Psalm 39–41

Psalm 39

THE FLEETING NATURE OF LIFE

For the choir director, for Jeduthun. A psalm of David.

¹I said, “I will guard my ways

so that I may not sin with my tongue;

I will guard my mouth with a muzzle

as long as the wicked are in my presence.”^ac

²I was speechless and quiet;

I kept silent, even from speaking good,

and my pain intensified.^a

³My heart grew hot within me;

as I mused, a fire burned.^b

I spoke with my tongue:

⁴“Lord, make me aware of my end

and the number of my days

so that I will know how short-lived I am.^c

⁵In fact, you have made my days just inches long,

and my life span is as nothing to you.

Yes, every human being stands as only a vapor.^d

Selah

⁶Yes, a person goes about like a mere shadow.

Indeed, they rush around in vain,

gathering possessions

without knowing who will get them.^e

⁷“Now, Lord, what do I wait for?

My hope is in you.^f

⁸Rescue me from all my transgressions;

do not make me the taunt of fools.^g

⁹I am speechless; I do not open my mouth

because of what you have done.^h

¹⁰Remove your torment from me.

Because of the force of your hand I am finished.ⁱ

¹¹You discipline a person with punishment for iniquity,

consuming like a moth what is precious to him;^j

yes, every human being is only a vapor.^k

Selah

¹²“Hear my prayer, Lord,

and listen to my cry for help;

do not be silent at my tears.^l

For I am here with you as an alien,

a temporary resident like all my ancestors.^m

¹³Turn your angry gaze from me

so that I may be cheered up

before I die and am gone.”ⁿ

Psalm 40

THANKSGIVING AND A CRY FOR HELP

For the choir director. A psalm of David.

¹I waited patiently for the Lord,

and he turned to me and heard my cry for help.^o

²He brought me up from a desolate^A pit,

out of the muddy clay,^p

and set my feet on a rock,

making my steps secure.^q

³He put a new song in my mouth,

a hymn of praise to our God.^r

Many will see and fear,

and they will trust in the Lord.^s

⁴How happy is anyone

who has put his trust in the Lord

and has not turned to the proud

or to those who run after lies!^t

⁵Lord my God, you have done many things—

your wondrous works and your plans for us;

none can compare with you.

If I were to report and speak of them,

they are more than can be told.^u

⁶You do not delight in sacrifice and offering;

you open my ears to listen.^B

You do not ask for a whole burnt offering or a sin offering.^v

⁷Then I said, “See, I have come;

in the scroll it is written about me.^w

⁸I delight to do your will, my God,^x

and your instruction is deep within me.”^y

⁹I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly;

see, I do not keep my mouth closed^C—

as you know, Lord.^z

¹⁰I did not hide your righteousness in my heart;

I spoke about your faithfulness and salvation;

I did not conceal your constant love and truth

from the great assembly.^aa

¹¹Lord, you do not^D withhold your compassion from me.

Your constant love and truth will always guard me.^ab

¹²For troubles without number have surrounded me;

my iniquities have overtaken me; I am unable to see.

They are more than the hairs of my head,

and my courage leaves me.^a

¹³Lord, be pleased to rescue me;

hurry to help me, Lord.^b

¹⁴Let those who intend to take my life

be disgraced and confounded.

Let those who wish me harm

be turned back and humiliated.^c

¹⁵Let those who say to me, “Aha, aha!”

be appalled because of their shame.^d

¹⁶Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you;

let those who love your salvation continually say,

“The Lord is great!”^e

¹⁷I am oppressed and needy;

may the Lord think of me.

You are my helper and my deliverer;

my God, do not delay.^f

Psalm 41

VICTORY IN SPITE OF BETRAYAL

For the choir director. A psalm of David.

¹Happy is one who is considerate of the poor;

the Lord will save him in a day of adversity.^g

²The Lord will keep him and preserve him;

he will be blessed in the land.^h

You will not give him over to the desire of his enemies.ⁱ

³The Lord will sustain him on his sickbed;

you will heal him on the bed where he lies.^j

⁴I said, “Lord, be gracious to me;

heal me, for I have sinned against you.”^k

⁵My enemies speak maliciously about me:

“When will he die and be forgotten?”^l

⁶When one of them comes to visit, he speaks deceitfully;

he stores up evil in his heart;

he goes out and talks.^m

⁷All who hate me whisper together about me;

they plan to harm me.ⁿ

⁸“Something awful has overwhelmed him,^A

and he won’t rise again from where he lies!”^o

⁹Even my friend^B in whom I trusted,

one who ate my bread,

has raised his heel against me.^p

¹⁰But you, Lord, be gracious to me and raise me up;

then I will repay them.^q

¹¹By this I know that you delight in me:^r

my enemy does not shout in triumph over me.^s

¹²You supported me because of my integrity^t

and set me in your presence forever.^u

¹³Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,

from everlasting to everlasting.

Amen and amen.^v