1 For the Chief Musician, for Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. I said, I will take heed to my ways, That I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, While the wicked is before me.Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- To the chief Musician H5329 (נָצַח) — properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of the Temple services and its music); to be permanent
- to Jeduthun H3038 (יְדוּתוּן) — Jeduthun, an Israelite
- A Psalm H4210 (מִזְמוֹר) — properly, instrumental music; by implication, a poem set to notes
- of David H1732 (דָּוִד) — David, the youngest son of Jesse
- I said H559 (אָמַר) — to say (used with great latitude)
- I will take heed H8104 (שָׁמַר) — properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.
- to my ways H1870 (דֶּרֶךְ) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
- that I sin H2398 (חָטָא) — properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn
- not with my tongue H3956 (לָשׁוֹן) — the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of…
- I will keep H8104 (שָׁמַר) — properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.
- my mouth H6310 (פֶּה) — the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition) acc…
- with a bridle H4269 (מַחְסוֹם) — a muzzle
- while the wicked H7563 (רָשָׁע) — morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person
2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; And my sorrow was stirred.Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- I was dumb H481 (אָלַם) — to tie fast; hence (of the mouth) to be tongue-tied
- with silence H1747 (דּוּמִיָּה) — stillness; adverbially, silently; abstractly quiet, trust
- I held my peace H2814 (חָשָׁה) — to hush or keep quiet
- from good H2896 (טוֹב) — good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good t…
- and my sorrow H3511 (כְּאֵב) — suffering (physical or mental), adversity
- was stirred H5916 (עָכַר) — properly, to roil water; figuratively, to disturb or affict
3 My heart was hot within me; While I was musing the fire burned; Then spake I with my tongue:Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- My heart H3820 (לֵב) — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything
- was hot H2552 (חָמַם) — to be hot (literally or figuratively)
- within H7130 (קֶרֶב) — properly, the nearest part, i.e. the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition)
- me, while I was musing H1901 (הָגִיג) — properly, a murmur, i.e. complaint
- the fire H784 (אֵשׁ) — fire (literally or figuratively)
- burned H1197 (בָּעַר) — to kindle, i.e. consume (by fire or by eating); to be (-come) brutish
- then H227 (אָז) — at that time or place; also as a conjunction, therefore
- spake H1696 (דָבַר) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
- I with my tongue H3956 (לָשׁוֹן) — the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of…
4 Jehovah, make me to know mine end, And the measure of my days, what it is; Let me know how frail I am.Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- Yhwh H3068 (יְהֹוָה) — (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God
- make me to know H3045 (יָדַע) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation…
- mine end H7093 (קֵץ) — an extremity; adverbially (with prepositional prefix) after
- and the measure H4060 (מִדָּה) — properly, extension, i.e. height or breadth; also a measure (including its standard); hence a portion (as measured) or a vestment; specifically, tribute (as mea…
- of my days H3117 (יוֹם) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated ter…
- I may know H3045 (יָדַע) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation…
- how frail H2310 (חָדֵל) — vacant, i.e. ceasing or destitute
5 Behold, thou hast made my days as handbreadths; And my life-time is as nothing before thee: Surely every man at his best estate is altogether vanity. [SelahCross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- Behold, thou hast made H5414 (נָתַן) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
- my days H3117 (יוֹם) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated ter…
- an handbreadth H2947 (טֵפַח) — a spread of the hand, i.e. a palm-breadth (not 'span' of the fingers); architecturally, a corbel (as a supporting palm)
- and mine age H2465 (חֶלֶד) — life (as a fleeting portion of time); hence, the world (as transient)
- as nothing before thee: verily every H3605 (כֹּל) — properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
- man H120 (אָדָם) — ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
- at his best state H5324 (נָצַב) — to station, in various applications (literally or figuratively)
- altogether H3605 (כֹּל) — properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
- vanity H1892 (הֶבֶל) — emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory; often used as an adverb
- Selah H5542 (סֶלָה) — suspension (of music), i.e. pause
6 Surely every man walketh in a vain show; Surely they are disquieted in vain: He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- Surely every man H376 (אִישׁ) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
- walketh H1980 (הָלַךְ) — to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
- in a vain shew H6754 (צֶלֶם) — a phantom, i.e. (figuratively) illusion, resemblance; hence, a representative figure, especially an idol
- surely they are disquieted H1993 (הָמָה) — to make a loud sound (like English 'hum'); by implication, to be in great commotion or tumult, to rage, war, moan, clamor
- in vain H1892 (הֶבֶל) — emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory; often used as an adverb
- he heapeth up H6651 (צָבַר) — to aggregate
- and knoweth H3045 (יָדַע) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation…
- not who shall gather H622 (אָסַף) — to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e. remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.)
