Psalms 39

¹For the music director. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David. I said, “I will guard my ways ⌞that I may not sin⌟ with my tongue. I will keep a muzzle over my mouth as long as the wicked are before me.” ²I was mute with silence. I was silent even from saying good things, and my pain was stirred up. ³My heart grew hot inside me; in my sighing a fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue, ⁴“Let me know, O Yahweh, my end, and what is the measure of my days. Let me know how transient I am.” ⁵Look, you have made my days mere handbreadths, and my lifespan as nothing next to you. Surely every person standing firm is complete vanity. Selah ⁶Surely a man walks about as a mere ⌞shadow⌟; surely in vain they bustle about. He heaps up possessions but does not know who will gather them in. ⁷And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is for you. ⁸From all my transgressions deliver me; do not make me the taunt of the fool. ⁹I am mute. I do not open my mouth, for you, yourself, have done it. ¹⁰Remove from me your affliction. By the opposition of your hand I perish. ¹¹When with rebukes you chastise a man for sin, you ⌞consume⌟ like a moth his delightful things. Surely everyone is a mere vapor. Selah ¹²Hear my prayer, O Yahweh, and listen to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my tears. For I am an alien with you, a sojourner like all my ancestors. ¹³Look away from me that I may be cheerful, before I depart and I am no more.