Psalm 39:10-12

New English Translation

Footnotes

1. Psalm 39:10 tn Heb “remove from upon me your wound.”
2. Psalm 39:10 tn Heb “from the hostility of your hand I have come to an end.”
3. Psalm 39:11 tn “with punishments on account of sin you discipline a man.”
4. Psalm 39:11 tc Heb “you cause to dissolve, like a moth, his desired [thing].” The translation assumes an emendation of חֲמוּדוֹ (khamudo, “his desirable [thing]”) to חֶמְדוֹ (khemdo, “his loveliness” [or “beauty”]), a reading that is supported by a few medieval Hebrew mss.
5. Psalm 39:12 tn Heb “do not be deaf to my tears.”
6. Psalm 39:12 tn The Hebrew terms גֵּר (ger, “resident foreigner”) and תּוֹשָׁב (toshav, “resident/dweller”) have similar meanings. They are not used here with the technical distinctions of most references in Mosaic Law. Ps 39:12 takes up this language from Lev 25:23 where the terms emphasize that Israel would be a guest on God’s land. They were attached to the Lord’s household; they did not own the land. The Psalmist identifies himself with this privileged yet dependent position. Abraham also refers to himself by these terms in Gen 23:4.