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Psalm 39
New Living Translation

Psalm 39

For Jeduthun, the choir director: A psalm of David.

1 I said to myself, “I will watch what I do
    and not sin in what I say.
I will hold my tongue
    when the ungodly are around me.”
2 But as I stood there in silence—
    not even speaking of good things—
    the turmoil within me grew worse.
3 The more I thought about it,
    the hotter I got,
    igniting a fire of words:
4 “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
    Remind me that my days are numbered—
    how fleeting my life is.
5 You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
    My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;
    at best, each of us is but a breath.” Interlude

6 We are merely moving shadows,
    and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.
We heap up wealth,
    not knowing who will spend it.
7 And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?
    My only hope is in you.
8 Rescue me from my rebellion.
    Do not let fools mock me.
9 I am silent before you; I won’t say a word,
    for my punishment is from you.
10 But please stop striking me!
    I am exhausted by the blows from your hand.
11 When you discipline us for our sins,
    you consume like a moth what is precious to us.
    Each of us is but a breath. Interlude

12 Hear my prayer, O Lord!
    Listen to my cries for help!
    Don’t ignore my tears.
For I am your guest—
    a traveler passing through,
    as my ancestors were before me.
13 Leave me alone so I can smile again
    before I am gone and exist no more.

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Psalm 39
EasyEnglish Bible

David wrote this song for Jeduthun, the leader of the music.

Life is short[a]

39 I said, ‘I will be careful what I do,
    so that I do not sin.
I will also be careful what I say.
When wicked people are listening,
    I will not even open my mouth.’
2 So I did not speak a word,
    even about good things.
That made me very upset.
3 It was like a fire inside me!
As I thought more about it,
    I just had to say something!
So I said this:
4 ‘Lord, tell me about my life.
Tell me how long it will be,
    and when it will finish.
I need to remember that life is only short.
5 Yes, you have made the days of my life only a few!
    The time that I live seems very short to you.
Human life is only a breath,
    even for those who seem to be strong.
Selah.
6 As we live, we are just like shadows.
    We work to get things for ourselves.
We may get a lot of money,
    but we do not know who will have it after we die.’

7 So, my Lord, what help can I hope to get?
    You are the only one that I can really trust!
8 Save me from all my sins!
    Do not let fools insult me.
9 I will not say anything more.
I will not open my mouth,
    because it is you who have punished me!
10 Please do not hurt me any more!
You have already punished me enough,
    so that I am almost dead!
11 When people do wrong things,
    you warn them and you punish them.
You destroy their valuable things,
    like a moth eats cloth![b]
Yes, our lives are only a breath!
Selah.
12 Lord, please hear my prayer.
    Listen to me when I call to you for help.
Do not turn away from me when I weep.
I need your help,
    like a foreign person who lives away from his home.
I live on earth as a stranger,
    like all my ancestors did.
13 Stop being angry with me,
    so that I can be happy again before I die.

Footnotes

  1. 39:1 David thinks about death in this psalm. He says that life is short and people soon go from the earth. They are like shadows, or a breath. So David finishes with a prayer: let me live a little longer and be happy.
  2. 39:11 A moth is an insect that may lay its eggs in clothes and spoil the clothes.
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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)

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.
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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.

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Psalm 38
Psalm 40
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