll guard and muzzle my mouth
when the wicked are around me.
I will remain silent and will not grumble
or speak out of my disappointment.
But the longer I’m silent, the more my pain grows worse!
3-4My heart burned with a fire within me,
and my thoughts eventually boiled over
until they finally came rolling out of my mouth:
“Lord, help me to know how fleeting my time on earth is.
Help me to know how limited is my life
and that I’m only here but for a moment more.
5What a brief # 39:5 Interestingly, the Hebrew word for “brief” in this verse is “a handbreadth,” or the span of a man’s hand. Our life’s duration is compared to a mere six-inch span! time you’ve given me to live!
Compared to you my lifetime is nothing at all!
Nothing more than a puff of air—I’m gone so swiftly.
So too are the grandest of men;
they are nothing but a fleeting shadow!”
Pause in his presence
6We live our lives like those living in shadows. # 39:6 Or “like phantoms going to and fro.”
All our activities and energies are spent for things that pass away.
We gather, we hoard, we cling to our things,
only to leave them all behind for who knows who.
7And now, God, # 39:7 The Aramaic is Maryah, the Aramaic form of YHWH or Lord Yahweh. I’m left with one conclusion:
my only hope is to hope in you alone!
8Save me from being overpowered by my sin;
don’t make me a disgrace before the degenerate.
9Lord, I’m left speechless and I have no excuse,
so I’ll not complain any longer.
Now I know you’re the one who is behind it all.
10But I can’t take it much longer.
Spare me these blows from your discipline-rod.
For if you are against me, I will waste away to nothing.
11No one endures when you rebuke and discipline us for our sins.
Like a cobweb is swept away with a wave of the hand,
you sweep away all that we once called dear.
How fleeting and frail our lives!
We’re nothing more than a puff of air.
Pause in his presence
12Lord, listen to all my tender cries.
Read my every tear, like liquid words that plead for your help.
I feel all alone at times, like a stranger to you,
passing through this life just like all those before me.
13Don’t let me die without restoring
joy and gladness to my soul.
May your frown over my failure
become a smile over my success.
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Learn More About The Passion TranslationPsalms 39
39
Psalm 39
The Fleeting Nature of Life
For the choir director, for Jeduthun. A psalm of David.
1I said, “I will guard my ways
so that I may not sin with my tongue;
I will guard my mouth with a muzzle
as long as the wicked are in my presence.”#Ps 34:13; Jms 3:5–12
2I was speechless and quiet;
I kept silent, even from speaking good,
and my pain intensified.#Jb 40:4; Ps 38:13
3My heart grew hot within me;
as I mused, a fire burned.#Ps 32:4; Jr 20:9; Lk 24:32
I spoke with my tongue:
4“Lord, make me aware of my end
and the number of my days
so that I will know how short-lived I am.#Ps 78:39; 90:12; 103:14
5In fact, you have made my days just inches long,
and my life span is as nothing to you.
Yes, every human being stands as only a vapor.#Ps 62:9; 89:47; 144:4Selah
6Yes, a person goes about like a mere shadow.
Indeed, they rush around in vain,
gathering possessions
without knowing who will get them.#Ps 49:10; Ec 2:18–19; Lk 12:20; 1Co 7:31
7“Now, Lord, what do I wait for?
My hope is in you.#Ps 38:15
8Rescue me from all my transgressions;
do not make me the taunt of fools.#Ps 44:13; 79:4; 119:22
9I am speechless; I do not open my mouth
because of what you have done.#Ps 39:2
10Remove your torment from me.
Because of the force of your hand I am finished.#Jb 9:34; 13:21; Ps 32:4
11You discipline a person with punishment for iniquity,
consuming like a moth what is precious to him;#Is 50:9
yes, every human being is only a vapor.#Ps 39:5Selah
12“Hear my prayer, Lord,
and listen to my cry for help;
do not be silent at my tears.#Ps 35:22
For I am here with you as an alien,
a temporary resident like all my ancestors.#1Ch 29:15; Heb 11:13; 1Pt 2:11
13Turn your angry gaze from me
so that I may be cheered up
before I die and am gone.”#Jb 7:19; 10:20–21; Ps 102:24
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