Psalms 39 · Verse 2

Psalms 39:2

I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.
Psalms 39:2, King James Version

Psalms 39:2 in other translations

BSBI was speechless and still; I remained silent, even from speaking good, and my sorrow was stirred.
WEBI was mute with silence. I held my peace, even from good. My sorrow was stirred.
ASVI was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; And my sorrow was stirred.
YLTI was dumb with silence, I kept silent from good, and my pain is excited.
DARBYI was dumb with silence, I held my peace from good; and my sorrow was stirred.
BBEI made no sound, I said no word, even of good; and I was moved with sorrow.
WebsterI was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.

What does Psalms 39:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. even from good--(Ge 31:24), everything.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 I held any peace, even from good - "I ceased from the words of the law," says the Chaldee. I spoke nothing, either good or bad. I did not even defend myself. My sorrow was stirred - My afflictions increased, and I had an exacerbation of pain. It is a hard thing to be denied the benefit of complaint in sufferings, as it has a tendency to relieve the mind, and indeed, in some sort, to call off the attention from the place of actual suffering: and yet undue and extravagant complaining enervates the mind, so that it becomes a double prey to its sufferings. On both sides there are extremes: David seems to have steered clear of them on the right hand and on the left.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 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…

Read the full comment on Psalms 39:1-6 →

Psalms 39:2 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.

נֶאֱלַ֣מְתִּיne.'e.Lam.tiI was dumbH481
ד֭וּמִיָּהDu.mi.yahsilenceH1747
הֶחֱשֵׁ֣יתִיhe.che.Shei.tiI was silentH2814
מִטּ֑וֹבmi.Tovfrom goodH2896
וּכְאֵבִ֥יu.khe.'e.Viand pain myH3511
נֶעְכָּֽר\׃ne'.Karit was stirred upH5916

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

Cross references for Psalms 39:2

  • Matthew 27:12-14

    And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.

  • Acts 4:20

    For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

  • Psalms 38:13-14

    But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth. Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.

  • Isaiah 53:7

    He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

  • Matthew 7:6

    Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

  • Job 32:19-20

    Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles. I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
I was.
38:13,14; Isa 53:7; Mt 27:12-14
even.
Mt 7:6
my sorrow.
Job 32:19,20; Ac 4:20
stirred. Heb. troubled.

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

Context

  • Psalms 39:1

    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.

  • Psalms 39:2

    I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.

  • Psalms 39:3

    My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,

Read all of Psalms 39

Psalms 39:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Enmudecí con silencio, calléme aun respecto de lo bueno: y excitóse mi dolor.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		J’ai dit: Je prendrai garde à mes voies, afin que je ne pèche point par ma langue; je garderai ma bouche avec une muselière pendant que le méchant est devant moi.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ich verstummte in Stille, ich schwieg vom Guten, und mein Schmerz ward erregt.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Exspectans exspectavi Dominum, et intendit mihi.