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Selected Verse: Psalms 39:1 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ps 39:1	Strong Concordance	To the chief Musician [05329], even to Jeduthun [03038], A Psalm [04210] of David [01732]. I said [0559], I will take heed [08104] to my ways [01870], that I sin [02398] not with my tongue [03956]: I will keep [08104] my mouth [06310] with a bridle [04269], while the wicked [07563] is before me.
	King James	To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. 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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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
To Jeduthun (Ch1 16:41-42), one of the chief singers. His name mentioned, perhaps, as a special honor. Under depressing views of his frailty and the prosperity of the wicked, the Psalmist, tempted to murmur, checks the expression of his feelings, till, led to regard his case aright, he prays for a proper view of his condition and for the divine compassion. (Psa 39:1-13) I said--or, "resolved." will take heed--watch. ways--conduct, of which the use of the tongue is a part (Jam 1:26). bridle--literally, "muzzle for my mouth" (compare Deu 25:4). while . . . before me--in beholding their prosperity (Psa 37:10, Psa 37:36).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

To Jeduthun (Ch1 16:41-42), one of the chief singers. His name mentioned, perhaps, as a special honor. Under depressing views of his frailty and the prosperity of the wicked, the Psalmist, tempted to murmur, checks the expression of his feelings, till, led to regard his case aright, he prays for a proper view of his condition and for the divine compassion. (Psa 39:1-13)

I said--or, "resolved."

will take heed--watch.

ways--conduct, of which the use of the tongue is a part (Jam 1:26).

bridle--literally, "muzzle for my mouth" (compare Deu 25:4).

while . . . before me--in beholding their prosperity (Psa 37:10, Psa 37:36).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
I 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, or the dealings of God with mankind. It would seem that this train of thought was suggested by his own particular trials Psa 39:9-10, from which he was led to reflect on the mysteries of the divine administration in general, and on the fact that man had been subjected by his Creator to so much trouble and sorrow - and that, under the divine decree, human life was so short and so vain. I will take heed to my ways - To wit, in respect to this matter. I will be cautious, circumspect, prudent. I will not offend or pain the heart of others. The particular thing here referred to was, the resolution not to give utterance to the thoughts which were passing in his mind in regard to the divine administration. He felt that he was in danger, if he stated what he thought on the subject, of saying things which would do injury, or which he would have occasion to regret, and he therefore resolved to keep silent. That I sin not with my tongue - That I do not utter sentiments which will be wrong, and which I shall have occasion to repent; sentiments which would do injury to those who are already disposed to find ground of complaint against God, and who would thus be furnished with arguments to confirm them in their views. Good men often have such thoughts passing through their minds; thoughts reflecting on the government of God as unequal and severe; thoughts which, if they were suggested, would tend to confirm the wicked and the skeptical in their views; thoughts which they hope, in respect to themselves, to be able to calm down by meditation and prayer, but which would do only unmitigated harm if they were communicated to other men, especially to wicked people. I will keep my mouth with a bridle - The word used here means rather a "muzzle," or something placed "over" the mouth. The bridle is to restrain or check or guide the horse; the muzzle was something to bind or fasten the mouth so as to prevent biting or eating. Deu 25:4 : "thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn." See the notes at Co1 9:9. The meaning here is, that he would restrain himself from uttering what was passing in his mind. While the wicked is before me - In their presence. He resolved to do this, as suggested above, lest if he should utter what was passing in his own mind - if he should state the difficulties in regard to the divine administration which he saw and felt - if he should give expression to the skeptical or hard thoughts which occurred to him at such times, it would serve only to confirm them in their wickedness, and strengthen them in their alienation from God. A similar state of feeling, and on this very subject, is referred to by the psalmist Psa 73:15, where he says that if he should utter what was really passing in his mind, it would greatly pain and offend those who were the true children of God; would fill their minds with doubts and difficulties which might never occur to themselves: "If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I shall offend against the generation of thy children." As illustrations of this state of feeling in the minds of good men, and as evidence of the fact that, as in the case of the psalmist, their existence in the mind, even in the severest and the most torturing form, is not proof that the man in whose bosom they arise is not a truly pious man, I make the following extracts as expressing the feelings of two of the most sincere and devoted Christian men that ever lived - both eminently useful, both in an eminent degree ornaments to the Church, Cecil and Payson: "I have read all the most acute, and learned, and serious infidel writers, and have been really surprised at their poverty. The process of my mind has been such on the subject of revelation, that I have often thought Satan has done more for me than the best of them, for I have had, and could have produced, arguments that appeared to me far more weighty than any I ever found in them against revelation." - Cecil. Dr. Payson says in a letter to a friend: "There is one trial which you cannot know experimentally: it is that of being obliged to preach to others when one doubts of everything, and can scarcely believe that there is a God. All the atheistical, deistical, and heretical objections which I meet with in books are childish babblings compared with those which Satan suggests, and which he urges upon the mind with a force which seems irresistible. Yet I am often obliged to write sermons, and to preach when these objections beat upon me like a whirlwind, and almost distract me."

