1David's care not to offend with his tongue: 4his reflections upon the shortness and vanity of human life, which lead him to hope in God: 8he prayeth for pardon and comfort before his death.
0To the 1chief Musician, even to 2Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.
1 See the first annotation at Psalm 4 in the title.
2 Of whom see 1 Chron. 16:41, 42; 25:1, 3.
1I SAID, I will take heed to 3my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a 4bridle, while the wicked is before me.
3 That is, I shall give diligent and strict heed to my conduct. See 1 Kings 2 on verse 4.
4 Or, muzzle. A similitude taken from such beasts whose mouths are muzzled or shut up to keep them from biting or eating. The Hebrew word comes from a word which is used of muzzling or binding up the mouths of oxen, Deut. 25:4. David means hereby that he was resolved absolutely to refrain himself not to murmur or grumble against God through impatience, nor to speak ought that was unbecoming of his enemies, as long as it pleased God, that they spied on him in this fashion and hover before his eyes and round about him in prosperity.
2I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from 5good; and my sorrow was 6stirred.
5 Whereas I had good grounds and reasons to make known the righteousness of my cause.
6 Hebr. troubled, disturbed, that is, I grew but more disquieted and restless.
3My heart was hot within me, while I was 7musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,
7 When I called to mind the great wrong and violence that was done unto me, at last I did burst out through human frailty, for which I had nevertheless purposed to be firmly on my guard, verse 1.
4LORD, 8make me to know mine end, and the 9measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how 10frail I am.
8 This some do understand as if David (as Job), being sad about his suffering, had wished and desired to die. Others think that by this prayer and the following exercise, he has subdued his human frailty, and has quieted his murmuring.
9 How long or how little time I have to live yet on earth.
10 Hebr. properly, as if one would say: how ceasing I be, that is, how soon I shall cease to live, how short my life may be, or what time I have here.
5Behold, thou hast made my days as 11an handbreadth;a and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his 12best state is 13altogether vanity.b14Selah.
11 Hebr. handbreadths.
a (Heb. tophach) the distance across 4 fingers; 3 inches or 76 millimeters
12 Although he flourishes in the supreme height of honor, prosperity, ability and means. Compare Psalm 30:6, 7; James 4:14.
13 Hebr. all or the entire vanity, that is, nothing but vanity.
b Psalm 62:9; 144:4.
14 See Psalm 3 on verse 2.
6Surely every 15man walketh in a vain 16shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up 17riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.
15 Hebr. the man, or, every one; as elsewhere frequently.
16 Or, resemblance, image, that is, he seems to be something and indeed is nothing, like a picture, figure or shadow, or a show and image representing itself in a dream.
17 Namely, many goods. Compare Eccl. 2:18, 19.
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 18foolish.
18 Hereby some do understand Absalom, who persecuted his good father out of a mere foolish youthful itching humor to rule and reign; as likewise they apply the next verse, and the beginning of this psalm to Shimei’s cursing; unto which he behaved himself as if he had been dumb.
9I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because 19thou didst it.
19 Compare 2 Sam. 12:10, 11, 12; 16:10.
10Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the 20blow of thine hand.
20 For warring and fighting thus against me with Thy sharp correcting hand.
11When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his 21beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah.
21 That is, whatsoever is pleasant, fair, goodly and desirable in him, Thou makest it to perish suddenly, even as a moth is soon, yea with the least touch, quite crushed and squeezed to nothing. Compare Job 4:19; 13:28; Isa. 50:9; 51:8; Hosea 5:12.
12Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; 22hold not thy peace at my tears: for Icam a 23stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my 24fathers were.
22 Or, be not deaf, do not carry thyself as if thou werest deaf to all my cry and complaint which I do pour out with tears before Thee.
c Lev. 25:23; 1 Chron. 29:15; Psalm 119:19; Heb. 11:13; 1 Peter 2:11.
23 And consequently stand in need of Thy countenance, conduct and assistance, until I do arrive into the heavenly Canaan, where the true citizenship is and the homeland of the faithful. See Philip. 3:20; Heb. 11:13, 14, 15, 16.
24 That is, forefathers, progenitors.
13 O 25spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be 26no more.
25 That is, cease or forbear to chastise me thus, in order that I faint not altogether, but may fetch some breath yet, to wait for my dying day, through Thy grace, in rest and quietness. Compare Psalm 27:13.
26 Namely, in this life on earth. See Job 3 on verse 16.