New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures — With References (Rbi8, en_US, 1984)

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Psalms, 39

To the director of Je·duʹthun.*1 A melody of David.

1 I said: “I will guard my ways To keep from sinning with my tongue. I will set a muzzle as a guard to my own mouth, As long as anyone wicked is in front of me.”

2 I became speechless with silence; I kept quiet from what is good, And my being pained was ostracized.

3 My heart grew hot inside me; During my sighing the fire kept burning. I spoke with my tongue:

4 “Cause me, O Jehovah, to know my end, And the measure of my days—what it is, That I may know how transient I am.

5 Look! You have made my days just a few;*1 And my life’s duration is as nothing in front of you. Surely every earthling man,*2 though standing firm, is nothing but an exhalation. Seʹlah.

  1. Lit., “just handbreadths.”

  2. “Earthling man.” Heb., ʼa·dhamʹ.

6 Surely in a semblance man*1 walks about. Surely they are boisterous in vain. One piles up things and does not know who will be gathering them.

  1. “Man.” Heb., ʼish.

7 And now for what have I hoped, O Jehovah?*1 My expectation is toward you.

  1. One of 134 scribal changes from YHWH to ʼAdho·naiʹ. See App 1B.

8 From all my transgressions deliver me. Do not set me as a reproach of the senseless one.

9 I kept speechless; I could not open my mouth, For you yourself acted.

10 Remove from off me your plague. Due to the hostility of your hand I myself have come to an end.

11 By reproofs against error you have corrected man,*1 And you consume his desirable things just as a moth does. Surely every earthling man*2 is an exhalation. Seʹlah.

  1. “Man.” Heb., ʼish.

  2. “Earthling man.” Heb., ʼa·dhamʹ.

12 Do hear my prayer, O Jehovah, And to my cry for help do give ear. At my tears do not keep silent. For I am but an alien resident with you, A settler the same as all my forefathers.

13 Look away from me, that I may brighten up Before I go away and I am not.”