Psalm 39–41

Psalm 39^a

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

¹I said, “I will watch my ways^p

and keep my tongue from sin;^q

I will put a muzzle on my mouth^r

while in the presence of the wicked.”

²So I remained utterly silent,^s

not even saying anything good.

But my anguish^t increased;

³my heart grew hot^u within me.

While I meditated,^v the fire^w burned;

then I spoke with my tongue:

⁴“Show me, Lord, my life’s end

and the number of my days;^x

let me know how fleeting^y my life is.^z

⁵You have made my days^a a mere handbreadth;

the span of my years is as nothing before you.

Everyone is but a breath,^b

even those who seem secure.^b

⁶“Surely everyone goes around^c like a mere phantom;^d

in vain they rush about,^e heaping up wealth^f

without knowing whose it will finally be.^g

⁷“But now, Lord, what do I look for?

My hope is in you.^h

⁸Save meⁱ from all my transgressions;^j

do not make me the scorn^k of fools.

⁹I was silent;^l I would not open my mouth,^m

for you are the one who has done this.ⁿ

¹⁰Remove your scourge from me;

I am overcome by the blow^o of your hand.^p

¹¹When you rebuke^q and discipline^r anyone for their sin,

you consume^s their wealth like a moth^t—

surely everyone is but a breath.^u

¹²“Hear my prayer, Lord,

listen to my cry for help;^v

do not be deaf^w to my weeping.^x

I dwell with you as a foreigner,^y

a stranger,^z as all my ancestors were.^a

¹³Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again

before I depart and am no more.”^b

Psalm 40^a

40:13–17pp—Ps 70:1–5

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

¹I waited patiently^c for the Lord;

he turned to me and heard my cry.^d

²He lifted me out of the slimy pit,^e

out of the mud^f and mire;^g

he set my feet^h on a rockⁱ

and gave me a firm place to stand.

³He put a new song^j in my mouth,

a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear the Lord^k

and put their trust^l in him.

⁴Blessed is the one^m

who trusts in the Lord,ⁿ

who does not look to the proud,^o

to those who turn aside to false gods.^bp

⁵Many, Lord my God,

are the wonders^q you have done,

the things you planned for us.

None can compare^r with you;

were I to speak and tell of your deeds,

they would be too many^s to declare.

⁶Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—^t

but my ears you have opened^c—^u

burnt offerings^v and sin offerings^d you did not require.

⁷Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—

it is written about me in the scroll.^ew

⁸I desire to do your will,^x my God;^y

your law is within my heart.”^z

⁹I proclaim your saving acts^a in the great assembly;^b

I do not seal my lips, Lord,

as you know.^c

¹⁰I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;

I speak of your faithfulness^d and your saving help.

I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness

from the great assembly.^e

¹¹Do not withhold your mercy^f from me, Lord;

may your love^g and faithfulness^h always protectⁱ me.

¹²For troubles^j without number surround me;

my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.^k

They are more than the hairs of my head,^l

and my heart fails^m within me.

¹³Be pleased to save me, Lord;

come quickly, Lord, to help me.ⁿ

¹⁴May all who want to take my life^o

be put to shame and confusion;^p

may all who desire my ruin^q

be turned back in disgrace.

¹⁵May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”^r

be appalled at their own shame.

¹⁶But may all who seek you^s

rejoice and be glad^t in you;

may those who long for your saving help always say,

“The Lord is great!”^u

¹⁷But as for me, I am poor and needy;^v

may the Lord think^w of me.

You are my help^x and my deliverer;^y

you are my God, do not delay.^z

Psalm 41^a

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

¹Blessed^a are those who have regard for the weak;^b

the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.^c

²The Lord protects^d and preserves them—^e

they are counted among the blessed in the land—^f

he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.^g

³The Lord sustains them on their sickbed^h

and restores them from their bed of illness.ⁱ

⁴I said, “Have mercy^j on me, Lord;

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

⁵My enemies say of me in malice,

“When will he die and his name perish?^m”

⁶When one of them comes to see me,

he speaks falsely,ⁿ while his heart gathers slander;^o

then he goes out and spreads^p it around.

⁷All my enemies whisper together^q against me;

they imagine the worst for me, saying,

⁸“A vile disease has afflicted him;

he will never get up^r from the place where he lies.”

⁹Even my close friend,^s

someone I trusted,

one who shared my bread,

has turned^b against me.^t

¹⁰But may you have mercy^u on me, Lord;

raise me up,^v that I may repay^w them.

¹¹I know that you are pleased with me,^x

for my enemy does not triumph over me.^y

¹²Because of my integrity^z you uphold me^a

and set me in your presence forever.^b

¹³Praise^c be to the Lord, the God of Israel,^d

from everlasting to everlasting.

Amen and Amen.^e