Psalms 39:5-6

39:5 Look, you make my days short-lived,

and my life span is nothing from your perspective.

Surely all people, even those who seem secure, are nothing but vapor.

39:6 Surely people go through life as mere ghosts.

Surely they accumulate worthless wealth

without knowing who will eventually haul it away.”

Psalms 39:1

Psalm 39

For the music director, Jeduthun; a psalm of David.

39:1 I decided, “I will watch what I say

and make sure I do not sin with my tongue.

I will put a muzzle over my mouth

while in the presence of an evil man.”

Psalms 9:2

9:2 I will be happy and rejoice in you!

I will sing praises to you, O sovereign One!

Psalms 17:8

17:8 Protect me as you would protect the pupil of your eye!

Hide me in the shadow of your wings!

Psalms 17:1

Psalm 17

A prayer of David.

17:1 Lord, consider my just cause!

Pay attention to my cry for help!

Listen to the prayer

I sincerely offer!

Psalms 31:4-5

31:4 You will free me from the net they hid for me,

for you are my place of refuge.

31:5 Into your hand I entrust my life;

you will rescue me, O Lord, the faithful God.

Psalms 31:2

31:2 Listen to me!

Quickly deliver me!

Be my protector and refuge,

a stronghold where I can be safe!

Psalms 14:1

Psalm 14

For the music director; by David.

14:1 Fools say to themselves, “There is no God.”

They sin and commit evil deeds;

none of them does what is right.

Psalms 16:1

Psalm 16

A prayer of David.

16:1 Protect me, O God, for I have taken shelter in you.

Psalms 17:1-2

Psalm 17

A prayer of David.

17:1 Lord, consider my just cause!

Pay attention to my cry for help!

Listen to the prayer

I sincerely offer!

17:2 Make a just decision on my behalf!

Decide what is right!

Psalms 18:14

18:14 He shot his arrows and scattered them,

many lightning bolts and routed them.

Psalms 18:17

18:17 He rescued me from my strong enemy,

from those who hate me,

for they were too strong for me.

Ecclesiastes 1:2-3

Introduction: Utter Futility

1:2 “Futile! Futile!” laments the Teacher,

“Absolutely futile! Everything is futile!”

Futility Illustrated from Nature

1:3 What benefit do people get from all the effort

which they expend on earth?

Ecclesiastes 2:11

2:11 Yet when I reflected on everything I had accomplished

and on all the effort that I had expended to accomplish it,

I concluded: “All these achievements and possessions are ultimately profitless

like chasing the wind!

There is nothing gained from them on earth.”

Ecclesiastes 7:20

7:20 For there is not one truly righteous person on the earth

who continually does good and never sins.

Ecclesiastes 12:8

Concluding Refrain: Qoheleth Restates His Thesis

12:8 “Absolutely futile!” laments the Teacher,

“All of these things are futile!”

Matthew 5:18

5:18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth pass away not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter will pass from the law until everything takes place.

Matthew 24:35

24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.