Psalm 39-41

New International Version

Psalm 39^[a]

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.

¹I 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.”
²So 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)
⁵You 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)
⁸Save me^(T) from all my transgressions;^(U)
    do not make me the scorn^(V) of fools.
⁹I was silent;^(W) I would not open my mouth,^(X)
    for you are the one who has done this.^(Y)
¹⁰Remove your scourge from me;
    I am overcome by the blow^(Z) of your hand.^(AA)
¹¹When 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)

¹²“Hear my prayer, Lord,
    listen to my cry for help;^(AG)
    do not be deaf^(AH) to my weeping.^(AI)
I dwell with you as a foreigner,^(AJ)
    a stranger,^(AK) as all my ancestors were.^(AL)
¹³Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again
    before I depart and am no more.”^(AM)

Psalm 40^[c]^(AN)

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

¹I waited patiently^(AO) for the Lord;
    he turned to me and heard my cry.^(AP)
²He lifted me out of the slimy pit,^(AQ)
    out of the mud^(AR) and mire;^(AS)
he set my feet^(AT) on a rock^(AU)
    and gave me a firm place to stand.
³He put a new song^(AV) in my mouth,
    a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord^(AW)
    and put their trust^(AX) in him.

⁴Blessed is the one^(AY)
    who trusts in the Lord,^(AZ)
who does not look to the proud,^(BA)
    to those who turn aside to false gods.^[d]^(BB)
⁵Many, Lord my God,
    are the wonders^(BC) you have done,
    the things you planned for us.
None can compare^(BD) with you;
    were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
    they would be too many^(BE) to declare.

⁶Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—^(BF)
    but my ears you have opened^[e]—^(BG)
    burnt offerings^(BH) and sin offerings^[f] you did not require.
⁷Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—
    it is written about me in the scroll.^[g]^(BI)
⁸I desire to do your will,^(BJ) my God;^(BK)
    your law is within my heart.”^(BL)

⁹I proclaim your saving acts^(BM) in the great assembly;^(BN)
    I do not seal my lips, Lord,
    as you know.^(BO)
¹⁰I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
    I speak of your faithfulness^(BP) and your saving help.
I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness
    from the great assembly.^(BQ)

¹¹Do not withhold your mercy^(BR) from me, Lord;
    may your love^(BS) and faithfulness^(BT) always protect^(BU) me.
¹²For troubles^(BV) without number surround me;
    my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.^(BW)
They are more than the hairs of my head,^(BX)
    and my heart fails^(BY) within me.
¹³Be pleased to save me, Lord;
    come quickly, Lord, to help me.^(BZ)

¹⁴May all who want to take my life^(CA)
    be put to shame and confusion;^(CB)
may all who desire my ruin^(CC)
    be turned back in disgrace.
¹⁵May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”^(CD)
    be appalled at their own shame.
¹⁶But may all who seek you^(CE)
    rejoice and be glad^(CF) in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
    “The Lord is great!”^(CG)

¹⁷But as for me, I am poor and needy;^(CH)
may the Lord think^(CI) of me.
You are my help^(CJ) and my deliverer;^(CK)
you are my God, do not delay.^(CL)

Psalm 41^[h]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

¹Blessed^(CM) are those who have regard for the weak;^(CN)
    the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.^(CO)
²The Lord protects^(CP) and preserves them—^(CQ)
    they are counted among the blessed in the land—^(CR)
    he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.^(CS)
³The Lord sustains them on their sickbed^(CT)
    and restores them from their bed of illness.^(CU)

⁴I said, “Have mercy^(CV) on me, Lord;
    heal^(CW) me, for I have sinned^(CX) against you.”
⁵My enemies say of me in malice,
    “When will he die and his name perish?^(CY)”
⁶When one of them comes to see me,
    he speaks falsely,^(CZ) while his heart gathers slander;^(DA)
    then he goes out and spreads^(DB) it around.

⁷All my enemies whisper together^(DC) against me;
    they imagine the worst for me, saying,
⁸“A vile disease has afflicted him;
    he will never get up^(DD) from the place where he lies.”
⁹Even my close friend,^(DE)
    someone I trusted,
one who shared my bread,
    has turned^[i] against me.^(DF)

¹⁰But may you have mercy^(DG) on me, Lord;
    raise me up,^(DH) that I may repay^(DI) them.
¹¹I know that you are pleased with me,^(DJ)
    for my enemy does not triumph over me.^(DK)
¹²Because of my integrity^(DL) you uphold me^(DM)
    and set me in your presence forever.^(DN)

¹³Praise^(DO) be to the Lord, the God of Israel,^(DP)
from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and Amen.^(DQ)

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.
Psalm 40:1 In Hebrew texts 40:1-17 is numbered 40:2-18.
Psalm 40:4 Or to lies
Psalm 40:6 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts but a body you have prepared for me
Psalm 40:6 Or purification offerings
Psalm 40:7 Or come / with the scroll written for me
Psalm 41:1 In Hebrew texts 41:1-13 is numbered 41:2-14.
Psalm 41:9 Hebrew has lifted up his heel