Psalm 39
Hoffnung für Alle
Viel Lärm um nichts!
39 Ein Lied von David. Für Jedutun[a].
2 Ich hatte mir fest vorgenommen,
vor bösen Menschen meine Zunge im Zaum zu halten;
ich wollte mich zusammennehmen und nichts sagen,
was man mir als Schuld anrechnen könnte.
3 Also verstummte ich und sagte kein Wort mehr.
Aber das half mir auch nicht weiter,
mein Schmerz wurde nur noch schlimmer.
4 Ich fraß den Kummer in mich hinein.
Je mehr ich darüber nachgrübelte,
desto tiefer geriet ich in Verzweiflung.
Ich konnte es nicht mehr länger aushalten –
schließlich platzte ich heraus:
5 »Herr, lass mich erkennen, wie kurz mein Leben ist
und dass meine Tage gezählt sind; wie vergänglich bin ich doch!
6 Wie begrenzt ist das Leben, das du mir gabst!
Ein Nichts ist es in deinen Augen!
Jeder Mensch, selbst der stärkste,
ist nur ein Hauch, der vergeht –
7 schnell wie ein Schatten verschwindet er.
Sein Tun und Treiben ist viel Lärm um nichts!
Er häuft sich Reichtümer an und weiß nicht, was einmal daraus wird.«
8 Worauf kann ich da noch hoffen?
Herr, du allein bist meine Hoffnung!
9 Vergib mir alle meine Sünden
und mach mich nicht zum Gespött dieser Narren!
10 Ich will jetzt schweigen und nichts mehr sagen,
denn du, Herr, du lässt mich leiden!
11 Befreie mich von den Qualen, die du mir zufügst!
Wenn du mich weiter plagst, komme ich um!
12 Wenn du einen Menschen wegen seiner Schuld strafst,
dann vergeht das Wertvollste, was er hat – sein Leben.
Es zerfällt wie ein Kleid, das die Motten zerfressen.
Jeder Mensch ist nur ein Hauch, der vergeht.
13 Höre mein Gebet, Herr, und achte auf meinen Hilfeschrei!
Schweige nicht, wenn du mein Weinen vernimmst!
Denn vor dir bin ich nur ein Gast auf dieser Erde,
ein Fremder ohne Bürgerrecht, so wie meine Vorfahren.
14 Strafe mich nicht länger in deinem Zorn,
damit ich mich noch einmal freuen kann,
bevor ich sterben muss und nicht mehr bin!
Footnotes
- 39,1 Nach 1. Chronik 16,41 der Begründer einer Musikgruppe am Tempel zur Zeit von König David. Vgl. auch Psalm 62,1; 77,1.
Psalm 39
English Standard Version
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.”
2 I was (E)mute and silent;
I held my peace to no avail,
and my distress grew worse.
3 My (F)heart became hot within me.
As I mused, the fire burned;
then I spoke with my tongue:
4 “O Lord, (G)make me know my end
and what is the measure of my days;
let me know how fleeting I am!
5 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
6 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!
7 “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?
(L)My hope is in you.
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions.
(M)Do not make me the scorn of the fool!
9 (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
- Psalm 39:6 Hebrew Surely as a breath
Psalm 39
1599 Geneva Bible
39 1 David uttereth with what great grief and bitterness of mind he was driven to these outrageous complaints of his infirmities. 2 For he confesseth that when he had determined silence, that he brast forth yet into words, that he would not, through the greatness of his grief. 4 Then he rehearseth certain requests which taste of the infirmity of man. 8 And mixeth with them many prayers: but all do show a mind wonderfully trembled, that it may plainly appear how he did strive mightily against death and desperation.
To the excellent Musician [a]Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.
