English Standard Version
Psalms 39:2
2I was mute and silent; I held my peace to no avail, and my distress grew worse.
Psalms 39:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.
- New International Version (NIV)So I remained utterly silent, not even saying anything good. But my anguish increased;
- New King James Version (NKJV)I was mute with silence, I held my peace even from good; And my sorrow was stirred up.
- New Living Translation (NLT)But as I stood there in silence— not even speaking of good things— the turmoil within me grew worse.
Context of Psalms 39:2
1I 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." I was mute and silent; I held my peace to no avail, and my distress grew worse. 3My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue: 4"O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!
Read all of Psalms 39Psalms 39:2 word by word
נֶאֱלַ֣מְתִּי ד֭וּמִיָּה הֶחֱשֵׁ֣יתִי מִטּ֑וֹב וּכְאֵבִ֥י נֶעְכָּֽר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 39:2
- Psalms 38:13But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear, like a mute man who does not open his mouth.
- Isaiah 53:7He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.
- Matthew 27:12But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer.
- Matthew 7:6"Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.
- Job 32:19Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent; like new wineskins ready to burst.
- Acts 4:20for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."
Commentaries on Psalms 39:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2I held any peace, even from good - "I ceased from the words of the law," says the Chaldee. I spoke nothing, either good or bad. I did not even defend myself. My sorrow was stirred - My afflictions increased, and I had an exacerbation of pain. It is a hard thing to be denied the benefit of complaint in sufferings, as it has a tendency to relieve the mind, and indeed, in some sort, to call off the attention from the place of actual suffering: and yet undue…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2I was dumb with silence - Compare Psalm 38:13. The addition of the words “with silence,” means that he was entirely or absolutely mute; he said nothing at all. The idea is, that he did not allow himself to give utterance to the thoughts which were passing in his mind in regard to the divine dealings. He kept his thoughts to himself, and endeavored to suppress them in his own bosom. I held my peace, even from good - I said nothing. I did not even say what…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-3Suffering in silence makes the psalmist's anguish, pain, and inner distress worse.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. even from good--(Ge 31:24), everything.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 39:2
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries