Psalm 39 Poem by Justin Reamer

I said, I will take heed and guard my ways,
That I may sin not with my tongue;
I will muzzle my mouth as with a bridle
While the wicked are before me.

I was dumb with silence,
I held my peace without profit
And had no comfort away from good,
While my distress was renewed.

My heart was hot within me.
While I was musing, the fire burned;
Then I spoke with my tongue:
Lord, make me to know my end and
To appreciate the measure of my days-
What it is;
Let me know and realise how frail I am,
How transient is my stay here.

Behold, You have made my days
As short as handbreadths,
And my lifetime is as nothing in Your sight.
Truly every man at his best is merely a breath!
Selah!
Pause, and think calmly of that!

Surely every man walks to and fro-
Like a shadow in a pantomime;
Surely for futility and emptiness he is in turmoil;
Each one heaps his riches,
Not knowing who will gather them.

And now, Lord, what do I wait for and expect?
My hope and expectation are in You.

Deliver me from all my transgressions;
Make me the scorn and reproach of the self-confident fool!

I am dumb,
I open my mouth,
For it is You Who has done it.

Remove Your stroke away from m;
I am consumed by the conflict
And the blow of Your hand.

When with rebukes You correct
And chasten man for sin,
You waste his beauty like a moth
And what is dear to him consumes away;
Surely every man is a mere breath.
Selah!
Pause, and think calmly of that!

Hear my prayer, O Lord,
And give ear to my cry;
Hold back not Your peace at my tears!
For I am Your passing guest,
A temporary resident,
As all my fathers were.

O look away from me and spare me,
That I may recover cheerfulness and encouraging strength
And know gladness before I go
And am no more!