Psalms 73:2

73:2 But as for me, my feet almost slipped;

my feet almost slid out from under me. ¹ 

Psalms 39:5

39:5 Look, you make my days short-lived, ² 

and my life span is nothing from your perspective. ³ 

Surely all people, even those who seem secure, are nothing but vapor. ⁴ 

[73:2]  ¹ tn The Hebrew verb normally means “to pour out,” but here it must have the nuance “to slide.”

[39:5]  ² tn Heb “Look, handbreadths you make my days.” The “handbreadth” (equivalent to the width of four fingers) was one of the smallest measures used by ancient Israelites. See P. C. Craigie, Psalms 1-50 (WBC), 309.

[39:5]  ³ tn Heb “is like nothing before you.”

[39:5]  ⁴ tn Heb “surely, all vapor [is] all mankind, standing firm.” Another option is to translate, “Surely, all mankind, though seemingly secure, is nothing but a vapor.”