New English Translation
Psalms 38:13
13But I am like a deaf man – I hear nothing; I am like a mute who cannot speak.
Psalms 38:13 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.
- New International Version (NIV)I am like the deaf, who cannot hear, like the mute, who cannot speak;
- English Standard Version (ESV)But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear, like a mute man who does not open his mouth.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But I, like a deaf man, do not hear; And I am like a mute who does not open his mouth.
Context of Psalms 38:13
11Because of my condition, even my friends and acquaintances keep their distance; my neighbors stand far away. 12Those who seek my life try to entrap me; those who want to harm me speak destructive words; all day long they say deceitful things. But I am like a deaf man – I hear nothing; I am like a mute who cannot speak. 14I am like a man who cannot hear and is incapable of arguing his defense. 15Yet I wait for you, O Lord! You will respond, O Lord, my God!
Read all of Psalms 38Psalms 38:13 word by word
וַאֲנִ֣י כְ֭חֵרֵשׁ לֹ֣א אֶשְׁמָ֑ע וּ֝כְאִלֵּ֗ם לֹ֣א יִפְתַּח־פִּֽיו׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 38:13
- Psalms 39:2I was stone silent; I held back the urge to speak. My frustration grew;
- 2 Samuel 16:10But the king said, “What do we have in common, you sons of Zeruiah? If he curses because the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David!’, who can say to him, ‘Why have you done this?’”
- Isaiah 53:7He was treated harshly and afflicted, but he did not even open his mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughtering block, like a sheep silent before her shearers, he did not even open his mouth.
- 1 Peter 2:23When he was maligned, he did not answer back; when he suffered, he threatened no retaliation, but committed himself to God who judges justly.
Commentaries on Psalms 38:13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13But I, as a deaf man - I was conscious of my guilt, I could not vindicate myself; and I was obliged in silence to bear their insults.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13But I, as a deaf man, heard not - I was as if I had been deaf, and did not hear them or know what they were about. I took no notice of what they did anymore than if I had not heard them. That is, he did not reply to them; he did not become angry; he was as calm and patient as if they had said nothing. And I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth - As if I were a man that could not speak. I was perfectly silent under all this persecution. Compare 2…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-22Verses 12-22 Wicked men hate goodness, even when they benefit by it. David, in the complaints he makes of his enemies, seems to refer to Christ. But our enemies do us real mischief only when they drive us from God and our duty. The true believer's trouble will be made useful; he will learn to wait for his God, and will not seek relief from the world or himself. The less we notice the unkindness and injuries that are done us, the more we consult the quiet…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13The psalmist suffers quietly before his opponents (see Isaiah 53:7).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 13-1413-14. He patiently submits, uttering no reproaches or replies (Joh 19:9) to their insulting speeches;Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 38:13
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 38
- 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
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