A psalm written by David for Jeduthun, the choir director

39 I said to myself, “I will be careful not to sin by the things that I say [MTY].

I will not say anything to complain

while wicked people are near to me and can hear me.”

2 So I was completely silent [DOU], and I did not even talk about things that were good,

but it was useless, because I began to suffer even more.

3 I became very anxious/worried [IDM].

As I thought about my troubles, I became more worried.

Then finally I said [MTY],

4 “Yahweh, show/tell me how long I will live.

Tell me when I will die.

Tell me how many years I will live!

5 It seems that you have caused me to live only a short time;

◄my lifetime/all the time that I have lived► seems like nothing to you.

The time that all we humans live is as short as [MET] a puff of wind.

(Think about that!)

6 Then we disappear like a shadow does.

It seems that all that we do is for nothing/useless.

We sometimes get a lot of money, but we do not know who will get it after we die.

7 So now, Yahweh, if I expect [RHQ] to receive blessings from other people, I will be disappointed.

You are the only one from whom I confidently expect to receive blessings.

8 Save me from being punished for all the sins that I have committed.

And do not allow foolish people to make fun of me.

9 I did not say anything when you punished me,

because I knew that you were the one who caused me to suffer.

10 But now, please stop punishing me!

If you do not do that, I am about to die because of the ways that you [SYN] have struck/afflicted me.

11 When you rebuke someone and punish him for the sin that he has committed,

you destroy the things that ◄he loves/are precious to him►, like moths’ larva destroy clothing.

Our lives disappear like a puff of wind.

(Think about that!)

12 Yahweh, listen to me while I pray;

pay attention to me while I cry out to you.

Help me while I am crying.

I am here on the earth for only a short time,

like all my ancestors.

13 Now please leave me alone, and do not punish me any more

in order that I may smile and be happy for a while before I die. [EUP, DOU]”