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Psalm 39

1  I said, ‘I will keep watch over my ways, ♦︎
   so that I offend not with my tongue.
2  ‘I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, ♦︎
   while the wicked are in my sight.’
3  So I held my tongue and said nothing; ♦︎
   I kept silent but to no avail.
4  My distress increased, my heart grew hot within me; ♦︎
   while I mused, the fire was kindled
      and I spoke out with my tongue:
5  ‘Lord, let me know my end and the number of my days, ♦︎
   that I may know how short my time is.
6  ‘You have made my days but a handsbreadth,
      and my lifetime is as nothing in your sight; ♦︎
   truly, even those who stand upright are but a breath.
7  ‘We walk about like a shadow
      and in vain we are in turmoil; ♦︎
   we heap up riches and cannot tell who will gather them.
8  ‘And now, what is my hope? ♦︎
   Truly my hope is even in you.
9  ‘Deliver me from all my transgressions ♦︎
   and do not make me the taunt of the fool.’
10  I fell silent and did not open my mouth, ♦︎
   for surely it was your doing.
11  Take away your plague from me; ♦︎
   I am consumed by the blows of your hand.
12  With rebukes for sin you punish us;
      like a moth you consume our beauty; ♦︎
   truly, everyone is but a breath.
13  Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my cry; ♦︎
   hold not your peace at my tears.
14  For I am but a stranger with you, ♦︎
   a wayfarer, as all my forebears were.
15  Turn your gaze from me, that I may be glad again, ♦︎
   before I go my way and am no more.

Psalm 41

1  Blessed are those who consider the poor and needy; ♦︎
   the Lord will deliver them in the time of trouble.
2  The Lord preserves them and restores their life,
      that they may be happy in the land; ♦︎
   he will not hand them over to the will of their enemies.
3  The Lord sustains them on their sickbed; ♦︎
   their sickness, Lord, you will remove.
4  And so I said, ‘Lord, be merciful to me; ♦︎
   heal me, for I have sinned against you.’
5  My enemies speak evil about me, ♦︎
   asking when I shall die and my name perish.
6  If they come to see me, they utter empty words; ♦︎
   their heart gathers mischief;
      when they go out, they tell it abroad.
7  All my enemies whisper together against me, ♦︎
   against me they devise evil,
8  Saying that a deadly thing has laid hold on me, ♦︎
   and that I will not rise again from where I lie.
9  Even my bosom friend, whom I trusted,
      who ate of my bread, ♦︎
   has lifted up his heel against me.
10  But you, O Lord, be merciful to me ♦︎
   and raise me up, that I may reward them.
11  By this I know that you favour me, ♦︎
   that my enemy does not triumph over me.
12  Because of my integrity you uphold me ♦︎
   and will set me before your face for ever.
13  Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, ♦︎
   from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.