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I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; behold, I do not seal my lips, as You, O LORD, do know.
Psalms 40:9 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB I have proclaimed glad news of righteousness in the great assembly. Behold, I will not seal my lips, Yahweh, you know.
  • KJV I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.
  • NKJV I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness In the great assembly; Indeed, I do not restrain my lips, O Lord, You Yourself know.
  • NASB ¶I have proclaimed good news of righteousness in the great congregation; Behold, I will not restrain my lips, Lord, You know.
  • NLT I have told all your people about your justice. I have not been afraid to speak out, as you, O Lord, well know.

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 proclaims God's righteousness openly in the great assembly, refusing to keep silent. Saving experience compels public testimony.

Overview

He cannot restrain his lips from declaring what God has done. The 'great assembly' is the gathered worshiping community. The redeemed are called to confess God's righteousness before others, as the gospel itself is news to be proclaimed.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 12

  • Ps 22:25My praise for You resounds in the great assembly; I will fulfill my vows before those who fear You.
  • Mark 16:15–16And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
  • Ps 71:15–18My mouth will declare Your righteousness and Your salvation all day long, though I cannot know their full measure.
  • Ps 22:22I will proclaim Your name to my brothers; I will praise You in the assembly.
  • Ps 119:13With my lips I proclaim all the judgments of Your mouth.
  • Heb 2:12He says: “I will proclaim Your name to My brothers; I will sing Your praises in the assembly.”
  • Ps 35:18Then I will give You thanks in the great assembly; I will praise You among many people.
  • Luke 4:16–22Then Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath. And when He stood up to read,
  • Ps 119:171–172My lips pour forth praise, for You teach me Your statutes.
  • Josh 22:22“The LORD, the Mighty One, is God! The LORD, the Mighty One, is God! He knows, and may Israel also know. If this was in rebellion or breach of faith against the LORD, do not spare us today.
  • John 21:17Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
  • Ps 139:2You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (2)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Psalms videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Psalms 40:9YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on PsalmsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

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 40:9 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.