Psalms 39:9

9 I was silent; I would not open my mouth, for you are the one who has done this.

Psalms 39:9 in Other Translations

9 I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it.

9 I am mute; I do not open my mouth, for it is you who have done it.

9 I am silent before you; I won’t say a word, for my punishment is from you.

9 I'll say no more, I'll shut my mouth, since you, Lord, are behind all this.

9 I am speechless; I do not open my mouth because of what You have done.

Psalms 39:9 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 39:9

I was dumb, I opened not my mouth
This refers either to his former silence, before he broke it, ( Psalms 39:1 Psalms 39:2 ) , or to what he after that came into again, when he had seen the folly of his impatience, the frailty of his life, the vanity of man, and all human affairs, and had been directed to place his hope and confidence in the Lord, ( Psalms 39:5-7 ) ; or to the present frame of his mind, and his future conduct, he had resolved upon; and may be rendered, "I am dumb"; or "will be dumb, and will not open my mouth" ^F5; that is, not in a complaining and murmuring way against the Lord, but be still, and know or own that he is God;

because thou didst [it];
not "because thou hast made me", as Austin reads the, words, and as the Arabic version renders them, "because thou hast created me"; though the consideration of God being a Creator lays his creatures under obligation as to serve him, so to be silent under his afflicting hand upon them; but the sense is, that the psalmist was determined to be patient and quiet under his affliction, because God was the author of it; for though he is not the author of the evil of sin, yet of the evil of affliction; see ( Amos 3:6 ) ; and it is a quieting consideration to a child of God under it, that it comes from God, who is a sovereign Being, and does what he pleases; and does all things well and wisely, in truth and faithfulness, and in mercy and loving kindness: this some refer to the rebellion of Absalom, and the cursing of Shimei, ( 2 Samuel 12:11 ) ( 2 Samuel 16:10 2 Samuel 16:11 ) ; or it may refer to the death of his child, ( 2 Samuel 12:22 2 Samuel 12:23 ) ; or rather to some sore affliction upon himself; since it follows,

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FOOTNOTES:

F5 (xtpa al) "non aperiam", Pagninus, Montanus, Piscator, Gejerus; so Ainsworth.

Psalms 39:9 In-Context

7 “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.

8 Save me from all my transgressions; do not make me the scorn of fools.

9 I was silent; I would not open my mouth, for you are the one who has done this.

10 Remove your scourge from me; I am overcome by the blow of your hand.

11 When you rebuke and discipline anyone for their sin, you consume their wealth like a moth— surely everyone is but a breath.

Cross References

• 1. S ver 2
• 2. Psalms 38:13; Job 2:10
• 3. Isaiah 38:15