Bible Commentaries
Psalms 39

Introduction

Overview

Psalms 39:1, David’s care of this thoughts; Psalms 39:4, The consideration of the brevity and vanity of life; Psalms 39:7, the reverence of God’s judgments, Psalms 39:10, and prayer, are his bridles of impatience.

Jeduthun, probably the same as Ethan, 1 Chronicles 6:44, was one of the sons of Merari, and is supposed to have been one the four masters of music, or leaders of bands, belonging to the temple service. It is therefore probable that David, having composed this Psalm, gave it to Jeduthun and his company to sing; and it is very likely, that it was written on the same occasion as the preceding. Psalms 62:1, Psalms 77:1 *titles 1 Chronicles 16:41, 1 Chronicles 25:1-6

Verse 1

I said: Psalms 119:9, 1 Kings 2:4, 2 Kings 10:31, Proverbs 4:26, Proverbs 4:27, Hebrews 2:1

that I: Psalms 12:4, Psalms 73:8, Psalms 73:9, Psalms 141:3, Proverbs 18:21, Proverbs 21:23

my mouth: etc. Heb. a bridle, or muzzle, for my mouth, James 1:26, James 3:2-8

while: Amos 5:13, Micah 7:5, Micah 7:6, Colossians 4:5

Reciprocal: Exodus 23:13 - be circumspect 2 Kings 18:36 - held their peace Job 2:10 - In all this Job 6:24 - I will Job 22:3 - thou makest Psalms 17:3 - I am Psalms 34:13 - Keep Psalms 101:3 - set Psalms 106:33 - he spake Proverbs 10:19 - but Proverbs 13:3 - General Isaiah 36:21 - General Mark 14:61 - he held Luke 23:9 - but John 8:6 - as though James 3:3 - General 1 John 5:18 - keepeth

Verse 2

I was: Psalms 38:13, Psalms 38:14, Isaiah 53:7, Matthew 27:12-14

even: Matthew 7:6

my sorrow: Job 32:19, Job 32:20, Acts 4:20

stirred: Heb. troubled

Reciprocal: Job 3:1 - opened Job 6:24 - I will Job 20:2 - my thoughts Ecclesiastes 3:7 - time to keep Jeremiah 8:14 - be silent Mark 14:61 - he held Luke 23:9 - but Acts 8:32 - opened James 1:26 - bridleth

Verse 3

Jeremiah 20:9, Ezekiel 3:14, Luke 24:32

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 3:26 - yearned Job 3:1 - opened Job 7:11 - I will not Job 20:2 - my thoughts Job 32:18 - the spirit Job 40:9 - canst

Verse 4

make: Psalms 90:12, Psalms 119:84, Job 14:13

how frail I am: or, what time I have here

Reciprocal: Job 7:1 - Is there Job 14:5 - his days 1 Corinthians 7:29 - the time

Verse 5

Behold: Psalms 90:4, Psalms 90:5, Psalms 90:9, Psalms 90:10, Genesis 47:9, Job 7:6, Job 9:25, Job 9:26, Job 14:1, Job 14:2, James 4:14

as nothing: Psalms 89:47, 2 Peter 3:8

verily: Psalms 39:11, Psalms 62:9, Psalms 144:4, Ecclesiastes 1:2, Ecclesiastes 2:11, Isaiah 40:17

at his best state: Heb. settled

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 19:34 - How long have I to live Job 4:21 - excellency Job 6:11 - What Job 7:3 - months of Job 8:9 - we are but Job 10:20 - my days few Job 20:22 - the fulness Psalms 49:12 - in honour Psalms 102:11 - My days Psalms 119:84 - How Psalms 119:96 - I have seen Psalms 127:2 - vain Ecclesiastes 1:14 - General Ecclesiastes 3:19 - for Ecclesiastes 6:12 - the days of his vain life Ecclesiastes 8:13 - as a Ecclesiastes 9:9 - all the days of the life Ecclesiastes 11:10 - for Isaiah 40:30 - General

Verse 6

a vain show: Heb. an image, There is but the semblance of being: he appeareth for a little, and then vanisheth. 1 Corinthians 7:31, James 4:14

surely: Ecclesiastes 1:14, Ecclesiastes 2:17, Ecclesiastes 2:18, Ecclesiastes 2:20, Ecclesiastes 2:21, Ecclesiastes 4:7, Ecclesiastes 4:8, Ecclesiastes 6:11, Ecclesiastes 6:12, Ecclesiastes 12:8, Ecclesiastes 12:13, Isaiah 55:2, Luke 10:40-42, Luke 12:20, Luke 12:21, Luke 12:29, 1 Peter 5:7

he heapeth: Psalms 49:10, Psalms 49:11, Job 27:16, Job 27:17, Proverbs 13:22, Proverbs 23:5, Proverbs 27:24, Ecclesiastes 2:8, Ecclesiastes 2:18-21, Ecclesiastes 2:26, Ecclesiastes 5:14, Luke 12:20, Luke 12:21, James 5:3

