## Rashi on Psalms Chapter 39

###### Rashi on Psalms 39:1:1
[Rashi on Psalms 39:1:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/39:1:1)

**לִידוּתוּן.** שֵׁם אָדָם אֶחָד מִן הַמְשׁוֹרְרִים (דברי הימים א טז:מא-מב), וְגַם כְּלִי שִׁיר הָיָה שָׁם שֶׁשְּׁמוֹ יְדוּתוּן (תהלים סב:א). וּמִדְרַשׁ אַגָּדָה: עַל הַדָּתוֹת וְעַל הַדִּינִין וְהַגְּזֵרוֹת שֶׁל צָרָה הַנִּגְזֶרֶת עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**to Jeduthun** The name of one of the singers, and there was also a musical instrument called Jeduthun. According to the Midrash Aggadah (Song Rabbah 4:1 [4]): concerning the edicts (דתות) and concerning the distressing laws and decrees that are decreed upon Israel.


###### Rashi on Psalms 39:2:1
[Rashi on Psalms 39:2:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/39:2:1)

**אָמַרְתִּי אֶשְׁמְרָה דְרָכַי וְגוֹ׳.** אֲנַחְנוּ הָיָה בְלִבֵּנוּ לִשְׁמֹר אֶת עַצְמֵנוּ עַל כָּל הַצָּרוֹת הַבָּאוֹת עָלֵינוּ, שֶׁלֹּא נְהַרְהֵר וְנְדַבֵּר קָשֶׁה אַחַר מִדַּת הַדִּין, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהָרְשָׁעִים לְנֶגְדֵּנוּ הַמְּצִירִים לָנוּ:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**I said, “I will guard my ways, etc.”** As for us—we had in mind to watch ourselves with all the troubles that come upon us, neither to criticize nor speak harshly of the Divine Attribute of Justice although the wicked who oppress us are before us.


###### Rashi on Psalms 39:2:2
[Rashi on Psalms 39:2:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/39:2:2)

**מַחְסוֹם.** כְּמוֹ ״לֹא תַחְסֹם שׁוֹר״ (דברים כה:ד), אמושלמנ״ט בְּלַעַ״ז. וְנֶאֱלַמְנוּ דוּמִיָּה יָמִים רַבִּים, וְגַם הֶחֱשֵׁינוּ מִטּוֹב אֲפִלּוּ מִדִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה מִפְּנֵי יִרְאָתָם, וּמִתּוֹךְ כָּךְ כְּאֵבֵנוּ נֶעְכַּר וְנִבְהַל. וּכְשֶׁשָּׁתַקְנוּ חַם לִבֵּנוּ בְּקִרְבֵּנוּ, וּבְהֶגְיוֹן לִבֵּנוּ בּוֹעֵר בָּנוּ כְּמוֹ אֵשׁ, וְהוּא גּוֹרֵם לָנוּ שֶׁאָנוּ מְדַבְּרִים בִּלְשׁוֹנֵנוּ (בְּלַחַשׁ ס״א אינו) לְפָנֶיךָ. וְזוֹ הִיא שֶׁאָנוּ מְדַבְּרִים: הוֹדִיעֵנו ה׳ קִצֵּנוּ, עַד מָתַי נִהְיֶה בַצָּרָה, וְנֵדַע מָתַי נִהְיֶה אֲנַחְנוּ חֲדֵלִים מִמֶּנָּה:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**a muzzle** Heb. מחסם, as (in Deut. 25:4): “You shall not muzzle (תחסם) an ox, amuzelment in Old French. And I made myself mute in silence many days. We also were silent from “good,” even from words of Torah, because of their fear of them, our pain was so intense and frightening. When we were silent, our heart was hot within us and in the thought of our heart it burns in us like fire. That causes us to speak with our tongue (in silence—not in all editions) before You, and this is what we say, “O Lord, let us know our end.” How long will we be in distress, and let us know when we will be over it.


###### Rashi on Psalms 39:6:1
[Rashi on Psalms 39:6:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/39:6:1)

**הִנֵּה טְפָחוֹת.** מְדוּדִים הֵם יְמֵי הָאָדָם כְּדָבָר הַנִּמְדָּד בִּטְפָחִים, כֵּן יְמֵי הָאָדָם קְצוּבִים. **וְחֶלְדִּי.** וְזִקְנָתֵנוּ כְּאַיִן נֶגְדֶּךָ, חֶלֶד, לְשׁוֹן חֲלוּדָה רדוייל בְּלַעַ״ז:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**Behold...handbreadths** The days of man are measured like a thing that is measured with handbreadths; so are man’s days limited. **and my old age** Heb. וחלדי, and our old age is as nothing before you. חלד is an expression of rust (חלודה), rodijjl in Old French; rust, old age.


