Psalm 39 Story Behind

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About the Story Behind Layer

The Story Behind the Psalm shows how each part of the psalm fits together into a single coherent whole. Whereas most semantic analysis focuses on discrete parts of a text such as the meaning of a word or phrase, Story Behind the Psalm considers the meaning of larger units of discourse, including the entire psalm.

The goal of this layer is to reconstruct and visualize a mental representation of the text as the earliest hearers/readers might have conceptualized it. We start by identifying the propositional content of each clause in the psalm, and then we identify relevant assumptions implied by each of the propositions. During this process, we also identify and analyze metaphorical language (“imagery”). Finally, we try to see how all of the propositions and assumptions fit together to form a coherent mental representation. The main tool we use for structuring the propositions and assumptions is a story triangle, which visualizes the rise and fall of tension within a semantic unit. Although story triangles are traditionally used to analyze stories in the literary sense of the word, we use them at this layer to analyze “stories” in the cognitive sense of the word—i.e., a story as a sequence of propositions and assumptions that has tension.

  Story Behind Explainer

Summary Triangle

The story triangle below summarises the story of the whole psalm. We use the same colour scheme as in Participant Analysis. The star icon along the edge of the story-triangle indicates the point of the story in which the psalm itself (as a speech event) takes place. We also include a theme at the bottom of the story. The theme is the main message conveyed by the story-behind.

  Legend

Story Triangles legend
Propositional content (verse number) Propositional content, the base meaning of the clause, is indicated by bold black text. The verse number immediately follows the correlating proposition in black text inside parentheses.
Common-ground assumption Common-ground assumptions[1] are indicated by gray text.
Local-ground assumption Local-ground assumptions[2] are indicated by dark blue text.
Playground assumption Playground assumptions[3] are indicated by light blue text.
The point of the story at which the psalm takes place (as a speech event) is indicated by a gray star.
If applicable, the point of the story at which the psalm BEGINS to take place (as a speech event) is indicated with a light gray star. A gray arrow will travel from this star to the point at which the psalm ends, indicated by the darker gray star.
A story that repeats is indicated by a circular arrow. This indicates a sequence of either habitual or iterative events.
A story or event that does not happen or the psalmist does not wish to happen is indicated with a red X over the story triangle.
Connections between propositions and/or assumptions are indicated by black arrows with small text indicating how the ideas are connected.
Note: In the Summary triangle, highlight color scheme follows the colors of participant analysis.

Background ideas

Following are the common-ground assumptionsCommon-ground assumptions include information shared by the speaker and hearers. In our analysis, we mainly use this category for Biblical/Ancient Near Eastern background. which are the most helpful for making sense of the psalm.

  • Silence was considered a wise response to difficult and perplexing situations of suffering (Lev 10:3; Ps 37:7; 131; Job 38:2; Prov 26:4),[4] such that the sufferer considered their silence to honor YHWH and that somehow they would be vindicated (see v. 3b).
  • "YHWH has disciplined people with punishments on account of sin" (v. 12; cf. Pss 30, 32), but onlookers mock, foolishly "consider themselves superior" (Ps 38:17; cf. Pss 22:8–9; 39:9b; 69:11–13; Lam 2:17).
  • The recognition and confession of the brevity of one's life functions as an appeal for present mercy (Ps 89:48–49).

Background situation

The background situation is the series of events leading up to the time in which the psalm is spoken. These are taken from the story triangle – whatever lies to the left of the star icon.

Expanded Paraphrase

The expanded paraphrase seeks to capture the implicit information within the text and make it explicit for readers today. It is based on the CBC translation and uses italic text to provide the most salient background information, presuppositions, entailments, and inferences.

