psalm

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 ©may not sin with my tongue;
I will (D)guard my mouth with a muzzle,
so long as the wicked are in my presence.”
I was (E)mute and silent;
I held my peace to no avail,
and my distress grew worse.
My (F)heart became hot within me.
As I mused, the fire burned;
then I spoke with my tongue:

“O Lord, (G)make me know my end
and what is the measure of my days;
let me know how fleeting I am!
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
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!

“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?
(L)My hope is in you.
Deliver me from all my transgressions.
(M)Do not make me the scorn of the fool!
(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 ®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