Psalms 39:1

KJV1611 – Modern English

I said, I will be careful of my ways, so that I do not sin with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked are before me.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ לִֽידוּת֗וּן מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃

Transliteration

To-the-mənaṣṣēaḥ to-yədûtûn mizmôr to-dāwid

Grammar Details

• *mənaṣṣēaḥ*: noun, masculine singular with prefixed preposition 'lə' - to/for the director/chief musician
• *yədûtûn*: proper noun with prefixed preposition 'lə' - to/for Jeduthun (possibly a musician or music style)
• *mizmôr*: noun, masculine singular construct - psalm/melody
• *dāwid*: proper noun with prefixed preposition 'lə' - to/for/of David

Word Meanings

• *mənaṣṣēaḥ*: director/chief musician/conductor/overseer
• *yədûtûn*: Jeduthun (proper name of musician or musical guild or style)
• *mizmôr*: psalm/melody/song/musical composition

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  For the director of music, for Jeduthun, a psalm of David.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A alm 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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  For the Chief Musician, for 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.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. I said{H8804)}, I will take heed{H8799)} to my ways, that I sin{H8800)} not with my tongue: I will keep{H8799)} my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  I sayde: I wil kepe my waies, that I offended not in my tonge.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  To the excellent musician Ieduthun. A Psalme of Dauid. I thought, I will take heede to my wayes, that I sinne not with my tongue: I will keepe my mouth brideled, while the wicked is in my sight.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  To the chiefe musition Ieduthun, a psalme of Dauid. I sayde to my selfe I wyll take heede to my wayes, that I offende not in my tongue: I wyll kepe my mouth as it were with a brydell, whylest the vngodly is in my syght.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ¶ 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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  > 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."

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  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.'

• 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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  [For the Chief Musician, for 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.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  <To the chief music-maker. Of Jeduthun. A Psalm. Of David.> I said, I will give attention to my ways, so that my tongue may do no wrong; I will keep my mouth under control, while the sinner is before me.

• World English Bible (2000)

  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."

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  For the music director, Jeduthun; a psalm of David. I decided,“I will watch what I say and make sure I do not sin with my tongue. I will put a muzzle over my mouth while in the presence of an evil man.”

Referenced Verses

• 1 Kgs 2:4 : 4 That the Lord may continue His word which He spoke concerning me, saying, If your 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 you a man on the throne of Israel.
• 2 Kgs 10:31 : 31 But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin.
• Job 2:10 : 10 But he said to her, You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
• Ps 62:1 : 1 Truly my soul waits upon God; from Him comes my salvation.
• 1 Chr 16:41 : 41 And with them Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest that were chosen, who were designated by name, to give thanks to the LORD, because his mercy endures forever;
• Ps 119:9 : 9 BETH. How shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.
• Ps 141:3 : 3 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.
• Prov 4:26-27 : 26 Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. 27 Do not turn to the right hand nor to the left; remove your foot from evil.
• Prov 18:21 : 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
• Prov 21:23 : 23 Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
• Amos 5:13 : 13 Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.
• Mic 7:5-6 : 5 Do not trust in a friend, put no confidence in a guide: keep the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your bosom. 6 For the son dishonors the father, the daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house.
• Col 4:5 : 5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.
• Heb 2:1 : 1 Therefore we ought to give more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
• Jas 1:26 : 26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is useless.
• Jas 3:2-8 : 2 For in many things we all stumble. If anyone does not stumble in word, the same is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Behold, we put bits in horses' mouths so that they may obey us; and we turn their whole body. 4 Look also at the ships, which, though they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, yet they are turned with a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5 Even so, the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. Behold, how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so the tongue is among our members, that it defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast, and of bird, and of serpent, and of things in the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
• 1 Chr 25:1-6 : 1 Moreover, David and the captains of the army set apart for service the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, psalteries, and cymbals: and the number of the workers according to their service was: 2 Of the sons of Asaph; Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied according to the king's order. 3 Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the LORD. 4 Of Heman: the sons of Heman; Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamtiezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth: 5 All these were the sons of Heman, the king's seer in the words of God, to exalt the horn. And God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. 6 All these were under the direction of their father for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.
• Ps 73:8-9 : 8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly of oppression; they speak loftily. 9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth.
• Ps 77:1 : 1 I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and He listened to me.
• Ps 12:4 : 4 Who have said, With our tongue we will prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?
• Ps 34:13 : 13 Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.