Font Size
Psalm 39-40
Christian Standard Bible
Psalm 39-40
Christian Standard Bible
Psalm 39
The Fleeting Nature of Life
For the choir director, for Jeduthun. A psalm of David.
1 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)
2 I was speechless and quiet;
I kept silent, even from speaking good,
and my pain intensified.(B)
3 My heart grew hot within me;
as I mused, a fire burned.(C)
I spoke with my tongue:
4 “Lord, make me aware of my end
and the number of my days
so that I will know how short-lived I am.(D)
5 In fact, you have made my days just inches long,
and my life span is as nothing to you.
Yes, every human being stands as only a vapor.(E)Selah
6 Yes, a person goes about like a mere shadow.
Indeed, they rush around in vain,
gathering possessions
without knowing who will get them.(F)
7 “Now, Lord, what do I wait for?
My hope is in you.(G)
8 Rescue me from all my transgressions;
do not make me the taunt of fools.(H)
9 I am speechless; I do not open my mouth
because of what you have done.(I)
10 Remove your torment from me.
Because of the force of your hand I am finished.(J)
11 You discipline a person with punishment for iniquity,
consuming like a moth what is precious to him;(K)
yes, every human being 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 here with you as an alien,
a temporary resident like all my ancestors.(N)
13 Turn your angry gaze from me
so that I may be cheered up
before I die and am gone.”(O)
Psalm 40
Thanksgiving and a Cry for Help
For the choir director. A psalm of David.
1 I waited patiently for the Lord,
and he turned to me and heard my cry for help.(P)
2 He brought me up from a desolate[a] pit,
out of the muddy clay,(Q)
and set my feet on a rock,
making my steps secure.(R)
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.(S)
Many will see and fear,
and they will trust in the Lord.(T)
4 How happy is anyone
who has put his trust in the Lord
and has not turned to the proud
or to those who run after lies!(U)
5 Lord my God, you have done many things—
your wondrous works and your plans for us;
none can compare with you.
If I were to report and speak of them,
they are more than can be told.(V)
6 You do not delight in sacrifice and offering;
you open my ears to listen.[b]
You do not ask for a whole burnt offering or a sin offering.(W)
7 Then I said, “See, I have come;
in the scroll it is written about me.(X)
8 I delight to do your will, my God,(Y)
and your instruction is deep within me.”(Z)
9 I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly;
see, I do not keep my mouth closed[c]—
as you know, Lord.(AA)
10 I did not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I spoke about your faithfulness and salvation;
I did not conceal your constant love and truth
from the great assembly.(AB)
11 Lord, you do not[d] withhold your compassion from me.
Your constant love and truth will always guard me.(AC)
12 For troubles without number have surrounded me;
my iniquities have overtaken me; I am unable to see.
They are more than the hairs of my head,
and my courage leaves me.(AD)
13 Lord, be pleased to rescue me;
hurry to help me, Lord.(AE)
14 Let those who intend to take my life
be disgraced and confounded.
Let those who wish me harm
be turned back and humiliated.(AF)
15 Let those who say to me, “Aha, aha!”
be appalled because of their shame.(AG)
Psalm 39-40
New International Version
Psalm 39-40
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)
Psalm 40[c](AN)
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
1 I waited patiently(AO) for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.(AP)
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,(AQ)
out of the mud(AR) and mire;(AS)
he set my feet(AT) on a rock(AU)
and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song(AV) in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord(AW)
and put their trust(AX) in him.
4 Blessed is the one(AY)
who trusts in the Lord,(AZ)
who does not look to the proud,(BA)
to those who turn aside to false gods.[d](BB)
5 Many, Lord my God,
are the wonders(BC) you have done,
the things you planned for us.
None can compare(BD) with you;
were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
they would be too many(BE) to declare.
6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—(BF)
but my ears you have opened[e]—(BG)
burnt offerings(BH) and sin offerings[f] you did not require.
7 Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—
it is written about me in the scroll.[g](BI)
8 I desire to do your will,(BJ) my God;(BK)
your law is within my heart.”(BL)
9 I proclaim your saving acts(BM) in the great assembly;(BN)
I do not seal my lips, Lord,
as you know.(BO)
10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of your faithfulness(BP) and your saving help.
I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness
from the great assembly.(BQ)
11 Do not withhold your mercy(BR) from me, Lord;
may your love(BS) and faithfulness(BT) always protect(BU) me.
12 For troubles(BV) without number surround me;
my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.(BW)
They are more than the hairs of my head,(BX)
and my heart fails(BY) within me.
13 Be pleased to save me, Lord;
come quickly, Lord, to help me.(BZ)
14 May all who want to take my life(CA)
be put to shame and confusion;(CB)
may all who desire my ruin(CC)
be turned back in disgrace.
15 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”(CD)
be appalled at their own shame.
16 But may all who seek you(CE)
rejoice and be glad(CF) in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
“The Lord is great!”(CG)
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.
- Psalm 40:1 In Hebrew texts 40:1-17 is numbered 40:2-18.
- Psalm 40:4 Or to lies
- Psalm 40:6 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts but a body you have prepared for me
- Psalm 40:6 Or purification offerings
- Psalm 40:7 Or come / with the scroll written for me
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.