Psalms Chapter 39

For the Choir Director. A Psalm of David

Set to Jeduthun

¹ I said, “I’ll watch what I do

            so I won’t sin with my tongue;

      I’ll put a muzzle on my mouth

            while sinful people come around.”

² But when I kept silent even about what was good,

      it was of no avail;

      my agitation grew worse.

³ The more I thought about it

      the more the fire burned within me;

      so I spoke up:

⁴ “Yahveh, show me my end,

            how long I’ll live;

      let me realize how fleeting my life is.

⁵ You’ve made my days like handbreadths;

            my lifetime is only a moment to you.

      We all stand like a mere breath.

⁶ We walk around like shadows in turmoil for nothing;

      we accumulate wealth without knowing who will inherit it.       

Ps 39:1-6

⁷ “Now Lord, what is it I’m waiting for?

      You’re my only hope.

⁸ Save me from my sins;

         don’t let fools humiliate me.

⁹ I can’t open my mouth; I’m unable to speak

      because you’re the one that disabled me.

¹⁰ Stop striking me;

      I’m exhausted from your blows.

¹¹ You discipline us for our sins

         and consume like a moth what’s precious to us.

      Clearly, we’re all nothing more than a breath.               

Ps 39:7-11

¹² “Hear my prayer, Yahveh;

                  don’t ignore my tears

                  because I’m a passing guest,

                  a nomad like my ancestors.

¹³ Leave me alone so I can be happy again

      before I’m gone and don’t exist anymore.”                    

Ps 39:12-13