Psalm 39–41

Life Is Short

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.

39I said, “I will be careful how I act

and will not sin by what I say.

I will be careful what I say

around wicked people.”

²So I kept very quiet.

I didn’t even say anything good,

but I became even more upset.

³I 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.

⁵You have given me only a short life;

my lifetime is like nothing to you.

Everyone’s life is only a breath.

Selah

⁶People 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.

⁸Save me from all my sins.

Don’t let wicked fools make fun of me.

⁹I am quiet; I do not open my mouth,

because you are the one who has done this.

¹⁰Quit punishing me;

your beating is about to kill me.

¹¹You correct and punish people for their sins;

like a moth, you destroy what they love.

Everyone’s life is only a breath.

Selah

¹²“Lord, hear my prayer,

and listen to my cry.

Do not ignore my tears.

I am like a visitor with you.

Like my ancestors, I’m only here a short time.

¹³Leave me alone so I can be happy

before I leave and am no more.”

Praise and Prayer for Help

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

40I waited patiently for the Lord.

He turned to me and heard my cry.

²He lifted me out of the pit of destruction,

out of the sticky mud.

He stood me on a rock

and made my feet steady.

³He put a new song in my mouth,

a song of praise to our God.

Many people will see this and worship him.

Then they will trust the Lord.

⁴Happy is the person

who trusts the Lord,

who doesn’t turn to those who are proud

or to those who worship false gods.

⁵Lord my God, you have done many miracles.

Your plans for us are many.

If I tried to tell them all,

there would be too many to count.

⁶You do not want sacrifices and offerings.

But you have made a hole in my ear

to show that my body and life are yours.

You do not ask for burnt offerings

and sacrifices to take away sins.

⁷Then I said, “Look, I have come.

It is written about me in the book.

⁸My God, I want to do what you want.

Your teachings are in my heart.”

⁹I will tell about your goodness in the great meeting of your people.

Lord, you know my lips are not silent.

¹⁰I do not hide your goodness in my heart;

I speak about your loyalty and salvation.

I do not hide your love and truth

from the people in the great meeting.

¹¹Lord, do not hold back your mercy from me;

let your love and truth always protect me.

¹²Troubles have surrounded me;

there are too many to count.

My sins have caught me

so that I cannot see a way to escape.

I have more sins than hairs on my head,

and I have lost my courage.

¹³Please, Lord, save me.

Hurry, Lord, to help me.

¹⁴People are trying to kill me.

Shame them and disgrace them.

People want to hurt me.

Let them run away in disgrace.

¹⁵People are making fun of me.

Let them be shamed into silence.

¹⁶But let those who follow you

be happy and glad.

They love you for saving them.

May they always say, “Praise the Lord!”

¹⁷Lord, because I am poor and helpless,

please remember me.

You are my helper and savior.

My God, do not wait.

A Prayer in Time of Sickness

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

Happy are those who think about the poor.

When trouble comes, the Lord will save them.

²The Lord will protect them and spare their life

and will bless them in the land.

He will not let their enemies take them.

³The Lord will give them strength when they are sick,

and he will make them well again.

⁴I said, “Lord, have mercy on me.

Heal me, because I have sinned against you.”

⁵My enemies are saying evil things about me.

They say, “When will he die and be forgotten?”

⁶Some people come to see me,

but they lie.

They just come to get bad news.

Then they go and gossip.

⁷All my enemies whisper about me

and think the worst about me.

⁸They say, “He has a terrible disease.

He will never get out of bed again.”

⁹My best and truest friend, who ate at my table,

has even turned against me.

¹⁰Lord, have mercy on me.

Give me strength so I can pay them back.

¹¹Because my enemies do not defeat me,

I know you are pleased with me.

¹²Because I am innocent, you support me

and will let me be with you forever.

¹³Praise the Lord, the God of Israel.

He has always been,

and he will always be.

Amen and amen.