Psalm 39

According to the Talmud (Bava Batra 14a–b), this is one of the ten psalms authored by Moses. Matthew Henry attributes it to David, 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. According to Brueggemann and Bellinger, "Psalm 39 articulates hope and despair simultaneously", as it tries to come to terms with "the transience and troubles of life". Other Christian scholars see the psalm as an analogy to one's sins, where "he" is representative of the "members of his body" (Christians). Adam Clarke summarizes 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". Charles Spurgeon sees the psalm saying there is a time to be silent and a time to speak, while Hans Werner sees an inner struggle for David to control his tongue. Rabbeinu Bachya teaches on verse 12, which mentions both prayer and tears, that "prayer needs tears". ==Structure==

The numbering of the verses differs between the Hebrew and Latin versions. Clarke holds that the psalm: • 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==

The heading, verse 1 in the Hebrew text, addresses the song to Jeduthun. According to Rashi, this refers either to one of the Levite singers or to the name of a musical instrument. Psalms 62 and 77 are also addressed to Jeduthun. ==Uses==

Judaism Verse 13 is part of Selichot. Catholic Church Traditionally, this psalm was recited or sung in monasteries during the Monday of matins, according to the rule of Saint Benedict of 530 AD. In the current Liturgy 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 In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, this psalm is appointed to be read on the morning of the eighth day of the month. Hebel est omnia Adam William Brewster, one of the Pilgrim Fathers, used the motto Hebel est omnia Adam, a Hebrew–Latin phrase taken from verse 5, next to his signature to indicate the vanity of man. == Musical settings ==

Hymns paraphrasing Psalm 39 include "Almighty maker of my frame" by Anne Steele. Heinrich Schütz set the psalm in German with the text from the Becker 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 of Ein deutsches Requiem by Johannes Brahms, for baritone, choir and orchestra. Verses 13 and 14 in Latin are used in the first movement of the Symphony of Psalms by Igor Stravinsky. The text of the psalm in English (verses 4 onwards) has been set to music as a motet by Maurice Greene, and by Sir Hubert Parry as the final of six motets in his choral work Songs of Farewell. Both works are entitled "Lord, Let Me Know Mine End". ==Text==

The following table shows the Hebrew text of the Psalm with vowels, alongside the Koine Greek text in the Septuagint and the English translation from the King James Version. Note that the meaning can slightly differ between these versions, as the Septuagint and the Masoretic Text come from different textual traditions. In the Septuagint, this psalm is numbered Psalm 38. ==Notes==