  Legend

Expanded paraphrase legend
Close but Clear (CBC) translation The CBC, our close but clear translation of the Hebrew, is represented in bold text.
Assumptions Assumptions which provide background information, presuppositions, entailments, and inferences are represented in italics.
Text (Hebrew) Verse Expanded Paraphrase
לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ *לִֽידוּת֗וּן* מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃ 1 For the director. According to Yeduthun. A psalm. By David.
אָמַ֗רְתִּי אֶֽשְׁמְרָ֣ה דְרָכַי֮ מֵחֲט֪וֹא בִלְשׁ֫וֹנִ֥י אֶשְׁמְרָ֥ה לְפִ֥י מַחְס֑וֹם בְּעֹ֖ד רָשָׁ֣ע לְנֶגְדִּֽי׃ 2 After receiving YHWH's discipline on account of my sin, I decided to keep silent about it and not complain. I said:"I will guard my the ways of my behavior and thoughts from sinning by complaining with my tongue or accusing YHWH of injustice. I will keep a muzzle for my mouth while the wicked are still in my presence," in case they hear my complaint and anguish and consider themselves superior to me.
נֶאֱלַ֣מְתִּי ד֭וּמִיָּה הֶחֱשֵׁ֣יתִי מִטּ֑וֹב וּכְאֵבִ֥י נֶעְכָּֽר׃ 3 I was completely mute. I stayed silent, but without any reprieve—I expected a good result, but there was none whatsoever. In fact, my affliction only seemed to grow worse and my pain was stirred up.
חַם־לִבִּ֨י ׀ בְּקִרְבִּ֗י בַּהֲגִיגִ֥י תִבְעַר־אֵ֑שׁ דִּ֝בַּ֗רְתִּי בִּלְשֽׁוֹנִי׃ 4 The more I kept it in, the more my heart became hot inside me with my frustration at boiling point; I would not speak; I would only let out a sigh. But even when I was sighing a fire would burn within me and I could not hold back any longer. I did not immediately object about my affliction, which was just. I only complained about my temporary state as a human: what is the point of my short life if I am going to spend it under the discipline of YHWH's hand? So I finally spoke up with my tongue,
הוֹדִ֘יעֵ֤נִי יְהוָ֨ה ׀ קִצִּ֗י וּמִדַּ֣ת יָמַ֣י מַה־הִ֑יא אֵ֝דְעָ֗ה מֶה־חָדֵ֥ל אָֽנִי׃ 5 "Teach me, YHWH, my end —and the measure of my days, what is it?— let me know how frail I am!
הִנֵּ֤ה טְפָח֨וֹת ׀ נָ֘תַ֤תָּה יָמַ֗י וְחֶלְדִּ֣י כְאַ֣יִן נֶגְדֶּ֑ךָ אַ֥ךְ כָּֽל־הֶ֥בֶל כָּל־אָ֝דָ֗ם נִצָּ֥ב סֶֽלָה׃ 6 Look, surely you know, as well as I do, that you have set my days as short as a few handbreadths and my lifetime is like nothing before you. So, deal with me on account of my sin, but can I enjoy a little bit of life afterwards? What is the point of my short ilfe if I am under your discipline for the rest of it (see Ps 89:48–49)?" Truly, not just me, but everyone is a breath, every person who thinks they are"standing firm" and cannot be moved. Selah .
אַךְ־בְּצֶ֤לֶם ׀ יִֽתְהַלֶּךְ־אִ֗ישׁ אַךְ־הֶ֥בֶל יֶהֱמָי֑וּן יִ֝צְבֹּ֗ר וְֽלֹא־יֵדַ֥ע מִי־אֹסְפָֽם׃ 7 Truly, man walks around as but a shadow that disappears or changes form as soon as the sun moves on —people are restlessly working to leave some sort of legacy on earth, but only in vain, since they must leave their possessions to one who comes after. And who knows whether th) at person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will have control over all the fruit of their toil into which they have poured their effort and skill under the sun(Eccl 2:18–19) — he heaps up, though without knowing who will gather it. YHWH knows that human plans are futile (Ps 94:11).
