Psalms 39:1 BSB — MannaFest

Psalms 39:1

I said, “I will watch my ways so that I will not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle as long as the wicked are present.”

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

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.

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.

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Commentary

5 voices

Ambrose of Milan

Commentaries on the Twelve Davidic Psalms (397)

Have no doubt about it, when people annoy and torment you when you are doing the right thing, those people are the lackeys of the wickedest sinner of all. They are slaves of the author of every evil deed. David saw this with prophetic eyes and recognized the face of the evil one. So he kept quiet. He had no wish whatever to do the will of the evil one. So he kept quiet. He had no wish whatever to do the will of him who ruins one's peace of mind. He simply said nothing.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

He remembers that he had in particular covenanted against tongue-sins--that he would not sin with his tongue, that he would not speak amiss, either to offend God or offend the generation of the righteous, Ps. lxxiii.

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

He remembered the covenants he had made with God to walk circumspectly, and to be very cautious both of what he did and what he said. When at any time we are tempted to sin, and are in danger of falling into it, we must call to mind the solemn vows we have made against sin, against the particular sin we are upon the brink of.

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

Charles Spurgeon

1834–1892

The Treasury of David, Vol. 2 (1870)

I said. I steadily resolved and registered a determination. In his great perplexity his greatest fear was lest he should sin; and, therefore, he cast about for the most likely method for avoiding it, and he determined to be silent. It is right excellent when a man can strengthen himself in a good course by the remembrance of a well and wisely formed resolve. "What I have written I have written, "or what I have spoken I will perform, may prove a good strengthener to a man in a fixed course of right. I will take heed to my ways.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

11 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
אָמַ֗רְתִּי	'a.Mar.ti	I said	H559 →
אֶֽשְׁמְרָ֣ה	'esh.me.Rah	I will guard	H8104 →
דְרָכַי֮	de.ra.Khai	ways my	H1870 →
מֵחֲט֪וֹא	me.cha.To'	from sinning	H2398 →
בִלְשׁ֫וֹנִ֥י	vil.Sho.Ni	with tongue my	H3956 →
אֶשְׁמְרָ֥ה	'esh.me.Rah	I will keep	H8104 →
לְפִ֥י	le.Fi	to mouth my	H6310 →
מַחְס֑וֹם	mach.Som	a muzzle	H4269 →
בְּעֹ֖ד	be.'Od	while still	H5750 →
רָשָׁ֣ע	ra.Sha'	[the] wicked	H7563 →
לְנֶגְדִּֽי׃	le.neg.Di	[is] to before me	H5048 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Psalms 119:9
How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your word.
leads to
- 2 Timothy 2:22
  Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
- James 1:21–25
  Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls.
- 2 Timothy 3:15–17
  From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
- Joshua 1:7
  Above all, be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe all the law that My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that…
- Psalms 25:7
  Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my rebellious acts; remember me according to Your loving devotion, because of Your goodness, O LORD.
Through
James 1:26
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.
leads to
- Psalms 141:3
  Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips.
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- Ephesians 4:29
  Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.
Through
Psalms 141:3
Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips.
leads to
- James 1:26
  If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.

About Psalms

Saul attempts to kill David (the harpist of Israel) — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain

Psalms: the study guide →Read chapter 39 →The featured study →

Continue: Psalms 39 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

06About Psalms

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

About Psalms