Psalm-39
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Throughout this site I
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other Writings.
*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical
books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon,
Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and
Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and
Chronicles I & II.
Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of Thy Law!
Tehillim - Psalm 119:18..
(JPS-1917 version
of the Tanakh).
Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have
been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים -
Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.
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Remember the following truth from our beloved
Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which
I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM
IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem,
which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2.
However, sadly both the later priests as well as our rabbis of long ago have shamefully disobeyed this command of אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם קָדוֹשׁוֹ - ‘Baruch Shem Kadosho’ – ‘Blessed be His Holy Name!’
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With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Foreword:
Tehillim - Psalm 39 is a sober, penitential reflection on silence, human frailty, the brevity of life, and a plea for mercy.
Introduction:
Psalm 39 is a michtam of David that
moves from self, restraint and inward turmoil to a meditation on mortality and
a final appeal for אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s
compassion. It is especially suited to teaching about speech, repentance, and
the transience of human life.
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Let us now read Tehillim - Psalm
Chapter 39: (JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).
1. “For the Leader, for Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.
2. 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. I was dumb with silence; I held my peace, had no comfort;
and my pain was held in check.
4. My heart waxed hot within me; while I was musing,
the fire kindled; then spoke I with my tongue:
5. ‘יְהוָה - 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. 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. 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. And now, יְהוָה - LORD, what wait I for? My hope, it is in
Thee.
9. Deliver me from all my transgressions; make me not
the reproach of the base.
10. I am dumb, I open not
my mouth; because Thou hast done it.
11. Remove Thy stroke from off me; I am consumed by
the blow of Thy hand.
12. 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. Hear my prayer, O יְהוָה - 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. Look away from me, that
I may take comfort, before I go hence, and be no more.’”
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Let us
now look at the ‘verse by verse’ item,
complete with explanations:
(The Text follows the JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh wording).
Verse 1. “For the Leader, for Jeduthun. A Psalm of David”.
Explanation: The superscription sets liturgical use and authorship; Jeduthun indicates a musical direction and frames the Psalm for public recitation.
Verse 2. “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’”.
Explanation: The Psalmist resolves to restrain speech to avoid sin, especially in the presence of the wicked whose provocation might tempt him.
Verse 3. “I was dumb with silence; I held my peace, had no comfort; And my pain was held in check”.
Explanation: Silence becomes a discipline but also a source of inward pressure; holding back speech brings no relief.
Verse 4. “My heart waxed hot within me; While I was musing, the fire kindled; Then spoke I with my tongue”:
Explanation: Thought and feeling build until restraint breaks; the Psalmist confesses that reflection can inflame the heart and lead to speech.
Verse 5. “‘יְהוָה - LORD, make me to know mine end, And the measure of my days, what it is; Let me know how short-lived I am’”.
Explanation: Confronting mortality becomes the Psalmist’s prayer: knowledge of life’s limits brings perspective and humility.
Verse 6: “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”.
Explanation: Life’s brevity is starkly stated; human glory is fleeting compared with אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s eternity.
Verse 7. “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”.
Explanation: The Psalmist observes the futility of earthly pursuits, wealth and toil lack lasting meaning.
Verse 8. “And now, יְהוָה - LORD, what wait I for? My hope, it is in Thee”.
Explanation: The recognition of transience leads to a decisive turn: hope is placed in אֱלֹהִים - Elohim alone.
Verse 9. “Deliver me from all my transgressions; make me not the reproach of the foolish”.
Explanation: A penitential plea: deliverance from sin and from the shame that follows public disgrace.
Verse 10. “I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; for Thou didst it”.
Explanation: The Psalmist again notes silence, now acknowledging אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s hand in his condition, perhaps chastening or providence.
Verse 11. “Remove Thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of Thy hand”.
Explanation: The speaker asks אֱלֹהִים - Elohim to relent from corrective suffering that feels overwhelming.
Verse 12. “When Thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, Thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah.”
Explanation: Divine correction reduces human pride; the image of a moth eating beauty underscores fragility.
Verse 13. “Hear my prayer, O יְהוָה - 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”.
Explanation: The Psalmist appeals for אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s attentive mercy, reminding אֱלֹהִים of human transience and the ancestral condition of pilgrimage.
Verse 14. “Turn away Thy gaze from me, that I may smile again, before I go hence, and be no more”.
Explanation: He asks for relief and restoration, one last season of joy before departing life’s scene.
My Conclusion message:
Psalm 39 teaches that self restraint, honest reckoning with mortality, and penitence lead the soul to place its hope in אֱלֹהִים - Elohim Use it to guide students from the danger of careless speech and worldly vanity toward ‘humility’, ‘confession’, and ‘trust in Divine mercy’.
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This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said
the following via several of our prophets...
“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD
of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).
And Remember ...
Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!
אֲנִי
יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem; walk
in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances,
and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and
you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה
- the LORD your Eloheichem”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
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For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name,
He is
the one who gave us our Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with
you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as
the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim -
Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers)
and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s
(blessings) before food and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi,
Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens,
PhD.
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