Psalm 39
| Psalm 39 | |
|---|---|
| "I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue " | |
 Psalm 39 in aFranciscanmanuscript | |
| Other name |
|
| Language | Hebrew (original) |
Psalm 39is the 39th psalm of theBook of Psalms,beginning in English in theKing James Version:"I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue". The Book of Psalms is part of the third section of theHebrew Bible,and a book of theChristianOld Testament.In the slightly different numbering system used in the GreekSeptuagintand LatinVulgatetranslations of the Bible, this psalm isPsalm 38.In Latin, it is known as "Dixi custodiam vias meas".[1]It is a meditation on the fragility of man before God, ending in a prayer for a peaceful life.
The psalm forms a regular part ofJewish,Catholic,Lutheran,Anglicanand other Protestant liturgies and is appointed in the AnglicanBook of Common Prayerto be read at funerals. It has inspired hymns based on it, and has often beenset to music.It was set byBaroquecomposers such asHeinrich Schütz,and single verses were used prominently in major works byJohannes BrahmsinEin deutsches Requiemand byIgor Stravinskyin hisSymphony of Psalms.
Text
[edit]Hebrew
[edit]The following table shows the Hebrew text[2][3]of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon theJPS 1917translation (now in thepublic domain).
| Verse | Hebrew | English translation (JPS 1917) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ (לידיתון) [לִֽידוּת֗וּן] מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃ | For the Leader, for Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. |
| 2 | אָמַ֗רְתִּי אֶ֥שְׁמְרָ֣ה דְרָכַי֮ מֵחֲט֢וֹא בִלְשׁ֫וֹנִ֥י אֶשְׁמְרָ֥ה לְפִ֥י מַחְס֑וֹם בְּעֹ֖ד רָשָׁ֣ע לְנֶגְדִּֽי | I said: 'I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue; I will keep a curb upon my mouth, while the wicked is before me.' |
| 3 | נֶאֱלַ֣מְתִּי ד֭וּמִיָּה הֶחֱשֵׁ֣יתִי מִטּ֑וֹב וּכְאֵבִ֥י נֶעְכָּֽר׃ | I was dumb with silence; I held my peace, had no comfort; and my pain was held in check. |
| 4 | חַם־לִבִּ֨י ׀ בְּקִרְבִּ֗י בַּהֲגִיגִ֥י תִבְעַר־אֵ֑שׁ דִּ֝בַּ֗רְתִּי בִּלְשׁוֹנִֽי׃ | My heart waxed hot within me; while I was musing, the fire kindled; Then spoke I with my tongue: |
| 5 | הוֹדִ֘יעֵ֤נִי יְהֹוָ֨ה ׀ קִצִּ֗י וּמִדַּ֣ת יָמַ֣י מַה־הִ֑יא אֵ֝דְעָ֗ה מֶֽה־חָדֵ֥ל אָֽנִי׃ | 'LORD, make me to know mine end, And the measure of my days, what it is; Let me know how short-lived I am. |
| 6 | הִנֵּ֤ה טְפָח֨וֹת ׀ נָ֘תַ֤תָּה יָמַ֗י וְחֶלְדִּ֣י כְאַ֣יִן נֶגְדֶּ֑ךָ אַ֥ךְ כׇּֽל־הֶ֥בֶל כׇּל־אָ֝דָ֗ם נִצָּ֥ב סֶֽלָה׃ | Behold, Thou hast made my days as hand-breadths; and mine age is as nothing before Thee; surely every man at his best estate is altogether vanity. Selah |
| 7 | אַךְ־בְּצֶ֤לֶם ׀ יִֽתְהַלֶּךְ־אִ֗ישׁ אַךְ־הֶ֥בֶל יֶהֱמָי֑וּן יִ֝צְבֹּ֗ר וְֽלֹא־יֵדַ֥ע מִֽי־אֹסְפָֽם׃ | Surely man walketh as a mere semblance; surely for vanity they are in turmoil; He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them. |
| 8 | וְעַתָּ֣ה מַה־קִּוִּ֣יתִי אֲדֹנָ֑י תּ֝וֹחַלְתִּ֗י לְךָ֣ הִֽיא׃ | And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope, it is in Thee. |
| 9 | מִכׇּל־פְּשָׁעַ֥י הַצִּילֵ֑נִי חֶרְפַּ֥ת נָ֝בָ֗ל אַל־תְּשִׂימֵֽנִי׃ | Deliver me from all my transgressions; make me not the reproach of the base. |
| 10 | נֶ֭אֱלַמְתִּי לֹ֣א אֶפְתַּח־פִּ֑י כִּ֖י אַתָּ֣ה עָשִֽׂיתָ׃ | I am dumb, I open not my mouth; because Thou hast done it. |
| 11 | הָסֵ֣ר מֵעָלַ֣י נִגְעֶ֑ךָ מִתִּגְרַ֥ת יָ֝דְךָ֗ אֲנִ֣י כָלִֽיתִי׃ | Remove Thy stroke from off me; I am consumed by the blow of Thy hand. |
| 12 | בְּֽתוֹכָ֘ח֤וֹת עַל־עָוֺ֨ן ׀ יִסַּ֬רְתָּ אִ֗ישׁ וַתֶּ֣מֶס כָּעָ֣שׁ חֲמוּד֑וֹ אַ֤ךְ הֶ֖בֶל כׇּל־אָדָ֣ם סֶֽלָה׃ | With rebukes dost Thou chasten man for iniquity, and like a moth Thou makest his beauty to consume away; surely every man is vanity. Selah |
| 13 | שִׁ֥מְעָֽה תְפִלָּתִ֨י ׀ יְהֹוָ֡ה וְשַׁוְעָתִ֨י ׀ הַאֲזִינָה֮ אֶֽל־דִּמְעָתִ֗י אַֽל־תֶּ֫חֱרַ֥שׁ כִּ֤י גֵ֣ר אָנֹכִ֣י עִמָּ֑ךְ תּ֝וֹשָׁ֗ב כְּכׇל־אֲבוֹתָֽי׃ | Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; keep not silence at my tears; for I am a stranger with Thee, a sojourner, as all my fathers were. |
