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.
Parallel translations
- WEB For the Chief Musician. For Jeduthun. A Psalm by David. I said, “I will watch my ways, so that I don’t sin with my tongue. I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me.”
- BSB For the choirmaster. For Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. 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.”
- 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.”
- NASB I said, “I will keep watch over my ways So that I do not sin with my tongue; I will keep watch over my mouth as with a muzzle While the wicked are in my presence.”
- 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.”
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 resolves to guard his speech and not sin with his tongue, especially before the wicked. He bridles his mouth to avoid rash words.
Overview
This psalm, assigned to Jeduthun, opens with David's determination to restrain his speech amid provocation. He fears that complaint might dishonor God before unbelievers. The discipline of the tongue is a recurring biblical theme of wisdom and self-control (James 3:2-6).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 21
- Prov 21:23Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
- Ps 141:3Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
- Jas 1:26If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
- Ps 119:9Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
- Ps 34:13Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
- Mic 7:5–6Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.
- Jas 3:2–8For 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.
- Heb 2:1Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
- Prov 18:21Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
- 1 Kgs 2:4That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy 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 thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.
- Prov 4:26–27Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
- Ps 12:4Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?
- Col 4:5Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
- Job 2:10But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. 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.
- Ps 62:1Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.
- Ps 77:1I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.
- Amos 5:13Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.
- 2 Kgs 10:31But 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.
- Ps 73:8–9They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
- 1 Chr 16:41And 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 endureth for ever;
- 1 Chr 25:1–6Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was:
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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.
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Original language
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