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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.”
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].
·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]:
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].
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]. ·Selah [Interlude]
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.

“So, Lord, what ·hope do I have [do I wait for]?
    You are my hope.
Save me from all my ·sins [transgressions].
    Don’t ·let wicked fools make fun of me [L set the scorn of fools on me].
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]. ·Selah [Interlude]

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.”

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.

I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.

My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,

Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am.

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.

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.

And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.

Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish.

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.

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».
Así que guardé silencio, me mantuve callado.
    ¡Ni aun lo bueno salía de mi boca!
Pero mi angustia iba en aumento;
    ¡el corazón me ardía en el pecho!
Al meditar en esto, el fuego se inflamó
    y tuve que decir:

«Hazme saber, Señor, el límite de mis días,
    y el tiempo que me queda por vivir;
    hazme saber lo efímero que soy.
Muy breve es la vida que me has dado;
    ante ti, mis años no son nada.
¡Un soplo nada más es el mortal! Selah
    Es un suspiro que se pierde entre las sombras.
Ilusorias son las riquezas que amontona,[a]
    pues no sabe quién se quedará con ellas.

»Y ahora, Señor, ¿qué esperanza me queda?
    ¡Mi esperanza he puesto en ti!
Líbrame de todas mis transgresiones.
    Que los necios no se burlen de mí.

»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

  1. 39:6 Ilusorias … que amontona (lectura probable); En vano hace ruido y amontona (TM).

Psalm 39[a]

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.

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.”
So I remained utterly silent,(D)
    not even saying anything good.
But my anguish(E) increased;
    my heart grew hot(F) within me.
While I meditated,(G) the fire(H) burned;
    then I spoke with my tongue:

“Show me, Lord, my life’s end
    and the number of my days;(I)
    let me know how fleeting(J) my life is.(K)
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]

“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)

“But now, Lord, what do I look for?
    My hope is in you.(S)
Save me(T) from all my transgressions;(U)
    do not make me the scorn(V) of fools.
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)

12 “Hear my prayer, Lord,
    listen to my cry for help;(AG)
    do not be deaf(AH) to my weeping.(AI)
I dwell with you as a foreigner,(AJ)
    a stranger,(AK) as all my ancestors were.(AL)
13 Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again
    before I depart and am no more.”(AM)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 39:1 In Hebrew texts 39:1-13 is numbered 39:2-14.
  2. Psalm 39:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 11.