Psalms Chapter 39

These 150 prayers were used by the Hebrews to express their relationship with God. They cover the whole field of human emotions, from joy to hate, from hope to despair.

A Conservative Version

39 : 1 I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue. I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked man is before me.

39 : 2 I was mute with silence. I held my peace, even from good, and my sorrow was stirred.

39 : 3 My heart was hot within me. While I was musing the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue:

39 : 4 Jehovah, make me to know my end, and the measure of my days, what it is. Let me know how frail I am.

39 : 5 Behold, thou have made my days as handbreadths, and my life-time is as nothing before thee. Surely every man at his best condition is altogether vanity. Selah.

39 : 6 Surely every man walks in a shadow. Surely they are disquieted in vain. He heaps up, and knows not who shall gather them.

39 : 7 And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in thee.

39 : 8 Deliver me from all my transgressions. Make me not the reproach of the foolish.

39 : 9 I was mute. I opened not my mouth, because thou did it.

39 : 10 Remove thy stroke away from me. I am consumed by the blow of thy hand.

39 : 11 When thou have corrected man with rebukes for iniquity, thou make his beauty to disintegrate like a moth. Surely every man is vanity. Selah.

39 : 12 Hear my prayer, O Jehovah, and give ear to my cry. Keep not silent at my tears, for I am a stranger with thee, a sojourner, as all my fathers were.

39 : 13 O spare me, that I may recover strength before I go from here, and be no more.