Psalm 39:4–11

4 “Show me, Lord, my life’s end

and the number of my days;

let me know how fleeting my life is.

5 You have made my days a mere handbreadth;

the span of my years is as nothing before you.

Everyone is but a breath,

even those who seem secure.

6 “Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom;

in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth

without knowing whose it will finally be.

7 “But now, Lord, what do I look for?

My hope is in you.

8 Save me from all my transgressions;

do not make me the scorn of fools.

9 I was silent; I would not open my mouth,

for you are the one who has done this.

10 Remove your scourge from me;

I am overcome by the blow of your hand.

11 When you rebuke and discipline anyone for their sin,

you consume their wealth like a moth—

surely everyone is but a breath.

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.

5 Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth;

And mine age is as nothing before thee:

Verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

6 Surely every man walketh in a vain shew:

Surely they are disquieted in vain:

He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

7 And now, Lord, what wait I for?

My hope is in thee.

8 Deliver me from all my transgressions:

Make me not the reproach of the foolish.

9 I was dumb, I opened not my mouth;

Because thou didst it.

10 Remove thy stroke away from me:

I am consumed by the blow of thine hand.

11 When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity,

Thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth:

Surely every man is vanity. Selah.

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

Remind me that my days are numbered—

how fleeting my life is.

5 You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.

My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;

at best, each of us is but a breath.”

Interlude

6 We are merely moving shadows,

and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.

We heap up wealth,

not knowing who will spend it.

7 And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?

My only hope is in you.

8 Rescue me from my rebellion.

Do not let fools mock me.

9 I am silent before you; I won’t say a word,

for my punishment is from you.

10 But please stop striking me!

I am exhausted by the blows from your hand.

11 When you discipline us for our sins,

you consume like a moth what is precious to us.

Each of us is but a breath.

Interlude

4 “Lord, make me to know my end,

And what is the measure of my days,

That I may know how frail I am.

5 Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths,

And my age is as nothing before You;

Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor.

Selah

6 Surely every man walks about like a shadow;

Surely they busy themselves in vain;

He heaps up riches,

And does not know who will gather them.

7 “And now, Lord, what do I wait for?

My hope is in You.

8 Deliver me from all my transgressions;

Do not make me the reproach of the foolish.

9 I was mute, I did not open my mouth,

Because it was You who did it.

10 Remove Your plague from me;

I am consumed by the blow of Your hand.

11 When with rebukes You correct man for iniquity,

You make his beauty melt away like a moth;

Surely every man is vapor.

Selah

4 “Lord, tell me when the end will come

and how long I will live.

Let me know how long I have.

5 You have given me only a short life;

my lifetime is like nothing to you.

Everyone’s life is only a breath.

Selah

6 People are like shadows moving about.

All their work is for nothing;

they collect things but don’t know who will get them.

7 “So, Lord, what hope do I have?

You are my hope.

8 Save me from all my sins.

Don’t let wicked fools make fun of me.

9 I am quiet; I do not open my mouth,

because you are the one who has done this.

10 Quit punishing me;

your beating is about to kill me.

11 You correct and punish people for their sins;

like a moth, you destroy what they love.

Everyone’s life is only a breath.

Selah

4 Jehovah, make me to know mine end,

And the measure of my days, what it is;

Let me know how frail I am.

5 Behold, thou hast made my days as handbreadths;

And my life-time is as nothing before thee:

Surely every man at his best estate is altogether vanity. Selah

6 Surely every man walketh in a vain show;

Surely they are disquieted in vain:

He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

7 And now, Lord, what wait I for?

My hope is in thee.

8 Deliver me from all my transgressions:

Make me not the reproach of the foolish.

9 I was dumb, I opened not my mouth;

Because thou didst it.

10 Remove thy stroke away from me:

I am consumed by the blow of thy hand.

11 When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity,

Thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth:

Surely every man is vanity. Selah

4 Make me to know, Jehovah, mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: I shall know how frail I am. 5 Behold, thou hast made my days as hand-breadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before thee; verily, every man, even the high placed, is altogether vanity. Selah. 6 Verily, man walketh in a vain show; verily they are disquieted in vain; he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

7 And now, what wait I for, Lord? my hope is in thee. 8 Deliver me from all my transgressions; make me not the reproach of the foolish. 9 I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; for thou hast done it. 10 Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thy hand. 11 When thou with rebukes dost correct a man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely, every man is vanity. Selah.