###### Rashi on Psalms 39:6:2
[Rashi on Psalms 39:6:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/39:6:2)

**כָּל אָדָם נִצָּב.** כָּל אָדָם חַי, **הֶבֶל** הֵם חַיָּיו וּמַצָּבוֹ:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**every man** his life and his condition are a life of vanity.


###### Rashi on Psalms 39:7:1
[Rashi on Psalms 39:7:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/39:7:1)

**אַךְ בְּצֶלֶם.** בְּחֹשֶׁךְ, פֵּרְשׁוֹ דּוּנַשׁ לְשׁוֹן ״צַלְמָוֶת״ (ישעיה ט:א), וּמְנַחֵם פֵּרְשׁוֹ צֶלֶם מַמָּשׁ כְּמוֹ ״כִּי בְצֶלֶם אֱלֹהִים עָשָׂה אֶת הָאָדָם״ (בראשית ט:ו), וְלֹא יִתָּכְנוּ דְּבָרָיו:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**but in darkness** Heb. בצלם, in darkness. Dunash explained it as an expression of darkness (צלמות) (Teshuvoth Dunash p. 89), but Menachem (p. 150) explained it as an actual image, as (in Gen. 9: 6) “for in the image of God He made man.” His view is impossible, however.


###### Rashi on Psalms 39:7:2
[Rashi on Psalms 39:7:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/39:7:2)

**אַךְ הֶבֶל.** הוּא כָּל הַהֲמִיָּה וְתַאֲוָה שֶׁלָּהֶם:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**all that they stir is but vanity** All their stirring and lust.


###### Rashi on Psalms 39:7:3
[Rashi on Psalms 39:7:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/39:7:3)

**יִצְבֹּר.** תְּבוּאָה בַּשָּׂדֶה כָּל יְמוֹת הַקָּצִיר:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**he gathers** grain in the field all the days of the harvest.


###### Rashi on Psalms 39:7:4
[Rashi on Psalms 39:7:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/39:7:4)

**וְלֹא יֵדַע מִי אֹסְפָם.** אֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ מִי אֲסָפָם לַבַּיִת, שֶׁמָּא לִפְנֵי הָאָסִיף יָמוּת:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**yet he knows not who will bring them in** He does not know who will gather them into the house; perhaps he will die before the ingathering.


###### Rashi on Psalms 39:8:1
[Rashi on Psalms 39:8:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/39:8:1)

**וְעַתָּה מַה קִּוִּיתִי.** מָה הִיא הַשְּׁאֵלָה אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי שׁוֹאֵל וּמְיַחֵל מִמְּךָ? אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא שֶׁמִּפְּשָׁעַי הַצִּילֵנִי:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**And now, what have I hoped** What is the request that I ask and hope from You? It is only that You save me from my transgressions.


###### Rashi on Psalms 39:9:1
[Rashi on Psalms 39:9:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/39:9:1)

**חֶרְפַּת נָבָל.** חֶרְפַּת הַנָּבָל **אַל תְּשִׂימֵנִי**, הָבֵא גַּם עָלָיו נְגָעִים וּמַכְאוֹבוֹת, שֶׁלֹּא יוּכַל לוֹמַר לִי: אַתֶּם לוֹקִים וְאָנוּ אֵין אָנוּ לוֹקִים. וְהַתְּפִלָּה הַזֹּאת גָּרְמָה לְהָבִיא יִסּוּרֵי חֳלָאִים עֲלֵיהֶם (בראשית רבה פח:א):

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**do not make me the reproach of** the ignoble Esau. Bring afflictions and pains upon him too, so he will not be able to say to me, “You are suffering, and we are not suffering.” This prayer was instrumental in bringing about the pains of illnesses upon the nations.


###### Rashi on Psalms 39:10:1
[Rashi on Psalms 39:10:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/39:10:1)

**כִּי אַתָּה עָשִׂיתָ.** שֶׁהֵבֵאתָ עָלֵינוּ צָרָה:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**because You have done it** For You brought upon us trouble more than all nations.


