King James Version

Psalms 39:1

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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Hebrew

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In the Hebrew text this line is Psalms 39:2. The heading is Hebrew Psalms 39:1.

Heading in the Hebrew text

לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַlamnatsechato excelנָצַחpreposition, with the article, verb, piel, participle, absolute — “to excel”, a verb used as a describing wordH5329properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of the Temple services and its music); to be permanentexcel, chief musician (singer), oversee(-r), set forward.לידיתוןlydytvnto Jeduthunיְדוּתוּןpreposition, noun, proper name — “to Jeduthun”H3038Jeduthun, an IsraeliteJeduthun.לִֽידוּת֗וּןlidutunto Jeduthunיְדוּתוּןpreposition, noun, proper name — “to Jeduthun”H3038Jeduthun, an IsraeliteJeduthun.מִזְמ֥וֹרmizmorpsalmמִזְמוֹרnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “psalm”, the ordinary formH4210properly, instrumental music; by implication, a poem set to notespsalm.לְדָוִֽדledavidto Davidדָּוִדpreposition, noun, proper name — “to David”H1732David, the youngest son of JesseDavid.

אָמַ֗רְתִּיamartisayאָמַרverb, qal, perfect, 1st person, common, singular — “say”, a completed actionH559to say (used with great latitude)answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [id…אֶֽשְׁמְרָ֣הeshmerahbewardשָׁמַרverb, qal, cohortative, 1st person, common, singular — “beward”, a determination or requestH8104properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.beward, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man).דְרָכַי֮derakhayalongדֶּרֶךְnoun, common, both genders, plural, construct, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “along”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH1870a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverbalong, away, because of, [phrase] by, conversation, custom, (east-) ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-) way(-side), whither(-soever).מֵחֲט֪וֹאmechatofrom by faultחָטָאpreposition, verb, qal, infinitive construct — “from by fault”, the to-form of the verbH2398properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemnbear the blame, cleanse, commit (sin), by fault, harm he hath done, loss, miss, (make) offend(-er), offer for sin, purge, purify (self), make reconciliation, (cause, make) sin(-ful, -ness), trespass.בִלְשׁ֫וֹנִ֥יvilshoniin tongueלָשׁוֹןpreposition, noun, common, both genders, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “in tongue”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH3956the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of water)[phrase] babbler, bay, [phrase] evil speaker, language, talker, tongue, wedge.אֶשְׁמְרָ֥הeshmerahbewardשָׁמַרverb, qal, cohortative, 1st person, common, singular — “beward”, a determination or requestH8104properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.beward, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man).לְפִ֥יlefito edgeפֶּהpreposition, noun, common, masculine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “to edge”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH6310the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition) according toaccord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment, assent, collar, command(-ment), [idiom] eat, edge, end, entry, [phrase] file, hole, [idiom] in, mind, mouth, part, portion, [idiom] (should) say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, [idiom] s…מַחְס֑וֹםmachsombridleמַחְסוֹםnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “bridle”, the ordinary formH4269a muzzlebridle.בְּעֹ֖דbeodin evenעַדpreposition, adverb — “in even”H5704as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)against, and, as, at, before, by (that), even (to), for(-asmuch as), (hither-) to, [phrase] how long, into, as long (much) as, (so) that, till, toward, until, when, while, ([phrase] as) yet.רָשָׁ֣עrashaguiltyרָשָׁעadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “guilty”, the ordinary formH7563morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person[phrase] condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), that did wrong.לְנֶגְדִּֽיlenegdito againstנֶגֶדpreposition, preposition, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “to against”H5048a front, i.e. part opposite; specifically a counterpart, or mate; usually (adverbial, especially with preposition) over against or beforeabout, (over) against, [idiom] aloof, [idiom] far (off), [idiom] from, over, presence, [idiom] other side, sight, [idiom] to view.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

(39-1) For the Leader, for Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. (39-2) I said: 'I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue; I will keep a curb upon my mouth, while the wicked is before me.'

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

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.

Young’s Literal Translation

To the Overseer, to Jeduthun. — A Psalm of David. I have said, 'I observe my ways, Against sinning with my tongue, I keep for my mouth a curb, while the wicked [is] before me.'

World English Bible

I said, “I will watch my ways, so that I don’t sin with my tongue. I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me.”

Darby Translation

I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a muzzle, while the wicked is before me.

Douay-Rheims

Unto the end, a psalm for David himself.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

(39-1) For the Leader, for Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. (39-2) I said: 'I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue; I will keep a curb upon my mouth, while the wicked is before me.'

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I set a guard on my mouth, while the sinner stood in my presence.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Εἶπα, φυλάξω τὰς ὁδούς μου, τοῦ μὴ ἁμαρτάνειν ἐν γλώσσῃ μου· ἐθέμην τῷ στόματί μου φυλακὴν, ἐν τῷ συστῆναι τὸν ἁμαρτωλὸν ἐναντίον μου.