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.

Vanidad de la vida

Para el director del coro, para Jedutún[a]. Salmo de David.

39 Yo dije: Guardaré mis caminos(A),
para no pecar con mi lengua(B);
guardaré mi boca como con mordaza(C),
mientras el impío esté en mi presencia.
Enmudecí y callé[b](D);
guardé silencio aun acerca de lo bueno,
y se agravó mi dolor[c].
Ardía mi corazón dentro de mí(E);
mientras meditaba, se encendió[d] el fuego;
entonces dije con mi lengua:
Señor, hazme saber mi fin(F),
y cuál es la medida de mis días,
para que yo sepa cuán efímero[e] soy(G).
He aquí, tú has hecho mis días muy breves[f](H),
y mi existencia es como nada delante de ti(I);
ciertamente todo hombre, aun en la plenitud de su vigor[g], es solo un soplo[h](J). (Selah[i])
Sí, como una sombra[j] anda el hombre(K);
ciertamente en vano se afana[k](L);
acumula riquezas, y no sabe quién las recogerá(M).

Y ahora, Señor, ¿qué espero?
En ti está mi esperanza(N).
Líbrame de todas mis transgresiones(O);
no me hagas la burla[l] de los necios(P).
Mudo me he quedado(Q), no abro la boca,
porque tú eres el que ha obrado(R).
10 Quita de mí tu plaga(S);
por la dureza de tu mano estoy pereciendo[m](T).
11 Con castigos corriges al hombre por su iniquidad(U);
como la polilla, consumes lo que es más precioso para él(V);
ciertamente, todo hombre es solo un soplo(W). (Selah)

12 Escucha mi oración, oh Señor, y presta oído a mi clamor(X);
no guardes silencio ante mis lágrimas(Y);
porque extranjero soy junto a ti(Z),
peregrino, como todos mis padres(AA).
13 Aparta de mí tu mirada(AB), para poder alegrarme,
antes de que me vaya de aquí[n], y ya no exista.

Footnotes

  1. Salmos 39:1 Véase 1 Crón. 16:41; Sal. 62 y 77
  2. Salmos 39:2 Lit., Enmudecí con silencio
  3. Salmos 39:2 O, pesar
  4. Salmos 39:3 O, ardió
  5. Salmos 39:4 O, frágil
  6. Salmos 39:5 Lit., como palmos
  7. Salmos 39:5 Lit., cuando está firme
  8. Salmos 39:5 O, es completa vanidad
  9. Salmos 39:5 Posiblemente, Pausa, Crescendo, o Interludio
  10. Salmos 39:6 O, imagen
  11. Salmos 39:6 O, se alborota
  12. Salmos 39:8 O, el escarnio
  13. Salmos 39:10 O, me estoy consumiendo
  14. Salmos 39:13 I.e., antes de que muera

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.

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.”
I was (E)mute and silent;
    I held my peace to no avail,
and my distress grew worse.
    My (F)heart became hot within me.
As I mused, the fire burned;
    then I spoke with my tongue:

“O Lord, (G)make me know my end
    and what is the measure of my days;
    let me know how fleeting I am!
Behold, 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
    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!

“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?
    (L)My hope is in you.
Deliver me from all my transgressions.
    (M)Do not make me the scorn of the fool!
(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.
11 When 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!”

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 39:6 Hebrew Surely as a breath