Psa 39:12 | NET2full | STEP | Hear my prayer , O Lord . Listen to my cry for help . Do not ignore my sobbing . For I am a resident foreigner with you, a temporary settler , just as all my ancestors were.

‏ Psalms 39:12

12 Hear my prayer, O Lord.
Listen to my cry for help.
Do not ignore my sobbing. ^{▼▼tn Heb “do not be deaf to my tears.”}
For I am a resident foreigner with you,
a temporary settler, ^{▼▼tn The Hebrew terms גֵּר (ger, “resident foreigner”) and תּוֹשָׁב (toshav, “resident/dweller”) have similar meanings. They are not used here with the technical distinctions of most references in Mosaic Law. Ps 39:12 takes up this language from Lev 25:23 where the terms emphasize that Israel would be a guest on God’s land. They were attached to the Lord’s household; they did not own the land. The Psalmist identifies himself with this privileged yet dependent position. Abraham also refers to himself by these terms in Gen 23:4.} just as all my ancestors were.