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.
• 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.”
• New Living Translation (NLT)I said to myself, “I will watch what I do and not sin in what I say. I will hold my tongue when the ungodly are around me.”

Context of Psalms 39:1

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.” 2So I remained utterly silent, not even saying anything good. But my anguish increased; 3my heart grew hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:

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 6:44and from their associates, the Merarites, at his left hand: Ethan son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluk,
• Psalms 62:1Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.
• Psalms 77:1I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me.
• 1 Chronicles 16:41With them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the Lord, “for his love endures forever.”
• 1 Chronicles 25:1David, together with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals. Here is the list of the men who performed this service:
• Psalms 119:9How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.
• 1 Kings 2:4and that the Lord may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’
• 2 Kings 10:31Yet Jehu was not careful to keep the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit.
• Proverbs 4:26Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.
• Hebrews 2:1We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.
• Psalms 12:4those who say, “By our tongues we will prevail; our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”
• Psalms 73:8They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.
• Psalms 141:3Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.
• Proverbs 18:21The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
• Proverbs 21:23Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.
• James 1:26Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.

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