WHAT DO I LOOK FOR?
Key verse: 7
NIV
Psalm 39[a]
For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.
1 I said, “I will watch my ways(A)
and keep my tongue from sin;(B)
I will put a muzzle on my mouth(C)
while in the presence of the wicked.”
2 So I remained utterly silent,(D)
not even saying anything good.
But my anguish(E) increased;
3 my heart grew hot(F) within me.
While I meditated,(G) the fire(H) burned;
then I spoke with my tongue:
4 “Show me, Lord, my life’s end
and the number of my days;(I)
let me know how fleeting(J) my life is.(K)
5 You have made my days(L) a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath,(M)
even those who seem secure.[b]
6 “Surely everyone goes around(N) like a mere phantom;(O)
in vain they rush about,(P) heaping up wealth(Q)
without knowing whose it will finally be.(R)
7 “But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you.(S)
8 Save me(T) from all my transgressions;(U)
do not make me the scorn(V) of fools.
9 I was silent;(W) I would not open my mouth,(X)
for you are the one who has done this.(Y)
10 Remove your scourge from me;
I am overcome by the blow(Z) of your hand.(AA)
11 When you rebuke(AB) and discipline(AC) anyone for their sin,
you consume(AD) their wealth like a moth(AE)—
surely everyone is but a breath.(AF)
Footnotes
- Psalm 39:1 In Hebrew texts 39:1-13 is numbered 39:2-14.
- Psalm 39:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 11.
Cross references
- Psalm 39:1 : 1Ki 2:4; Ps 119:9, 59; Pr 20:11
- Psalm 39:1 : S Job 1:22; Ps 34:13; Jas 3:2
- Psalm 39:1 : S Job 6:24; Jas 1:26
- Psalm 39:2 : ver 9; S Job 31:34; Ps 77:4
- Psalm 39:2 : Ps 6:3; S 25:17; 31:10
- Psalm 39:3 : Lk 24:32
- Psalm 39:3 : Ps 1:2; 48:9; 77:12; 119:15
- Psalm 39:3 : Jer 5:14; 20:9; 23:29
- Psalm 39:4 : S Job 14:5
- Psalm 39:4 : S Job 14:2
- Psalm 39:4 : S Ge 47:9; S Job 7:7
- Psalm 39:5 : S Job 10:20; Ps 89:45; 102:23
- Psalm 39:5 : S Job 7:7; Ps 62:9
- Psalm 39:6 : Jas 1:11
- Psalm 39:6 : Job 8:9; Ps 102:11; Ecc 6:12; S Jas 4:14
- Psalm 39:6 : Ps 127:2
- Psalm 39:6 : S Job 27:17
- Psalm 39:6 : Lk 12:20
- Psalm 39:7 : S Ps 9:18; S 25:5
- Psalm 39:8 : Ps 6:4; 51:14
- Psalm 39:8 : Ps 32:1; 51:1; Isa 53:5, 8, 10
- Psalm 39:8 : S Dt 28:37; Ps 69:7; 79:4; Isa 43:28; Da 9:16
- Psalm 39:9 : S ver 2
- Psalm 39:9 : Ps 38:13
- Psalm 39:9 : Isa 38:15
- Psalm 39:10 : 2Ch 21:14; Eze 7:9; 24:16
- Psalm 39:10 : S Ex 9:3
- Psalm 39:11 : S Dt 28:20; Isa 66:15; Eze 5:15; 2Pe 2:16
- Psalm 39:11 : Ps 94:10; Isa 26:16
- Psalm 39:11 : Ps 90:7
- Psalm 39:11 : S Job 13:28; S Isa 51:8; Lk 12:33; S Jas 5:2
- Psalm 39:11 : S Job 7:7
- Psalm 39:12 : S Ps 17:1
- Psalm 39:12 : S Dt 1:45
- Psalm 39:12 : S 2Ki 20:5
- Psalm 39:12 : Lev 25:23
- Psalm 39:12 : S Ge 23:4; S Heb 11:13
- Psalm 39:12 : S Ge 47:9; S 1Ch 29:15
- Psalm 39:13 : S Job 10:21
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
What Is the Measure of My Days?