| 14 | הָשַׁ֣ע מִמֶּ֣נִּי וְאַבְלִ֑יגָה בְּטֶ֖רֶם אֵלֵ֣ךְ וְאֵינֶֽנִּי׃ | Look away from me, that I may take comfort, before I go hence, and be no more.' |
King James Version
[edit]¹I said, I will take heed to my ways,
that I sin not with my tongue:
I will keep my mouth with a bridle,
while the wicked is before me.
²I was dumb with silence,
I held my peace, even from good;
and my sorrow was stirred.
³My heart was hot within me,
while I was musing the fire burned:
then spake I with my tongue,
⁴LORD,make me to know mine end,
and the measure of my days, what it is:
that I may know how frail I am.
⁵Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth;
and mine age is as nothing before thee:
verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.
⁶Surely every man walketh in a vain shew:
surely they are disquieted in vain:
he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.
⁷And now, Lord, what wait I for?
my hope is in thee.
⁸Deliver me from all my transgressions:
make me not the reproach of the foolish.
⁹I was dumb, I opened not my mouth;
because thou didst it.
¹⁰Remove thy stroke away from me:
I am consumed by the blow of thine hand.
¹¹When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity,
thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth:
surely every man is vanity. Selah.
¹²Hear my prayer, O LORD,and give ear unto my cry;
hold not thy peace at my tears:
for I am a stranger with thee,
and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.
¹³O spare me, that I may recover strength,
before I go hence, and be no more.
Background and themes
[edit]According to theTalmud(Bava Batra14a–b), this is one of the ten psalms authored byMoses.[4]Matthew Henryattributes it toDavid,stating that he must have been in emotional turmoil or beset by enemies when he wrote the psalm, and struggled to wait patiently for God's salvation.[5]
According toBrueggemannand Bellinger, "Psalm 39 articulates hope and despairsimultaneously",as it tries to come to terms with" the transience and troubles of life ".[6]Other Christian scholars see the psalm as an analogy to one's sins, where "he" is representative of the "members of his body" (Christians).[7]Adam Clarkesummarizes the psalm as follows: "Faith has always to struggle with difficulties. Though he was confident that God was his hope, yet... troubles of life come ever into his memory; his prayer is that his God will provide for him".[8]Charles Spurgeonsees the psalm saying there is a time to be silent and a time to speak,[9]while Hans Werner sees an inner struggle for David to control his tongue.[10]
Rabbeinu Bachyateaches on verse 12, which mentions both prayer and tears, that "prayer needs tears".[11]
Structure
[edit]The numbering of the verses differs between theHebrewandLatinversions.
Clarke holds that the psalm:[8]
- relates the care and watchfulness over one's thoughts, tongue, and actions, vv. 1–3;
- considers the brevity and uncertainty of human life, vv. 4–7;
- prays for deliverance from sin, vv. 8–11; and
- asks that the author be protected and spared until he is fitted for another world, vv. 12, 13.
Spurgeon broke the psalm down as follows:
- Burdened with many sorrows vv. 1–2;
- Prayer in his torment vv. 3–6;
- Submission to God vv. 7–13;
- Relief and trust.
TheOld TestamentscholarHermann Gunkel,in his standard workThe Psalms,believes the structuring of the verses was originally:[12]
- Verses 2–4: Introduction to and emergence of the poem
- Verses 5ff: The actual poem
- Verses 5–7 and 12: General considerations
- Verses 8 and 13c.d: Return to yourself
- Verses 13a.b, 9–11 and verse 14: The actual dirge
Heading
[edit]The heading, verse 1 in the Hebrew text, addresses the song toJeduthun.According toRashi,this refers either to one of theLevitesingers or to the name of a musical instrument.[13]Psalms 62 and 77 are also addressed to Jeduthun.
