Psalm 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."

◄ Psalm 39:1 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David. 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."

English Standard Version
To the choirmaster: to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. 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 American Standard Bible
For the choir director, for Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. I said, "I will guard my ways That I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle While the wicked are in my presence."

King James Bible
[[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.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For the choir director, for Jeduthun. A Davidic psalm. I said, "I will guard my ways so that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle as long as the wicked are in my presence."

International Standard Version
I told myself, "I will keep watch over my tongue to keep from sinning. I will muzzle my mouth when the wicked are around."

American Standard Version
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.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Unto the end, for Idithun himself, a canticle of David. I said: I will take heed to my ways : that I sin not with my tongue. I have set guard to my mouth, when the sinner stood against me.

Darby Bible Translation
{To the chief Musician, 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 muzzle, while the wicked is before me.

Young's Literal Translation
To the Overseer, to Jeduthun. -- A Psalm of David. I have said, 'I observe my ways, Against sinning with my tongue, I keep for my mouth a curb, while the wicked is before me.'

Cross References

James 1:26
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridles not his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

James 3:2
For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

James 3:5
Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindles!

1 Kings 2:4
That the LORD may continue his word which he spoke concerning me, saying, If your children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail you (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.

2 Kings 10:31
But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin.

1 Chronicles 16:41
And with them Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest that were chosen, who were expressed by name, to give thanks to the LORD, because his mercy endures for ever;

Job 2:10
But he said to her, You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Job 6:24
Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

Psalm 17:3
You have proved my heart; you have visited me in the night; you have tried me, and shall find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

Psalm 34:13
Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking guile.

Jump to Previous

Attention Bridle Chief Choirmaster Control David Director Guard Heed Jeduthun Leader Mouth Musician Music-Maker Muzzle Presence Psalm Sin Sinner Tongue Watch Ways Wicked Wrong

Jump to Next

Attention Bridle Chief Choirmaster Control David Director Guard Heed Jeduthun Leader Mouth Musician Music-Maker Muzzle Presence Psalm Sin Sinner Tongue Watch Ways Wicked Wrong

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

39:1-6 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 good words; but in general we are wrong when backward to engage in edifying discourse. Impatience is a sin that has its cause within ourselves, and that is, musing; and its ill effects upon ourselves, and that is no less than burning. In our greatest health and prosperity, every man is altogether vanity, he cannot live long; he may die soon. This is an undoubted truth, but we are very unwilling to believe it. Therefore let us pray that God would enlighten our minds by his Holy Spirit, and fill our hearts with his grace, that we may be ready for death every day and hour.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

PSALM 39

Ps 39:1-13. To Jeduthun (1Ch 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.

1. 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 (Ps 37:10, 36).