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

I 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, or the dealings of God with mankind. It would seem that this train of thought was suggested by his own particular trials Psa 39:9-10, from which he was led to reflect on the mysteries of the divine administration in general, and on the fact that man had been subjected by his Creator to so much trouble and sorrow - and that, under the divine decree, human life was so short and so vain.

I will take heed to my ways - To wit, in respect to this matter. I will be cautious, circumspect, prudent. I will not offend or pain the heart of others. The particular thing here referred to was, the resolution not to give utterance to the thoughts which were passing in his mind in regard to the divine administration. He felt that he was in danger, if he stated what he thought on the subject, of saying things which would do injury, or which he would have occasion to regret, and he therefore resolved to keep silent.

That I sin not with my tongue - That I do not utter sentiments which will be wrong, and which I shall have occasion to repent; sentiments which would do injury to those who are already disposed to find ground of complaint against God, and who would thus be furnished with arguments to confirm them in their views. Good men often have such thoughts passing through their minds; thoughts reflecting on the government of God as unequal and severe; thoughts which, if they were suggested, would tend to confirm the wicked and the skeptical in their views; thoughts which they hope, in respect to themselves, to be able to calm down by meditation and prayer, but which would do only unmitigated harm if they were communicated to other men, especially to wicked people.

I will keep my mouth with a bridle - The word used here means rather a "muzzle," or something placed "over" the mouth. The bridle is to restrain or check or guide the horse; the muzzle was something to bind or fasten the mouth so as to prevent biting or eating. Deu 25:4 : "thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn." See the notes at Co1 9:9. The meaning here is, that he would restrain himself from uttering what was passing in his mind.

While the wicked is before me - In their presence. He resolved to do this, as suggested above, lest if he should utter what was passing in his own mind - if he should state the difficulties in regard to the divine administration which he saw and felt - if he should give expression to the skeptical or hard thoughts which occurred to him at such times, it would serve only to confirm them in their wickedness, and strengthen them in their alienation from God. A similar state of feeling, and on this very subject, is referred to by the psalmist Psa 73:15, where he says that if he should utter what was really passing in his mind, it would greatly pain and offend those who were the true children of God; would fill their minds with doubts and difficulties which might never occur to themselves: "If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I shall offend against the generation of thy children." As illustrations of this state of feeling in the minds of good men, and as evidence of the fact that, as in the case of the psalmist, their existence in the mind, even in the severest and the most torturing form, is not proof that the man in whose bosom they arise is not a truly pious man, I make the following extracts as expressing the feelings of two of the most sincere and devoted Christian men that ever lived - both eminently useful, both in an eminent degree ornaments to the Church, Cecil and Payson: "I have read all the most acute, and learned, and serious infidel writers, and have been really surprised at their poverty. The process of my mind has been such on the subject of revelation, that I have often thought Satan has done more for me than the best of them, for I have had, and could have produced, arguments that appeared to me far more weighty than any I ever found in them against revelation." - Cecil. Dr. Payson says in a letter to a friend: "There is one trial which you cannot know experimentally: it is that of being obliged to preach to others when one doubts of everything, and can scarcely believe that there is a God. All the atheistical, deistical, and heretical objections which I meet with in books are childish babblings compared with those which Satan suggests, and which he urges upon the mind with a force which seems irresistible. Yet I am often obliged to write sermons, and to preach when these objections beat upon me like a whirlwind, and almost distract me."

