Psalms 89:47

89:47 Take note of my brief lifespan! ¹ 

Why do you make all people so mortal? ² 

Psalms 89:2

89:2 For I say, “Loyal love is permanently established; ³ 

in the skies you set up your faithfulness.” ⁴ 

Psalms 3:8

3:8 The Lord delivers; ⁵ 

you show favor to your people. ⁶  (Selah)

[89:47]  ¹ tn Heb “remember me, what is [my] lifespan.” The Hebrew term חֶלֶד (kheled) is also used of one’s lifespan in Ps 39:5. Because the Hebrew text is so awkward here, some prefer to emend it to read מֶה חָדֵל אָנִי (meh khadel ’aniy, “[remember] how transient [that is, “short-lived”] I am”; see Ps 39:4).

[89:47]  ² tn Heb “For what emptiness do you create all the sons of mankind?” In this context the term שָׁוְא (shavah) refers to mankind’s mortal nature and the brevity of life (see vv. 45, 48).

[89:2]  ³ tn Heb “built.”

[89:2]  ⁴ sn You set up your faithfulness. This may allude to the Lord’s heavenly throne, which symbolizes his just rule and from which the Lord decrees his unconditional promises (see vv. 8, 14).

[3:8]  ⁵ tn Heb “to the Lord [is] deliverance.”

[3:8]  ⁶ tn Heb “upon your people [is] your blessing.” In this context God’s “blessing” includes deliverance/protection, vindication, and sustained life (see Pss 21:3, 6; 24:5).