New Living Translation
Psalms 39:4
4“Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is.
Psalms 39:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.
- New International Version (NIV)“Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Lord, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am.
Context of Psalms 39:4
2But as I stood there in silence— not even speaking of good things— the turmoil within me grew worse. 3The more I thought about it, the hotter I got, igniting a fire of words: “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is. 5You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.” Interlude 6We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it.
Read all of Psalms 39Psalms 39:4 word by word
הוֹדִ֘יעֵ֤נִי יְהוָ֨ה׀ קִצִּ֗י וּמִדַּ֣ת יָמַ֣י מַה־הִ֑יא אֵ֝דְעָ֗ה מֶה־חָדֵ֥ל אָֽנִי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 39:4
- Psalms 90:12Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.
- Psalms 119:84How long must I wait? When will you punish those who persecute me?
- Job 14:13“I wish you would hide me in the grave and forget me there until your anger has passed. But mark your calendar to think of me again!
Commentaries on Psalms 39:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Lord, make me to know mine end - I am weary of life; I wish to know the measure of my days, that I may see how long I have to suffer, and how frail I am. I wish to know what is wanting to make up the number of the days I have to live.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Lord, make me to know mine end - This expresses evidently the substance of those anxious and troubled thoughts Psalm 39:1-2 to which he had been unwilling to give utterance. His thoughts turned on the shortness of life; on the mystery of the divine arrangement by which it had been made so short; and on the fact that so many troubles and sorrows had been crowded into a life so frail and so soon to terminate. With some impatience, and with a consciousness…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-5how fleeting my life is: This perspective comes out of suffering (see Psalms 78:39; 89:47–48; 90:3–10). The human lifetime is but a moment to God (Psalm 90:4), as temporary as a breath (see Psalms 39:11; 144:4).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 39:4
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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