###### Rashi on Psalms 39:11:1
[Rashi on Psalms 39:11:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/39:11:1)

**מִתִּגְרַת יָדְךָ.** מִמּוֹרָא מַכּוֹתֶיךָ. **תִּגְרַת** לְשׁוֹן ״וַיָּגָר מוֹאָב״ (במדבר כב:ג), וְהַתָּי״ו יְסוֹד נוֹפֵל בַּתֵּיבָה כְּמוֹ תְּנוּבָה תְּלוּנָה תְּקוּמָה תְּחִנָּה, כֵּן פֵּירֵשׁ מְנַחֵם. וַאֲנִי אוֹמֵר שֶׁאֵין תִּגְרַת לְשׁוֹן מָגוֹר, שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ לוֹמַר תְּגוּרָה כַּאֲשֶׁר יֹאמַר מִן וַיָּשָׁב תְּשׁוּבָה וַיָּקָם וַיָּרָם וַיָּלֶן תְּקוּמָה תְּרוּמָה תְּלוּנָה, כֵּן אָמַר וַיָּגָר תְּגוּרָה אוֹ מְגוֹרָה כְּמוֹ ״מָגוֹר מִסָּבִיב״ (ירמיהו כ:ג), ״מְגוּרָתָם אָבִיא לָהֶם״ (ישעיהו סו:ד). הָא לָמַדְתָּ שֶׁאֵין תִּגְרַת אֶלָּא כְּמוֹ ״לָמָּה תִּתְגָּרֶה בְּרָעָה״ (דברי הימים ב כה:יט), ״אַל תִּתְגָּרוּ בָם״ (דברים ב:ה), שֶׁהַפּוֹעַל שֶׁלּוֹ גָּרָה, כְּמוֹ קִוָּה אִוָּה צִוָּה שֶׁפְּעֻלָּתָם תִּקְוָה תַּאֲוָה מִצְוָה, כֵּן יֹאמַר מִן גָּרָה תִּגְרַת. וְכֵן פֵּירוּשׁוֹ: מִמַּכַּת יָדְךָ אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה מְגָרֶה עָלַי **אֲנִי כָלִיתִי**:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**from the fear of Your hand** Heb. מתגרת, from the fear of Your blows. תגרת is an expression of (Num. 22:3): “And Moab became terrified (וַיָגָר).” The “tav” is a defective radical in the word, like תנובה, produce; תלונה, complaint; תקומה, restoration; תכונה, characteristic. This is how Menachem explained it, but I maintain that תגרת is not an expression of מָגוֹר, fear, because he should have said תגוּרה as he says from: וישב (and he returned) תשוּבה, [from] ויקם, וירם and וילן: תקוּמה, תרוּמה and תלוּנה, so he should say from ויגר, תגוּלה, or מגוּרה as (above 31:14, Jer. 20:3): “terror (מגור) from all sides”; (Isa. 66:4) “and their fears (ומגורתם) I will bring.” Thus you learn that מתגרת is nothing but as (II Chron. 25:19), “Why should you provoke (תתגרה) disaster?”; (Deut. 2:5), “Do not provoke (תתגרו) them,” in which case the verb is גרה like קוה, to hope; אוה, to desire; צוה, to command, of which the noun is תקוה, תאוה, מצוה. So one says from גרה, תגרה, and this is its explanation: from the blows of Your hand, with which You fight me, I perish.


###### Rashi on Psalms 39:12:1
[Rashi on Psalms 39:12:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/39:12:1)

**בְּתוֹכָחוֹת.** הַכְּתוּבוֹת בַּתּוֹרָה (ויקרא כו; דברים כח) עַל עֲוֹנִינוּ שֶׁהֶעֱוִינוּ לְפָנֶיךָ, וְיִסַּרְתָּנוּ בָּהֶם:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**With rebukes** that are written in the Torah for our iniquities that we have sinned before You and for which You chastised us.


###### Rashi on Psalms 39:12:2
[Rashi on Psalms 39:12:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/39:12:2)

**וַתֶּמֶס כָּעָשׁ חֲמוּדוֹ.** הִרְקַבְתָּ בְּשָׂרֵינוּ כְּבֶגֶד שֶׁאֲכָלוֹ עָשׁ:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**You have caused his flesh to decay** You have caused our flesh to decay like a moth-eaten garment.


###### Rashi on Psalms 39:12:3
[Rashi on Psalms 39:12:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/39:12:3)

**חֲמוּדוֹ.** בְּשָׂרוֹ, שֶׁהוּא חֶמְדָּתוֹ:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
Heb. חמודו means his flesh, which is his desire (חמדתו).


###### Rashi on Psalms 39:14:1
[Rashi on Psalms 39:14:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/39:14:1)

**הָשַׁע מִמֶּנִּי.** הֶרֶף יָדְךָ מִלְּהַלְקוֹתִי:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**Turn away from me** Loosen Your hand from smiting me.


###### Rashi on Psalms 39:14:2
[Rashi on Psalms 39:14:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/39:14:2)

**וְאַבְלִיגָה.** וְאֶתְחַזְּקָה:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**that I may recover** Heb. ואבלגה,that I regain my strength.