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 8:13 - General Joshua 8:2 - only the spoil 2 Samuel 19:34 - How long have I to live 1 Kings 14:26 - he took away Esther 8:1 - give the house Job 14:21 - he knoweth it not Psalms 4:6 - many Psalms 17:14 - leave Psalms 62:10 - riches Psalms 73:16 - too painful for me Psalms 73:20 - their Psalms 89:47 - Remember Psalms 102:11 - My days Psalms 114:4 - General Psalms 119:96 - I have seen Psalms 127:2 - vain Psalms 144:4 - Man Ecclesiastes 1:2 - General Ecclesiastes 3:19 - for Ecclesiastes 6:2 - but Ecclesiastes 6:10 - and it Ecclesiastes 7:15 - have I Daniel 11:4 - and shall be Habakkuk 2:13 - is it Matthew 6:19 - General Matthew 6:27 - by Matthew 13:45 - seeking Matthew 15:9 - in Luke 12:26 - why 1 Peter 1:18 - vain 1 John 2:17 - the world

Verse 7

what wait: Psalms 130:5, Psalms 130:6, Genesis 49:18, Luke 2:25

hope: Psalms 38:15, Psalms 119:81, Psalms 119:166, Job 13:15, Romans 15:13

Reciprocal: Psalms 62:5 - my Psalms 69:3 - I wait Psalms 71:5 - For thou Psalms 146:5 - whose Proverbs 11:23 - desire Ecclesiastes 2:20 - General Isaiah 8:17 - I will Lamentations 3:25 - good Matthew 13:45 - seeking

Verse 8

Deliver: Psalms 25:11, Psalms 25:18, Psalms 51:7-10, Psalms 51:14, Psalms 65:3, Psalms 130:8, Micah 7:19, Matthew 1:21, Titus 2:14

make: Psalms 35:21, Psalms 44:13, Psalms 57:3, Psalms 79:4, Psalms 119:39, 2 Samuel 16:7, 2 Samuel 16:8, Joel 2:17, Joel 2:19, Romans 2:23, Romans 2:24

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 11:21 - Thy servant Psalms 74:18 - the foolish Psalms 119:22 - Remove Proverbs 11:23 - desire Jeremiah 31:18 - Thou hast

Verse 9

Psalms 38:13, Leviticus 10:3, 1 Samuel 3:18, 2 Samuel 16:10, Job 1:21, Job 2:10, Job 40:4, Job 40:5, Daniel 4:35

Reciprocal: Genesis 34:5 - held Leviticus 26:41 - and they Ruth 1:13 - the hand 2 Samuel 12:20 - arose 2 Samuel 15:26 - let 2 Kings 4:26 - It is well 2 Kings 20:19 - Good Job 21:5 - lay your Isaiah 38:15 - What Isaiah 39:8 - Good Jeremiah 10:19 - Truly Jeremiah 31:18 - Thou hast Lamentations 3:28 - General Ezekiel 16:63 - and never Ezekiel 24:17 - Forbear to cry Amos 8:3 - with silence Jonah 4:8 - and wished Mark 14:61 - he held Luke 23:9 - but John 19:11 - Thou Acts 8:32 - opened

Verse 10

Remove: Psalms 25:16, Psalms 25:17, 1 Samuel 6:5, Job 9:34, Job 13:21

I am consumed: Psalms 38:3, Psalms 38:4

blow: Heb. conflict, Job 40:8

Reciprocal: Ruth 1:13 - the hand Job 2:5 - put forth Job 7:16 - let me alone Job 36:18 - his Psalms 32:4 - hand Psalms 38:2 - thy hand Isaiah 38:13 - as a lion Isaiah 38:15 - What Jeremiah 14:17 - with a very Acts 13:11 - hand

Verse 11

When: Psalms 38:1-8, Psalms 90:7-10, 1 Corinthians 5:5, 1 Corinthians 11:30-32, Hebrews 12:6, Revelation 3:19

his beauty: etc. Heb. that which is to be desired in him to melt away, Psalms 102:10, Psalms 102:11, Job 4:19, Job 13:28, Job 30:30, Isaiah 50:9, Hosea 5:12

surely: Psalms 39:5

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 19:3 - This day Job 4:21 - excellency Job 7:8 - thine eyes Job 9:25 - they flee away Job 22:4 - reprove Job 33:21 - His flesh Psalms 32:4 - hand Psalms 38:2 - thy hand Psalms 49:14 - their Psalms 62:9 - Surely Psalms 80:16 - perish Acts 13:11 - hand James 5:2 - your garments

Verse 12

hold: Psalms 56:8, Psalms 116:3, 2 Samuel 16:12, *marg. 2 Kings 20:5, Job 16:20, Hebrews 5:7

for I am: Psalms 119:19, Psalms 119:54, Leviticus 25:23, 1 Chronicles 29:15, 2 Corinthians 5:6, Hebrews 11:13, 1 Peter 1:17, 1 Peter 2:11

as all: Genesis 47:9

Reciprocal: Genesis 21:34 - General Genesis 23:4 - stranger Genesis 26:3 - Sojourn Genesis 28:4 - which Exodus 2:22 - for he said Exodus 18:3 - Gershom Psalms 6:6 - I water Psalms 35:22 - keep Isaiah 38:5 - I have seen Mark 9:24 - with

Verse 13

spare: Job 10:20, Job 10:21, Job 14:5, Job 14:6

be no: Genesis 5:24, Genesis 42:36, Job 14:10-12

Reciprocal: Job 4:20 - they perish Job 7:9 - he Job 7:16 - let me alone Job 9:18 - will not Psalms 102:24 - I said Jeremiah 15:15 - take