39
Psalm 39
Yahweh, Make Me Know My End
For the choir director. For #39:0 1 Chr 16:41Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.
1I said, “I will keep watch over my ways
That I may not sin with my tongue;
I will keep watch over my mouth as with a muzzle
While the wicked are in my presence.”
2I was mute with silence,
I even kept silent from speaking good,
And my anguish grew worse.
3My heart was hot within me,
While I meditated the fire was burning;
Then I spoke with my tongue:
4“Yahweh, cause me to know my end
And what is the extent of my days;
Let me know how transient I am.
5“Behold, You have made my days as #39:5 A handbreadth was approx. 3 in. or 7.6 cmhandbreadths,
And my lifetime as nothing before You;
Surely every man, even standing firm, is #39:5 Or mere breathaltogether vanity. #39:5 Selah may mean Pause, Crescendo, Musical InterludeSelah.
6“Surely every man walks about as #39:6 Lit an imagea shadow;
Surely they make an uproar in vain;
He piles up riches and does not know who will gather them.
7¶“And now, Lord, what do I hope in?
My expectation is in You.
8“Deliver me from all my transgressions;
Make me not the reproach of the wicked fool.
9“I have become mute, I do not open my mouth,
Because it is You who have done it.
10“Remove Your plague from me;
Because of the opposition of Your hand I am wasting away.
11“With reproofs You chasten a man for iniquity;
You consume as a moth what is precious to him;
Surely every man is vanity. Selah.
12¶“Hear my prayer, O Yahweh, and give ear to my cry for help;
Do not be silent at my tears;
For I am a sojourner with You,
A foreign resident like all my fathers.
13“Turn Your gaze away from me, that I may #39:13 Or become cheerfulsmile again
Before I go and am no more.”