Psa 39:10-13 | NETfull | STEP | Please stop wounding me! You have almost beaten me to death!

Psalms 39:10-13

10 Please stop wounding me! ^{▼▼ Heb “remove from upon me your wound.”}
You have almost beaten me to death! ^{▼▼ Heb “from the hostility of your hand I have come to an end.”}
11 You severely discipline people for their sins; ^{▼▼ “with punishments on account of sin you discipline a man.”}
like a moth you slowly devour their strength. ^{▼▼ 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.}
Surely all people are a mere vapor. (Selah)
12 Hear my prayer, O Lord!
Listen to my cry for help!
Do not ignore my sobbing! ^{▼▼ Heb “do not be deaf to my tears.”}
For I am dependent on you, like one residing outside his native land;
I am at your mercy, just as all my ancestors were. ^{▼▼ Heb “For a resident alien [am] I with you, a sojourner like all my fathers.”} ^{▼▼ Resident aliens were dependent on the mercy and goodwill of others. The Lord was concerned that resident aliens be treated properly. See Deut 24:17–22, Ps 146:9.}
Turn your angry gaze away from me, so I can be happy
before I pass away. ^{▼▼ 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 (sh^e’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.}

Psalm 40

^{▼▼ Psalm 40. The psalmist combines a song of thanksgiving for a recent act of divine deliverance (vv. 1–11) with a confident petition for renewed divine intervention (vv. 12–17).}

Psalms 39:10-13

Psalm 40

For the music director; By David, a psalm.