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Psalm 39

To the director.* To Jeduthun.* A song of David.*

1I said, “I will be careful about the things I say. I will not let my tongue cause me to sin. I will keep my mouth closed* when I am around wicked people.” 2So I didn’t say anything. I didn’t even say anything good! But I became even more upset. 3I was very angry. And the more I thought about it, the angrier I became. So I said something. 4Lord, tell me, what will happen to me now? Tell me, how long will I live? Let me know how short my life really is. 5Lord, you gave me only a short life.* My short life is nothing, compared to you. Every person’s life is only like a cloud {that quickly disappears}. No person lives forever!* SELAH* 6Our life is like an image {in a mirror}.* We rush through life collecting things, but we don’t know who will get them {after we die}. 7So, Master, what hope do I have? You are my hope!  8Lord, save me from the bad things I did. Don’t let me be treated like a fool. 9I will not open my mouth. I will not say anything. Lord, you did what should be done. 10But God, stop punishing me. You will destroy me if you don’t stop! 11Lord, you punish people for doing wrong to teach them the right way to live. Like a moth destroys cloth, you destroy the things people love. Yes, our lives are like a small cloud {that quickly disappears}. SELAH* 12Lord, hear my prayer! Listen to the words I cry to you. Look at my tears. I am only a traveler passing through this life with you. Like all my ancestors, I live here only a short time.* 13Lord, leave me alone* and let me be happy before I am dead and gone.

To the director Or, “performer.” To Jeduthun Or, “To the director, Jeduthun,” one of the three main temple musicians. See 1 Chron. 9:16; 16:38–42. A song of David Or, “A song dedicated to David.” keep … closed Literally, “guard my mouth with a muzzle.” you gave me only a short life Literally, “you made my days only a handbreadth.” No person lives forever Literally, “No one stands.” SELAH This word is for the musicians. It probably means the singers should pause here or the music should be louder here. Our life … mirror Or, “This life is not real—it is only a shadow” or “People wander around in the dark—not knowing what will happen.”  SELAH This word is for the musicians. It probably means the singers should pause here or the music should be louder here. I live … time Literally, “I am a settler.” leave me alone Or, “stop looking at me.”


Psalm 40

To the director.* A song of David.*

1I called* to the Lord, and he heard me. He heard my cries. 2The Lord lifted me out of the grave.* He lifted me from that muddy place.* He picked me up, put me on solid ground and kept my feet from slipping. 3The Lord put a new song* in my mouth, a song of praise to my God. Many people will see what happened to me, and they will worship God. They will trust the Lord. 4If a person trusts the Lord, that person will be truly happy. A person will be truly happy if he doesn’t turn to demons and false gods* for help. 5Lord, our God, you have done many wonderful things! You have wonderful plans for us. No person could list them all! I will tell again and again about those things that are too many to count. 6Lord, you made me understand this:* You don’t really want sacrifices* and grain offerings. You don’t really want burnt offerings and sin offerings. 7So I said, “Here {I am! Take me.} I am coming. This was written about me in the book. 8My God, I want to do what you want. I know your teachings. 9I told the good news of victory* to the people in the great assembly. And Lord, you know that I will never stop telling that good news! 10Lord, I told about the good things you did. I did not hide those things in my heart. Lord, I told people they can depend on you to save them. I did not hide your kindness and loyalty from the people in the assembly. 11So Lord, don’t hide your mercy from me! Let your kindness and loyalty protect me.” 12Evil people have gathered around me. They are too many to count! My sins have caught me, and I can’t escape them. They are more than the hairs on my head. I have lost my courage.  13Run to me, Lord, and save me! Lord, come quickly and help me! 14Those evil people are trying to kill me. Lord, make those people ashamed and disappointed. Those people want to hurt me. Let them run away in shame! 15Those bad people make fun of me. Let them be too embarrassed to speak! 16But let those people that come to you be happy and rejoice. They love being saved by you. So let them always say, “Praise the Lord!”* 17Master, I am only a poor, helpless man. Help me. Save me. My God, don’t be too late!

director Or, “performer.” A song of David Or, “A song dedicated to David.” called Or, “waited patiently.” grave Literally, “pit of destruction,” that is, the place of death. muddy place In many ancient stories, Sheol, the place of death, is a dark place with mud all around, like a grave. new song Whenever God did a new and wonderful thing for his people, they would write a new song about it. demons and false gods Or, “proud and deceptive people.” you made me understand this Literally, “you have dug my ears.” The ancient Greek version has, “You prepared a body for me.” sacrifice(s) A sacrifice was a gift to God. Usually, it was a special animal that was killed and burned on an altar. victory Literally, “goodness, righteousness.” Praise the Lord Literally, “The Lord is God” or “May the Lord be magnified”  


Psalm 41

To the director.* A song of David.*

1A person who helps poor people succeed will get many blessings.* When trouble comes, the Lord will save that person. 2The Lord will protect that person and save his life. That person will be blessed on earth. God will not let that person’s enemies destroy him. 3When that person is sick and in bed, the Lord will give him strength. That person may be sick in bed, but the Lord will make him well! 4I said, “Lord, be kind to me. I sinned against you, but forgive me and make me well.” 5My enemies say bad things about me. They are saying, “When will he die and be forgotten?” 6People come to visit me, but they don’t say what they are really thinking. They come just to get some news about me, Then they go and spread their rumors.* 7My enemies whisper bad things about me. They are plotting against me. 8They say, “He did something wrong. That is why he is sick. I hope he never gets well.” 9My best friend ate with me. I trusted him. But now, even he has turned against me. 10So, Lord, please be kind to me. Let me get up, and I will pay them back. 11Lord, don’t let my enemy hurt me. Then I will know that you didn’t send them to hurt me. 12I was innocent and you supported me. You let me stand and serve you forever. 13Bless the Lord, God of Israel! He always was, and he always will be. Amen and Amen!*

director Or, “performer.” A song of David Or, “A song dedicated to David.” get many blessings Or, “be truly fortunate (happy).” rumors Hurtful stories about people that other people tell without knowing if the stories are true. Amen A Hebrew word meaning “truly,” “That’s right.” It shows that a person agrees with what has been said.


BOOK 2

Psalm 42

To the director.* A maskil* from the Korah family.

1A deer gets thirsty for water from a stream. In the same way, my soul is thirsty for you, God. 2My soul is thirsty for the Living God. When can I go to meet with him? 3My enemy constantly {makes fun of me}. He says, “Where is your God? {Has he come to save you yet?]” {I am so sad} that my only food is the tears {that fall from my eyes}.  4My heart breaks as I remember {the good times I had at the temple}: {I remember} passing through the crowds as I led them all up to God’s temple. {I remember} the happy songs of praise as the crowds celebrated the festivals. 5Why should I be so sad? Why should I be so upset? I should wait for God’s help. I will get the chance to praise him yet. He will save me! 6My God, I am so sad because I must remember you from this place, from this small hill* where the Hermon mountains and the Jordan River meet. 7I hear the crashing of the water as water from deep in the earth spills over the waterfall. Lord, your waves are crashing all around me and washing over me!* 8Every day the Lord shows his true love and every night, I have a song for him, a prayer for my Living God. 9I speak to God, my Rock,* I say, “Lord, why did you forget me? Why must I suffer such sadness because of the cruelty of my enemy?” 10My enemy constantly insults me and strikes a deadly blow when he asks me, “Where is your God? {Has he come to save you yet?}” 11Why should I be so sad? Why should I be so upset? I should wait for God’s help. I will get the chance to praise him yet. He will save me!

maskil The exact meaning of “maskil” is not known. It might mean “a poem of meditation,” “a poem of instruction,” or “a skillfully-written poem.” small hill Or, “Mount Mizar.” Lord, your waves … over me This is a word play that also means, “Lord, you have given me many troubles.” Rock A name for God to show he is a strong place of safety.


Psalm 43

1God, there is a man who is not one of your loyal followers. That man is crooked and tells lies. God, save me from that man! Defend me and prove that I am right. 2God, you are my place of safety! Why did you leave me? Why must I suffer such sadness because of the cruelty of my enemy? 3God, let your light and truth shine on me. Your light and truth will guide me. They will lead me to your holy mountain. They will lead me to your home. 4I will come to God’s altar. I will come to the God who makes me so very happy. God, my God, I will praise you with a harp. 5Why am I so sad? Why am I so upset? I should wait for God’s help. I will get the chance to praise God yet. He will save me!

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