Psalms 32 · Verse 9

Psalms 32:9

Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
Psalms 32:9, King James Version

Psalms 32:9 in other translations

BSBDo not be like the horse or mule, which have no understanding; they must be controlled with bit and bridle to make them come to you.
WEBDon’t be like the horse, or like the mule, which have no understanding, who are controlled by bit and bridle, or else they will not come near to you.
ASVBe ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding; Whose trappings must be bit and bridle to hold them in, Else they will not come near unto thee.
YLTBe ye not as a horse--as a mule, Without understanding, With bridle and bit, its ornaments, to curb, Not to come near unto thee.
DARBYBe ye not as a horse, as a mule, which have no understanding: whose trappings must be bit and bridle, for restraint, or they will not come unto thee.
BBEDo not be like the horse or the ass, without sense;...
WebsterBe ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near to thee.

What does Psalms 32:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
9. The latter clause, more literally, "in that they come not near thee"; that is, because they will not come, &c., unless forced by bit and bridle.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 Be ye not as the horse or as the mule - They will only act by force and constraint; be not like them; give a willing service to your Maker. "They have no understanding;" you have a rational soul, made to be guided and influenced by reason. The service of your God is a reasonable service; act, therefore, as a rational being. The horse and the mule are turned with difficulty; they must be constrained with bit and bridle. Do not be like them; do not oblige your Maker to have continual recourse to afflictions, trials, and severe dispensations of providence, to keep you in the way, or to recover you after you have gone out of it.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 32:8-11

God teaches by his word, and guides with the secret intimations of his will. David gives a word of caution to sinners. The reason for this caution is, that the way of sin will certainly end in sorrow. Here is a word of comfort to saints. They may see that a life of communion with God is far the most pleasant and comfortable. Let us rejoice, O Lord Jesus, in thee, and in thy salvation; so shall we rejoice indeed.

Read the full comment on Psalms 32:8-11 →

Psalms 32:9 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

אַל\־'al-may notH408
תִּֽהְי֤וּ\׀tih.Yuyou beH1961
כְּס֥וּסke.Suslike a horseH5483
כְּפֶרֶד֮ke.fe.Redlike a muleH6505
אֵ֤ין'ein[which] there notH369
הָ֫בִ֥יןha.Vin[is] understandingH995
בְּמֶֽתֶג\־be.me.teg-with bridleH4964
וָרֶ֣סֶןva.Re.senand halterH7448
עֶדְי֣וֹed.Yotrapping[s] itsH5716
לִבְל֑וֹםliv.Lomto restrainH1102
בַּ֝֗לBalnotH1077
קְרֹ֣בke.Roto draw nearH7126
אֵלֶֽיךָ\׃'e.Lei.khato youH413

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 32:9

  • Proverbs 26:3

    A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.

  • Jeremiah 4:22

    For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

  • Job 35:11

    Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?

  • Jeremiah 8:6-7

    I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle. Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the Lord.

  • James 4:7-10

    Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

  • James 3:3

    Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

  • Jeremiah 31:18

    I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Be ye.
Pr 26:3; Jer 31:18; Jas 3:3; 4:7-10
no.
Job 35:11; Jer 4:22; 8:6,7

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 32:8

    I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

  • Psalms 32:9

    Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.

  • Psalms 32:10

    Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about.

Read all of Psalms 32

Psalms 32:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		No seáis como el caballo, ó como el mulo, sin entendimiento: con cabestro y con freno su boca ha de ser reprimida, para que no lleguen á ti.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Ne soyez pas comme le cheval, comme le mulet, qui n’ont pas d’intelligence, dont l’ornement est la bride et le mors, pour les refréner quand ils ne veulent pas s’approcher de toi.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Seid nicht wie ein Roß, wie ein Maultier, das keinen Verstand hat; mit Zaum und Zügel, ihrem Schmucke, mußt du sie bändigen, sonst nahen sie dir nicht.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quoniam ipse dixit, et facta sunt; ipse mandavit et creata sunt.