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Psalm 39

Yahweh, Make Me Know My End

For the choir director. For Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

I said, “I will keep watch over my ways
That I may not sin with my tongue;
I will keep watch over my mouth as with a muzzle
While the wicked are in my presence.”
2
I was mute with silence,
I even kept silent from speaking good,
And my anguish grew worse.
3
My heart was hot within me,
While I meditated the fire was burning;
Then I spoke with my tongue:
4
“Yahweh, cause me to know my end
And what is the extent of my days;
Let me know how transient I am.
5
Behold, You have made my days as handbreadths,
And my lifetime as nothing before You;
Surely every man, even standing firm, is altogether vanity. Selah.
6
Surely every man walks about as a shadow;
Surely they make an uproar in vain;
He piles up riches and does not know who will gather them.

7
“And now, Lord, what do I hope in?
My expectation is in You.
8
Deliver me from all my transgressions;
Make me not the reproach of the wicked fool.
9
I have become mute, I do not open my mouth,
Because it is You who have done it.
10
Remove Your plague from me;
Because of the opposition of Your hand I am wasting away.
11
With reproofs You chasten a man for iniquity;
You consume as a moth what is precious to him;
Surely every man is vanity. Selah.

12
“Hear my prayer, O Yahweh, and give ear to my cry for help;
Do not be silent at my tears;
For I am a sojourner with You,
A foreign resident like all my fathers.
13
Turn Your gaze away from me, that I may smile again
Before I go and am no more.”