Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 39:12

Psalms 39:12. Hold not thy peace at my tears Joined with my prayers. For I am a stranger, &c. Though I be not only a native, but actually king of this land, yet, in truth, I am but a stranger and sojourner, both in regard of my very uncertain and short continuance here, where I am only on my journey to my real and long home; and in respect of the many wants, hardships, contempts, and injuries to which I am exposed, as men usually are in strange lands. And, therefore, I greatly need... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 39:1-13

Psalm 38-39 The cries of the sickThe psalmist David felt that sometimes punishment for his sins took the form of sickness (e.g. Psalms 6:0) or opposition from those who envied or hated him (e.g. Psalms 25:0). Both elements appear again in the prayer of Psalms 38:0, which, being a confession of sin, was suitable to be offered with certain sacrifices.As the suffering David cries to God for mercy, he admits that, because of his sin, he deserves what he has got (38:1-4). He vividly describes the... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Psalms 39:12

"Hear my prayer, O Jehovah, and give ear unto my cry;Hold not thy peace at my tears:For I am a stranger with thee,A sojourner, as all my fathers were.""Hold not thy peace at my tears" (Psalms 39:12). God is ever concerned with human tears. Our Lord said to the widow of Nain, "Weep not"! and to Mary Magdalene, "Woman, why weepest thou? .... If a man can scarcely ignore a person's tears, how much less can God? God numbers the tears of believers (Psalms 56); and the ultimate purpose of the Father... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Psalms 39:12

Psalms 39:12. For I am a stranger with thee, &c.— More like a stranger, and sojourner in this country, than an inhabitant or lord of it; with thee, who in a particular manner art the proprietor of this land, which thou hast chosen to be thy peculiar inheritance. The land, says Moses, is thine; we are but strangers and sojourners with thee. Leviticus 25:23. REFLECTIONS.—1st, This psalm contains much matter for a mournful song, suited to soothe the sorrows which mortality is heir to, and... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Psalms 39:12

12, 13. Consonant with the tenor of the Psalm, he prays for God's compassionate regard to him as a stranger here; and that, as such was the condition of his fathers, so, like them, he may be cheered instead of being bound under wrath and chastened in displeasure. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 39:1-13

Psalms 39David seems to have composed this individual lament during a prolonged illness that almost proved fatal (cf. Job). He petitioned God to extend his days rather than to continue the chastening. This psalm is quite similar to the preceding one, but in this one David did not mention opposition from his enemies.Jeduthun, mentioned in the title, was one of David’s chief musicians (1 Chronicles 16:41-42). Perhaps David wrote the psalm for Jeduthun to perform or lead, or for the group of... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 39:12-13

In closing, David asked God to remove His chastening, whatever it was, so he could enjoy his final years of life. [Note: See W. A. M. Beuken, "Psalms 39 : Some Aspects of the Old Testament Understanding of Prayer," The Heythrop Journal 19 (1978):1-11.] The brevity of life impresses one increasingly as he or she grows older. People are usually more conscious of this in times of sorrow than in happy times. It is natural for a believer to want God to teach him or her to live wisely, and want Him... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 39:1-13

This is a Ps. of great pathos and beauty. The writer’s sore sickness, accepted as the punishment of sin (Psalms 39:9-11), has impressed him with the frailty and vanity of human life. He refrains at first from all complaint lest his words should be sinful and harmful (Psalms 39:1-2). When he does speak it is to utter without bitterness his conviction of life’s brevity and nothingness (Psalms 39:3-6). He concludes with a humble prayer that though he is but a pilgrim on earth God may grant him... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 39:12

(12) For I am a stranger.—A reminiscence of Genesis 23:4, and adopted 1 Peter 2:11 from the LXX. (See New Testament Commentary, and comp. Hebrews 11:13.) The psalmist, like the Apostle, applies Abraham’s words metaphorically to this earthly pilgrim age (comp. 1 Chronicles 29:15), and pathetically asks why, when the tenure of life is so uncertain, God looks angrily on him? (For the passionate appeal for a respite, comp. Job 10:20-21, and for the Hebrew conception of the under world, Psalms 6:5,... read more

Group of Brands