To the choirmaster: to (A)Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.39 I said, “I will (B)guard my ways,
that I (C)may not sin with my tongue;
I will (D)guard my mouth with a muzzle,
so long as the wicked are in my presence.”
2 I was (E)mute and silent;
I held my peace to no avail,
and my distress grew worse.
3 My (F)heart became hot within me.
As I mused, the fire burned;
then I spoke with my tongue:
4 “O Lord, (G)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 (H)my lifetime is as nothing before you.
Surely (I)all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah
6 Surely a man (J)goes about as a shadow!
Surely for nothing[a] they are in turmoil;
man (K)heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!
7 “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?
(L)My hope is in you.
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions.
(M)Do not make me the scorn of the fool!
9 (N)I am mute; I do not open my mouth,
(O)for it is you who have done it.
10 (P)Remove your stroke from me;
I am spent by the hostility of your hand.
11 When you discipline a man
with (Q)rebukes for sin,
you (R)consume like a (S)moth what is dear to him;
(T)surely all mankind is a mere breath! Selah
12 (U)“Hear my prayer, O Lord,
and give ear to my cry;
hold not your peace at my tears!
For I am (V)a sojourner with you,
(W)a guest, like all my fathers.
13 (X)Look away from me, that I may smile again,
(Y)before I depart and (Z)am no more!”
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Footnotes
- Psalm 39:6 Hebrew Surely as a breath
Cross references
- Psalm 39:1 : Ps. 62, title; 77, title; 1 Chr. 16:41; 25:1
- Psalm 39:1 : 1 Kgs. 2:4; 2 Kgs. 10:31
- Psalm 39:1 : Job 2:10
- Psalm 39:1 : See Ps. 34:13
- Psalm 39:2 : ver. 9; Job 40:4, 5; See Ps. 38:13
- Psalm 39:3 : Jer. 20:9; Luke 24:32; [Job 32:18, 19]
- Psalm 39:4 : Ps. 90:12
- Psalm 39:5 : Ps. 89:47; 90:4
- Psalm 39:5 : ver. 11; [Job 14:2]
- Psalm 39:6 : [1 Cor. 7:31; James 4:14]
- Psalm 39:6 : Ps. 49:10; Job 27:16, 17; Luke 12:20; [Eccles. 2:18, 21, 26; Jer. 17:11]
- Psalm 39:7 : Ps. 38:15
- Psalm 39:8 : See Ps. 44:13
- Psalm 39:9 : ver. 2
- Psalm 39:9 : 2 Sam. 16:10; Job 2:10
- Psalm 39:10 : Job 9:34; 13:21
- Psalm 39:11 : Ps. 80:16
- Psalm 39:11 : Ps. 49:14
- Psalm 39:11 : Job 13:28; Isa. 50:9
- Psalm 39:11 : See ver. 5
- Psalm 39:12 : Ps. 102:1
- Psalm 39:12 : Ps. 119:19; Lev. 25:23; 1 Chr. 29:15; Heb. 11:13; 1 Pet. 2:11; [Gen. 47:9]
- Psalm 39:12 : Ps. 119:19; Lev. 25:23; 1 Chr. 29:15; Heb. 11:13; 1 Pet. 2:11; [Gen. 47:9]
- Psalm 39:13 : Job 7:19
- Psalm 39:13 : Job 10:21
- Psalm 39:13 : Job 7:8; 14:10-12; 20:9
39 I said, “I will (B)guard my ways,
that I (C)may not sin with my tongue;
I will (D)guard my mouth with a muzzle,
so long as the wicked are in my presence.”
2 I was (E)mute and silent;
I held my peace to no avail,
and my distress grew worse.
3 My (F)heart became hot within me.
As I mused, the fire burned;
then I spoke with my tongue:
4 “O Lord, (G)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 (H)my lifetime is as nothing before you.
