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Psalm 39
New International Version

### Psalm 39[a]

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

1 I said, “I will watch my ways(A)
and keep my tongue from sin;(B)
I will put a muzzle on my mouth(C)
while in the presence of the wicked.”
2 So I remained utterly silent,(D)
not even saying anything good.
But my anguish(E) increased;
3 my heart grew hot(F) within me.
While I meditated,(G) the fire(H) burned;
then I spoke with my tongue:

4 “Show me, Lord, my life’s end
and the number of my days;(I)
let me know how fleeting(J) my life is.(K)
5 You have made my days(L) a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath,(M)
even those who seem secure.[b]

6 “Surely everyone goes around(N) like a mere phantom;(O)
in vain they rush about,(P) heaping up wealth(Q)
without knowing whose it will finally be.(R)

7 “But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you.(S)
8 Save me(T) from all my transgressions;(U)
do not make me the scorn(V) of fools.
9 I was silent;(W) I would not open my mouth,(X)
for you are the one who has done this.(Y)
10 Remove your scourge from me;
I am overcome by the blow(Z) of your hand.(AA)
11 When you rebuke(AB) and discipline(AC) anyone for their sin,
you consume(AD) their wealth like a moth(AE)—
surely everyone is but a breath.(AF)

12 “Hear my prayer, Lord,
listen to my cry for help;(AG)
do not be deaf(AH) to my weeping.(AI)
I dwell with you as a foreigner,(AJ)
a stranger,(AK) as all my ancestors were.(AL)
13 Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again
before I depart and am no more.”(AM)

#### Footnotes

1. Psalm 39:1 In Hebrew texts 39:1-13 is numbered 39:2-14.
2. Psalm 39:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 11.

#### Cross references

1. Psalm 39:1 : 1Ki 2:4; Ps 119:9, 59; Pr 20:11
2. Psalm 39:1 : S Job 1:22; Ps 34:13; Jas 3:2
3. Psalm 39:1 : S Job 6:24; Jas 1:26
4. Psalm 39:2 : ver 9; S Job 31:34; Ps 77:4
5. Psalm 39:2 : Ps 6:3; S 25:17; 31:10
6. Psalm 39:3 : Lk 24:32
7. Psalm 39:3 : Ps 1:2; 48:9; 77:12; 119:15
8. Psalm 39:3 : Jer 5:14; 20:9; 23:29
9. Psalm 39:4 : S Job 14:5
10. Psalm 39:4 : S Job 14:2
11. Psalm 39:4 : S Ge 47:9; S Job 7:7
12. Psalm 39:5 : S Job 10:20; Ps 89:45; 102:23
13. Psalm 39:5 : S Job 7:7; Ps 62:9
14. Psalm 39:6 : Jas 1:11
15. Psalm 39:6 : Job 8:9; Ps 102:11; Ecc 6:12; S Jas 4:14
16. Psalm 39:6 : Ps 127:2
17. Psalm 39:6 : S Job 27:17
18. Psalm 39:6 : Lk 12:20
19. Psalm 39:7 : S Ps 9:18; S 25:5
20. Psalm 39:8 : Ps 6:4; 51:14
21. Psalm 39:8 : Ps 32:1; 51:1; Isa 53:5, 8, 10
22. Psalm 39:8 : S Dt 28:37; Ps 69:7; 79:4; Isa 43:28; Da 9:16
23. Psalm 39:9 : S ver 2
24. Psalm 39:9 : Ps 38:13
25. Psalm 39:9 : Isa 38:15
26. Psalm 39:10 : 2Ch 21:14; Eze 7:9; 24:16
27. Psalm 39:10 : S Ex 9:3
28. Psalm 39:11 : S Dt 28:20; Isa 66:15; Eze 5:15; 2Pe 2:16
29. Psalm 39:11 : Ps 94:10; Isa 26:16
30. Psalm 39:11 : Ps 90:7
31. Psalm 39:11 : S Job 13:28; S Isa 51:8; Lk 12:33; S Jas 5:2
32. Psalm 39:11 : S Job 7:7
33. Psalm 39:12 : S Ps 17:1
34. Psalm 39:12 : S Dt 1:45
35. Psalm 39:12 : S 2Ki 20:5
36. Psalm 39:12 : Lev 25:23
37. Psalm 39:12 : S Ge 23:4; S Heb 11:13
38. Psalm 39:12 : S Ge 47:9; S 1Ch 29:15
39. Psalm 39:13 : S Job 10:21

New International Version (NIV)

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