Psalm 39 - English Standard Version (ESV)

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

  1. Psalm 39:6 Hebrew Surely as a breath

Cross references

  1. Psalm 39:1 : Ps. 62, title; 77, title; 1 Chr. 16:41; 25:1
  2. Psalm 39:1 : 1 Kgs. 2:4; 2 Kgs. 10:31
  3. Psalm 39:1 : Job 2:10
  4. Psalm 39:1 : See Ps. 34:13
  5. Psalm 39:2 : ver. 9; Job 40:4, 5; See Ps. 38:13
  6. Psalm 39:3 : Jer. 20:9; Luke 24:32; [Job 32:18, 19]
  7. Psalm 39:4 : Ps. 90:12
  8. Psalm 39:5 : Ps. 89:47; 90:4
  9. Psalm 39:5 : ver. 11; [Job 14:2]
  10. Psalm 39:6 : [1 Cor. 7:31; James 4:14]
  11. Psalm 39:6 : Ps. 49:10; Job 27:16, 17; Luke 12:20; [Eccles. 2:18, 21, 26; Jer. 17:11]
  12. Psalm 39:7 : Ps. 38:15
  13. Psalm 39:8 : See Ps. 44:13
  14. Psalm 39:9 : ver. 2
  15. Psalm 39:9 : 2 Sam. 16:10; Job 2:10
  16. Psalm 39:10 : Job 9:34; 13:21
  17. Psalm 39:11 : Ps. 80:16
  18. Psalm 39:11 : Ps. 49:14
  19. Psalm 39:11 : Job 13:28; Isa. 50:9
  20. Psalm 39:11 : See ver. 5
  21. Psalm 39:12 : Ps. 102:1
  22. Psalm 39:12 : Ps. 119:19; Lev. 25:23; 1 Chr. 29:15; Heb. 11:13; 1 Pet. 2:11; [Gen. 47:9]
  23. Psalm 39:12 : Ps. 119:19; Lev. 25:23; 1 Chr. 29:15; Heb. 11:13; 1 Pet. 2:11; [Gen. 47:9]
  24. Psalm 39:13 : Job 7:19
  25. Psalm 39:13 : Job 10:21
  26. Psalm 39:13 : Job 7:8; 14:10-12; 20:9

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