Psalm 39
Expanded Bible
Life Is Short
For the director of music. For Jeduthun [C Levitical musician; 1 Chr. 16:41–42; 25:1, 6; 2 Chr. 5:12]. A psalm of David.
39 I said, “I will ·be careful how I act [L guard my way]
    and will not sin ·by what I say [L with my tongue].
I will ·be careful what I say [L keep a muzzle on my mouth]
    around wicked people.”
2 So I kept ·very quiet [silent and still].
    I didn’t even say anything good,
    but ·I became even more upset [L my agony/sorrow got worse].
3 ·I became very angry inside [L My heart grew hot within me],
    and as I ·thought [meditated] about it, ·my anger [L a fire] burned.
    So I ·spoke [L said with my tongue]:
4 “Lord, ·tell [inform; reveal to] me when ·the end [or my end] will come
    and how long ·I will live [L will be my days].
    Let me know how ·long I have [L fleeting I am; 90:1–12].
5 You have given ·me only a short life [L my days a handbreadth; C about four inches];
    my lifetime is like nothing to you.
    Everyone’s life is only ·a breath [vapor; Eccl. 1:2]. ·
6 People are like shadows moving about.
    All their ·work [or wealth; or turmoil] is ·for nothing [a breath/vapor; Luke 12:13–21; James 4:3–17];
they ·collect things [accumulate riches/wealth] but don’t know who will ·get [gather] them.
7 “So, Lord, what ·hope do I have [do I wait for]?
    You are my hope.
8 Save me from all my ·sins [transgressions].
    Don’t ·let wicked fools make fun of me [L set the scorn of fools on me].
9 I am quiet; I do not open my mouth,
    because you are the one who has done this.
10 ·Quit punishing me [L Turn your blows/scourge away from me];
    ·your beating is about to kill me [L I am exhausted/finished from the hostility/beatings of your hand].
11 You correct and punish people for their sins;
    like a moth, you destroy what they ·love [covet; desire].
Everyone’s life is only a ·breath [vapor; Eccl. 1:2]. ·
12 “Lord, hear my prayer,
    and listen to my cry.
    Do not ignore my tears.
I am like a ·visitor [sojourner; wanderer; resident alien] with you.
    Like my ·ancestors [fathers], I’m only ·here a short time [a temporary resident].
13 Leave me alone so I can be happy
    before I leave and am no more.”
Psalm 39
King James Version
39 I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.
2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.
3 My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,
4 Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am.
5 Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.
6 Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.
7 And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish.
9 I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it.
10 Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thine hand.
11 When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah.
12 Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.
13 O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.
Salmos 39
Nueva Versión Internacional (Castilian)
Al director musical. Para Jedutún. Salmo de David.
39 Me dije a mí mismo:
«Mientras esté ante gente malvada,
    vigilaré mi conducta,
    me abstendré de pecar con la lengua,
    me pondré una mordaza en la boca».
2 Así que guardé silencio, me mantuve callado.
    ¡Ni aun lo bueno salía de mi boca!
Pero mi angustia iba en aumento;
3     ¡el corazón me ardía en el pecho!
Al meditar en esto, el fuego se inflamó
    y tuve que decir:
4 «Hazme saber, Señor, el límite de mis días,
    y el tiempo que me queda por vivir;
    hazme saber lo efímero que soy.
5 Muy breve es la vida que me has dado;
    ante ti, mis años no son nada.
¡Un soplo nada más es el mortal! Selah
6     Es un suspiro que se pierde entre las sombras.
Ilusorias son las riquezas que amontona,[a]
    pues no sabe quién se quedará con ellas.
7 »Y ahora, Señor, ¿qué esperanza me queda?
    ¡Mi esperanza he puesto en ti!
8 Líbrame de todas mis transgresiones.
    Que los necios no se burlen de mí.
9 »He guardado silencio; no he abierto la boca,
    pues tú eres quien actúa.
10 Ya no me castigues,
    que los golpes de tu mano me aniquilan.
11 Tú reprendes a los mortales,
    los castigas por su iniquidad;
como polilla, acabas con sus placeres.
    ¡Un soplo nada más es el mortal! Selah
12 »Señor, escucha mi oración,
    atiende mi clamor;
    no cierres tus oídos a mi llanto.
Ante ti soy un extraño,
    un peregrino, como todos mis antepasados.
13 No me mires con enojo, y volveré a alegrarme
    antes que me muera y deje de existir».
Footnotes
- 39:6 Ilusorias … que amontona (lectura probable); En vano hace ruido y amontona (TM).
Psalm 39
New International Version
Psalm 39[a]
For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.
1 I said, “I will watch my ways(A)
    and keep my tongue from sin;(B)
I will put a muzzle on my mouth(C)
    while in the presence of the wicked.”
2 So I remained utterly silent,(D)
    not even saying anything good.
But my anguish(E) increased;
3     my heart grew hot(F) within me.
While I meditated,(G) the fire(H) burned;
    then I spoke with my tongue:
4 “Show me, Lord, my life’s end
    and the number of my days;(I)
    let me know how fleeting(J) my life is.(K)
5 You have made my days(L) a mere handbreadth;
    the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath,(M)
    even those who seem secure.[b]
6 “Surely everyone goes around(N) like a mere phantom;(O)
    in vain they rush about,(P) heaping up wealth(Q)
    without knowing whose it will finally be.(R)
7 “But now, Lord, what do I look for?
    My hope is in you.(S)
8 Save me(T) from all my transgressions;(U)
    do not make me the scorn(V) of fools.
9 I was silent;(W) I would not open my mouth,(X)
    for you are the one who has done this.(Y)
10 Remove your scourge from me;
    I am overcome by the blow(Z) of your hand.(AA)
11 When you rebuke(AB) and discipline(AC) anyone for their sin,
    you consume(AD) their wealth like a moth(AE)—
    surely everyone is but a breath.(AF)
Footnotes
- Psalm 39:1 In Hebrew texts 39:1-13 is numbered 39:2-14.
- Psalm 39:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 11.
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