1 I thought, [b]I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth bridled, while the wicked is in my sight.
2 I was dumb and spake nothing: I kept silence even from good, [c]and my sorrow was more stirred.
3 Mine heart was hot within me, and while I was musing, the fire kindled, and I [d]spake with my tongue, saying,
4 Lord, let me know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: let me know how long I have to live.
5 Behold, thou hast made my days as an hand breadth, and mine age as nothing in respect of thee: surely every man in his best state is altogether [e]vanity. Selah.
6 Doubtless man walketh in a shadow, and disquieteth himself in vain: he heapeth up riches, and cannot tell who shall gather them.
7 And now Lord, what wait I for? mine hope is even in thee.
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions, and make me not a rebuke unto the [f]foolish.
9 I should have been dumb, and not have opened my mouth, because [g]thou didst it.
10 Take thy plague away from me: for I am consumed by the stroke of thine hand.
11 When thou with rebukes dost chastise man for iniquity, thou as a moth [h]makest his [i]beauty to consume: surely every man is vanity. Selah.
12 Hear my prayer, O Lord, and hearken unto my cry: keep not silence at my tears, for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner as all my fathers.
13 Stay thine anger from me, that I may recover my strength, [j]before I go hence and be not.
Footnotes
- Psalm 39:1 This was one of the chief singers, 1 Chron. 16:41.
- Psalm 39:1 Albeit he had appointed with himself patiently to have tarried God’s leisure, yet the vehemency of his pain caused him to break his purpose.
- Psalm 39:2 Though when the wicked ruled, he thought to have kept silence, yet his zeal caused him to change his mind.
- Psalm 39:3 He confesseth that he grudged against God, considering the greatness of his sorrows, and the shortness of his life.
- Psalm 39:5 Yet David offended in that that he reasoned with God as though that he were too severe toward his weak creature.
- Psalm 39:8 Make me not a mocking stock to the wicked, or wrap me not up with the wicked, when they are put to shame.
- Psalm 39:9 Seeing my troubles came of thy providence, I ought to have endured them patiently.
- Psalm 39:11 Though thine open plagues light not evermore upon them, yet thy secret curse continually fretteth them.
- Psalm 39:11 The word signifieth all that he desireth, as health, force, strength, beauty, and in whatsoever he hath delight, so that the rod of God taketh away all that is desired in this world.
- Psalm 39:13 For his sorrow caused him to think that God would destroy him utterly: whereby we see how hard it is for the very Saints to keep a measure in their words, when death and despair assail them.
Psalm 39
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition
Psalm 39
Prayer for Wisdom and Forgiveness
To the leader: to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.
1 I said, ‘I will guard my ways
that I may not sin with my tongue;
I will keep a muzzle on my mouth
as long as the wicked are in my presence.’
2 I was silent and still;
I held my peace to no avail;
my distress grew worse,
3 my heart became hot within me.
While I mused, the fire burned;
then I spoke with my tongue:
4 ‘Lord, let me know my end,
and what is the measure of my days;
let me know how fleeting my life is.
5 You have made my days a few handbreadths,
and my lifetime is as nothing in your sight.
Surely everyone stands as a mere breath.Selah
6 Surely everyone goes about like a shadow.
Surely for nothing they are in turmoil;
they heap up, and do not know who will gather.
7 ‘And now, O Lord, what do I wait for?
My hope is in you.
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions.
Do not make me the scorn of the fool.
9 I am silent; I do not open my mouth,
for it is you who have done it.
10 Remove your stroke from me;
I am worn down by the blows[a] of your hand.
11 ‘You chastise mortals
in punishment for sin,
consuming like a moth what is dear to them;
surely everyone is a mere breath.Selah
12 ‘Hear my prayer, O Lord,
and give ear to my cry;
do not hold your peace at my tears.
For I am your passing guest,
an alien, like all my forebears.
13 Turn your gaze away from me, that I may smile again,
before I depart and am no more.’
Footnotes
- Psalm 39:10 Heb hostility
Hoffnung für Alle® (Hope for All) Copyright © 1983, 1996, 2002 by Biblica, Inc.®
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