Psalm 39 - LORD, Make Me to Know Mine End
A meditation on human frailty and the brevity of life before God.
Psalm 39, continuing the penitential tone of this Psalms overview section, begins with David resolving to guard his tongue and keep his mouth with a bridle while the wicked are near him, though the effort only stirs his sorrow. He then turns to God asking to be shown "the measure of my days" and how frail he truly is.
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 is before me.
I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; And my sorrow was stirred.
My heart was hot within me; While I was musing the fire burned: `Then' spake I with my tongue:
Jehovah, make me to know mine end, And the measure of my days, what it is; Let me know how frail I am.
Behold, thou hast made my days `as' handbreadths; And my life-time is as nothing before thee: Surely every man at his best estate is altogether vanity. Selah
Surely every man walketh in a vain show; Surely they are disquieted in vain: He heapeth up `riches', and knoweth not who shall gather them.
And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in thee.
Deliver me from all my transgressions: Make me not the reproach of the foolish.
I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; Because thou didst it.
Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thy hand.
When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, Thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: Surely every man is vanity. Selah
Hear my prayer, O Jehovah, and give ear unto my cry; Hold not thy peace at my tears: For I am a stranger with thee, A sojourner, as all my fathers were.
Oh spare me, that I may recover strength, Before I go hence, and be no more. Psalm 40 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.