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For It Is God Who Orders Life
Psalm 39
Dwight Armstrong

I said my ways I'll guard with care,
Lest with my tongue I sin, O God;
I put a bridle on my lips, When in
the presence of ungodly men
With silence I became as dumb;
I held my peace but to no avail.
Sorrow within my heart was stirred;
My distress grew hot as fire!

Then with my tongue I spoke these words;
Let me know my end, O God;
What is the number of my days;
O let me know how fleeting is life.
Thou hast made my days as a span;
They are as nothing in Thy sight,
Surely before Thee all men stand;
As a mere breath they stand before Thee..

O surely man is but a breath;
Like a shadow he goes about;
Men are in turmoil all for nought;
Wealth do they gather but all in vain.
Now, O God, for what do I wait?
My hope in Thee is; my sin forgive.
O make me not the scorn of fools!
I shall not speak but remain as dumb.

For it is God who orders life;
Take away Thy stroke from me.
I am consumed by Thine own hand,
When Thou dost chasten man for all his sin.
Man's life is vain and wasted away;
Hear Thou my cry and hold not Thy peace!
Spare me that I may gladness know,
O God, recall how fleeting is life.