Uses
[edit]Judaism
[edit]Verse 13 is part ofSelichot.[14]
Catholic Church
[edit]Traditionally, this psalm was recited or sung in monasteries during the Monday[15]ofmatins,according to therule of Saint Benedictof 530AD.[16][17]In the currentLiturgy of the Hours,it is sung or recited in the Office of Readings on the Wednesday of the second week of the four-weekly cycle of liturgical prayers.
Book of Common Prayer
[edit]In theChurch of England'sBook of Common Prayer,this psalm is appointed to be read on the morning of the eighth day of the month.[18]
Hebel est omnia Adam
[edit]William Brewster,one of thePilgrim Fathers,used the mottoHebel est omnia Adam,a Hebrew–Latin phrase taken from verse 5, next to his signature to indicate the vanity of man.[19]
Musical settings
[edit]Hymns paraphrasing Psalm 39 include "Almighty maker of my frame" byAnne Steele.[20]
Heinrich Schützset the psalm in German with the text from theBecker Psalter,"In meinem Herzen hab ich mir" (In my heart I [told] myself), for choir as his SWV 136. Verses 4 to 7 in German, "Herr, lehre doch mich" (Lord, teach me) are used in the third movement ofEin deutsches RequiembyJohannes Brahms,forbaritone,choir and orchestra. Verses 13 and 14 in Latin are used in the first movement of theSymphony of PsalmsbyIgor Stravinsky.
The text of the psalm in English (verses 4 onwards) has been set to music as amotetbyMaurice Greene,[21]and bySir Hubert Parryas the final of six motets in his choral workSongs of Farewell.[22]Both works are entitled "Lord, Let Me Know Mine End".
References
[edit]- ^Parallel Latin/English Psalter / Psalmus 38 (38)Archived7 May 2017 at theWayback Machinemedievalist.net
- ^"Psalms – Chapter 39".Mechon Mamre.
- ^"Psalms 39 - JPS 1917".Sefaria.org.
- ^"Bava Batra 14a–b: They Wrote the Books".steinsaltz.org. February 5, 2017.RetrievedSeptember 4,2018.
- ^Henry, Matthew(2018)."Psalms 39".Bible Study Tools.RetrievedSeptember 4,2018.
- ^Brueggemann, Walter;Bellinger, Jr., William H. (2014).Psalms.Cambridge University Press. p. 194.ISBN9781107511828.
- ^Reinhard Schlieben, Christliche Theologie und Philologie in der Spätantike: Die schulwiss. Methoden d. Psalmenexegese Cassiodors (1974), 26
- ^abClarke, A.,Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary – Psalms 39,accessed 23 March 2021
- ^Charles Spurgeon,Treasury of DavidArchived2015-11-26 at theWayback Machine
- ^Werner Bible Commentary.
- ^Houminer, Rabbi Shemuel (1994).Faith and Trust.Feldheim Publishers. p. 153.ISBN9780873066570.
- ^Hermann Gunkel, Die Psalmen (61986), 163f.
- ^"Tehillim – Psalms – Chapter 39".Chabad.org. 2018.RetrievedSeptember 4,2018.
- ^Brauner, Reuven (2013)."Shimush Pesukim: Comprehensive Index to Liturgical and Ceremonial Uses of Biblical Verses and Passages"(PDF)(2nd ed.). p. 37.
- ^Psautier latin-français du bréviaire monastique, p. 154, 1938/2003
- ^Règle de saint Benoît, traduction de Prosper Guéranger, (Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Solesmes, réimpression 2007). p. 46,
- ^"La distribution des Psaumes dans la Règle de Saint Benoît | Mont des Cats".
- ^Church of England,Book of Common Prayer: The Psalteras printed byJohn Baskervillein 1762, pp. 196ff
- ^James D. Butler (April 30, 1902).Brewster Autograph in Wisconsin, in Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society.Press of Charles Hamilton. p. 103f.
- ^"Almighty maker of my frame".hymnary.org.Retrieved7 October2018.
- ^"Lord, let me know mine end (Psalm 39:4–7,12–13) – Maurice Greene | The Bible as Music".bibleasmusic.com.Retrieved27 August2018.
- ^Shrock, Dennis (2009).Choral Repertoire.Oxford University Press, USA.ISBN9780195327786.Retrieved26 August2018.
External links
[edit]
- Pieces with text from Psalm 39:Scores at theInternational Music Score Library Project
- Psalm 39:Free scores at theChoral Public Domain Library(ChoralWiki)
- Psalms Chapter 39text in Hebrew and English, mechon-mamre.org
- Psalm 39 – Wisdom to Speak Under God’s Correctiontext and detailed commentary, enduringword.com
- For the leader, for Jeduthun. A psalm of David. / I said, "I will watch my ways, lest I sin with my tongue"text and footnotes, usccb.org United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
- Psalm 39:1introduction and text, biblestudytools.com
- Psalm 39 / Refrain: Lord, let me know my end and the number of my daysChurch of England
- Psalm 39at biblegateway.com
- Hymns for Psalm 39hymnary.org