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. 

5 Indeed, you have made the length of my days ⸤only⸥ a few inches. 

My life span is nothing compared to yours. 

Certainly, everyone alive is like a whisper in the wind. 

Selah 

6 Each person who walks around is like a shadow. 

They are busy for no reason. 

They accumulate riches without knowing who will get them.” 

7 And now, Lord, what am I waiting for? 

My hope is in you! 

8 Rescue me from all my rebellious acts. 

Do not disgrace me in front of godless fools. 

9 I remained speechless. 

I did not open my mouth 

because you are the one who has done this. 

10 Remove the sickness you laid upon me. 

My life is over because you struck me with your hand. 

11 With stern warnings you discipline people for their crimes. 

Like a moth you eat away at what is dear to them. 

Certainly, everyone is like a whisper in the wind. 

Selah 

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

and the number of my days.

Let me know how short-lived I am.

5 You, indeed, have made my days short in length,

and my life span as nothing in Your sight.

Yes, every mortal man is only a vapor. Selah

6 “Certainly, man walks about like a mere shadow.

Indeed, they frantically rush around in vain,

gathering possessions

without knowing who will get them.

7 Now, Lord, what do I wait for?

My hope is in You.

8 Deliver me from all my transgressions;

do not make me the taunt of fools.

9 I am speechless; I do not open my mouth

because of what You have done.

10 Remove Your torment from me;

I fade away because of the force of Your hand.

11 You discipline a man with punishment for sin,

consuming like a moth what is precious to him;

every man is only a vapor. Selah

4 “Lord, let me know my end

and what is the measure of my days;

let me know how fleeting my life is.

5 You have made my days a few handbreadths,

and my lifetime is as nothing in your sight.

Surely everyone stands as a mere breath.   Selah

6 Surely everyone goes about like a shadow.

Surely for nothing they are in turmoil;

they heap up and do not know who will gather.

7 “And now, O Lord, what do I wait for?

My hope is in you.

8 Deliver me from all my transgressions.

Do not make me the scorn of the fool.

9 I am silent; I do not open my mouth,

for it is you who have done it.

10 Remove your stroke from me;

I am worn down by the blows of your hand.

11 “You chastise mortals

in punishment for sin,

consuming like a moth what is dear to them;

surely everyone is a mere breath.   Selah

4 “Let me know, O Yahweh, my end,

and what is the measure of my days.

Let me know how transient I am.”

5 Look, you have made my days mere handbreadths,

and my lifespan as nothing next to you.

Surely every person standing firm is complete vanity. Selah

6 Surely a man walks about as a mere shadow;

surely in vain they bustle about.

He heaps up possessions but does not know who will gather them in.

7 And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?

My hope is for you.

8 From all my transgressions deliver me;

do not make me the taunt of the fool.

9 I am mute. I do not open my mouth,

for you, yourself, have done it.

10 Remove from me your affliction.

By the opposition of your hand I perish.

11 When with rebukes you chastise a man for sin,

you consume like a moth his delightful things.

Surely everyone is a mere vapor. Selah

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.

5 You have given me only a few days to live.

My whole life doesn’t seem like anything to you.

No man’s life lasts any longer than a breath. Selah

6 People are only shadows as they go here and there.

They rush around, but it doesn’t mean anything.

They pile up wealth, but they don’t know who will get it.

7 “Lord, what can I look forward to now?

You are the only hope I have.

8 Save me from all the wrong things I’ve done.

Don’t let foolish people make fun of me.

9 I keep silent. I don’t open my mouth.

You are the one who has caused all of this to happen.

10 Please stop beating me.

I’m about to die from the blows of your hand.

11 You correct and punish people for their sin.

Just as a moth eats cloth, you destroy their wealth.

No one’s life lasts any longer than a breath. Selah

4 “Lord, make 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 in Your sight;

Surely every man at his best is a mere breath.

Selah.

6 “Surely every man walks about as a phantom;

Surely they make an uproar for nothing;

He amasses riches and does not know who will gather them.

7 “And now, Lord, for what do I wait?

My hope is in You.

8 “Deliver me from all my transgressions;

Make me not the reproach of the foolish.

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 perishing.

11 “With reproofs You chasten a man for iniquity;

You consume as a moth what is precious to him;

Surely every man is a mere breath.

Selah.