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For the Chief Musician. For Jeduthun. A Psalm by David.

39 I said, “I will watch my ways, so that I don’t sin with my tongue.
    I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me.”
I was mute with silence.
    I held my peace, even from good.
    My sorrow was stirred.
My heart was hot within me.
    While I meditated, the fire burned.
I spoke with my tongue:
    “Yahweh, show me my end,
    what is the measure of my days.
    Let me know how frail I am.
Behold, you have made my days hand widths.
    My lifetime is as nothing before you.
Surely every man stands as a breath.” Selah.
“Surely every man walks like a shadow.
    Surely they busy themselves in vain.
    He heaps up, and doesn’t know who shall gather.
Now, Lord, what do I wait for?
    My hope is in you.
Deliver me from all my transgressions.
    Don’t make me the reproach of the foolish.
I was mute.
    I didn’t open my mouth,
    because you did it.
10 Remove your scourge away from me.
    I am overcome by the blow of your hand.
11 When you rebuke and correct man for iniquity,
    you consume his wealth like a moth.
Surely every man is but a breath.” Selah.
12 “Hear my prayer, Yahweh, and give ear to my cry.
    Don’t be silent at my tears.
For I am a stranger with you,
    a foreigner, as all my fathers were.
13 Oh spare me, that I may recover strength,
    before I go away and exist no more.”

Psalm 39

The Fleeting Nature of Life

For the choir director, for Jeduthun. A Davidic psalm.

I said, “I will guard my ways
so that I may not sin with my tongue;
I will guard my mouth with a muzzle
as long as the wicked are in my presence.”(A)
I was speechless and quiet;
I kept silent, even from speaking good,
and my pain intensified.(B)
My heart grew hot within me;
as I mused, a fire burned.(C)
I spoke with my tongue:
Lord, reveal to me the end of my life
and the number of my days.
Let me know how short-lived I am.(D)
You, indeed, have made my days short in length,
and my life span as nothing in Your sight.
Yes, every mortal man is only a vapor.(E)Selah

“Certainly, man walks about like a mere shadow.
Indeed, they frantically rush around in vain,
gathering possessions
without knowing who will get them.(F)
Now, Lord, what do I wait for?
My hope is in You.(G)
Deliver me from all my transgressions;
do not make me the taunt of fools.(H)
I am speechless; I do not open my mouth
because of what You have done.(I)
10 Remove Your torment from me;
I fade away because of the force of Your hand.(J)
11 You discipline a man with punishment for sin,
consuming like a moth what is precious to him;(K)
every man is only a vapor.(L)Selah

12 “Hear my prayer, Lord,
and listen to my cry for help;
do not be silent at my tears.(M)
For I am a foreigner residing with You,
a temporary resident like all my fathers.(N)
13 Turn Your angry gaze from me
so that I may be cheered up
before I die and am gone.”(O)