Psalm 39

What Is the Measure of My Days?

To the choirmaster: to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

1
I said, "I will w guard my ways,
that I x may not sin with my tongue;
I will y guard my mouth with a muzzle,
so long as the wicked are in my presence."
2 I was z mute and silent;
I held my peace to no avail,
and my distress grew worse.
3 My a heart became hot within me.
As I mused, the fire burned;
then I spoke with my tongue:

4 "O Lord, b make me know my end
and what is the measure of my days;
let me know how fleeting I am!
5 Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,
and c my lifetime is as nothing before you.
Surely d all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah
6 Surely a man e goes about as a shadow!
Surely for nothing 1 they are in turmoil;
man f heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!

7 "And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?
g My hope is in you.
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions.
h Do not make me the scorn of the fool!
9 i I am mute; I do not open my mouth,
j for it is you who have done it.
10 k Remove your stroke from me;
I am spent by the hostility of your hand.
11 When you discipline a man
with l rebukes for sin,
you m consume like a n moth what is dear to him;
o surely all mankind is a mere breath! Selah

12 p "Hear my prayer, O Lord,
and give ear to my cry;
hold not your peace at my tears!
For I am q a sojourner with you,
q a guest, like all my fathers.
13 r Look away from me, that I may smile again,
s before I depart and t am no more!"

  1. Cross References
    Psalms 62:1
    For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.
    Psalms 77:1
    I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me.
    1 Chronicles 16:41
    With them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest of those chosen and expressly named to give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.
    1 Chronicles 25:1
    David and the chiefs of the service also set apart for the service the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who prophesied with lyres, with harps, and with cymbals. The list of those who did the work and of their duties was:
  2. Cross References
    1 Kings 2:4
    That the Lord may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, 'If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.
    2 Kings 10:31
    But Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam, which he made Israel to sin.
  3. Cross References
    Job 2:10
    But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
  4. Cross References
    Psalms 34:13
    Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
  5. Cross References
    Psalms 39:9
    I am mute; I do not open my mouth, for it is you who have done it.
    Job 40:4 - 5
    Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.
    Psalms 38:13
    But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear, like a mute man who does not open his mouth.
  6. Cross References
    Jeremiah 20:9
    If I say, "I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name," there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.
    Luke 24:32
    They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?
    Job 32:18 - 19
    For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me.
  7. Cross References
    Psalms 90:12
    So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
  8. Cross References
    Psalms 89:47
    Remember how short my time is! For what vanity you have created all the children of man!
    Psalms 90:4
    For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.
  9. Cross References
    Psalms 39:11
    When you discipline a man with rebukes for sin, you consume like a moth what is dear to him; surely all mankind is a mere breath! Selah
    Job 14:2
    He comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and continues not.
  10. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 7:31
    And those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.
    James 4:14
    Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.
  11. Cross References
    Psalms 49:10
    For he sees that even the wise die; the fool an...
    Job 27:16 - 17
    Though he heap up silver like dust, and pile up...
    Luke 12:20
    But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your sou...
    Ecclesiastes 2:18
    I hated all my toil in which I toil under the s...
    Ecclesiastes 2:21
    Because sometimes a person who has toiled with ...
    Ecclesiastes 2:26
    For to the one who pleases him God has given wi...
    Jeremiah 17:11
    Like the partridge that gathers a brood that sh...
  12. Cross References
    Psalms 38:15
    But for you, O Lord, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.
  13. Cross References
    Psalms 44:13
    You have made us the taunt of our neighbors, the derision and scorn of those around us.
  14. Cross References
    Psalms 39:2
    I was mute and silent; I held my peace to no avail, and my distress grew worse.
  15. Cross References
    2 Samuel 16:10
    But the king said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord has said to him, 'Curse David,' who then shall say, 'Why have you done so?'
    Job 2:10
    But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
  16. Cross References
    Job 9:34
    Let him take his rod away from me, and let not dread of him terrify me.
    Job 13:21
    Withdraw your hand far from me, and let not dread of you terrify me.
  17. Cross References
    Psalms 80:16
    They have burned it with fire; they have cut it down; may they perish at the rebuke of your face!
  18. Cross References
    Psalms 49:14
    Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol; death shall be their shepherd, and the upright shall rule over them in the morning. Their form shall be consumed in Sheol, with no place to dwell.
  19. Cross References
    Job 13:28
    Man wastes away like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.
    Isaiah 50:9
    Behold, the Lord God helps me; who will declare me guilty? Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up.
  20. Cross References
    Psalms 39:5
    Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah
  21. Cross References
    Psalms 102:1
    Hear my prayer, O Lord ; let my cry come to you!
  22. Cross References
    Psalms 119:19
    I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your co...
    Leviticus 25:23
    The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for t...
    1 Chronicles 29:15
    For we are strangers before you and sojourners,...
    Hebrews 11:13
    These all died in faith, not having received th...
    1 Peter 2:11
    Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to...
    Genesis 47:9
    And Jacob said to Pharaoh, "The days of the yea...
  23. Cross References
    Psalms 119:19
    I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your co...
    Leviticus 25:23
    The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for t...
    1 Chronicles 29:15
    For we are strangers before you and sojourners,...
    Hebrews 11:13
    These all died in faith, not having received th...
    1 Peter 2:11
    Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to...
    Genesis 47:9
    And Jacob said to Pharaoh, "The days of the yea...
  24. Cross References
    Job 7:19
    How long will you not look away from me, nor leave me alone till I swallow my spit?
  25. Cross References
    Job 10:21
    Before I go - and I shall not return - to the land of darkness and deep shadow.
  26. Cross References
    Job 7:8
    The eye of him who sees me will behold me no more; while your eyes are on me, I shall be gone.
    Job 14:10 - 12
    But a man dies and is laid low; man breathes his last, and where is he?
    Job 20:9
    The eye that saw him will see him no more, nor will his place any more behold him.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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