Daily Bible Reading

What Is the Measure of My Days?

To the choirmaster: to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

1I said, “I will guard my ways,

that I may not sin with my tongue;

I will guard my mouth with a muzzle,

so long as the wicked are in my presence.”

2I was mute and silent;

I held my peace to no avail,

and my distress grew worse.

3My heart became hot within me.

As I mused, the fire burned;

then I spoke with my tongue:

4“O Lord, make me know my end

and what is the measure of my days;

let me know how fleeting I am!

5Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,

and my lifetime is as nothing before you.

Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah

6Surely a man goes about as a shadow!

Surely for nothing they are in turmoil;

man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!

7“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?

My hope is in you.

8Deliver me from all my transgressions.

Do not make me the scorn of the fool!

9I am mute; I do not open my mouth,

for it is you who have done it.

10Remove your stroke from me;

I am spent by the hostility of your hand.

11When you discipline a man

with rebukes for sin,

you consume like a moth what is dear to him;

surely all mankind is a mere breath! Selah

12“Hear my prayer, O Lord,

and give ear to my cry;

hold not your peace at my tears!

For I am a sojourner with you,

a guest, like all my fathers.

13Look away from me, that I may smile again,

before I depart and am no more!”

Psalm 39

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

1I said, “I will watch my ways

and keep my tongue from sin;

I will put a muzzle on my mouth

while in the presence of the wicked.”

2So I remained utterly silent,

not even saying anything good.

But my anguish increased;

3my heart grew hot within me.

While I meditated, the fire burned;

then I spoke with my tongue:

4“Show me, Lord, my life’s end

and the number of my days;

let me know how fleeting my life is.

5You have made my days a mere handbreadth;

the span of my years is as nothing before you.

Everyone is but a breath,

even those who seem secure.

6“Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom;

in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth

without knowing whose it will finally be.

7“But now, Lord, what do I look for?

My hope is in you.

8Save me from all my transgressions;

do not make me the scorn of fools.

9I was silent; I would not open my mouth,

for you are the one who has done this.

10Remove your scourge from me;

I am overcome by the blow of your hand.

11When you rebuke and discipline anyone for their sin,

you consume their wealth like a moth—

surely everyone is but a breath.

12“Hear my prayer, Lord,

listen to my cry for help;

do not be deaf to my weeping.

I dwell with you as a foreigner,

a stranger, as all my ancestors were.

13Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again

before I depart and am no more.”