For the Chief Musician, for {Psalm 62 title. 77 title, 1 Chronicles 16:41, 25:1}Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.
I said, I will take heed to my ways,
That I sin not with my tongue:
I will keep {Hebrew: a bridle (or, muzzle) for my mouth}my mouth with a bridle,
While the wicked is before me.
I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, {Or, and had no comfort Hebrew: away from good.}even from good;
And my sorrow was stirred.
My heart was hot within me;
While I was musing the fire burned:
Then spake I with my tongue:
Jehovah, make me to know mine end,
And the measure of my days, what it is;
Let me know how frail I am.
Behold, thou hast made my days as handbreadths;
And my life-time is as nothing before thee:
Surely every man {Hebrew: standing firm.}at his best estate is altogether {Hebrew: a breath.}vanity. [Selah
Surely every man walketh {Or, as a shadow}in a vain show;
Surely they are disquieted {Or, for vanity}in vain:
He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.
And now, Lord, what wait I for?
My hope is in thee.
Deliver me from all my transgressions:
Make me not the reproach of the foolish.
I was dumb, I opened not my mouth;
Because thou didst it.
Remove thy stroke away from me:
I am consumed by the {Hebrew: conflict.}blow of thy hand.
When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity,
Thou {Or, consumest like a moth his delights}makest his beauty to consume away like a moth:
Surely every man is {Hebrew: a breath.}vanity.
[Selah
Hear my prayer, O Jehovah, and give ear unto my cry;
Hold not thy peace at my tears:
For I am a stranger with thee,
A sojourner, as all my fathers were.
Oh {Or, look away from me}spare me, that I may {Hebrew: brighten up.}recover strength,
Before I go hence, and be no more.
Querverweise zu Psalm 39,6 Ps 39,6
and those that use the world, as not using it to the full: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and {Or, a feeding on wind (see Hosea 12:1) Or, vexation of spirit (and so elsewhere)}a striving after wind.
For {Or, he seeth that wise men &c.}he shall see it. Wise men die;The fool and the brutish alike perish,And leave their wealth to others.
whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. What is your life? For ye are a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
So I hated life, because the work that is wrought under the sun was grievous unto me; for all is vanity and a striving after wind.
Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever,And their dwelling-places to all generations;They call their lands after their own names.
And I hated all my labor wherein I labored under the sun, seeing that I must leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
Though he heap up silver as the dust,And prepare raiment as the clay;
Therefore I turned about to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor wherein I had labored under the sun.
He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on,And the innocent shall divide the silver.
For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with {Or, success}skilfulness; yet to a man that hath not labored therein shall he {Hebrew: give.}leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children;And the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous.
Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
{Or, Wilt thou set thine eyes upon it? it is gone Hebrew: Shall thine eyes fly upon it, and it is not?}Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not?For riches certainly make themselves wings,Like an eagle that flieth toward heaven.
There is one that is alone, and he hath not a second; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches. For whom then, saith he, do I labor, and deprive my soul of good? This also is vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
For riches are not for ever:And doth the crown endure unto all generations?
Seeing there are many {Or, words}things that increase vanity, what is man the better?
I gathered me also silver and gold, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces; I gat me men-singers and women-singers, and the delights of the sons of men, {Or, concubines very many The meaning of the Hebrew is very uncertain.}musical instruments, and that of all sorts.
For who knoweth what is good for man in his life, {Hebrew: the number of days.}all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
And I hated all my labor wherein I labored under the sun, seeing that I must leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
And who knoweth whether he will be a wise man or a fool? yet will he have rule over all my labor wherein I have labored, and wherein I have showed myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.
Therefore I turned about to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor wherein I had labored under the sun.
For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with {Or, success}skilfulness; yet to a man that hath not labored therein shall he {Hebrew: give.}leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity.
For to the man that pleaseth him God giveth 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 pleaseth God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
{Or, Let us hear the conclusion of the whole master}This is the end of the matter; all hath been heard: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for {Or, this is the duty of all men}this is the whole duty of man.
and those riches perish by evil {Or, travail}adventure; and if he hath begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand.
Wherefore do ye {Hebrew: weigh.}spend money for that which is not bread? and your {Or, carnings}labor for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
But God said unto him, Thou foolish one, this night {Greek: they require thy soul.}is thy {Or, life}soul required of thee; and the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be?
But Martha was {Greek: distracted.}cumbered about much serving; and she came up to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister did leave me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
But the Lord answered and said unto her, {A few ancient authorities read Martha, Martha, thou art troubled. Mary hath chosen &c.}Martha, Martha, thou art anxious and troubled about many things:
{Many ancient authorities read but few things are needful, or one.}but one thing is needful: for Mary hath chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
But God said unto him, Thou foolish one, this night {Greek: they require thy soul.}is thy {Or, life}soul required of thee; and the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be?
Your gold and your silver are rusted; and their rust shall be for a testimony {Or, unto}against you, and shall eat your flesh as fire. Ye have laid up your treasure in the last days.
So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
And seek not ye what ye shall eat, and what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you.