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Psalms 39

New Living Translation (NLT)

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¹ For Jeduthun, the choir director: A psalm of David. I 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.”

² But as I stood there in silence— not even speaking of good things— the turmoil within me grew worse.

³ The 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.

⁵ You 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

⁶ We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it.

⁷ And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.

⁸ Rescue me from my rebellion. Do not let fools mock me.

⁹ I am silent before you; I won’t say a word, for my punishment is from you.

¹⁰ But please stop striking me! I am exhausted by the blows from your hand.

¹¹ When you discipline us for our sins, you consume like a moth what is precious to us. Each of us is but a breath. Interlude

¹² Hear 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.

¹³ Leave me alone so I can smile again before I am gone and exist no more.

#	NLT
1	For Jeduthun, the choir director: A psalm of David. I 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.”
2	But as I stood there in silence— not even speaking of good things— the turmoil within me grew worse.
3	The 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.
5	You 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
6	We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it.
7	And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.
8	Rescue me from my rebellion. Do not let fools mock me.
9	I am silent before you; I won’t say a word, for my punishment is from you.
10	But please stop striking me! I am exhausted by the blows from your hand.
11	When you discipline us for our sins, you consume like a moth what is precious to us. Each of us is but a breath. Interlude
12	Hear 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.
13	Leave me alone so I can smile again before I am gone and exist no more.

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Psalms 39

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