Psalms 39:6

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

[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.

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

הִנֵּ֤ה טְפָח֨וֹת ׀ נָ֘תַ֤תָּה יָמַ֗י וְחֶלְדִּ֣י כְאַ֣יִן נֶגְדֶּ֑ךָ אַ֥ךְ כָּֽל־הֶ֥בֶל כָּל־אָ֝דָ֗ם נִצָּ֥ב סֶֽלָה׃

Transliteration

hinnēh ṭəfāḥôt nātattāh yāmay and-ḥeldî like-ʾayin negdekā ʾak all-hebel all-ʾādām niṣṣāb selāh

Grammar Details

*hinnēh*: interjection - behold/look
*ṭəfāḥôt*: noun, feminine plural - handbreadths
*nātattāh*: verb, qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular - you have made/set
*yāmay*: noun, masculine plural with 1st person singular suffix - my days
*ḥeldî*: noun, masculine singular with 1st person singular suffix and prefixed conjunction 'wə' - and my lifetime
*ʾayin*: substantive with prefixed preposition 'kə' - like nothing
*negdekā*: preposition with 2nd person masculine singular suffix - before you
*ʾak*: adverb - surely/only
*hebel*: noun, masculine singular with prefixed 'kol' - all (is) vanity
*ʾādām*: noun, masculine singular with prefixed 'kol' - every man
*niṣṣāb*: verb, niphal participle masculine singular - standing/established
*selāh*: musical notation - selah

Word Meanings

*hinnēh*: behold/look/see
*ṭəfāḥôt*: handbreadths/spans (measurement)
*nātattāh*: you have made/set/appointed
*ḥeldî*: my lifetime/duration/world
*ʾayin*: nothing/non-existence
*ʾak*: surely/only/indeed
*hebel*: vapor/breath/vanity/emptiness
*niṣṣāb*: standing/positioned/established

