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Psalms / Chapter 39
A speaker restrains his words among the wicked, but mounting anguish breaks the silence and turns into prayer. The poem traces life’s brevity, shifting from self-control to urgent appeal for relief before he passes away.
I said, "I will watch my ways, so that I don`t sin with my tongue. I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me."
I was mute with silence. I held my peace, even from good. My sorrow was stirred.
My heart was hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned: I spoke with my tongue:
"Yahweh, make me to know my end, What is the measure of my days. Let me know how frail I am.
Behold, you have made my days handbreadths. My lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely every man stands as a breath." Selah.
"Surely every man walks like a shadow. Surely they busy themselves in vain. He heaps up, and doesn`t know who shall gather.
Now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you.
Deliver me from all my transgressions. Don`t make me the reproach of the foolish.
I was mute, I didn`t open my mouth, Because you did it.
Remove your scourge away from me. I am overcome by the blow of your hand.
When you rebuke and correct man for iniquity, You consume his wealth like a moth. Surely every man is but a breath." Selah.
"Hear my prayer, Yahweh, and give ear to my cry. Don`t be silent at my tears. For I am a stranger with you, A sojourner, as all my fathers were.
Oh spare me, that I may recover strength, Before I go away, and be no more." Psalm 40 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.
Psalms journey · Psalms 39
Full passage context
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Prayer, lament, praise, kingship, and hope teach God's people to sing truthfully.
Movement
Worship across the whole story
Artifact
Prayer book of the covenant people
Biblical Timeline
Kingdom
Psalms context: 1000 BC - 586 BC
Psalms context
Kingdom / 1000 BC - 586 BC
Psalms context is set in the kingdom period, where Israel's monarchy from David and Solomon to exile.
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Context snapshot
Date
Collected across Israel's worship life, c. 1000-450 BC
Genre
Poetry, prayer, and praise
Setting
Israel/Judah worship tradition
Audience
Israel
World Stage
Davidic and temple worship leaders collection over centuries
Psalms gathers prayers and songs from royal, temple, crisis, exile, and restoration settings. Its world is Israel's worship life across generations, bringing covenant memory into praise, lament, confession, and hope.
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