Psalms 39:3

3 and I was overcome with anxiety. The more I thought, the more troubled I became; I could not keep from asking:

Psalms 39:3 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 39:3

My heart was hot within me
Either with zeal for God; or rather with envy at the prosperity of wicked men, and with impatience at his own afflictions;

while I was musing the fire burned;
not the fire of the divine word, while he was meditating upon it, which caused his heart to burn within him; nor the fire of divine love, the coals whereof give a most vehement flame, when the love of God is shed abroad in the heart, and the thoughts of it are directed by the Spirit of God to dwell in meditation on it; but the fire of passion, anger, and resentment, while meditating on his own adversity, and the prosperity of others;

[then] spake I with my tongue;
and so broke the resolution he had made, ( Psalms 39:1 ) ; he spoke not for God, though to him; not by way of thankfulness for his grace and goodness to him, in supporting him under his exercises; but in a way of complaint, because of his afflictions; it was in prayer he spoke to God with his tongue, and it was unadvisedly with his lips, as follows.

Psalms 39:3 In-Context

1 I said, "I will be careful about what I do and will not let my tongue make me sin; I will not say anything while evil people are near."

2 I kept quiet, not saying a word, not even about anything good! But my suffering only grew worse,

3 and I was overcome with anxiety. The more I thought, the more troubled I became; I could not keep from asking:

4 "Lord, how long will I live? When will I die? Tell me how soon my life will end."

5 How short you have made my life! In your sight my lifetime seems nothing. Indeed every living being is no more than a puff of wind,