Psalms 39:3

3 my heart grew hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:

Psalms 39:3 in Other Translations

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

3 My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:

3 The more I thought about it, the hotter I got, igniting a fire of words:

3 my insides got hotter and hotter. My thoughts boiled over; I spilled my guts.

3 My heart grew hot within me; as I mused, a fire burned. I spoke with my tongue:

Psalms 39:3 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 39:3

My heart was hot within me
Either with zeal for God; or rather with envy at the prosperity of wicked men, and with impatience at his own afflictions;

while I was musing the fire burned;
not the fire of the divine word, while he was meditating upon it, which caused his heart to burn within him; nor the fire of divine love, the coals whereof give a most vehement flame, when the love of God is shed abroad in the heart, and the thoughts of it are directed by the Spirit of God to dwell in meditation on it; but the fire of passion, anger, and resentment, while meditating on his own adversity, and the prosperity of others;

[then] spake I with my tongue;
and so broke the resolution he had made, ( Psalms 39:1 ) ; he spoke not for God, though to him; not by way of thankfulness for his grace and goodness to him, in supporting him under his exercises; but in a way of complaint, because of his afflictions; it was in prayer he spoke to God with his tongue, and it was unadvisedly with his lips, as follows.

Psalms 39:3 In-Context

1 I said, “I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth while in the presence of the wicked.”

2 So I remained utterly silent, not even saying anything good. But my anguish increased;

3 my heart grew hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:

4 “Show me, LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.

5 You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure.

Cross References

• 1. Luke 24:32
• 2. Psalms 1:2; Psalms 48:9; Psalms 77:12; Psalms 119:15
• 3. Jeremiah 5:14; Jeremiah 20:9; Jeremiah 23:29