Lest I Sin with my Tongue

David is still thinking about his enemies, but in this Psalm David explains his responsibility to do right, by keeping his tongue in check, "lest I sin with my tongue". It appears that David is at an older age in this Psalm as he talks about his weariness, and how close is he to the end and that people gather riches in vain because they cannot take it beyond this life.

David also reaffirms his hope in God. He knows that only God will know how many days he has left. He asks God again to forgive his transgressions.


Psalm 39

To the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

 1 I said, “I will guard my ways,
         Lest I sin with my tongue;
         I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle,
         While the wicked are before me.”
 2 I was mute with silence,
         I held my peace even from good;
         And my sorrow was stirred up.
 3 My heart was hot within me;
         While I was musing, the fire burned.
         Then I spoke with my tongue:
       
 4 “LORD, make me to know my end,
         And what is the measure of my days,
         That I may know how frail I am.
 5 Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths,
         And my age is as nothing before You;
         Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor.  Selah
 6 Surely every man walks about like a shadow;
         Surely they busy themselves in vain;
         He heaps up riches,
         And does not know who will gather them.
       
 7 “And now, Lord, what do I wait for?
         My hope is in You.
 8 Deliver me from all my transgressions;
         Do not make me the reproach of the foolish.
 9 I was mute, I did not open my mouth,
         Because it was You who did it.
 10 Remove Your plague from me;
         I am consumed by the blow of Your hand.
 11 When with rebukes You correct man for iniquity,
         You make his beauty melt away like a moth;
         Surely every man is vapor.  Selah
       
 12 “Hear my prayer, O LORD,
         And give ear to my cry;
         Do not be silent at my tears;
         For I am a stranger with You,
         A sojourner, as all my fathers were.
 13 Remove Your gaze from me, that I may regain strength,
         Before I go away and am no more.”