Psalms 39

1 I said, “I will watch [give attention to, observe carefully] my ways [path, journey] so that I will not sin [miss the mark, fall short] with my tongue [words, speech]; I will guard [keep, protect] my mouth [lips, speech] with a muzzle [bridle, restraint] as long as the wicked [ungodly, sinful] are present [before me, in my sight].” word study 2 I was [completely] speechless [dumb with silence] and still [held my peace]; I remained [kept] silent [mute], even from [refraining from] speaking [saying] good [beneficial things], and my sorrow [pain, grief] was stirred [excited, moved]. word study 3 My heart [was burning intensely, deeply moved] grew hot [with strong emotions, passionate] within me; as I mused [reflected, thought deeply], the fire [of emotions, passion] burned. Then I spoke [uttered, expressed] with my tongue [with words, openly]: word study 4 “Show me, O LORD [the covenant God, Yehovah], my end [the limit of my life, my final destiny] and the measure [the span, the allotted time] of my days [the days of my mortal life, my earthly existence]. Let me know [make me understand, cause me to realize] how fleeting [transitory, brief] my life [my earthly existence, my mortal span] is [how frail and short it is, how quickly it will pass]. word study 5 You, indeed, have made my days [as short as handbreadths, brief moments] as handbreadths, and my lifetime [all my years, entire existence] as nothing [completely insignificant] before You. Truly each man [every person, humanity] at his best [in his strongest state, most flourishing condition] exists as but [is merely, no more than] a breath [a fleeting puff of air, a transient moment]. Selah word study 6 Surely [certainly, without a doubt] every man [human being, Adam] goes about [walks, journeys] like a phantom [shadow, image]; surely [indeed, truly] he bustles [is disquieted, rushes] in vain [to no purpose, emptiness]; he heaps up [accumulates, gathers] riches [wealth, possessions] not knowing [being unaware, ignorant] who [which person, anyone] will haul [gather, collect] them [his wealth, riches] away [to another place, into the future]. word study 7 And now [at this moment], O Lord [my Master], for what [what thing, what purpose] do I wait [expect, look for]? My hope [trust, confidence] is in You [in Your presence, in Your faithfulness]. word study 8 Deliver me from all my transgressions [sins, rebellions]; do not make me the reproach [shame, mockery] of fools [the foolish, those without wisdom]. word study 9 I have become mute [dumb, unable to speak]; I do not open my mouth [I keep silent, I will not say a word] because of what You have done [because Thou didst it, as You have ordained]. word study 10 Remove [take away, stop] Your [divine, heavenly] scourge [stroke, blow, plague] from me; I am perishing [being consumed, wasting away] by the force [strength, power] of Your [mighty, sovereign] hand [guidance, direction]. word study 11 You discipline [rebuke, correct] and correct [chastise, reprimand] a man for his iniquity [sin, wrongdoing], consuming [wasting away, destroying] like a moth [as a moth consumes] what he holds dear [his beauty, precious things]; surely each man is but [only, merely] a vapor [breath, vanity]. Selah word study 12 Hear my prayer [and give attention to my request], O LORD [the Supreme Ruler], and give ear [listen carefully] to my cry for help [my desperate plea]; do not be deaf [unresponsive, unmoved] to my weeping [my tears of sorrow]. For I am a foreigner [a temporary resident, a sojourner] dwelling with You, a stranger [an alien, a traveler] like all my fathers [my ancestors, those who came before me]. word study 13 Turn Your gaze [look away, spare me] away from me, that I may again be cheered [recovery strength, comforted] before I depart [go hence, away from here] and am no more [exist no more, be dead and gone].” word study