UST PSA Chapter 39

39 This is a note to the worship leader: wrote song. in the style of Jeduthun.

1 I thought to myself, “I must be very careful about how I act

so that I do not sin by what I say.

I must keep myself from speaking

while wicked people are near me.”

2 So I kept completely silent; I did not say anything, not even anything good,

but my suffering only became worse.

3 I felt very agitated inside me;

the more I pondered, the more agonized I became.

Then finally I spoke and said,

4 “Yahweh, let me know when I will die.

Tell me how many days I have left to live.

Help me to understand how short my life really is.

5 Indeed, you have made my days very few;

the time that I have to live is practically nothing to you.

Truly, every person appears and disappears as quickly as vapor. Selah

6 Truly, each person does not do anything more substantial than a shadow would do.

Truly, people become agitated about things that do not matter.

They pile up wealth, but they do not know

who will get it after they die.

7 So now, Lord, I realize that it is useless for me to expect any person to make my life purposeful.

You are the only one who can do anything worthwhile for me.

8 Please save me from all the ways that I sin against you.

Do not let me be someone whom foolish people ridicule.

9 I kept silent and did not say anything,

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

10 But now, please stop punishing me!

As for me, because you have afflicted me, I am about to die.

11 When you correct a person for the wrong things that he has done,

you destroy what he treasures, just as moths destroy clothing.

Truly, every person lives only a very short time. Selah

12 Yahweh, please hear me as I pray to you

and listen to me when I cry out for help.

Do not ignore my tears,

because I am only living before you on the earth for a short time,

a temporary resident, just like all of my ancestors.

13 Please leave me alone in order that I may be happy for awhile

before I die.”