This is a Ps. of great pathos and beauty. The writer's sore sickness, accepted as the punishment of sin (Psalms 39:9), has impressed him with the frailty and vanity of human life. He refrains at first from all complaint lest his words should be sinful and harmful (Psalms 39:1). When he does speak it is to utter without bitterness his conviction of life's brevity and nothingness (Psalms 39:3). He concludes with a humble prayer that though he is but a pilgrim on earth God may grant him pardon and recovery before he passes from the world (Psalms 39:7).

Title.—(RV) 'For the Chief Musician, for Jeduthun,' etc. Jeduthun was one of the directors of sacred music in David's time (1 Chronicles 16:41; 1 Chronicles 25:1). If the Ps. be of later origin the phrase in the title may mean 'after the manner of Jeduthun,' as in Psalms 62, 77.

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