I choose to hear nothing, and I make no reply.
Parallel translations
- WEB Yes, I am as a man who doesn’t hear, in whose mouth are no reproofs.
- KJV Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.
- BSB I am like a man who cannot hear, whose mouth offers no reply.
- NKJV Thus I am like a man who does not hear, And in whose mouth is no response.
- NASB Yes, I am like a person who does not hear, And in whose mouth are no arguments.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
David repeats that he is like a man who does not hear and offers no rebuttal. His silence is deliberate, not weakness.
Overview
The doubled image of the silent sufferer underscores his resolve to leave judgment to God. He will not enter the war of words his enemies invite. This silent endurance points to the Lamb who was led to slaughter yet did not answer His accusers.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Amos 5:13Therefore a prudent person keeps silent in such a time, for it is an evil time.
- John 8:6They said this testing him, that they might have something to accuse him of. But Jesus stooped down, and wrote on the ground with his finger.
- Mark 15:3–5The chief priests accused him of many things.
- Mic 7:5Don’t trust in a neighbor. Don’t put confidence in a friend. With the woman lying in your embrace, be careful of the words of your mouth!
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 38:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.