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

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Children and early teens
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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Eccl 2:26 : 26 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.
Luke 12:20-21 : 20 But God said unto him, Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul required of thee; and the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
1 Cor 7:31 : 31 and those that use the world, as not using it to the full: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
Jas 4:14 : 14 whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. {G1063} What is your life? For ye are a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Eccl 5:14 : 14 and those riches perish by evil adventure; and if he hath begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand.
Job 27:16-17 : 16 Though he heap up silver as the dust, And prepare raiment as the clay; 17 He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, And the innocent shall divide the silver.
Ps 49:10-11 : 10 For he shall see it. Wise men die; The fool and the brutish alike perish, And leave their wealth to others. 11 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.
Ps 127:2 : 2 It is vain for you to rise up early, To take rest late, To eat the bread of toil; [For] so he giveth unto his beloved sleep.
Prov 13:22 : 22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children; And the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous.
Prov 23:5 : 5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For [riches] certainly make themselves wings, Like an eagle that flieth toward heaven.
Prov 27:24 : 24 For riches are not for ever: And doth the crown endure unto all generations?
Eccl 1:14 : 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
Eccl 2:8 : 8 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, musical instruments, and that of all sorts.
Eccl 2:17-21 : 17 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. 18 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. 19 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. 20 Therefore I turned about to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor wherein I had labored under the sun. 21 For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with skilfulness; yet to a man that hath not labored therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
Eccl 6:11-12 : 11 Seeing there are many things that increase vanity, what is man the better? 12 For who knoweth what is good for man in [his] life, 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?
Eccl 12:8 : 8 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity.
Eccl 12:13 : 13 This is the end of the matter; all hath been heard: fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.
Isa 55:2 : 2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your 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.
Luke 10:40-42 : 40 But Martha was 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. 41 But the Lord answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art anxious and troubled about many things: 42 but one thing is needful: for Mary hath chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Luke 12:29 : 29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, and what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
Eccl 4:7-8 : 7 Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun. 8 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.
Jas 5:3 : 3 Your gold and your silver are rusted; and their rust shall be for a testimony against you, and shall eat your flesh as fire. Ye have laid up your treasure in the last days.
1 Pet 1:24 : 24 For, All flesh is as grass, And all the glory thereof as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower falleth:
1 Pet 5:7 : 7 casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Eccl 6:11-12
2 verses
80%
11Seeing there are many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?
12For who knoweth what is good for man in [his] life, 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?
Ps 39:5
79%
5Behold, 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. {H5542}
Ps 144:4
77%
4Man is like to vanity: His days are as a shadow that passeth away.
Eccl 6:1-2
2 verses
76%
1There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy upon men:
2a man to whom God giveth riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacketh nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but an alien eateth it; this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.
Ps 62:9-10
2 verses
76%
9Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: In the balances they will go up; They are together lighter than vanity.
10Trust not in oppression, And become not vain in robbery: If riches increase, set not your heart [thereon].
Eccl 6:7-9
3 verses
76%
7All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
8For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? [or] what hath the poor man, that knoweth how to walk before the living?
9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Prov 13:11
75%
11Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished; But he that gathereth by labor shall have increase.
Eccl 4:16
75%
16There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was: yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Eccl 2:21-23
3 verses
75%
21For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with skilfulness; yet to a man that hath not labored therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
22For what hath a man of all his labor, and of the striving of his heart, wherein he laboreth under the sun?
23For all his days are [but] sorrows, and his travail is grief; yea, even in the night his heart taketh no rest. This also is vanity.
Ps 49:6
75%
6They that trust in their wealth, And boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
Eccl 12:8
75%
8Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity.
Eccl 4:8
75%
8There 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.
Eccl 2:19
75%
19And 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.
Eccl 5:14-16
3 verses
75%
14and those riches perish by evil adventure; and if he hath begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand.
15As he came forth from his mother's womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.
16And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that he laboreth for the wind?
Eccl 1:2-3
2 verses
75%
2Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
3What profit hath man of all his labor wherein he laboreth under the sun?
Eccl 2:11
74%
11Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do; and, behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
Prov 13:7
74%
7There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: There is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great wealth.
Ps 39:7
74%
7And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in thee.
Eccl 5:10-11
2 verses
74%
10He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance, with increase: this also is vanity.
11When goods increase, they are increased that eat them; and what advantage is there to the owner thereof, save the beholding [of them] with his eyes?
Isa 41:29
74%
29Behold, all of them, their works are vanity [and] nought; their molten images are wind and confusion.
Eccl 2:26
73%
26For 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.
Job 27:19
73%
19He lieth down rich, but he shall not be gathered [to his fathers]; He openeth his eyes, and he is not.
Eccl 1:14
73%
14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
Eccl 11:8
73%
8Yea, if a man live many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.
Eccl 4:4
73%
4Then I saw all labor and every skilful work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Eccl 6:4
73%
4for it cometh in vanity, and departeth in darkness, and the name thereof is covered with darkness;
Ps 39:11
73%
11When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, Thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: Surely every man is vanity. Selah
Ps 52:7
73%
7Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength, But trusted in the abundance of his riches, And strengthened himself in his wickedness.
Prov 23:4
73%
4Weary not thyself to be rich; Cease from thine own wisdom.
Eccl 8:7
73%
7for he knoweth not that which shall be; for who can tell him how it shall be?
Jer 17:11
73%
11As the partridge that sitteth on [eggs] which she hath not laid, so is he that getteth riches, and not by right; in the midst of his days they shall leave him, and at his end he shall be a fool.
Ps 89:47
73%
47Oh remember how short my time is: For what vanity hast thou created all the children of men!
Eccl 3:22
72%
22Wherefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him [back] to see what shall be after him?
Job 36:19
72%
19Will thy cry avail, [that thou be] not in distress, Or all the forces of [thy] strength?
Hab 2:6
72%
6Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and that ladeth himself with pledges!
Eccl 3:9
72%
9What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboreth?
Eccl 2:17
72%
17So 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.
Job 15:31
72%
31Let him not trust in vanity, deceiving himself; For vanity shall be his recompense.
Eccl 8:17
72%
17then I beheld all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because however much a man labor to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea moreover, though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.