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“Eternal One, let me understand my end
    and how brief my earthly existence is;
    help me realize my life is fleeting.
You have determined the length of my days,
    and my life is nothing compared to You.
Even the longest life is only a breath.”

[pause][a]

In truth, each of us journeys through life like a shadow.
    We busy ourselves accomplishing nothing, piling up assets we can never keep;
We can’t even know who will end up with those things.

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Footnotes

  1. 39:5 Literally, selah, likely a musical direction from a Hebrew root meaning “to lift up”

“Show me, Lord, my life’s end
    and the number of my days;(A)
    let me know how fleeting(B) my life is.(C)
You have made my days(D) a mere handbreadth;
    the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath,(E)
    even those who seem secure.[a]

“Surely everyone goes around(F) like a mere phantom;(G)
    in vain they rush about,(H) heaping up wealth(I)
    without knowing whose it will finally be.(J)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 39:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 11.

Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am.

Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

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