Surely (I)all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah
6 Surely a man (J)goes about as a shadow!
Surely for nothing[a] they are in turmoil;
man (K)heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!
7 “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?
(L)My hope is in you.
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions.
(M)Do not make me the scorn of the fool!
9 (N)I am mute; I do not open my mouth,
(O)for it is you who have done it.
10 (P)Remove your stroke from me;
I am spent by the hostility of your hand.
11 When you discipline a man
with (Q)rebukes for sin,
you (R)consume like a (S)moth what is dear to him;
(T)surely all mankind is a mere breath! Selah
12 (U)“Hear my prayer, O Lord,
and give ear to my cry;
hold not your peace at my tears!
For I am (V)a sojourner with you,
(W)a guest, like all my fathers.
13 (X)Look away from me, that I may smile again,
(Y)before I depart and (Z)am no more!”
Footnotes
- Psalm 39:6 Hebrew Surely as a breath
Cross references
- Psalm 39:1 : Ps. 62, title; 77, title; 1 Chr. 16:41; 25:1
- Psalm 39:1 : 1 Kgs. 2:4; 2 Kgs. 10:31
- Psalm 39:1 : Job 2:10
- Psalm 39:1 : See Ps. 34:13
- Psalm 39:2 : ver. 9; Job 40:4, 5; See Ps. 38:13
- Psalm 39:3 : Jer. 20:9; Luke 24:32; [Job 32:18, 19]
- Psalm 39:4 : Ps. 90:12
- Psalm 39:5 : Ps. 89:47; 90:4
- Psalm 39:5 : ver. 11; [Job 14:2]
- Psalm 39:6 : [1 Cor. 7:31; James 4:14]
- Psalm 39:6 : Ps. 49:10; Job 27:16, 17; Luke 12:20; [Eccles. 2:18, 21, 26; Jer. 17:11]
- Psalm 39:7 : Ps. 38:15
- Psalm 39:8 : See Ps. 44:13
- Psalm 39:9 : ver. 2
- Psalm 39:9 : 2 Sam. 16:10; Job 2:10
- Psalm 39:10 : Job 9:34; 13:21
- Psalm 39:11 : Ps. 80:16
- Psalm 39:11 : Ps. 49:14
- Psalm 39:11 : Job 13:28; Isa. 50:9
- Psalm 39:11 : See ver. 5
- Psalm 39:12 : Ps. 102:1
- Psalm 39:12 : Ps. 119:19; Lev. 25:23; 1 Chr. 29:15; Heb. 11:13; 1 Pet. 2:11; [Gen. 47:9]
- Psalm 39:12 : Ps. 119:19; Lev. 25:23; 1 Chr. 29:15; Heb. 11:13; 1 Pet. 2:11; [Gen. 47:9]
- Psalm 39:13 : Job 7:19
- Psalm 39:13 : Job 10:21
- Psalm 39:13 : Job 7:8; 14:10-12; 20:9
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
The Psalmist recognizes how easy a person can sin with words. The Bible compares the tongue to a restless evil, full of deadly poison (Ja 3:8). The Psalmist decides to watch his ways and to muzzle his mouth before wicked people. He remained silent, not even saying anything good. He seems to have been suffering, perhaps because of sin, and he recognized that God had allowed this (9,10). So, in his silence, he meditated on life until a fire burned in his heart.
Finally, the Psalmist asked God to show him how brief human life is. He understood that his lifespan was short compared to God’s eternal nature. People are like a breath or a phantom, even if they seem to be secure because of accumulated wealth.
Life is too short to heap up wealth in vain, for who will receive it when we are gone? The Psalmist saw that his hope was only in the Lord. He prayed to be saved from all his transgressions. He asked God to remove the scourge upon him and to hear his cry for help. Because God looked upon him with rebuke and discipline, the Psalmist felt like a foreigner to God (12). He asked God to take away his stern look from him so that he may enjoy life again in fellowship with God. What are you looking for in life? Put your hope in God.
Prayer: Father, thank you for reminding me about the brevity of life. My only hope is in you.
One Word: Lord, my hope is in you
