Psalms 39

1 I said, “I will guard my ways so that I do not sin with my tongue. I set a guard over my mouth while the sinner stood before me.”

2 I became silent and humbled myself; I kept silent even from good words, and my pain was renewed.

3 My heart grew hot within me, and fire burned during my meditation. Then I spoke with my tongue:

4 “Lord, show me my end and the number of my days, so that I may know what I lack.

5 You made my days only a few inches long, and my existence is like nothing before you. Every living person is altogether futility. Pause.

6 A person surely walks about as an image; people are troubled for nothing. He stores up treasure but does not know for whom he gathers it.

7 Now what am I waiting for? Is it not the Lord? My ground of hope comes from you.

8 Rescue me from all my acts of lawlessness; you made me a reproach to a fool.

9 I became silent and did not open my mouth, because you are the one who made me.

10 Remove your scourges from me; I have fainted under the strength of your hand.

11 You disciplined a person with rebukes for lawlessness and melted his life like a spider’s web. Every person is troubled for nothing. Pause.

12 Listen to my prayer, Lord, and pay attention to my plea; do not remain silent at my tears. I am a foreigner living with you and a temporary visitor, as all my ancestors were.

13 Give me relief so that I may recover before I depart and cease to exist.”