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
King James Version
39 I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.
2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.
3 My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,
4 Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am.
5 Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.
6 Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.
7 And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish.
9 I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it.
10 Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thine hand.
11 When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah.
12 Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.
13 O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.
Salme 39
Bibelen på hverdagsdansk
Et råb om hjælp i lidelse
39 Til korlederen Jedutun: En sang af David.
2 Jeg havde besluttet ikke at gøre noget forkert,
og jeg ville ikke sige noget overilet.
Jeg havde valgt at holde munden lukket,
når der var gudløse mennesker til stede.
3-4 Derfor tav jeg og sagde ikke et ord,
men det hjalp bare ikke.
Uroen brændte i mit indre,
og min frustration voksede.
Jo mere jeg tænkte, jo værre blev det,
til sidst var jeg nødt til at tale:
5 „Herre, hjælp mig at indse, at livet er kort,
dagene synes at flyve af sted.
6 Mit liv er kort ud fra dit perspektiv,
et menneskes liv er flygtigt som et vindpust.
7 Vi er som skygger, der farer forbi.
Man slider for at samle sig rigdom,
men ved ikke, hvem der får glæde af det.
8 Herre, hvad kan jeg forvente af livet?
Du er mit eneste håb.
9 Red mig ud af syndens sump,
så ikke tåberne skal hovere over mig.
10 Herre, jeg har intet at sige til mit forsvar,
for det er jo dig, som straffer mig.
11 Men Herre, jeg kan ikke holde det ud længere,
jeg ligger knust under din hånd.
12 Når du straffer folk for deres synder,
bliver de mast som møl.
Mennesket er jo flygtigt som et åndepust.
13 Hør min bøn, Herre, lyt til mit råb!
Luk ikke ørerne for min gråd.
Jeg er jo blot en fremmed på jorden,
en gæst på gennemrejse som mine forfædre.
14 Vend din vrede fra mig, Herre,
så jeg kan opleve glæden igen,
før jeg skal herfra.”
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
Bibelen på hverdagsdansk (Danish New Living Bible) Copyright © 2002, 2006 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.