Psalms · psalm 39 of 150
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Psalm 39 is a prayer of David in which, after keeping silent for a time, he asks the Lord to make him know the end of his days. He acknowledges that his life is as short as a handbreadth, that man is only a breath and that his only hope is the Lord. He asks for forgiveness, deliverance from his sin and that God look on him kindly before he departs.
The title dedicates it to the choirmaster, to Jeduthun, and ascribes it to David. Jeduthun was one of the temple musicians, and his name also appears in the titles of Psalms 62 and 77. The psalm is a meditation on human frailty that does not fall into cynicism, for it ends by turning to God as hope and not only as judge.
David begins by saying he had resolved to guard his ways that he might not sin with his tongue and to muzzle his mouth while the wicked was in his presence. He kept silent, even from good, but his distress grew. His heart burned within him, and as he mused the fire kindled; then he spoke with his tongue.
His prayer asks the Lord to let him know his end and the measure of his days, that he may know how fleeting he is. God has made his days a few handbreadths, and his lifetime is as nothing before him; every man is a mere breath, walks about like a shadow, bustles about in vain and heaps up wealth without knowing who will gather it.
Then comes the turn in verse 7: and now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you. He asks to be delivered from all his transgressions and not to be the scorn of the fool. He was mute, he did not open his mouth, because God had done it; but he begs God to remove his stroke, for he is spent by the hostility of his hand. When God disciplines a man for his sin, he consumes like a moth what he treasures. He closes with a plea: hear my prayer, give ear to my cry, hold not your peace at my tears, for I am a sojourner with you, a guest, like all my fathers. Look away from me, that I may smile again before I depart and am no more.
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
David asks the Lord to make him know the end of his life and how much remains. He is not seeking curiosity but wisdom to live aware that his days are few.
A man's days are a few handbreadths and his lifetime is nothing before God; every man is a breath. This truth humbles, but it also frees us from living as if everything depended on us.
After looking at frailty, David says his hope is in the Lord. The psalm turns at this point, moving from a hard question about life to simple trust in God.
David tells God that he is a sojourner and a guest, like all his fathers. This idea of living as a pilgrim runs through the Bible and is taken up by Hebrews and 1 Peter.
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
Answer: To guard his ways so as not to sin with his tongue and to muzzle his mouth. — Psalm 39:1
Answer: To make him know his end and the measure of his days. — Psalm 39:4
Answer: A few handbreadths; before God his lifetime is as nothing. — Psalm 39:5
Answer: In the Lord. — Psalm 39:7
Answer: All his transgressions and the scorn of the fool. — Psalm 39:8
Answer: A sojourner and a guest, like all his fathers. — Psalm 39:12
Psalm 39 invites us to number our days wisely. Recognizing that life is short is not an invitation to sadness but to live with clear priorities. In a small group you can ask what would change in each person's life if they remembered that their days are a few handbreadths and what they would want to settle with God and with others.
It also teaches us to watch our words. David had to decide when to be silent and when to speak before the Lord. Praying sincerely, even with complaints, is better than a bitter silence, but it is best done before God and not before those who would scoff.
Psalm 39 ends with a humble request: that God turn aside his stern gaze and let David smile again before he departs. Psalm 40 answers with the testimony of one who waited patiently for the Lord and was lifted out of the pit.
He was one of the temple musicians and singers in David's time, mentioned in 1 Chronicles 16:41-42 and 25:1-6. His name appears in the titles of Psalms 39, 62 and 77, probably as choir leader or as the name of a melody or a group of singers.
The Hebrew word (hebel) means breath, vapor or vanity, and Ecclesiastes uses it often. In this psalm it expresses the frailty and brevity of human life, not that life has no value before God.
No. David complains honestly, but he does so before God and ends in trust. The Bible includes many laments that teach us to bring pain to the Lord without hiding it or aiming it at other people.