Psalm 36

English Standard Version

How Precious Is Your Steadfast Love

To the choirmaster. Of David, the ^(A)servant of the Lord.

36 Transgression speaks to the wicked
    deep in his heart;^[a]
^(B)there is no fear of God
    before his eyes.
²^(C)For he flatters himself in his own eyes
    that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
³The words of his mouth are ^(D)trouble and deceit;
    ^(E)he has ceased to act wisely and do good.
⁴He ^(F)plots ^(G)trouble while on his bed;
    he sets himself in ^(H)a way that is not good;
    ^(I)he does not reject evil.

⁵Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
    your faithfulness to the clouds.
⁶^(J)Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;
    ^(K)your judgments are like the great deep;
    man and beast you ^(L)save, O Lord.

⁷^(M)How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
    The children of mankind take refuge ^(N)in the shadow of your wings.
⁸They feast on ^(O)the abundance of your house,
    and you give them drink from ^(P)the river of ^(Q)your delights.
⁹For with you is ^(R)the fountain of life;
    ^(S)in your light do we see light.

¹⁰Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who ^(T)know you,
    and your righteousness to ^(U)the upright of heart!
¹¹Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me,
    nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
¹²There ^(V)the evildoers lie fallen;
    they are thrust down, ^(W)unable to rise.

Footnotes

Psalm 36:1 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Syriac, Jerome (compare Septuagint); most Hebrew manuscripts in my heart

Psalm 39

English Standard Version

What Is the Measure of My Days?

To the choirmaster: to ^(A)Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

39 I said, “I will ^(B)guard my ways,
    that I ^(C)may not sin with my tongue;
I will ^(D)guard my mouth with a muzzle,
    so long as the wicked are in my presence.”
²I was ^(E)mute and silent;
    I held my peace to no avail,
and my distress grew worse.
³    My ^(F)heart became hot within me.
As I mused, the fire burned;
    then I spoke with my tongue:

⁴“O Lord, ^(G)make me know my end
    and what is the measure of my days;
    let me know how fleeting I am!
⁵Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,
    and ^(H)my lifetime is as nothing before you.
Surely ^(I)all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah
⁶    Surely a man ^(J)goes about as a shadow!
Surely for nothing^[a] they are in turmoil;
    man ^(K)heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!

⁷“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?
    ^(L)My hope is in you.
⁸Deliver me from all my transgressions.
    ^(M)Do not make me the scorn of the fool!
⁹^(N)I am mute; I do not open my mouth,
    ^(O)for it is you who have done it.
¹⁰^(P)Remove your stroke from me;
    I am spent by the hostility of your hand.
¹¹When you discipline a man
    with ^(Q)rebukes for sin,
you ^(R)consume like a ^(S)moth what is dear to him;
    ^(T)surely all mankind is a mere breath! Selah

¹²^(U)“Hear my prayer, O Lord,
    and give ear to my cry;
    hold not your peace at my tears!
For I am ^(V)a sojourner with you,
    ^(W)a guest, like all my fathers.
¹³^(X)Look away from me, that I may smile again,
    ^(Y)before I depart and ^(Z)am no more!”