Psalm 39:1-13
To the director; of Je·duʹthun.*+ A melody of David.
39 I said: “I will guard my stepTo avoid sinning with my tongue.+
I will guard my mouth with a muzzle+As long as anyone wicked is in my presence.”
2 I was speechless and silent;+I kept quiet even about what is good,But my pain was intense.*
3 My heart smoldered* inside me.
As I pondered,* the fire kept burning.
Then my tongue spoke:
4 “O Jehovah, help me to know what my end will be,And the measure of my days,+So that I may know how short my life is.*
5 Indeed, you have made my days just a few;*+And my life span is as nothing before you.+
Surely every man, though he seems secure, is nothing but a mere breath.+ (Selah)
6 Surely every man walks about like a shadow.
He rushes around* for nothing.
He piles up wealth, not knowing who will enjoy it.+
7 What, then, can I hope for, O Jehovah?
You are my only hope.
8 Save me from all my transgressions.+
Do not let the foolish one make me an object of contempt.
9 I remained speechless;I could not open my mouth,+Because this was your doing.+
10 Remove your plague from me.
I am worn down because your hand strikes me.
11 You correct man with punishment for his error;+You consume the things he treasures just as a moth does.
Surely every man is but a mere breath.+ (Selah)
12 Hear my prayer, O Jehovah,Listen to my cry for help.+
Do not ignore my tears.
For I am but a foreign resident to you,+A traveler passing through,* just like all my forefathers.+
13 Turn your harsh gaze away from me so that I may cheer upBefore I pass away and I am gone.”
Footnotes
^ Or “stirred up.”
^ Lit., “grew hot.”
^ Or “sighed.”
^ Or “how transient I am.”
^ Lit., “handbreadths.”
^ Lit., “makes noise.”
^ Or “A settler.”