Psalms 39 · Verse 4

Psalms 39:4

Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.
Psalms 39:4, King James Version

Psalms 39:4 in other translations

BSB“Show me, O LORD, my end and the measure of my days. Let me know how fleeting my life is.
WEB“LORD, show me my end, what is the measure of my days. Let me know how frail I am.
ASVJehovah, make me to know mine end, And the measure of my days, what it is; Let me know how frail I am.
YLT‘Cause me to know, O Jehovah, mine end, And the measure of my days--what it is,' I know how frail I am.
DARBYMake me to know, Jehovah, mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: I shall know how frail I am.
BBELord, give me knowledge of my end, and of the measure of my days, so that I may see how feeble I am.
WebsterLORD, make me to know my end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.

What does Psalms 39:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 39:4-7
4-7. Some take these words as those of fretting, but they are not essentially such. The tinge of discontent arises from the character of his suppressed emotions. But, addressing God, they are softened and subdued. make me to know mine end--experimentally appreciate. how frail I am--literally, "when I shall cease."

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 Lord, make me to know mine end - I am weary of life; I wish to know the measure of my days, that I may see how long I have to suffer, and how frail I am. I wish to know what is wanting to make up the number of the days I have to live.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 39:1-6

If an evil thought should arise in the mind, suppress it. Watchfulness in the habit, is the bridle upon the head; watchfulness in acts, is the hand upon the bridle. When not able to separate from wicked men, we should remember they will watch our words, and turn them, if they can, to our disadvantage. Sometimes it may be necessary to keep silence, even from good words; but in general we are wrong when backward to…

Read the full comment on Psalms 39:1-6 →

Psalms 39:4 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.

הוֹדִ֘יעֵ֤נִיho.Di.'E.nimake known to meH3045
יְהוָ֨ה\׀Yah.wehO YahwehH3068
קִצִּ֗יki.Tziend myH7093
וּמִדַּ֣תu.mi.Datand [the] measure ofH4060
יָמַ֣יya.Maidays myH3117
מַה\־mah-what?H4100
הִ֑יאHi'[is] itH1931
אֵ֝דְעָ֗ה'e.de.'Ahlet me knowH3045
מֶה\־meh-how!H4100
חָדֵ֥לcha.DelfleetingH2310
אָֽנִי\׃'A.ni[am] IH589

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

Cross references for Psalms 39:4

  • Psalms 90:12

    So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

  • Psalms 103:14

    For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

  • Psalms 119:84

    How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?

  • Job 14:13

    O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
make.
90:12; 119:84; Job 14:13
how frail I am. or, what time I have here.

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

Context

  • Psalms 39:3

    My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,

  • Psalms 39:4

    Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.

  • Psalms 39:5

    Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

Read all of Psalms 39

Psalms 39:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Hazme saber, Jehová, mi fin, y cuánta sea la medida de mis días; sepa yo cuánto tengo de ser del mundo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mon cœur s’est échauffé au-dedans de moi; dans ma méditation le feu s’est allumé, j’ai parlé de ma langue:
German
Elberfelder 1871		Tue mir kund, Jehova, mein Ende, und das Maß meiner Tage, welches es ist, daß ich wisse, wie vergänglich ich bin!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et immisit in os meum canticum novum, carmen Deo nostro. Videbunt multi, et timebunt, et sperabunt in Domino.