Psalms 39 · Verse 11

Psalms 39:11

When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah.

Psalms 39:11, King James Version

Psalms 39:11 in other translations

BSB	You discipline and correct a man for his iniquity, consuming like a moth what he holds dear; surely each man is but a vapor. Selah
WEB	When you rebuke and correct man for iniquity, you consume his wealth like a moth. Surely every man is but a breath.” Selah.
ASV	When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, Thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: Surely every man is vanity. [Selah
YLT	With reproofs against iniquity, Thou hast corrected man, And dost waste as a moth his desirableness, Only, vanity is every man. Selah.
DARBY	When thou with rebukes dost correct a man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely, every man is vanity. Selah.
BBE	By the weight of your wrath against man's sin, the glory of his form is wasted away; truly every man is but a breath. (Selah.)
Webster	When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah.

What does Psalms 39:11 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

11. From his own case, he argues to that of all, that the destruction of man's enjoyments is ascribable to sin.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 11 When thou with rebukes dost correct man - תוכחות tochachoth signifies a vindication of proceedings in a court of law, a legal defense. When God comes to maintain the credit and authority of his law against a sinner, he "causes his beauty to consume away:" a metaphor taken from the case of a culprit, who, by the arguments of counsel, and the unimpeachable evidence of witnesses, has the facts all proved against him, grows pale, looks terrified; his fortitude forsakes him, and he faints in court. Surely every man is vanity - He is incapable of resistance; he falls before his Maker; and none can deliver him but his Sovereign and Judge, against whom he has offended. Selah - This is a true saying, an everlasting truth.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 39:7-13

There is no solid satisfaction to be had in the creature; but it is to be found in the Lord, and in communion with him; to him we should be driven by our disappointments. If the world be nothing but vanity, may God deliver us from having or seeking our portion in it. When creature-confidences fail, it is our comfort that we have a God to go to, a God to trust in. We may see a good God doing all, and ordering all…

Read the full comment on Psalms 39:7-13 →

Psalms 39:11 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

בְּֽתוֹכָ֘ח֤וֹתbe.to.Kha.chotwith rebukesH8433

עַל\־'al-onH5921

עָוֹ֨ן\׀'a.VoniniquityH5771

יִסַּ֬רְתָּyi.Sar.tayou have disciplinedH3256

אִ֗ישׁ'Isha personH376

וַתֶּ֣מֶסva.Te.mesand you have meltedH4529

כָּעָ֣שׁka.'Ashlike <the> mothH6211

חֲמוּד֑וֹcha.mu.Dodesired [thing] hisH2530

אַ֤ךְ'akh[is] onlyH389

הֶ֖בֶלHe.velvanityH1892

כָּל\־kol-allH3605

אָדָ֣ם'a.DamhumankindH120

סֶֽלָה\׃Se.lahSelahH5542

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 39:11

Job 13:28
And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.
Hebrews 12:6
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Isaiah 50:9
Behold, the Lord God will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.
Revelation 3:19
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
1 Corinthians 11:30-32
For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
1 Corinthians 5:5
To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Psalms 102:10-11
Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down. My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.
Job 30:30
My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat.
Hosea 5:12
Therefore will I be unto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness.
2 Peter 2:16
But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
Psalms 38:1-8
A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance. O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore. There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. …
Job 4:19
How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

When.
38:1-8; 90:7-10; 1Co 5:5; 11:30-32; Heb 12:6; Re 3:19
his beauty, etc. Heb. that which is to be desired in him tomelt away.
102:10,11; Job 4:19; 13:28; 30:30; Isa 50:9; Ho 5:12
surely.
5

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Psalms 39:10
Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thine hand.
Psalms 39:11
When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah.
Psalms 39:12
Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.

Read all of Psalms 39

Psalms 39:11 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Con castigos sobre el pecado corriges al hombre, y haces consumirse como de polilla su grandeza: ciertamente vanidad es todo hombre. (Selah.)
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Retire de dessus moi ta plaie: je suis consumé par les coups de ta main.
German Elberfelder 1871	Strafst du einen Mann mit Züchtigungen für die Ungerechtigkeit, so machst du, gleich der Motte, seine Schönheit zergehen; ja, ein Hauch sind alle Menschen.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Justitiam tuam non abscondi in corde meo; veritatem tuam et salutare tuum dixi; non abscondi misericordiam tuam et veritatem tuam a concilio multo.