Psalm 39:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah

NIV: You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure.

NASB: Behold, You have made my days like hand widths, And my lifetime as nothing in Your sight; Certainly all mankind standing is a mere breath. Selah

CSB: In fact, you have made my days just inches long, and my life span is as nothing to you. Yes, every human being stands as only a vapor. Selah

NLT: You 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

KJV: Behold, 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.

NKJV: Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah

David knew life is short, so there's no reason to spend it in despair. In this case, he was struggling with frustration and a desire to speak out about wicked people (Psalm 39:1–3). When he felt the need to speak up, he did so by praying to ask God for humility (Psalm 39:4). David asks God for a reminder of his own limited lifespan—to be assured that his problems and concerns were nothing compared to the power of God. Rather than being aggravated by his situation, David asked God to alter his perspective, so he could see things in a more godly way.

A "handbreadth" was the measure of four fingers; about the distance across the palm. Compared to God's eternal existence, a human lifetime is a mere breath (James 4:13–15). In his prayer, Psalm 90, Moses reflected on life's brevity. He referred to a lifetime in his day as seventy years or eighty if a person was strong, and he recognized that the years "are soon gone, and we fly away" (Psalm 90:10). Like Moses and David, Job pondered the brevity of life. He commented in Job 7:6, "My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle." In verse 16 he compared his life to a breath. David's wise son Solomon also commented on life's brevity. He said, "For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow?" (Ecclesiastes 6:12).

Psalm 39:1–7 begins with David determining to remain silent so his words will not reflect poorly on God. And yet, struggling not to respond to wicked people created frustration. To ease this, David asks God for a reminder of man's limited lifespan and power. Life is incredibly short. All human effort is nothing compared to the power of God. Those who scrabble for earthly things do so pointlessly. Rather than hoping or despairing because of other people, David places his trust in the Lord. James 4:13–16 parallels David's thoughts about the brevity of life.

David chooses not to speak in the presence of certain evil people. This might have been to avoid slander, or to not speak unfairly about God. In frustration, David calls on God to adjust his perspective. He asks to be reminded of life's brevity; the Lord's infinite perspective makes our troubles seem small. David acknowledges his sin and that God has disciplined him. Even so, he places all his hope in the Lord.

This psalm is related to Psalm 38. Both focus on David's response to sin and the hardships which life brings. Rather than speaking out against wicked people, David asks God to remind him of the brevity of life. Job 7:16–17 parallels the themes found in this psalm. Likewise does Psalm 90. No specific incident is tied to this writing, but it may have been inspired by David's sin with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12:7–9).

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.