Psalms 39

The psalmist, David, initially resolves to guard his tongue, but his internal sorrow eventually leads him to speak, lamenting the brevity and frailty of human life. He declares all men to be vanity, even at their best, and places his sole hope in the Lord. David then prays for deliverance from his transgressions and from God's chastening hand, seeking a moment of recovery before his end.

The psalm opens with David's vow to take heed to his ways and bridle his tongue, particularly when the wicked are present, even holding back from speaking good. This internal silence, however, stirs his sorrow until his heart burns, compelling him to speak to the Lord. He prays for understanding of his finite existence, acknowledging that his days are but a handbreadth and all humanity is utterly vain. David observes that men walk in a vain show, accumulating riches without knowing who will gather them. He then affirms that his hope rests solely in the Lord, appealing for deliverance from his transgressions and from the reproach of the foolish. Recognizing his affliction as a divine stroke, he pleads for its removal, comparing man's consumed beauty under God's rebuke to a moth. Finally, as a stranger and sojourner, he implores the Lord to hear his prayer and grant him strength before his departure.

The psalm, addressed to the chief Musician Jeduthun, begins with David's firm commitment to self-control, vowing to guard his speech and keep his mouth with a bridle, especially in the presence of the wicked, to avoid sinning with his tongue. This deliberate silence, even from speaking good, intensifies his internal sorrow, causing his heart to burn with unspoken thoughts. Eventually, he breaks his silence to address the Lord, earnestly praying for knowledge of his end and the measure of his days, that he might truly comprehend his own frailty. David reflects on the brevity of human existence, stating that God has made his days as a mere handbreadth and his age as nothing before the eternal. He emphatically declares that every man, even in his best state, is altogether vanity. Further, he observes that humanity walks in a vain show, disquieted in vain, accumulating riches without knowing who will ultimately inherit them. Shifting his focus, David proclaims his sole hope to be in the Lord, asking what else he should wait for. He then petitions God for deliverance from all his transgressions and asks not to be made a reproach to the foolish. The psalmist acknowledges that his suffering is a direct act of God, stating, "I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it." He implores God to remove His chastening stroke, as he is consumed by the blow of the divine hand. David likens God's correction for iniquity to a moth consuming beauty, reiterating the vanity of every man under such rebuke. His final supplication is a fervent plea for the Lord to hear his prayer and tears, identifying himself as a stranger and sojourner on earth, just as his ancestors were. He concludes by asking for a moment of respite and recovery of strength before he passes away and is no more.