Psalms 39:11-13

39:11 You severely discipline people for their sins; ¹ 

like a moth you slowly devour their strength. ² 

Surely all people are a mere vapor. (Selah)

39:12 Hear my prayer, O Lord!

Listen to my cry for help!

Do not ignore my sobbing! ³ 

For I am dependent on you, like one residing outside his native land;

I am at your mercy, just as all my ancestors were. ⁴ 

39:13 Turn your angry gaze away from me, so I can be happy

before I pass away. ⁵ 

[39:11]  ¹ tn “with punishments on account of sin you discipline a man.”

[39:11]  ² tc Heb “you cause to dissolve, like a moth, his desired [thing].” The translation assumes an emendation of חֲמוּדוֹ (khamudo, “his desirable [thing]”) to חֶמְדוֹ (khemdo, “his loveliness” [or “beauty”]), a reading that is supported by a few medieval Hebrew mss.

[39:12]  ³ tn Heb “do not be deaf to my tears.”

[39:12]  ⁴ tn Heb “For a resident alien [am] I with you, a sojourner like all my fathers.”

[39:13]  ⁵ tn Heb “Gaze away from me and I will smile before I go and am not.” The precise identification of the initial verb form (הָשַׁע, hasha’) is uncertain. It could be from the root שָׁעָע (sha’a’, “smear”), but “your eyes” would be the expected object in this case (see Isa 6:10). The verb may be an otherwise unattested Hiphil form of שָׁעָה (sha’ah, “to gaze”) meaning “cause your gaze to be.” Some prefer to emend the form to the Qal שְׁעֵה (shÿ’eh, “gaze”; see Job 14:6). If one does read a form of the verb “to gaze,” the angry divine “gaze” of discipline would seem to be in view (see vv. 10-11). For a similar expression of this sentiment see Job 10:20-21.