Skip to content
The Historic Faith
Audio Bible

Psalm 39 ESV Audio Bible

Select Translation

Loading Scripture...

Listen to Psalms 39 with verse-by-verse audio highlighting.

Read Psalms 39 in modern English — World English Bible (13 verses)

The player above streams this page’s licensed translation, and its text loads in the interactive reader. For reading and comparison, here is the same chapter in the public-domain World English Bible (WEB):

1 I said, “I will watch my ways, so that I don’t sin with my tongue. I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me.”

2 I was mute with silence. I held my peace, even from good. My sorrow was stirred.

3 My heart was hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned: I spoke with my tongue:

4 “Yahweh, show me my end, what is the measure of my days. Let me know how frail I am.

5 Behold, you have made my days hand breadths. My lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely every man stands as a breath.” Selah.

6 “Surely every man walks like a shadow. Surely they busy themselves in vain. He heaps up, and doesn’t know who shall gather.

7 Now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you.

8 Deliver me from all my transgressions. Don’t make me the reproach of the foolish.

9 I was mute. I didn’t open my mouth, because you did it.

10 Remove your scourge away from me. I am overcome by the blow of your hand.

11 When you rebuke and correct man for iniquity, You consume his wealth like a moth. Surely every man is but a breath.” Selah.

12 “Hear my prayer, Yahweh, and give ear to my cry. Don’t be silent at my tears. For I am a stranger with you, a foreigner, as all my fathers were.

13 Oh spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go away, and exist no more.”

Listen to Psalms 39 in the WEB →

Study tools for Psalms 39

Cross-references, Hebrew word study, and what the Early Church wrote about Psalms 39. Tap any section to expand — or right-click any verse for the full interactive study panel.

Psalms 39 study resources: word-by-word Hebrew interlinear with Strong's numbers, 2 Early-Church citations.

Hebrew interlinear — Psalms 39:1–13 (125 words)
1
  1. אָמַ֗רְתִּיʾāmartîamar: to say (used with great latitude)H559
  2. אֶֽשְׁמְרָ֣הʾešĕmrâshamar: (properly) to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guardH8104
  3. דְרָכַי֮dĕrākayderek: a road (as trodden); (figuratively) a course of life or mode of action, often adverbH1870
  4. מֵחֲט֪וֹאmēḥăṭôʾchata': (properly) to miss; (hence, figuratively and generally) to sinH2398
  5. בִלְשׁ֫וֹנִ֥יbilšônîlashown: the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and...H3956
  6. אֶשְׁמְרָ֥הʾešmĕrâshamar: (properly) to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guardH8104
  7. לְפִ֥יlĕpîpeh: the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech)H6310
  8. מַחְס֑וֹםmaḥsômmachcowm: a muzzleH4269
  9. בְּעֹ֖דbĕʿōd`owd: (properly) iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly...H5750
  10. רָשָׁ֣עrāšāʿrasha`: morally wrong; (concretely) an (actively) bad personH7563
  11. לְנֶגְדִּֽי׃lĕnegdîneged: a front, i.e. part opposite; specifically a counterpart, or mateH5048
2
  1. נֶאֱלַ֣מְתִּיneʾĕlamtîalam: to tie fast; hence (of the mouth) to be tongue-tiedH481
  2. ד֭וּמִיָּהdûmiyyâduwmiyah: stillness; adverbially, silentlyH1747
  3. הֶחֱשֵׁ֣יתִיheḥĕšêtîchashah: to hush or keep quietH2814
  4. מִטּ֑וֹבmiṭṭôbtowb: good (as an adjective) in the widest senseH2896
  5. וּכְאֵבִ֥יûkĕʾēbîk'eb: suffering (physical or mental), adversityH3511
  6. נֶעְכָּֽר׃neʿkār`akar: (properly) to roil water; (figuratively) to disturb or affictH5916
3
  1. חַםḥamchamam: to be hot (literally or figuratively)H2552
  2. לִבִּ֨י׀libbîleb: the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellectH3820
  3. בְּקִרְבִּ֗יbĕqirbîqereb: (properly) the nearest part, i.e. the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with...H7130
  4. בַּהֲגִיגִ֥יbahăgîgîhagiyg: (properly) a murmur, i.e. complaintH1901
  5. תִבְעַרtibʿarba`ar: to kindle; to consume (by fire or by eating)H1197
  6. אֵ֑שׁʾēšesh: fire (literally or figuratively)H784
  7. דִּ֝בַּ֗רְתִּיdibbartîdabar: perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speakH1696
  8. בִּלְשֽׁוֹנִי׃bilšônîlashown: the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and...H3956
4
  1. הוֹדִ֘יעֵ֤נִיhôdîʿēnîyada`: to know; (properly) to ascertain by seeingH3045
  2. יְהוָ֨ה׀yĕhwâYhovah: (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodH3068
  3. קִצִּ֗יqiṣṣîqets: an extremity; adverbially (with prepositional prefix) afterH7093
  4. וּמִדַּ֣תûmiddatmiddah: (properly) extension, i.e. height or breadthH4060
  5. יָמַ֣יyāmayyowm: a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or...H3117
  6. מַהmamah: (properly, interrogative) what? (including how? why? when?)H4100
  7. הִ֑יאhîʾhuw': (the third person pronoun singular) he, she, or it (only expressed when emphatic or without a verb)H1931
  8. אֵ֝דְעָ֗הʾēdĕʿâyada`: to know; (properly) to ascertain by seeingH3045
  9. מֶהmemah: (properly, interrogative) what? (including how? why? when?)H4100
  10. חָדֵ֥לḥādēlchadel: vacant, i.e. ceasing or destituteH2310
  11. אָֽנִי׃ʾānîaniy: IH589
5
  1. הִנֵּ֤הhinnēhinneh: lo!H2009
  2. טְפָח֨וֹת׀ṭĕpāḥôttephach: a spread of the hand, i.e. a palm- breadth (not "span" of the fingers)H2947
  3. נָ֘תַ֤תָּהnātattânathan: to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)H5414
  4. יָמַ֗יyāmayyowm: a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or...H3117
  5. וְחֶלְדִּ֣יwĕḥeldîcheled: life (as a fleeting portion of time); (hence) the world (as transient)H2465
  6. כְאַ֣יִןkĕʾayinayin: a non-entity; (generally) used as a negative particleH369
  7. נֶגְדֶּ֑ךָnegdekāneged: a front, i.e. part opposite; specifically a counterpart, or mateH5048
  8. אַ֥ךְʾakak: a particle of affirmation, surely; hence (by limitation) onlyH389
  9. כָּֽלkālkol: (properly) the whole; (hence) all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)H3605
  10. הֶ֥בֶלhebelhebel: emptiness or vanity; (figuratively) something transitory and unsatisfactoryH1892
  11. כָּלkālkol: (properly) the whole; (hence) all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)H3605
  12. אָ֝דָ֗םʾādāmadam: ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)H120
  13. נִצָּ֥בniṣṣābnatsab: to station, in various applications (literally or figuratively)H5324
  14. סֶֽלָה׃selâcelah: suspension (of music), i.e. pauseH5542
6
  1. אַךְʾakak: a particle of affirmation, surely; hence (by limitation) onlyH389
  2. בְּצֶ֤לֶם׀bĕṣelemtselem: a phantom, i.e. (figuratively) illusion, resemblanceH6754
  3. יִֽתְהַלֶּךְyitĕhallekhalak: a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)H1980
  4. אִ֗ישׁʾîšiysh: a man as an individual or a male personH376
  5. אַךְʾakak: a particle of affirmation, surely; hence (by limitation) onlyH389
  6. הֶ֥בֶלhebelhebel: emptiness or vanity; (figuratively) something transitory and unsatisfactoryH1892
  7. יֶהֱמָי֑וּןyehĕmāyûnhamah: to make a loud sound like Engl. "hum"); (by implication) to be in great commotion or tumult, to rage, war, moan...H1993
  8. יִ֝צְבֹּ֗רyiṣbōrtsabar: to aggregateH6651
  9. וְֽלֹאwĕlōʾlo': (the simple or absolute negation) not; (by implication) noH3808
  10. יֵדַ֥עyēdaʿyada`: to know; (properly) to ascertain by seeingH3045
  11. מִיmîmiy: who?; (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things) which?H4310
  12. אֹסְפָֽם׃ʾōsĕpāmacaph: to gather for any purpose; (hence) to receive, take awayH622
7
  1. וְעַתָּ֣הwĕʿattâ`attah: at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletiveH6258
  2. מַהmamah: (properly, interrogative) what? (including how? why? when?)H4100
  3. קִּוִּ֣יתִיqiwwîtîqavah: to bind together (perhaps by twisting), i.e. collectH6960
  4. אֲדֹנָ֑יʾădōnāyAdonay: the Lord (used as a proper name of God only)H136
  5. תּ֝וֹחַלְתִּ֗יtôḥaltîtowcheleth: expectationH8431
  6. לְךָ֣lĕkā
  7. הִֽיא׃hîʾhuw': (the third person pronoun singular) he, she, or it (only expressed when emphatic or without a verb)H1931
8
  1. מִכָּלmikkālkol: (properly) the whole; (hence) all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)H3605
  2. פְּשָׁעַ֥יpĕšāʿaypesha`: a revolt (national, moral or religious)H6588
  3. הַצִּילֵ֑נִיhaṣṣîlēnînatsal: to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad senseH5337
  4. חֶרְפַּ֥תḥerpatcherpah: contumely, disgrace, the pudendaH2781
  5. נָ֝בָ֗לnābālnabal: stupid; wicked (especially impious)H5036
  6. אַלʾalal: (qualified negation) not (used as a deprecative)H408
  7. תְּשִׂימֵֽנִי׃tĕśîmēnîsuwm: to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)H7760
9
  1. נֶ֭אֱלַמְתִּיneʾĕlamtîalam: to tie fast; hence (of the mouth) to be tongue-tiedH481
  2. לֹ֣אlōʾlo': (the simple or absolute negation) not; (by implication) noH3808
  3. אֶפְתַּחʾeptaḥpathach: to open wide (literally or figuratively)H6605
  4. פִּ֑יpîpeh: the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech)H6310
  5. כִּ֖יkîkiy: (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below)H3588
  6. אַתָּ֣הʾattâattah: thou and thee, or (plural) ye and youH859
  7. עָשִֽׂיתָ׃ʿāśîtā`asah: to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application (as follows)H6213
10
  1. הָסֵ֣רhāsērcuwr: to turn off (literal or figurative)H5493
  2. מֵעָלַ֣יmēʿālay`al: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of...H5921
  3. נִגְעֶ֑ךָnigʿekānega`: a blow; (figuratively) an inflictionH5061
  4. מִתִּגְרַ֥תmittigrattigrah: strife, i.e. inflictionH8409
  5. יָ֝דְךָ֗yādĕkāyad: a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), in distinction from H3709, the closed one)H3027
  6. אֲנִ֣יʾănîaniy: IH589
  7. כָלִֽיתִי׃kālîtîkalah: to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitived (to complete, prepare, consume)H3615
11
  1. בְּֽתוֹכָ֘ח֤וֹתbĕtôkāḥôttowkechah: chastisement; figuratively (by words) correction, refutation, proof (even in defence)H8433
  2. עַלʿal`al: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of...H5921
  3. עָוֹ֨ן׀ʿāwōn`avon: perversity, i.e. (moral) evilH5771
  4. יִסַּ֬רְתָּyissartāyacar: to chastise, literally (with blows) or figuratively (with words)H3256
  5. אִ֗ישׁʾîšiysh: a man as an individual or a male personH376
  6. וַתֶּ֣מֶסwattemesmacah: to dissolveH4529
  7. כָּעָ֣שׁkāʿāš`ash: a mothH6211
  8. חֲמוּד֑וֹḥămûdôchamad: to delight inH2530
  9. אַ֤ךְʾakak: a particle of affirmation, surely; hence (by limitation) onlyH389
  10. הֶ֖בֶלhebelhebel: emptiness or vanity; (figuratively) something transitory and unsatisfactoryH1892
  11. כָּלkālkol: (properly) the whole; (hence) all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)H3605
  12. אָדָ֣םʾādāmadam: ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)H120
  13. סֶֽלָה׃selâcelah: suspension (of music), i.e. pauseH5542
12
  1. שִׁ֥מְעָֽהšimʿâshama`: to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etcH8085
  2. תְפִלָּתִ֨י׀tĕpillātîtphillah: intercession, supplication; (by implication) a hymnH8605
  3. יְהוָ֡הyĕhwâYhovah: (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodH3068
  4. וְשַׁוְעָתִ֨י׀wĕšawʿātîshav`ah: a hallooingH7775
  5. הַאֲזִינָה֮haʾăzînāhazan: to broaden out the ear (with the hand); (by implication) to listenH238
  6. אֶֽלʾelel: (properly) denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or amongH413
  7. דִּמְעָתִ֗יdimʿātîdim`ah: weepingH1832
  8. אַֽלʾalal: (qualified negation) not (used as a deprecative)H408
  9. תֶּ֫חֱרַ֥שׁteḥĕrašcharash: to scratch; (by implication) to engrave, ploughH2790
  10. כִּ֤יkîkiy: (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below)H3588
  11. גֵ֣רgērger: (properly) a guest; (by implication) a foreignerH1616
  12. אָנֹכִ֣יʾānōkîanokiy: IH595
  13. עִמָּ֑ךְʿimmāk`im: adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction with), in varied applicationsH5973
  14. תּ֝וֹשָׁ֗בtôšābtowshab: a dweller (but not outlandish (H5237))H8453
  15. כְּכָלkĕkālkol: (properly) the whole; (hence) all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)H3605
  16. אֲבוֹתָֽי׃ʾăbôtāyab: fatherH1
13
  1. הָשַׁ֣עhāšaʿsha`ah: to gaze at or about; (properly) to look for helpH8159
  2. מִמֶּ֣נִּיmimmennîmin: (properly) a part of; (hence, prepositionally) from or out of (in many senses)H4480
  3. וְאַבְלִ֑יגָהwĕʾablîgâbalag: to break off or loose (in a favorable or unfavorable sense)H1082
  4. בְּטֶ֖רֶםbĕṭeremterem: (properly) non-occurrence; used adverbially, not yet or beforeH2962
  5. אֵלֵ֣ךְʾēlēkyalak: (literally or figuratively) to walk; (causatively) to carry (in various senses)H3212
  6. וְאֵינֶֽנִּי׃wĕʾênennîayin: a non-entity; (generally) used as a negative particleH369

View the full Hebrew interlinear for Psalms 39 →

Strong's words in Psalms 39 (6)
Strong's H3605 — כָּֽל (kāl)
kol (kole) (or (Jer. 33) n-m. 1. (properly) the whole 2. (hence) all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense) [from H3634] KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). Root(s): H3634. Appears 5 times in Psalms 39.
Strong's H389 — אַ֥ךְ (ʾak)
ak (ak) adv. 1. a particle of affirmation, surely 2. hence (by limitation) only [akin to H403] KJV: also, in any wise, at least, but, certainly, even, howbeit, nevertheless, notwithstanding, only, save, surely, of a surety, truly, verily, + wherefore, yet (but). Root(s): H403. Appears 4 times in Psalms 39.
Strong's H1892 — הֶ֥בֶל (hebel)
hebel (heh'bel) (or (rarely in the abs.) habel {hab-ale'}) n-m. 1. emptiness or vanity 2. (figuratively) something transitory and unsatisfactory 3. often used as an adverb [from H1891] KJV: X altogether, vain, vanity. Root(s): H1891. Appears 3 times in Psalms 39.
Strong's H3045 — הוֹדִ֘יעֵ֤נִי (hôdîʿēnî)
yada` (yaw-dah') v. 1. to know 2. (properly) to ascertain by seeing 3. used in a great variety of senses 4. figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition 5. and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.) (as follow) [a primitive root] KJV: acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-)awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, X could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be (ig-)norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have (knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, + be learned, + lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, X prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have (understanding), X will be, wist, wit, wot.. Appears 3 times in Psalms 39.
Strong's H4100 — מַה (ma)
mah (maw) (or mah {mah} or ma {maw}; or ma {mah}; also meh {meh};) p/i. 1. (properly, interrogative) what? (including how? why? when?) 2. (also, exclamation) what! (including how!) 3. (indefinitely) what (including whatever, and even relatively, that which) 4. often used with prefixes in various adverbial or conjunctive senses [a primitive particle] KJV: how (long, oft, (- soever)), (no-)thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing), whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why.. Appears 3 times in Psalms 39.
Strong's H120 — אָ֝דָ֗ם (ʾādām)
adam (aw-dawm') n-m. 1. ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.) [from H119] KJV: X another, + hypocrite, + common sort, X low, man (mean, of low degree), person. Root(s): H119. Appears 2 times in Psalms 39.

Browse the full Strong's concordance →

“We will have to say that if we give in to troubles, we do not believe in him insofar as he is endurance; and if we are weak, we have not believed in him insofar as he is strength.”

What the Early Church wrote about Psalms 39 (1)

  • “Hear also … David … saying, “My heart burned within me, and in my meditation fire became inflamed.” From where do you glow? Where is the fire kindled in you?”

Read the full Ante-Nicene Fathers library →

0:00 Psalms 39 0:00

Video Bible

Loading video...

Scripture video provided by Faith Comes By Hearing

🌐 Select Language

2532 Bibles in 2198 Languages

Select Translation

Congratulations!

You completed the book of Matthew!

Points Earned +280
28 Chapters
15% NT Progress