1 PSALM 39 The Vanity of Life. To the Chief Musician; for Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. I said, “I will guard my waysThat I may not sin with my tongue;I will muzzle my mouthWhile the wicked are in my presence.”
2 I was mute and silent [before my enemies],I refrainedevenfrom good,And myLit pain.distress grew worse.
3 My heart was hot within me.While I was musing the fire burned;Then I spoke with my tongue:
4 “L, let me know my [life’s] endAnd [to appreciate] the extent of my days;Let me know how frail I am [how transient is my stay here].
5 Behold, You have made my days as [short as] hand widths,And my lifetime is as nothing in Your sight.Surely every man at his best is a mere breath [a wisp of smoke, a vapor that vanishes]! Selah.
6 Surely every man walks around like a shadow [in a charade];Surely they make an uproar for nothing;Each one builds upriches,not knowing who will receive them.
7 “And now, Lord, for what do I expectantly wait?My hope [my confident expectation] is in You.
8 Save me from all my transgressions;Do not make me the scornandreproach of the [self-righteous, arrogant] fool.
9 I am mute, I do not open my mouth,Because it is You who has done it.
10 Remove Your plague from me;I am wasting away because of the conflictandopposition of Your hand.
11 With rebukes You discipline man for sin;You consume like a moth what is precious to him;Surely every man is a mere breath [a wisp of smoke, a vapor that vanishes]. Selah.
12 “Hear my prayer, O L, and listen to my cry;Do not be silent at my tears;For I am Your temporary guest,A sojourner like all my fathers.
13 O look away from me, that I may smileandagain know joyBefore I depart and am no more.”