Psalm 32:9
New International Version
Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.

New Living Translation
Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”

English Standard Version
Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.

Berean Standard Bible
Do not be like the horse or mule, which have no understanding; they must be controlled with bit and bridle to make them come to you.

King James Bible
Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.

New King James Version
Do not be like the horse or like the mule, Which have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, Else they will not come near you.

New American Standard Bible
Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you.

NASB 1995
Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you.

NASB 1977
Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you.

Legacy Standard Bible
Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, Whose harness are bit and bridle to control them, Otherwise they will not come near you.

Amplified Bible
Do not be like the horse or like the mule which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bridle and rein to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you.

Christian Standard Bible
Do not be like a horse or mule, without understanding, that must be controlled with bit and bridle or else it will not come near you.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Do not be like a horse or mule, without understanding, that must be controlled with bit and bridle or else it will not come near you.

American Standard Version
Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding; Whose trappings must be bit and bridle to hold them in, Else they will not come near unto thee.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
You shall not be like a horse or like a mule which are not wise, which are tamed with a bit from their youth, and they do not go near it.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Be ye not as horse and mule, which have no understanding; but thou must constrain their jaws with bit and curb, lest they should come nigh to thee.

Contemporary English Version
Don't be stupid like horses and mules that must be led with ropes to make them obey."

Douay-Rheims Bible
Do not become like the horse and the mule, who have no understanding. With bit and bridle bind fast their jaws, who come not near unto thee.

English Revised Version
Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose trappings must be bit and bridle to hold them in, else they will not come near unto thee.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Don't be stubborn like a horse or mule. [They need] a bit and bridle in their mouth to restrain them, or they will not come near you."

Good News Translation
Don't be stupid like a horse or a mule, which must be controlled with a bit and bridle to make it submit."

International Standard Version
Don't be like a horse or mule, without understanding. They are held in check by a bit and bridle in their mouths; otherwise they will not remain near you.

JPS Tanakh 1917
Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding; Whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, That they come not near unto thee.

Literal Standard Version
Do not be as a horse—as a mule, | Without understanding, | With bridle and bit, its ornaments, to curb, | Not to come near to you.

Majority Standard Bible
Do not be like the horse or mule, which have no understanding; they must be controlled with bit and bridle to make them come to you.

New American Bible
Do not be like a horse or mule, without understanding; with bit and bridle their temper is curbed, else they will not come to you.

NET Bible
Do not be like an unintelligent horse or mule, which will not obey you unless they are controlled by a bridle and bit.

New Revised Standard Version
Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding, whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle, else it will not stay near you.

New Heart English Bible
Do not be like the horse, or like the mule, which have no understanding, who are controlled by bit and bridle, or else they will not come near to you.

Webster's Bible Translation
Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near to thee.

World English Bible
Don’t be like the horse, or like the mule, which have no understanding, who are controlled by bit and bridle, or else they will not come near to you.

Young's Literal Translation
Be ye not as a horse -- as a mule, Without understanding, With bridle and bit, its ornaments, to curb, Not to come near unto thee.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Providence of God
8I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will give you counsel and watch over you. 9Do not be like the horse or mule, which have no understanding; they must be controlled with bit and bridle to make them come to you. 10Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but loving devotion surrounds him who trusts in the LORD.…

Cross References
James 3:3
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can guide the whole animal.

Job 30:11
Because God has unstrung my bow and afflicted me, they have cast off restraint in my presence.

Proverbs 26:3
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!


Treasury of Scripture

Be you not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near to you.

Be ye

Proverbs 26:3
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.

Jeremiah 31:18
I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God.

James 3:3
Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

no

Job 35:11
Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?

Jeremiah 4:22
For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

Jeremiah 8:6,7
I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle…

Jump to Previous
Ass Bit Bridle Check Controlled Curb Held Hold Horse Include Mouth Mule Ornaments Otherwise Restraint Sense Understanding
Jump to Next
Ass Bit Bridle Check Controlled Curb Held Hold Horse Include Mouth Mule Ornaments Otherwise Restraint Sense Understanding
Psalm 32
1. Blessedness consists in remission of sins
3. Confession of sins gives ease to the conscience
8. God's promises bring joy














(9) Whose mouth.--Here the text has evidently suffered, and the exact meaning is lost. There are also verbal difficulties. The word translated "mouth" elsewhere (except Psalm 103:5, where see Note) means "ornament," and the literal rendering of the text as it stands is, with bit and bridle his ornament to hold, not approaching to thee. This may mean that the animal is harnessed, either "that it may not approach," or "because without harness it will not approach." In either case the general application is the same. Horses and mules can only be rendered obedient by restraints that are unworthy of a rational creature. The LXX. and Vulg. have "jaws" instead of "mouth," and Ewald follows them, and renders the last clause, "of those who approach thee unfriendly."

Verse 9. - Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding. The singular is exchanged for the plural, since the "instruction" is now intended, not for the godly man only, but for all. Israel had been always stiff-necked (Exodus 32:9; Exodus 33:3, 5; Exodus 34:9; Deuteronomy 9:6, 13; Deuteronomy 10:16; 2 Chronicles 30:8; Acts 7:51), like a restive horse or mule. David exhorts them to be so no more. The horse and mule are excusable, since they "have no understanding " - or, "no discernment" - Israel would be inexcusable, since it had the gift of reason. Whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle; rather, whose adornings are with bit and bridle to hold them in (compare the Revised Version). Lest they come near unto thee. This clause is obscure. It may mean, "Lest they come too near to thee," so as to do thee damage, as when a riding horse tosses his head and strikes the rider in the face, or when a chariot horse rears and falls back upon the driver; or it may mean, "Else they will not come near to thee," i.e. until they are trapped with bit and bridle, they will refuse to come near to thee.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

be
תִּֽהְי֤וּ ׀ (tih·yū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

like the horse
כְּס֥וּס (kə·sūs)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5483: A swallow, swift (type of bird)

or mule,
כְּפֶרֶד֮ (kə·p̄e·reḏ)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6505: A mule

[which] have no
אֵ֤ין (’ên)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

understanding;
הָ֫בִ֥ין (hā·ḇîn)
Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 995: To separate mentally, understand

they must be controlled
לִבְל֑וֹם (liḇ·lō·wm)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1102: To curb, hold in

with bit
בְּמֶֽתֶג־ (bə·me·ṯeḡ-)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4964: A bridle

and bridle
וָרֶ֣סֶן (wā·re·sen)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7448: A halter, the jaw

[to make]
בַּ֝֗ל (bal)
Adverb
Strong's 1077: A failure, nothing, not at all, lest

them come
קְרֹ֣ב (qə·rōḇ)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7126: To come near, approach

to you.
אֵלֶֽיךָ׃ (’ê·le·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to


Links
Psalm 32:9 NIV
Psalm 32:9 NLT
Psalm 32:9 ESV
Psalm 32:9 NASB
Psalm 32:9 KJV

Psalm 32:9 BibleApps.com
Psalm 32:9 Biblia Paralela
Psalm 32:9 Chinese Bible
Psalm 32:9 French Bible
Psalm 32:9 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Psalm 32:9 Don't be like the horse or like (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 32:8
Top of Page
Top of Page