Psalms 39:10

10 Quit punishing me; your beating is about to kill me.

Psalms 39:10 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 39:10

Remove thy stroke away from me
The psalmist still considers his affliction as coming from the hand of God, as his stroke upon him, and which lay as a heavy burden on him, and which God only could remove; and to him he applies for the removal of it, who is to be sought unto by his people to do such things for them; nor is such an application any ways contrary to that silence and patience before expressed;

I am consumed by the blow of thine hand;
meaning either that his flesh was consumed by his affliction, which came from the hand of God, or he should be consumed if he did not remove it: he could not bear up under it, but must sink and die; if he continued to strive and contend with him, his spirit would fail before him, and the soul that he had made; and therefore he entreats he would remember he was but dust, and remove his hand from him; for this is a reason enforcing the preceding petition.

Psalms 39:10 In-Context

8 Save me from all my sins. Don't let wicked fools make fun of me.
9 I am quiet; I do not open my mouth, because you are the one who has done this.
10 Quit punishing me; your beating is about to kill me.
11 You correct and punish people for their sins; like a moth, you destroy what they love. Everyone's life is only a breath.Selah
12 "Lord, hear my prayer, and listen to my cry. Do not ignore my tears. I am like a visitor with you. Like my ancestors, I'm only here a short time.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.