Psalms 39:6
Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.
Psalms 39:6 in other translations
| BSB | Surely every man goes about like a phantom; surely he bustles in vain; he heaps up riches not knowing who will haul them away. |
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| WEB | “Surely every man walks like a shadow. Surely they busy themselves in vain. He heaps up, and doesn’t know who shall gather. |
| ASV | Surely every man walketh in a vain show; Surely they are disquieted in vain: He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them. |
| YLT | Only, in an image doth each walk habitually, Only, in vain, they are disquieted, He heapeth up and knoweth not who gathereth them. |
| DARBY | Verily, man walketh in a vain show; verily they are disquieted in vain; he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them. |
| BBE | Truly, every man goes on his way like an image; he is troubled for no purpose: he makes a great store of wealth, and has no knowledge of who will get it. |
| Webster | Surely every man walketh in a vain show: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them. |
What does Psalms 39:6 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."
Adam Clarke's Commentary
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…
Psalms 39:6 in the original Hebrew
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Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Psalms 39:6
- Luke 12:20-21
But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
- James 4:14
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
- Ecclesiastes 2:26
For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
- Psalms 127:2
It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
- Ecclesiastes 12:13
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
- 1 Corinthians 7:31
And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
- Ecclesiastes 4:7-8
Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
- 1 Peter 5:7
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
- Ecclesiastes 2:17-21
Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity. Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun. …
- Luke 12:29
And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
- Ecclesiastes 5:14
But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.
- Isaiah 55:2
Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Co 7:31; Jas 4:14
surely.
Ec 1:14; 2:17,18,20,21; 4:7,8; 6:11,12; 12:8,13; Isa 55:2
Lu 10:40-42; 12:20,21,29; 1Pe 5:7
he heapeth.
49:10,11; Job 27:16,17; Pr 13:22; 23:5; 27:24; Ec 2:8,18-21,26
Ec 5:14; Lu 12:20,21; Jas 5:3
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- 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.
- Psalms 39:6
Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.
- Psalms 39:7
And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.
Psalms 39:6 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Ciertamente en tinieblas anda el hombre; ciertamente en vano se inquieta: junta, y no sabe quién lo allegará. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Voici, tu m’as donné des jours comme la largeur d’une main, et ma durée est comme un rien devant toi. Certainement, tout homme qui se tient debout n’est que vanité. Sélah. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Ja, als ein Schattenbild wandelt der Mensch einher; ja, vergebens ist er voll Unruhe; er häuft auf und weiß nicht, wer es einsammeln wird. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Multa fecisti tu, Domine Deus meus, mirabilia tua; et cogitationibus tuis non est qui similis sit tibi. Annuntiavi et locutus sum: multiplicati sunt super numerum. |