New English Translation
Psalms 39:2
2I was stone silent; I held back the urge to speak. My frustration grew;
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;
- English Standard Version (ESV)I was mute and silent; I held my peace to no avail, and my distress grew worse.
- New King James Version (NKJV)I was mute with silence, I held my peace even from good; And my sorrow was stirred up.
Context of Psalms 39:2
1I decided, “I will watch what I say and make sure I do not sin with my tongue. I will put a muzzle over my mouth while in the presence of an evil man.” I was stone silent; I held back the urge to speak. My frustration grew; 3my anxiety intensified. As I thought about it, I became impatient. Finally I spoke these words: 4“O Lord, help me understand my mortality and the brevity of life! Let me realize how quickly my life will pass!
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 hear nothing; I am like a mute who cannot speak.
- 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.
- Matthew 27:12But when he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he did not respond.
- Matthew 7:6Do not give what is holy to dogs or throw your pearls before pigs; otherwise they will trample them under their feet and turn around and tear you to pieces.
- Job 32:19Inside I am like wine which has no outlet, like new wineskins ready to burst!
- Acts 4:20for it is impossible for us not to speak about 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
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