Psalms 39 (YLT)

Chapter Text

39:1 To the Overseer, to Jeduthun. --A Psalm of David. I have said, `I observe my ways, Against sinning with my tongue, I keep for my mouth a curb, while the wicked <FI>is<Fi> before me.'

39:2 I was dumb <FI>with<Fi> silence, I kept silent from good, and my pain is excited.

39:3 Hot <FI>is<Fi> my heart within me, In my meditating doth the fire burn, I have spoken with my tongue.

39:4 `Cause me to know, O Jehovah, mine end, And the measure of my days--what it <FI>is<Fi> ,' I know how frail I <FI>am<Fi> .

39:5 Lo, handbreadths Thou hast made my days, And mine age <FI>is<Fi> as nothing before Thee, Only, all vanity <FI>is<Fi> every man set up. Selah.

39:6 Only, in an image doth each walk habitually, Only, <FI>in<Fi> vain, they are disquieted, He heapeth up and knoweth not who gathereth them.

39:7 And, now, what have I expected? O Lord, my hope--it <FI>is<Fi> of Thee.

39:8 From all my transgressions deliver me, A reproach of the fool make me not.

39:9 I have been dumb, I open not my mouth, Because Thou--Thou hast done <FI>it<Fi> .

39:10 Turn aside from off me Thy stroke, From the striving of Thy hand I have been consumed.

39:11 With reproofs against iniquity, Thou hast corrected man, And dost waste as a moth his desirableness, Only, vanity <FI>is<Fi> every man. Selah.

39:12 Hear my prayer, O Jehovah, And <FI>to<Fi> my cry give ear, Unto my tear be not silent, For a sojourner I <FI>am<Fi> with Thee, A settler like all my fathers.

39:13 Look from me, and I brighten up before I go and am not!

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "transgressions", "overseer", "jeduthun", "psalm", "david", "said", "observe", and "ways". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "transgressions" and "overseer", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The local YLT text gives this verse as the immediate unit, so "transgressions" and "overseer" carries the first interpretive weight. In Psalms context, the local focus is worship, trust, the LORD's kingship, and covenant mercy.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "transgressions" and "overseer" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.