Psalms

Psalm 39:1–4

¹For the choirmaster. For Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

I said, “I will watch my ways

so that I will not sin with my tongue;

I will guard my mouth with a muzzle

as long as the wicked are present.”

²I was speechless and still;

I remained silent, even from speaking good,

and my sorrow was stirred.

³My heart grew hot within me;

as I mused, the fire burned.

Then I spoke with my tongue:

⁴“Show me, O LORD, my end

and the measure of my days.

Let me know how fleeting my life is.

Read all of Psalm 39

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Psalm 39:1

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
For the choirmaster	לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ	lam·naṣ·ṣê·aḥ	Preposition-l, Article; Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular	H5329 be pre-eminent, enduring
For Jeduthun	לִידִיתוּן	lī·ḏī·ṯūn	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3038 Jeduthun
A Psalm	מִזְמ֥וֹר	miz·mō·wr	Noun - masculine singular	H4210 melody
of David	לְדָוִֽד׃	lə·ḏā·wiḏ	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
I said	אָמַ֗רְתִּי	’ā·mar·tî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H559 utter, say
I will watch	אֶֽשְׁמְרָ֣ה	’eš·mə·rāh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular	H8104 keep, watch, preserve
my ways	דְרָכַי֮	ḏə·rā·ḵay	Noun - common plural construct; first person common singular	H1870 way, road, distance, journey, manner
so that I will not sin	מֵחֲט֪וֹא	mê·ḥă·ṭō·w	Preposition-m; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H2398 miss
with my tongue	בִלְשׁ֫וֹנִ֥י	ḇil·šō·w·nî	Preposition-b; Noun - common singular construct; first person common singular	H3956 tongue
I will guard	אֶשְׁמְרָ֥ה	’eš·mə·rāh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular	H8104 keep, watch, preserve
my mouth	לְפִ֥י	lə·p̄î	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H6310 mouth
with a muzzle	מַחְס֑וֹם	maḥ·sō·wm	Noun - masculine singular	H4269 muzzle
as long as	בְּעֹ֖ד	bə·‘ōḏ	Preposition-b; Adverb	H5750 a going round, continuance
the wicked	רָשָׁ֣ע	rā·šā‘	Adjective - masculine singular	H7563 wicked, criminal
are present	לְנֶגְדִּֽי׃	lə·neḡ·dî	Preposition-l; first person common singular	H5048 what is conspicuous or in front

Psalm 39:2

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
I was speechless	נֶאֱלַ֣מְתִּי	ne·’ĕ·lam·tî	Verb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common singular	H481 bind
and still	ד֭וּמִיָּה	ḏū·mî·yāh	Noun - feminine singular	H1747 silence, still waiting, repose
I remained silent	הֶחֱשֵׁ֣יתִי	he·ḥĕ·šê·ṯî	Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular	H2814 be silent, inactive, still
from	מִטּ֑וֹב	miṭ·ṭō·wḇ	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular	H2896 pleasant, agreeable, good
and my sorrow	וּכְאֵבִ֥י	ū·ḵə·’ê·ḇî	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H3511 pain
was stirred	נֶעְכָּֽר׃	ne‘·kār	Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H5916 stir up, disturb, trouble

Psalm 39:3

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
My heart	לִבִּ֨י׀	lib·bî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H3820 inner man, mind, will, heart
grew hot	חַם־	ḥam-	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H2552 be or become warm
within me	בְּקִרְבִּ֗י	bə·qir·bî	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H7130 inward part, midst
as I mused	בַּהֲגִיגִ֥י	ba·hă·ḡî·ḡî	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H1901 murmuring
the fire	אֵ֑שׁ	’êš	Noun - common singular	H784 fire
burned	תִבְעַר־	ṯiḇ·‘ar-	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular	H1197 burn, consume
I spoke	דִּ֝בַּ֗רְתִּי	dib·bar·tî	Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular	H1696 speak
with my tongue	בִּלְשֽׁוֹנִי׃	bil·šō·w·nî	Preposition-b; Noun - common singular construct; first person common singular	H3956 tongue

Psalm 39:4

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Show me	הוֹדִ֘יעֵ֤נִי	hō·w·ḏî·‘ê·nî	Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular; first person common singular	H3045 know
O LORD	יְהוָ֨ה׀	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
my end	קִצִּ֗י	qiṣ·ṣî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H7093 end
and the measure	וּמִדַּ֣ת	ū·mid·daṯ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singular construct	H4060 measure, measurement, stature, size, garment
of my days	יָמַ֣י	yā·may	Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common singular	H3117 day
Let me know	אֵ֝דְעָ֗ה	’ê·ḏə·‘āh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular	H3045 know
how	מַה־	mah-	Interrogative	H4100 what? how? aught
fleeting	חָדֵ֥ל	ḥā·ḏêl	Adjective - masculine singular	H2310 forbearing, lacking
my life is	אָֽנִי׃	’ā·nî	Pronoun - first person common singular	H589 I