Psalms 39:1

Psalms 39:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.
• New International Version (NIV)I said, “I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth while in the presence of the wicked.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)I said, "I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence."
• New King James Version (NKJV)I said, “I will guard my ways, Lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, While the wicked are before me.”

Context of Psalms 39:1

I said, ‘I will be careful what I do, so that I do not sin. I will also be careful what I say. When wicked people are listening, I will not even open my mouth.’ 2So I did not speak a word, even about good things. That made me very upset. 3It was like a fire inside me! As I thought more about it, I just had to say something! So I said this:

Psalms 39:1 word by word

אָמַ֗רְתִּי אֶֽשְׁמְרָ֣ה דְרָכַי֮ מֵחֲט֪וֹא בִלְשׁ֫וֹנִ֥י אֶשְׁמְרָ֥ה לְפִ֥י מַחְס֑וֹם בְּעֹ֖ד רָשָׁ֣ע לְנֶגְדִּֽי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• I saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• I will take heedשָׁמַרshâmar · to keep: guardH8104
• to my waysדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: conductH1870
• that I sinחָטָאchâţâ' · to sinH2398
• not with my tongueלָשׁוֹןlâshôn lâshôn leshônâh · tongueH3956
• my mouthפֶּהpeh · lipH6310
• with a bridleמַחְסוֹםmachsôm · muzzleH4269
• while the wickedרָשָׁעrâshâ‛ · wickedH7563

Cross-references for Psalms 39:1

• 1 Chronicles 6:44Other relatives of Heman and Asaph worked with them. They belonged to Merari's clan and they stood on the left side. Kishi's son Ethan led this group. Kishi was Abdi's son. Abdi was Malluch's son.
• Psalms 62:1I will be patient as I wait for God to help me. He is the only one who can make me safe.
• Psalms 77:1I will call out to God for help. I will call aloud to God, and he will listen to me.
• 1 Chronicles 16:41Heman and Jeduthun were with them at the tabernacle in Gibeon. There were also other Levites that David had chosen to help them. Their special job was to give thanks to the Lord with songs, because his faithful love continues for ever.
• 1 Chronicles 25:1David and the army officers chose some Levites to serve God as musicians. They belonged to the families of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun. They chose these men to speak messages from God while they made music with harps, lyres and cymbals. Here is a list of the men that they chose for this work:
• Psalms 119:9How can a young man live a clean life? He must be careful to obey your message.
• 1 Kings 2:4The Lord will also do what he has promised me that he will do. He promised this to me: “Your descendants must be careful in how they live. They must serve me faithfully with all their mind and strength. If they do that, one of your descendants will always rule Israel as king.”
• 2 Kings 10:31But Jehu was not careful to obey completely the law of the Lord, Israel's God. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam which he had caused Israel to do.
• Proverbs 4:26Decide carefully where you are going in life. Then you will be on a good, safe path.
• Hebrews 2:1So we must be very careful. We must continue to remember the message that we have heard about God's Son. Then we will not go in the wrong direction, and turn away from God.
• Psalms 12:4They say: ‘Nobody can tell us what to do! We will say what we like to get what we want!’
• Psalms 73:8They laugh at people and they say bad things about them. They proudly speak about cruel things that they want to do to people.
• Psalms 141:3Lord, keep my mouth safe, so that I do not speak bad things.
• Proverbs 18:21Words have the power to bring life or death. So be careful if you talk a lot!
• Proverbs 21:23If you want to keep away from trouble, always be careful about what you say.
• James 1:26Maybe some of you think that you are serving God well. But if you also say bad things about people, you do not serve God well at all. You are doing something bad even when you think you are doing good things.

Commentaries on Psalms 39:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1I said, I will take heed to my ways - I must be cautious because of my enemies; I must be patient because of my afflictions; I must be watchful over my tongue, lest I offend my God, or give my adversaries any cause to speak evil of me.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1I said - This refers to a resolution which he had formed. He does not say, however, at what time of his life the resolution was adopted, or how long a period had elapsed from the time when he formed the resolution to the time when he thus made a record of it. He had formed the resolution on some occasion when he was greatly troubled with anxious thoughts; when, as the subsequent verses show, his mind was deeply perplexed about the divine administration…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1David meditates on man's frailty. (1-6) He applies for pardon and deliverance. (7-13) Verses 1-6 If an evil thought should arise in the mind, suppress it. Watchfulness in the habit, is the bridle upon the head; watchfulness in acts, is the hand upon the bridle. When not able to separate from wicked men, we should remember they will watch our words, and turn them, if they can, to our disadvantage. Sometimes it may be necessary to keep silence, even from…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1Jeduthun was a Levitical singer who was appointed by David, along with Asaph (1 Chronicles 9:16; 16:38; 25:1).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-131. I said--or, "resolved." will take heed--watch. ways--conduct, of which the use of the tongue is a part (Jas 1:26). bridle--literally, "muzzle for my mouth" (compare De 25:4). while ... before me--in beholding their prosperity (Psa 37:10, 36).Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 39:1

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Bridle
• Prudence
• Speaking
• Watchfulness

In the dictionaries

• Altogether
• Bridle
• Frail
• Jeduthun
• Measure
• Psalms
• Silence
• Vain
• Bit and Bridle
• Dumb

Commentaries on Psalms 39

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• The Treasury of David
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings