Some excerpts from Psalm 39

 Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth;

And mine age is as nothing before thee: Verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity.

Selah.

A handbreadth is an old measurement based on the width of a hand. In biblical times, it was roughly four inches (about 10 cm)—the distance across the palm.

So when the verse says, “Thou hast made my days as an handbreadth,” it’s a poetic way of saying life is very short, just a tiny span compared to God’s eternity.

Would you like me to dig deeper into the symbolism of this verse or explore other passages that talk about the brevity of life?

LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is;

That I may know how frail I am.

Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: Surely they are disquieted in vain:

He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

7And now, Lord, what wait I for?

My hope is in thee.

8Deliver me from all my transgressions: