Psalm 39–41

Psalm 39

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

¹I said to myself, “I will watch what I do

and not sin in what I say.

I will hold my tongue

when the ungodly are around me.”

²But as I stood there in silence—

not even speaking of good things—

the turmoil within me grew worse.

³The more I thought about it,

the hotter I got,

igniting a fire of words:

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

Remind me that my days are numbered—

how fleeting my life is.

⁵You 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

⁶We are merely moving shadows,

and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.

We heap up wealth,

not knowing who will spend it.

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

My only hope is in you.

⁸Rescue me from my rebellion.

Do not let fools mock me.

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

for my punishment is from you.

¹⁰But please stop striking me!

I am exhausted by the blows from your hand.

¹¹When you discipline us for our sins,

you consume like a moth what is precious to us.

Each of us is but a breath.

Interlude

¹²Hear my prayer, O Lord!

Listen to my cries for help!

Don’t ignore my tears.

For I am your guest—

a traveler passing through,

as my ancestors were before me.

¹³Leave me alone so I can smile again

before I am gone and exist no more.

Psalm 40

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

¹I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,

and he turned to me and heard my cry.

²He lifted me out of the pit of despair,

out of the mud and the mire.

He set my feet on solid ground

and steadied me as I walked along.

³He has given me a new song to sing,

a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see what he has done and be amazed.

They will put their trust in the Lord.

⁴Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord,

who have no confidence in the proud

or in those who worship idols.

⁵O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us.

Your plans for us are too numerous to list.

You have no equal.

If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds,

I would never come to the end of them.

⁶You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings.

Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand—

you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings.

⁷Then I said, “Look, I have come.

As is written about me in the Scriptures:

⁸I take joy in doing your will, my God,

for your instructions are written on my heart.”

⁹I have told all your people about your justice.

I have not been afraid to speak out,

as you, O Lord, well know.

¹⁰I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart;

I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power.

I have told everyone in the great assembly

of your unfailing love and faithfulness.

¹¹Lord, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me.

Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me.

¹²For troubles surround me—

too many to count!

My sins pile up so high

I can’t see my way out.

They outnumber the hairs on my head.

I have lost all courage.

¹³Please, Lord, rescue me!

Come quickly, Lord, and help me.

¹⁴May those who try to destroy me

be humiliated and put to shame.

May those who take delight in my trouble

be turned back in disgrace.

¹⁵Let them be horrified by their shame,

for they said, “Aha! We’ve got him now!”

¹⁶But may all who search for you

be filled with joy and gladness in you.

May those who love your salvation

repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!”

¹⁷As for me, since I am poor and needy,

let the Lord keep me in his thoughts.

You are my helper and my savior.

O my God, do not delay.

Psalm 41

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

¹Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor!

The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble.

²The Lord protects them

and keeps them alive.

He gives them prosperity in the land

and rescues them from their enemies.

³The Lord nurses them when they are sick

and restores them to health.

⁴“O Lord,” I prayed, “have mercy on me.

Heal me, for I have sinned against you.”

⁵But my enemies say nothing but evil about me.

“How soon will he die and be forgotten?” they ask.

⁶They visit me as if they were my friends,

but all the while they gather gossip,

and when they leave, they spread it everywhere.

⁷All who hate me whisper about me,

imagining the worst.

⁸“He has some fatal disease,” they say.

“He will never get out of that bed!”

⁹Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely,

the one who shared my food, has turned against me.

¹⁰Lord, have mercy on me.

Make me well again, so I can pay them back!

¹¹I know you are pleased with me,

for you have not let my enemies triumph over me.

¹²You have preserved my life because I am innocent;

you have brought me into your presence forever.

¹³Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,

who lives from everlasting to everlasting.

Amen and amen!