וְעַתָּ֣ה מַה־קִּוִּ֣יתִי אֲדֹנָ֑י תּ֝וֹחַלְתִּ֗י לְךָ֣ הִֽיא׃ 8 But now, what am I looking for, Lord? Great possessions or long life? My hope, it is simply in you taking your afflication away from me.
מִכָּל־פְּשָׁעַ֥י הַצִּילֵ֑נִי חֶרְפַּ֥ת נָ֝בָ֗ל אַל־תְּשִׂימֵֽנִי׃ 9 Doubtless, I deserve it, so please rescue me from all my offenses; do not make me a fool's object of scorn, being insulted by those who consider themselves superior to me (Ps 38:17), as if they do not sin and will not see the same end as me.
נֶ֭אֱלַמְתִּי לֹ֣א אֶפְתַּח־פִּ֑י כִּ֖י אַתָּ֣ה עָשִֽׂיתָ׃ 10 Remember, I was mute. I would not even open my mouth, except to sigh (v. 4), because I knew it was you who acted to discipline me.
הָסֵ֣ר מֵעָלַ֣י נִגְעֶ֑ךָ מִתִּגְרַ֥ת יָ֝דְךָ֗ אֲנִ֣י כָלִֽיתִי׃ 11 But please, take your affliction away from me; for it is because of the hostility of your hand that I may as well have already wasted away.
בְּֽתוֹכָ֘ח֤וֹת עַל־עָוֺ֨ן ׀ יִסַּ֬רְתָּ אִ֗ישׁ וַתֶּ֣מֶס כָּעָ֣שׁ חֲמוּד֑וֹ אַ֤ךְ הֶ֖בֶל כָּל־אָדָ֣ם סֶֽלָה׃ 12 I know that this is your way: you discipline people with punishments on account of sin and like a moth you cause their desirable things to disintegrate. Truly, just like me, every person is nothing more than a breath. Selah .
שִֽׁמְעָ֥ה־תְפִלָּתִ֨י ׀ יְהוָ֡ה וְשַׁוְעָתִ֨י ׀ הַאֲזִינָה֮ אֶֽל־דִּמְעָתִ֗י אַֽל־תֶּ֫חֱרַ֥שׁ כִּ֤י גֵ֣ר אָנֹכִ֣י עִמָּ֑ךְ תּ֝וֹשָׁ֗ב כְּכָל־אֲבוֹתָֽי׃ 13 But hear my prayer, YHWH, and listen to my cry for help. Do not keep silent at my weeping, because I am a mere sojourner with you, a guest in your world, with no rights, but hopeful of hospitality and justice,[I am] a temporary resident, like all of my ancestors who have already passed away.
*הֶשַׁ֣ע* מִמֶּ֣נִּי וְאַבְלִ֑יגָה בְּטֶ֖רֶם אֵלֵ֣ךְ וְאֵינֶֽנִּי׃ 14 All I ask is that you look away from me and remove your affliction so that I may recover and enjoy life for a little while, before I pass away and am no more.

Story Triangles

(Click diagram to enlarge)


There are currently no Imagery Tables available for this psalm.


Bibliography

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Footnotes

  1. ↑ Common-ground assumptions include information shared by the speaker and hearers. In our analysis, we mainly use this category for Biblical/ANE background - beliefs and practices that were widespread at this time and place. This is the background information necessary for understanding propositions that do not readily make sense to those who are so far removed from the culture in which the proposition was originally expressed.
  2. ↑ Local-ground assumptions are those propositions which are necessarily true if the text is true. They include both presuppositions and entailments. Presuppositions are those implicit propositions which are assumed to be true by an explicit proposition. Entailments are those propositions which are necessarily true if a proposition is true.
  3. ↑ Whereas local-ground assumptions are inferences which are necessarily true if the text is true, play-ground assumptions are those inferences which might be true if the text is true.
  4. ↑ "The more the words, the less the meaning (הָ֑בֶל), and how does that profit anyone? For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few and meaningless days (מִסְפַּ֛ר יְמֵי־חַיֵּ֥י הֶבְל֖וֹ) they pass through like a shadow? Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?" (Eccl 6:11–12, NIV).