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.

La vida pasa

Al director. A Jedutún[a]. Canción de David.

Yo dije: «Seré cuidadoso con lo que haga,
    cuidaré mis palabras;
mantendré mi boca cerrada
    cuando esté rodeado de perversos».
Así que no dije nada.
    Ni siquiera dije cosas buenas.
    Pero me sentía aun peor.
Estaba furioso,
    y entre más lo pensaba, más molesto estaba.
    Así que decidí hablar:

«SEÑOR, dime qué pasará ahora.
    Dime cuánto tiempo me queda de vida.
    Quiero saber qué tan corta será mi vida.
Tú hiciste que mis días fueran sólo un suspiro.
    Mi corta vida no es nada ante ti;
    la vida de los seres humanos es como una nube. Selah

»La vida de los seres humanos es un simple reflejo en un espejo;
    desaparece rápidamente.
Nos afanamos por acumular cosas
    sin saber quién se quedará con ellas.

»Así que, Señor, ¿qué esperanza me queda?
    ¡Tú y sólo tú eres mi esperanza!
Tú me salvas de las rebeliones que he cometido.
    No permitas que se burlen de mí como de un tonto.
No pronunciaré ni una sola palabra; no diré nada.
    Tú harás lo que deba hacerse.
10 Deja de castigarme;
    me destruirás si no te detienes.
11 Tú castigas a la gente por su maldad,
    consumiendo como polilla sus tesoros
    para enseñarle la forma en que debe vivir.
Las cosas que la gente busca y atesora desaparecen fácilmente.
    Nuestra vida es como una nube de humo. Selah

12 »SEÑOR, escucha mi oración.
    Escucha mis lamentos.
    No ignores mis lágrimas.
Soy sólo un viajero
    que pasa por esta vida contigo.
Como todos mis antepasados,
    soy sólo un habitante temporal de este mundo.
13 Déjame solo[b] y déjame ser feliz
    antes de morir».

Footnotes

  1. Salmo 39 Jedutún o director, Jedutún. Uno de los tres músicos principales del templo. Ver 1 Cr 9:16; 16:38-42.
  2. 39:13 Déjame solo o Deja de mirarme.

Prayer for Wisdom and Forgiveness

To the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

39 I said, “I will guard my ways,
Lest I sin with my (A)tongue;
I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle,
While the wicked are before me.”
(B)I was mute with silence,
I held my peace even from good;
And my sorrow was stirred up.
My heart was hot within me;
While I was [a]musing, the fire burned.
Then I spoke with my tongue:

Lord, (C)make me to know my end,
And what is the measure of my days,
That I may know how frail I am.
Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths,
And my age is as nothing before You;
Certainly every man at his best state is but (D)vapor. Selah
Surely every man walks about like a shadow;
Surely they [b]busy themselves in vain;
He heaps up riches,
And does not know who will gather them.

“And now, Lord, what do I wait for?
My (E)hope is in You.
Deliver me from all my transgressions;
Do not make me (F)the reproach of the foolish.
(G)I was mute, I did not open my mouth,
Because it was (H)You who did it.
10 (I)Remove Your plague from me;
I am consumed by the blow of Your hand.
11 When with rebukes You correct man for iniquity,
You make his beauty (J)melt away like a moth;
Surely every man is vapor. Selah

12 “Hear my prayer, O Lord,
And give ear to my cry;
Do not be silent at my tears;
For I am a stranger with You,
A sojourner, (K)as all my fathers were.
13 (L)Remove Your gaze from me, that I may regain strength,
Before I go away and (M)am no more.”

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 39:3 meditating
  2. Psalm 39:6 make an uproar for nothing