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]
Jeduthun Jeduthun, a Levite, chief singer and instructor. See (Ch1 9:16); (Ch1 16:38); (Ch1 16:41); (Ch1 16:42); (Ch1 25:1); (Ch1 25:3); (Ch1 25:6); (Ch2 5:12); (Ch2 35:15); (Neh 11:17). He is mentioned in Psalms 39, 62, 77. Jeduthun was first called Ethan.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
(Heb.: 39:2-4) The poet relates how he has resolved to bear his own affliction silently in the face of the prosperity of the ungodly, but that his smart was so overpowering that he was compelled involuntarily to break his silence by loud complaint. The resolve follows the introductory אמרתּי in cohortatives. He meant to take heed to his ways, i.e., his manner of thought and action, in all their extent, lest he should sin with his tongue, viz., by any murmuring complaint concerning his own misfortune, when he saw the prosperity of the ungodly. He was resolved to keep (i.e., cause invariably to press) a bridling (cf. on the form, Gen 30:37), or a bridle (capistrum), upon his mouth, so long as he should see the ungodly continuing and sinning in the fulness of his strength, instead of his speedy ruin which one ought to expect. Then he was struck dumb דּוּמיּה, in silence, i.e., as in Psa 62:2, cf. Lam 3:26, in resigned submission, he was silent מטּוב, turned away from (vid., Psa 28:1; Sa1 7:8, and frequently) prosperity, i.e., from that in which he saw the evil-doer rejoicing; he sought to silence for ever the perplexing contradiction between this prosperity and the righteousness of God. But this self-imposed silence gave intensity to the repressed pain, and this was thereby נעכּר, stirred up, excited, aroused; the inward heat became, in consequence of restrained complaint, all the more intense (Jer 20:9): "and while I was musing a fire was kindled," i.e., the thoughts and emotions rubbing against one another produced a blazing fire, viz., of irrepressible vexation, and the end of it was: "I spake with my tongue," unable any longer to keep in my pain. What now follows is not what was said by the poet when in this condition. On the contrary, he turns away from his purpose, which has been proved to be impracticable, to God Himself with the prayer that He would teach him calm submission.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
I said - I fully resolved. Take heed - To order all my actions right, and particularly to govern my tongue.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
I 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.

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³⁶ Yet he passed away [05674], and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought [01245] him, but he could not be found [04672].

¹⁰ For yet a little while [04592], and the wicked [07563] shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider [0995] his place [04725], and it shall not be.

⁴ Thou shalt not muzzle [02629] the ox [07794] when he treadeth out [01778] the corn.

²⁶ If any man [1536] among [1722] you [5213] seem [1380] to be [1511] religious [2357], and bridleth [5468] not [3361] his [846] tongue [1100], but [235] deceiveth [538] his own [846] heart [2588], this man's [5127] religion [2356] is vain [3152].

