Psalms Chapter 39 (KJV)

Psalms 39

Human mortality and the brevity of lifeThe importance of guarded speechHope in God amidst sufferingGod's discipline and justiceThe vanity of worldly pursuits
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Verse card
[To the chief Musician, {even} to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.] I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. {my mouth...: Heb. a bridle, or, muzzle for my mouth} I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, {even} from good; and my sorrow was stirred. {stirred: Heb. troubled} My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: {then} spake I with my tongue, LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it {is; that} I may know how frail I {am}. {how...: or, what time I have here} 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. {at...: Heb. settled} 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. {a vain...: Heb. an image} And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope {is} in thee. Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish. I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst {it}. Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thine hand. {blow: Heb. conflict} When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man {is} vanity. Selah. {his...: Heb. that which is to be desired in him to melt away} Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I {am} a stranger with thee, {and} a sojourner, as all my fathers {were}. O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.

Context & Meaning

Psalm 39 is David's profound meditation on human mortality and the brevity of life. He resolves to guard his speech, acknowledges human frailty before God, and ultimately expresses his hope in God's mercy despite life's transience.

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