7 And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in thee.Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- And now, Lord H136 (אֲדֹנָי) — the Lord (used as a proper name of God only)
- what wait H6960 (קָוָה) — to bind together (perhaps by twisting), i.e. collect; (figuratively) to expect
- I for? my hope H8431 (תּוֹחֶלֶת) — expectation
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions: Make me not the reproach of the foolish.Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- Deliver H5337 (נָצַל) — to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense
- me from all my transgressions H6588 (פֶּשַׁע) — a revolt (national, moral or religious)
- make H7760 (שׂוּם) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
- me not the reproach H2781 (חֶרְפָּה) — contumely, disgrace, the pudenda
- of the foolish H5036 (נָבָל) — stupid; wicked (especially impious)
9 I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; Because thou didst it.Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- I was dumb H481 (אָלַם) — to tie fast; hence (of the mouth) to be tongue-tied
- I opened H6605 (פָּתַח) — to open wide (literally or figuratively); specifically, to loosen, begin, plough, carve
- not my mouth H6310 (פֶּה) — the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition) acc…
- because thou didst H6213 (עָשָׂה) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
10 Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thy hand.Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- Remove H5493 (סוּר) — to turn off (literally or figuratively)
- thy stroke H5061 (נֶגַע) — a blow (figuratively, infliction); also (by implication) a spot (concretely, a leprous person or dress)
- away H5493 (סוּר) — to turn off (literally or figuratively)
- from me: I am consumed H3615 (כָּלָה) — to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitive (to complete, prepare, consume)
- by the blow H8409 (תִּגְרָה) — strife, i.e. infliction
- of thine hand H3027 (יָד) — a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from 3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of a…
11 When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, Thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: Surely every man is vanity. [SelahCross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- When thou with rebukes H8433 (תּוֹכֵחָה) — chastisement; figuratively (by words) correction, refutation, proof (even in defence)
- dost correct H3256 (יָסַר) — to chastise, literally (with blows) or figuratively (with words); hence, to instruct
- man H376 (אִישׁ) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
- for iniquity H5771 (עָוֺן) — perversity, i.e. (moral) evil
- thou makest his beauty H2530 (חָמַד) — to delight in
- to consume away H4529 (מָסָה) — to dissolve
- like a moth H6211 (עָשׁ) — a moth
- surely every man H120 (אָדָם) — ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
- vanity H1892 (הֶבֶל) — emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory; often used as an adverb
- Selah H5542 (סֶלָה) — suspension (of music), i.e. pause
12 Hear my prayer, O Jehovah, and give ear unto my cry; Hold not thy peace at my tears: For I am a stranger with thee, A sojourner, as all my fathers were.Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- Hear H8085 (שָׁמַע) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
- my prayer H8605 (תְּפִלָּה) — intercession, supplication; by implication, a hymn
- O Yhwh H3068 (יְהֹוָה) — (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God
- and give ear H238 (אָזַן) — to broaden out the ear (with the hand), i.e. (by implication) to listen
- unto my cry H7775 (שַׁוְעָה) — a hallooing
- hold not thy peace H2790 (חָרַשׁ) — to scratch, i.e. (by implication) to engrave, plough; hence (from the use of tools) to fabricate (of any material); figuratively, to devise (in a bad sense); he…
- at my tears H1832 (דִּמְעָה) — weeping
- a stranger H1616 (גֵּר) — properly, a guest; by implication, a foreigner
- a sojourner H8453 (תּוֹשָׁב) — a dweller but not outlandish [5237]; especially (as distinguished from a native citizen [active participle of 3427] and a temporary inmate [1616] or mere lodger…
- as all my fathers H1 (אָב) — father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
13 Oh spare me, that I may recover strength, Before I go hence, and be no more.Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- O spare H8159 (שָׁעָה) — to gaze at or about (properly, for help); by implication, to inspect, consider, compassionate, be nonplussed (as looking around in amazement) or bewildered
- me, that I may recover strength H1082 (בָּלַג) — to break off or loose (in a favorable or unfavorable sense), i.e. desist (from grief) or invade (with destruction)
- before I go hence H3212 (יָלַךְ) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses)