Psalms 39:13

13 Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again before I depart and am no more.”

Psalms 39:13 in Other Translations

KJV
13 O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.
ESV
13 Look away from me, that I may smile again, before I depart and am no more!"
NLT
13 Leave me alone so I can smile again before I am gone and exist no more.
MSG
13 Give me a break, cut me some slack before it's too late and I'm out of here."
CSB
13 Turn Your angry gaze from me so that I may be cheered up before I die and am gone."

Psalms 39:13 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 39:13

O spare me
Or "look from me" F6; turn away thy fierce countenance from me; or "cease from me F7, and let me alone"; as in ( Job 10:20 ) ; from whence the words seem to be taken, by what follows:

that I may recover strength;
both corporeal and spiritual:

before I go hence;
out of this world by death:

and be no more;
that is, among men in the land of the living; not but that he believed he should exist after death, and should be somewhere, even in heaven, though he should return no more to the place where he was; see ( Job 10:20 Job 10:21 ) , when a man is born, he comes into the world; when he dies, he goes out of it; a phrase frequently used for death in Scripture; so the ancient Heathens called death "abitio", a going away {h}.


FOOTNOTES:

F6 (ynmm evh) "respice aliorsum a me", Gejerus; "averte visum a me", Michaelis.
F7 "Desine a me", Pagninus; "desiste a me", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius; "cessa a me", Vatablus.
F8 Fest. Pomp. apud Schindler. Lexic. col. 440.

Psalms 39:13 In-Context

11 When you rebuke and discipline anyone for their sin, you consume their wealth like a moth— surely everyone is but a breath.
12 “Hear my prayer, LORD, listen to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. I dwell with you as a foreigner, a stranger, as all my ancestors were.
13 Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again before I depart and am no more.”

Cross References 1

  • 1. S Job 10:21; Job 14:10
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