Psalm 39–41

Psalm 39

For the choir director; for Jeduthun; a psalm by David. 

¹I said, 

“I will watch my ways so that I do not sin with my tongue. 

I will bridle my mouth while wicked people are in my presence.” 

²I remained totally speechless. 

I kept silent, although it did me no good. 

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

³My 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. 

⁵Indeed, 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 

⁶Each person who walks around is like a shadow. 

They are busy for no reason. 

They accumulate riches without knowing who will get them.” 

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

My hope is in you! 

⁸Rescue me from all my rebellious acts. 

Do not disgrace me in front of godless fools. 

⁹I remained speechless. 

I did not open my mouth 

because you are the one who has done this. 

¹⁰Remove the sickness you laid upon me. 

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

¹¹With 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 

¹²Listen to my prayer, O Lord. 

Open your ear to my cry for help. 

Do not be deaf to my tears, 

for I am a foreign resident with you, 

a stranger like all my ancestors. 

¹³Look away from me so that I may smile again 

before I go away and am no more. 

Psalm 40

For the choir director; a psalm by David. 

¹I waited patiently for the Lord. 

He turned to me and heard my cry for help. 

²He pulled me out of a horrible pit, 

out of the mud and clay. 

He set my feet on a rock 

and made my steps secure. 

³He placed a new song in my mouth, 

a song of praise to our God. 

Many will see this and worship. 

They will trust the Lord. 

⁴Blessed is the person 

who places his confidence in the Lord 

and does not rely on arrogant people 

or those who follow lies. 

⁵You have done many miraculous things, O Lord my God. 

You have made many wonderful plans for us. 

No one compares to you! 

I will tell others about your miracles, 

which are more than I can count. 

⁶You were not pleased with sacrifices and offerings. 

You have dug out two ears for me. 

You did not ask for burnt offerings or sacrifices for sin. 

⁷Then I said, “I have come! 

(It is written about me in the scroll of the book.) 

⁸I am happy to do your will, O my God.” 

Your teachings are deep within me. 

⁹I will announce the good news of righteousness 

among those assembled for worship. 

I will not close my lips. 

You know that, O Lord. 

¹⁰I have not buried your righteousness deep in my heart. 

I have been outspoken about your faithfulness and your salvation. 

I have not hidden your mercy and your truth 

from those assembled for worship. 

¹¹Do not withhold your compassion from me, O Lord. 

May your mercy and your truth always protect me. 

¹²Countless evils have surrounded me. 

My sins have caught up with me so that I can no longer see. 

They outnumber the hairs on my head. 

I have lost heart. 

¹³O Lord, please rescue me! 

Come quickly to help me, O Lord!^b

¹⁴Let all those who seek to end my life 

be confused and put to shame. 

Let those who want my downfall 

be turned back and disgraced. 

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

be stunned by their own shame. 

¹⁶Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad because of you. 

Let those who love your salvation continually say, 

“The Lord is great!” 

¹⁷But I am oppressed and needy. 

May the Lord think of me. 

You are my help and my savior. 

O my God, do not delay! 

Psalm 41

For the choir director; a psalm by David. 

¹Blessed is the one who has concern for helpless people. 

The Lord will rescue him in times of trouble. 

²The Lord will protect him and keep him alive. 

He will be blessed in the land. 

Do not place him at the mercy of his enemies. 

³The Lord will support him on his sickbed. 

You will restore this person to health when he is ill. 

⁴I said, “O Lord, have pity on me! 

Heal my soul because I have sinned against you.” 

⁵My enemies say terrible things about me: 

“When will he die, and when will his family name disappear?” 

⁶When one of them comes to visit me, he speaks foolishly. 

His heart collects gossip. 

⸤Then⸥ he leaves to tell others. 

⁷Everyone who hates me whispers about me. 

They think evil things about me and say, 

⁸“A devilish disease has attached itself to him. 

He will never leave his sickbed.” 

⁹Even my closest friend whom I trusted, 

the one who ate my bread, 

has lifted his heel against me. 

¹⁰Have pity on me, O Lord! 

Raise me up so that I can pay them back 

¹¹and my enemy cannot shout in triumph over me. 

When you do this, I know that you are pleased with me. 

¹²You defend my integrity, 

and you set me in your presence forever. 

¹³Thank the Lord God of Israel through all eternity! 

Amen and amen!