Psalm 39[a]

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.

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

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 39:1 In Hebrew texts 39:1-13 is numbered 39:2-14.

39 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.

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ב Beth

How can a young person stay on the path of purity?(A)
    By living according to your word.(B)

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Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

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23 Those who guard their mouths(A) and their tongues
    keep themselves from calamity.(B)

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23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

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26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues(A) deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.

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26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

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Set a guard over my mouth,(A) Lord;
    keep watch over the door of my lips.(B)

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Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

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and that the Lord may keep his promise(A) to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully(B) before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’

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That the Lord may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.

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We all stumble(A) in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say(B) is perfect,(C) able to keep their whole body in check.(D)

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.(E) Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.(F) Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire,(G) a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body,(H) sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.(I)

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.(J)

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For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

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

Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

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Warning to Pay Attention

We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.(A)

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Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

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Do not trust a neighbor;
    put no confidence in a friend.(A)
Even with the woman who lies in your embrace
    guard the words of your lips.
For a son dishonors his father,
    a daughter rises up against her mother,(B)
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
    a man’s enemies are the members of his own household.(C)

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Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.

For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house.

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26 Give careful thought to the[a] paths for your feet(A)
    and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;(B)
    keep your foot from evil.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:26 Or Make level

26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

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Be wise(A) in the way you act toward outsiders;(B) make the most of every opportunity.(C)

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Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

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Psalm 62[a]

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.

Truly my soul finds rest(A) in God;(B)
    my salvation comes from him.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 62:1 In Hebrew texts 62:1-12 is numbered 62:2-13.

62 Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.

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13 keep your tongue(A) from evil
    and your lips from telling lies.(B)

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13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

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