¹ To the chief Musician [05329], even to Jeduthun [03038], A Psalm [04210] of David [01732]. I said [0559], I will take heed [08104] to my ways [01870], that I sin [02398] not with my tongue [03956]: I will keep [08104] my mouth [06310] with a bridle [04269], while the wicked [07563] is before me.
² I was dumb [0481] with silence [01747], I held my peace [02814], even from good [02896]; and my sorrow [03511] was stirred [05916].
³ My heart [03820] was hot [02552] within [07130] me, while I was musing [01901] the fire [0784] burned [01197]: then [0227] spake [01696] I with my tongue [03956],
⁴ LORD [03068], make me to know [03045] mine end [07093], and the measure [04060] of my days [03117], what it is; that I may know [03045] how frail [02310] I am.
⁵ Behold, thou hast made [05414] my days [03117] as an handbreadth [02947]; and mine age [02465] is as nothing before thee: verily every [03605] man [0120] at his best state [05324] is altogether [03605] vanity [01892]. Selah [05542].
⁶ Surely every man [0376] walketh [01980] in a vain shew [06754]: surely they are disquieted [01993] in vain [01892]: he heapeth up [06651] riches, and knoweth [03045] not who shall gather [0622] them.
⁷ And now, Lord [0136], what wait [06960] I for? my hope [08431] is in thee.
⁸ Deliver [05337] me from all my transgressions [06588]: make [07760] me not the reproach [02781] of the foolish [05036].
⁹ I was dumb [0481], I opened [06605] not my mouth [06310]; because thou didst [06213] it.
¹⁰ Remove [05493] thy stroke [05061] away [05493] from me: I am consumed [03615] by the blow [08409] of thine hand [03027].
¹¹ When thou with rebukes [08433] dost correct [03256] man [0376] for iniquity [05771], thou makest his beauty [02530] to consume away [04529] like a moth [06211]: surely every man [0120] is vanity [01892]. Selah [05542].
¹² Hear [08085] my prayer [08605], O LORD [03068], and give ear [0238] unto my cry [07775]; hold not thy peace [02790] at my tears [01832]: for I am a stranger [01616] with thee, and a sojourner [08453], as all my fathers [01] were.
¹³ O spare [08159] me, that I may recover strength [01082], before I go hence [03212], and be no more.

⁴¹ And with them Heman [01968] and Jeduthun [03038], and the rest [07605] that were chosen [01305], who were expressed [05344] by name [08034], to give thanks [03034] to the LORD [03068], because his mercy [02617] endureth for ever [05769];
⁴² And with them Heman [01968] and Jeduthun [03038] with trumpets [02689] and cymbals [04700] for those that should make a sound [08085], and with musical [07892] instruments [03627] of God [0430]. And the sons [01121] of Jeduthun [03038] were porters [08179].

¹⁵ If I say [0559], I will speak [05608] thus [03644]; behold, I should offend [0898] against the generation [01755] of thy children [01121].

⁹ For [1063] it is written [1125] in [1722] the law [3551] of Moses [3475], Thou shalt [5392] not [3756] muzzle [5392] the mouth of the ox [1016] that treadeth out the corn [248]. [3361] Doth [3199] God [2316] take care [3199] for oxen [1016]?

⁴ Thou shalt not muzzle [02629] the ox [07794] when he treadeth out [01778] the corn.

⁹ I was dumb [0481], I opened [06605] not my mouth [06310]; because thou didst [06213] it.
¹⁰ Remove [05493] thy stroke [05061] away [05493] from me: I am consumed [03615] by the blow [08409] of thine hand [03027].

¹⁷ And Mattaniah [04983] the son [01121] of Micha [04316], the son [01121] of Zabdi [02067], the son [01121] of Asaph [0623], was the principal [07218] to begin [08462] the thanksgiving [03034] in prayer [08605]: and Bakbukiah [01229] the second [04932] among his brethren [0251], and Abda [05653] the son [01121] of Shammua [08051], the son [01121] of Galal [01559], the son [01121] of Jeduthun [03038].

¹⁵ And the singers [07891] the sons [01121] of Asaph [0623] were in their place [04612], according to the commandment [04687] of David [01732], and Asaph [0623], and Heman [01968], and Jeduthun [03038] the king's [04428] seer [02374]; and the porters [07778] waited at every gate [08179]; they might not depart [05493] from their service [05656]; for their brethren [0251] the Levites [03881] prepared [03559] for them.

¹² Also the Levites [03881] which were the singers [07891], all of them of Asaph [0623], of Heman [01968], of Jeduthun [03038], with their sons [01121] and their brethren [0251], being arrayed [03847] in white linen [0948], having cymbals [04700] and psalteries [05035] and harps [03658], stood [05975] at the east end [04217] of the altar [04196], and with them an hundred [03967] and twenty [06242] priests [03548] sounding [02690] with trumpets [02689]:)

⁶ All these were under the hands [03027] of their father [01] for song [07892] in the house [01004] of the LORD [03068], with cymbals [04700], psalteries [05035], and harps [03658], for the service [05656] of the house [01004] of God [0430], according to the king's [04428] order [03027] to Asaph [0623], Jeduthun [03038], and Heman [01968].

³ Of Jeduthun [03038]: the sons [01121] of Jeduthun [03038]; Gedaliah [01436], and Zeri [06874], and Jeshaiah [03470], Hashabiah [02811], and Mattithiah [04993], six [08337], under the hands [03027] of their father [01] Jeduthun [03038], who prophesied [05012] with a harp [03658], to give thanks [03034] and to praise [01984] the LORD [03068].

¹ Moreover David [01732] and the captains [08269] of the host [06635] separated [0914] to the service [05656] of the sons [01121] of Asaph [0623], and of Heman [01968], and of Jeduthun [03038], who should prophesy [05012] [05030] with harps [03658], with psalteries [05035], and with cymbals [04700]: and the number [04557] of the workmen [0582] [04399] according to their service [05656] was:

⁴² And with them Heman [01968] and Jeduthun [03038] with trumpets [02689] and cymbals [04700] for those that should make a sound [08085], and with musical [07892] instruments [03627] of God [0430]. And the sons [01121] of Jeduthun [03038] were porters [08179].

³⁸ And Obededom [05654] with their brethren [0251], threescore [08346] and eight [08083]; Obededom [05654] also the son [01121] of Jeduthun [03038] and Hosah [02621] to be porters [07778]:

¹⁶ And Obadiah [05662] the son [01121] of Shemaiah [08098], the son [01121] of Galal [01559], the son [01121] of Jeduthun [03038], and Berechiah [01296] the son [01121] of Asa [0609], the son [01121] of Elkanah [0511], that dwelt [03427] in the villages [02691] of the Netophathites [05200].

⁹ Then I said [0559], I will not make mention [02142] of him, nor speak [01696] any more in his name [08034]. But his word was in mine heart [03820] as a burning [01197] fire [0784] shut up [06113] in my bones [06106], and I was weary [03811] with forbearing [03557], and I could [03201] not stay.

⁸ And the children [01121] of Israel [03478] said [0559] to Samuel [08050], Cease [02790] not to cry [02199] unto the LORD [03068] our God [0430] for us, that he will save [03467] us out of the hand [03027] of the Philistines [06430].

¹ A Psalm of David [01732]. Unto thee will I cry [07121], O LORD [03068] my rock [06697]; be not silent [02814] to me: lest, if thou be silent [02790] to me, I become [04911] like them that go down [03381] into the pit [0953].

²⁶ It is good [02896] that a man should both hope [03175] [02342] and quietly wait [01748] for the salvation [08668] of the LORD [03068].

² He only is my rock [06697] and my salvation [03444]; he is my defence [04869]; I shall not be greatly [07227] moved [04131].

³⁷ And Jacob [03290] took [03947] him rods [04731] of green [03892] poplar [03839], and of the hazel [03869] and chesnut tree [06196]; and pilled [06478] white [03836] strakes [06479] in them, and made the white [03836] appear [04286] which was in the rods [04731].