Psalms 39

A prayer about life in this world #39:1 David thinks about death in this psalm. He says that people soon disappear from the earth. They are like shadows, or a breath. David finishes with a prayer: ‘Let me live a little longer and be happy.’

1I said, ‘I will be careful what I do, so that I do not sin. I will also be careful what I say. When wicked people are listening, I will not even open my mouth.’

2So I did not speak a word, even about good things. That made me very upset.

3It was like a fire inside me! As I thought more about it, I just had to say something! So I said this:

4‘Lord, tell me about my life. Tell me how long it will be, and when it will finish. I need to remember that life is only short.

5Yes, you have made the days of my life only a few! The time that I live seems very short to you. Human life is only a breath, even for those who seem to be strong. Selah.

6As we live, we are just like shadows. We work to get things for ourselves. We may get a lot of money, but we do not know who will have it after we die.’

7So, my Lord, what help can I hope to get? You are the only one that I can really trust!

8Save me from all my sins! Do not let fools insult me.

9I will not say anything more. I will not open my mouth, because it is you who have punished me!

10Please do not hurt me any more! You have already punished me enough, so that I am almost dead!

11When people do wrong things, you warn them and you punish them. You destroy their valuable things, like a moth eats cloth! Yes, our lives are only a breath! Selah.

12Lord, please hear my prayer. Listen to me when I call to you for help. Do not turn away from me when I weep. I need your help, like a foreign person who lives away from his home. I live on earth as a stranger, like all my ancestors did.

13Stop being angry with me, so that I can be happy again before I die.