Translations
Modern
Remember the briefness of my lifespan! For what futility You have created all men!
Traditional
Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?
Literal
Remember me—how short a lifetime; for what emptiness You created all the sons of men!
Latin
Memorare quæ mea substantia: numquid enim vane constituisti omnes filios hominum?
Original
Hebrew
English
Remember the briefness of my lifespan! For what futility You have created all men!
Notes
The psalmist wonders whether he will live long enough to see the Lord’s anger end. Human life is short and passes quickly before the Lord (Psalm 90:4, 10).
Book Three (Psalms 73–89) starts and ends with serious questions. Psalm 89 begins with praise for how the Lord established David’s throne and kingdom (89:1–37). But later the psalmist protests that the Lord seems to have rejected his covenant with David (Psalm 89:38–51; see 2 Samuel 7:8–16).
Theme notes and profiles
God’s Covenant with David Making Sense of the Exile Questions and Doubt Royal Psalms The Creator-King
Glossary
Topics
Afflictions and Adversities: Prayer In God: Creator God: Providence of, Mysterious and Misinterpreted Life: Brevity and Uncertainty of Natural Life: Short Time: Shortness of Man's Portion of