Psalm 39:5
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New International Version (©1984)
You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath. Selah

New Living Translation (©2007)
You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath." Interlude

English Standard Version (©2001)
Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"Behold, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my lifetime as nothing in Your sight; Surely every man at his best is a mere breath. Selah.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Indeed, you have made the length of my days [only] a few inches. My life span is nothing compared to yours. Certainly, everyone alive is like a whisper in the wind. [Selah]

King James Bible
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.

American King James Version
Behold, you have made my days as an handbreadth; and my age is as nothing before you: truly every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

American Standard Version
Behold, thou hast made my days as handbreadths; And my life-time is as nothing before thee: Surely every man at his best estate is altogether vanity. Selah

Bible in Basic English
You have made my days no longer than a hand's measure; and my years are nothing in your eyes; truly, every man is but a breath. (Selah.)

Douay-Rheims Bible
Behold thou hast made my days measurable : and my substance is as nothing before thee. And indeed all things are vanity : every man living.

Darby Bible Translation
Behold, thou hast made my days as hand-breadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before thee; verily, every man, even the high placed, is altogether vanity. Selah.

English Revised Version
Behold, thou hast made my days as handbreadths; and mine age is as nothing before thee: surely every man at his best estate is altogether vanity. Selah

Webster's Bible Translation
Behold, thou hast made my days as a hand-breadth; and my age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

World English Bible
Behold, you have made my days handbreadths. My lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely every man stands as a breath." Selah.

Young's Literal Translation
Lo, handbreadths Thou hast made my days, And mine age is as nothing before Thee, Only, all vanity is every man set up. Selah.

Geneva Study Bible

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 {e} vanity. Selah.

(e) Yet David offended in that he reasoned with God as though he were too severe toward his weak creature.

Wesley's Notes

39:5 Before thee - If compared with thee, and with thy everlasting duration.

King James Translators' Notes

at...: Heb. settled

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

5, 6. His prayer is answered in his obtaining an impressive view of the vanity of the life of all men, and their transient state. Their pomp is a mere image, and their wealth is gathered they know not for whom.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

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 engage in edifying discourse. Impatience is a sin that has its cause within ourselves, and that is, musing; and its ill effects upon ourselves, and that is no less than burning. In our greatest health and prosperity, every man is altogether vanity, he cannot live long; he may die soon. This is an undoubted truth, but we are very unwilling to believe it. Therefore let us pray that God would enlighten our minds by his Holy Spirit, and fill our hearts with his grace, that we may be ready for death every day and hour.


Job 14:2 "Like a flower he comes forth and withers. He also flees like a shadow and does not remain.
Psalm 62:9 Men of low degree are only vanity and men of rank are a lie; In the balances they go up; They are together lighter than breath.
Psalm 89:47 Remember what my span of life is; For what vanity You have created all the sons of men!
Psalm 144:4 Man is like a mere breath; His days are like a passing shadow.
Ecclesiastes 6:12 For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few years of his futile life? He will spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun? (NASB ©1995)

Age Altogether Best Breath Estate Few Handbreadth Hand-Breadth Hand's High Lifetime Measure Mere Selah Sight Span Stands State Surely Vanity Verily

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.

Behold Ps 90:4,5,9,10 Ge 47:9 Job 7:6 9:25,26 14:1,2 Jas 4:14

as nothing Ps 89:47 2Pe 3:8

verily Ps 39:11 62:9 144:4 Ec 1:2 2:11 Isa 40:17

at his best state [heb.] settled

Bible Gateway: Psalms Chapter 39 Verse 5 NIV ESV NKJV NLT KJV Message Amplified

Alphabetical: a And as at before Behold best breath but days Each every handbreadth handbreadths have his in is life lifetime made man man's mere my nothing of Selah sight span Surely the years You Your

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