John Calvin Commentary Psalms 39:8

"Deliver me from all my transgressions: Make me not the reproach of the foolish." — Psalms 39:8 (ASV)

Deliver me from all my sins. In this verse, the Psalmist continues his godly and holy prayer. He is no longer carried away by the violence of his grief to murmur against God; instead, humbly acknowledging himself guilty before God, he turns to his mercy. In asking to be delivered from his transgressions, he ascribes the praise of righteousness to God, while he takes upon himself the blame for all the misery he endures; and he blames himself not only for one sin but acknowledges that he is justly guilty of manifold transgressions.

We must be guided by this rule if we wish to obtain an alleviation of our miseries; for, until their very source has been dried up, they will never cease to follow one another in rapid succession. David unquestionably wished for an alleviation of his miseries. However, because he expected that as soon as he was reconciled to God, the chastisement for his sins would also cease, he only asks here that his sins may be forgiven.

David's example thus teaches us not merely to seek deliverance from the miseries which afflict and trouble us, but to trace them to their cause and source, entreating God not to hold our sins against us but to blot out our guilt.

What follows concerning the reproach or scorn of the foolish can be understood in either an active or a passive sense: either that God would not abandon him to the mockery of the wicked, or that he would not involve him in the same disgrace to which the ungodly are given over. However, since either of these meanings aligns well with the Psalmist's intent, I leave it to the reader to adopt whichever meaning is preferred. Furthermore, the word נבל , nabal, means not only a foolish person but also a contemptible man—one who is utterly worthless and base. It is at least certain that this word refers to the reprobate, whom the Scriptures condemn for their folly, because, being deprived of their reason and understanding, they break forth into every excess in despising and reproaching God.