Psalms39

The psalmist, David, initially resolves to guard his tongue, but his internal sorrow eventually leads him to speak, lamenting the brevity and frailty of human life. He declares all men to be vanity, even at their best, and places his sole hope in the Lord. David then prays for deliverance from his transgressions and from God's chastening hand, seeking a moment of recovery before his end.

The Struggle for Silence

1
To the Overseer, to Jeduthun. --A Psalm of David. I have said, `I observe my ways, Against sinning with my tongue, I keep for my mouth a curb, while the wicked is before me.'
2
I was dumb with silence, I kept silent from good, and my pain is excited.
3
Hot is my heart within me, In my meditating doth the fire burn, I have spoken with my tongue.

The Frailty and Vanity of Man

4
`Cause me to know, O Jehovah, mine end, And the measure of my days--what it is ,' I know how frail I am .
5
Lo, handbreadths Thou hast made my days, And mine age is as nothing before Thee, Only, all vanity is every man set up. Selah.
6
Only, in an image doth each walk habitually, Only, in vain, they are disquieted, He heapeth up and knoweth not who gathereth them.

Hope in God Amidst Correction

7
And, now, what have I expected? O Lord, my hope--it is of Thee.
8
From all my transgressions deliver me, A reproach of the fool make me not.
9
I have been dumb, I open not my mouth, Because Thou--Thou hast done it .
10
Turn aside from off me Thy stroke, From the striving of Thy hand I have been consumed.
11
With reproofs against iniquity, Thou hast corrected man, And dost waste as a moth his desirableness, Only, vanity is every man. Selah.

The Stranger's Final Plea

12
Hear my prayer, O Jehovah, And to my cry give ear, Unto my tear be not silent, For a sojourner I am with Thee, A settler like all my fathers.
13
Look from me, and I brighten up before I go and am not!
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