Amplified Bible
Psalms 39:6
6Surely every man walks around like a shadow [in a charade]; Surely they make an uproar for nothing; Each one builds up riches, not knowing who will receive them.
Psalms 39:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)“Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!
- New King James Version (NKJV)Surely every man walks about like a shadow; Surely they busy themselves in vain; He heaps up riches, And does not know who will gather them.
Context of Psalms 39:6
4“Lord, let me know my [life’s] end And [to appreciate] the extent of my days; Let me know how frail I am [how transient is my stay here]. 5Behold, You have made my days as [short as] hand widths, And my lifetime is as nothing in Your sight. Surely every man at his best is a mere breath [a wisp of smoke, a vapor that vanishes]! Selah. Surely every man walks around like a shadow [in a charade]; Surely they make an uproar for nothing; Each one builds up riches, not knowing who will receive them. 7“And now, Lord, for what do I expectantly wait? My hope [my confident expectation] is in You. 8Save me from all my transgressions; Do not make me the scorn and reproach of the [self-righteous, arrogant] fool.
Read all of Psalms 39Psalms 39:6 word by word
אַךְ־בְּצֶ֤לֶם׀ יִֽתְהַלֶּךְ־אִ֗ישׁ אַךְ־הֶ֥בֶל יֶהֱמָי֑וּן יִ֝צְבֹּ֗ר וְֽלֹא־יֵדַ֥ע מִי־אֹסְפָֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Surely every manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
- walkethהָלַךְhâlak · to go: walkH1980
- in a vain shewצֶ֫לֶםtselem · imageH6754
- surely they are disquietedהָמָהhâmâh · to roarH1993
- in vainהֶ֫בֶלhebel hăbêl · vanityH1892
- he heapeth upצָבַרtsâbar · to heapH6651
- and knowethיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- not who shall gatherאָסַף'âsaph · to gatherH622
Cross-references for Psalms 39:6
- 1 Corinthians 7:31and those who use the world [taking advantage of its opportunities], as though they did not make full use of it. For the outward form of this world [its present social and material nature] is passing away.
- James 4:14Yet you do not know [the least thing] about what may happen in your life tomorrow. [What is secure in your life?] You are merely a vapor [like a puff of smoke or a wisp of steam from a cooking pot] that is visible for a little while and then vanishes [into thin air].
- Ecclesiastes 1:14I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity, a futile grasping and chasing after the wind.
- Ecclesiastes 2:17So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun caused me only great sorrow; because all is futility and chasing after the wind.
- Ecclesiastes 4:7Then I looked again at vanity under the sun [in one of its peculiar forms].
- Ecclesiastes 6:11For there are many other words that increase futility. What then is the advantage for a man?
- Ecclesiastes 12:8“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “All [that is done without God’s guidance] is vanity (futility).”
- Isaiah 55:2Why do you spend money for that which is not bread, And your earnings for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight in abundance.
- Luke 10:40But Martha was very busy and distracted with all of her serving responsibilities; and she approached Him and said, “Lord, is it of no concern to You that my sister has left me to do the serving alone? Tell her to help me and do her part.”
- Luke 12:20But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own all the things you have prepared?’
- 1 Peter 5:7casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].
- Psalms 49:10For he sees that even wise men die; The fool and the stupid alike perish And leave their wealth to others.
- Job 27:16Though he heaps up silver like dust And piles up clothing like clay,
- Proverbs 13:22A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for [the hands of] the righteous.
- Proverbs 23:5When you set your eyes on wealth, it is [suddenly] gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings Like an eagle that flies to the heavens.
- Proverbs 27:24For riches are not forever, Nor does a crown endure to all generations.
Commentaries on Psalms 39:6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6Walketh in a vain show - בצלם betselem, in a shadow. He is but the semblance of being: he appears for a while, and then vanisheth away. Some of the fathers read, "Although every man walketh in the image of God, yet they are disquieted in vain." He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them - He raketh together. This is a metaphor taken from agriculture: the husbandman rakes the corn, etc., together in the field, and yet, so uncertain is…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6Surely every man walketh in a vain show - Margin, “an image.” The word rendered “vain show” - צלם tselem - means properly a shade, a shadow; and then, an image or likeness, as shadowing forth any real object. Then it comes to denote an idol, 2 Kings 11:18; Amos 5:26. Here the idea seems to be that of an image, as contradistinguished from a reality; the shadow of a thing, as distinguished from the substance. Man seems to be like an image, a shadow, a…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-6Due to his suffering and sin, the psalmist concludes that life is meaningless and short (see Job 7:7–10; Isaiah 40:6–8). He had expected only a wicked life to be like that (see Psalms 37:2, 20; 103:15–16), but now it seems irrelevant whether a person is godly or not.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4-74-7. Some take these words as those of fretting, but they are not essentially such. The tinge of discontent arises from the character of his suppressed emotions. But, addressing God, they are softened and subdued. make me to know mine end--experimentally appreciate. how frail I am--literally, "when I shall cease."Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 39:6
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 39
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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