Matthew Poole and continuators on Psalms 39:5

5. Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth , and mine age is nothing before thee : verily every man at his best State , is altogether vanity , Selah.

Which is one of the least Measures, (i. e.) Very short. These and the following Words are Either. 1. A Con[illegible: 1+ letters]nunuance of his Complaint that although his days were of themselves very short, yet God seemed to grudge him their natural length, and threatned to make them shorter, and to cut him off before his time. Or rather, 2. A Consolation and Correction of his last Words, as if he said; Why, am I so greedy to know the end of my Life, seeing I do already know this that my Life cannot last very long, and therefore if my Troubles be sharp, they will be but short.

Next to nothing for Substance and for Continuance.

(i. e.) In thy Judgment, and therefore in Truth and Reality: Or, if Compared with thee, and with thy everlasting Duration. Comp. Psal. 90. 4. 2 Pet. 3. 8.

Prince or Peasant, Wise or Fools, good or bad.

Heb. though settled or Established: When he stands fastest, and likely to continue longest, in regard of his Health and Strength, and all possible means whereby Life may be secured, supported or prolonged.

All that he is or hath, is as Light and Vain, and unstable as Vanity it self, there is nothing but Vanity and uncertainty, in all his outward Enjoyments, in the Constitution of his Body; yea, in the very Temper and Endowments of his Mind. By which general Condition of all mankind, he indeavours to quiet and Compose his Mind, to bear the common Lot.

Marginal references: Heb. settled.; Psal. 62. 9. & 144. 4.