Psalm 39:2–4

2 So I remained utterly silent,

not even saying anything good.

But my anguish increased;

3 my heart grew hot within me.

While I meditated, the fire burned;

then I spoke with my tongue:

4 “Show me, Lord, my life’s end

and the number of my days;

let me know how fleeting my life is.

2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good;

And my sorrow was stirred.

3 My heart was hot within me,

While I was musing the fire burned:

Then spake I with my tongue,

4 Lord, Make me to know mine end,

And the measure of my days, what it is;

That I may know how frail I am.

2 But as I stood there in silence—

not even speaking of good things—

the turmoil within me grew worse.

3 The more I thought about it,

the hotter I got,

igniting a fire of words:

4 “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.

Remind me that my days are numbered—

how fleeting my life is.

2 I was mute with silence,

I held my peace even from good;

And my sorrow was stirred up.

3 My heart was hot within me;

While I was musing, the fire burned.

Then I spoke with my tongue:

4 “Lord, make me to know my end,

And what is the measure of my days,

That I may know how frail I am.

2 So I kept very quiet.

I didn’t even say anything good,

but I became even more upset.

3 I became very angry inside,

and as I thought about it, my anger burned.

So I spoke:

4 “Lord, tell me when the end will come

and how long I will live.

Let me know how long I have.

2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good;

And my sorrow was stirred.

3 My heart was hot within me;

While I was musing the fire burned:

Then spake I with my tongue:

4 Jehovah, make me to know mine end,

And the measure of my days, what it is;

Let me know how frail I am.

2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace from good; and my sorrow was stirred. 3 My heart burned within me; the fire was kindled in my musing: I spoke with my tongue, 4 Make me to know, Jehovah, mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: I shall know how frail I am.

2 I remained totally speechless. 

I kept silent, although it did me no good. 

While I was deep in thought, my pain grew worse. 

3 My heart burned like a fire flaring up within me. 

Then I spoke with my tongue: 

4 “Teach me, O Lord, about the end of my life. 

Teach me about the number of days I have left 

so that I may know how temporary my life is. 

2 I was speechless and quiet;

I kept silent, even from speaking good,

and my pain intensified.

3 My heart grew hot within me;

as I mused, a fire burned.

I spoke with my tongue:

4 “Lord, reveal to me the end of my life

and the number of my days.

Let me know how short-lived I am.

2 I was silent and still;

I held my peace to no avail;

my distress grew worse;

3 my heart became hot within me.

While I mused, the fire burned;

then I spoke with my tongue:

4 “Lord, let me know my end

and what is the measure of my days;

let me know how fleeting my life is.

2 I was mute with silence. I was silent even from saying good things,

and my pain was stirred up.

3 My heart grew hot inside me;

in my sighing a fire burned.

Then I spoke with my tongue,

4 “Let me know, O Yahweh, my end,

and what is the measure of my days.

Let me know how transient I am.”

2 I was silent and kept quiet.

I didn’t even say anything good.

But the pain inside me grew worse.

3 My heart was deeply troubled.

As I thought about what was happening to me,

I became even more troubled.

Then I spoke out.

4 I said, “Lord, show me when my life will end.

Show me how many days I have left.

Tell me how short my life will be.

2 I was mute and silent,

I refrained even from good,

And my sorrow grew worse.

3 My heart was hot within me,

While I was musing the fire burned;

Then I spoke with my tongue:

4 “Lord, make me to know my end

And what is the extent of my days;

Let me know how transient I am.