Psalm 39:8-13

8 Errette mich von aller meiner Sünde und laß mich nicht den Narren ein Spott werden.

9 Ich will schweigen und meinen Mund nicht auftun; denn du hast's getan.

10 Wende deine Plage von mir; denn ich bin verschmachtet von der Strafe deiner Hand.

11 Wenn du einen züchtigst um der Sünde willen, so wird seine Schöne verzehrt wie von Motten. Ach wie gar nichts sind doch alle Menschen! (Sela.)

12 Höre mein Gebet, HERR, und vernimm mein Schreien und schweige nicht über meine Tränen; denn ich bin dein Pilger und dein Bürger wie alle meine Väter.

13 Laß ab von mir, daß ich mich erquicke, ehe ich den hinfahre und nicht mehr hier sei.

Psalm 39:8-13 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician, [even] to Jeduthun, a Psalm of David. Some take Jeduthun to be the name of a musical instrument, as Jarchi, on which, and others the first word of a song, to the tune of which, this psalm was sung, as Aben Ezra; though it seems best, with Kimchi and others, to understand it as the name of the chief musician, to whom this psalm was sent to be made use of in public service; since Jeduthun was, with his sons, appointed by David to prophesy with harps and psalteries, and to give praise and thanks unto the Lord, 1 Chronicles 16:41; he is the same with Ethan {s}. The occasion of it is thought, by some, to be the rebellion of his son Absalom; so Theodoret thinks it was written when he fled from Absalom, and was cursed by Shimei; or rather it may be some sore affliction, which lay upon David for the chastisement of him; see Psalm 39:9; and the argument of the psalm seems to be much the same with that of the preceding one, as Kimchi observes.

{s} Vid. Hiller. Onomastic. Sacr. p. 513, 805.