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The Confession of a Sufferer[a]

39 I said, “I will be careful about what I do
    and will not let my tongue make me sin;
I will not say anything
    while evil people are near.”
I kept quiet, not saying a word,
    not even about anything good!
But my suffering only grew worse,
    and I was overcome with anxiety.
The more I thought, the more troubled I became;
    I could not keep from asking:
Lord, how long will I live?
    When will I die?
    Tell me how soon my life will end.”

How short you have made my life!
    In your sight my lifetime seems nothing.
Indeed every living being is no more than a puff of wind,
    no more than a shadow.
All we do is for nothing;
    we gather wealth, but don't know who will get it.

What, then, can I hope for, Lord?
    I put my hope in you.
Save me from all my sins,
    and don't let fools make fun of me.
I will keep quiet, I will not say a word,
    for you are the one who made me suffer like this.
10 Don't punish me any more!
    I am about to die from your blows.
11 You punish our sins by your rebukes,
    and like a moth you destroy what we love.
Indeed we are no more than a puff of wind!

12 Hear my prayer, Lord,
    and listen to my cry;
    come to my aid when I weep.
Like all my ancestors
    I am only your guest for a little while.
13 Leave me alone so that I may have some happiness
    before I go away and am no more.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 39:1 HEBREW TITLE: A psalm by David.

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