Psalms 37:30

37:30 The godly speak wise words

and promote justice. ¹ 

Psalms 39:9

39:9 I am silent and cannot open my mouth

because of what you have done. ² 

Psalms 49:3

49:3 I will declare a wise saying; ³ 

I will share my profound thoughts. ⁴ 

Psalms 54:2

54:2 O God, listen to my prayer!

Pay attention to what I say! ⁵ 

Psalms 66:14

66:14 which my lips uttered

and my mouth spoke when I was in trouble.

Psalms 78:2

78:2 I will sing a song that imparts wisdom;

I will make insightful observations about the past. ⁶ 

Psalms 119:108

119:108 O Lord, please accept the freewill offerings of my praise! ⁷ 

Teach me your regulations!

[37:30]  ¹ tn Heb “The mouth of the godly [one] utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.” The singular form is used in a representative sense; the typical godly individual is in view. The imperfect verbal forms draw attention to the characteristic behavior of the godly.

[39:9]  ² tn Heb “because you acted.” The psalmist has in mind God’s disciplinary measures (see vv. 10-13).

[49:3]  ³ tn Heb “my mouth will speak wisdom.” According to BDB 315 s.v. חָכְמָה the plural חָכְמוֹת (khokhmot, “wisdom”) indicates degree or emphasis here.

[49:3]  ⁴ tn Heb “and the meditation of my heart [i.e., mind] is understanding.” The Hebrew term הָגוּת (hagut, “meditation”), derived from הָגָה (hagah, “to recite quietly; to meditate”), here refers to thoughts that are verbalized (see the preceding line). The plural form תְבוּנוֹת (tÿvunot, “understanding”) indicates degree or emphasis (see GKC 397-98 §124.e).

[54:2]  ⁴ tn Heb “to the words of my mouth.”

[78:2]  ⁵ tn Heb “I will open with a wise saying my mouth, I will utter insightful sayings from long ago.” Elsewhere the Hebrew word pair חִידָה+מָשָׁל (mashal + khidah) refers to a taunt song (Hab 2:6), a parable (Ezek 17:2), proverbial sayings (Prov 1:6), and an insightful song that reflects on the mortality of humankind and the ultimate inability of riches to prevent death (Ps 49:4).

[119:108]  ⁶ tn Heb “of my mouth.”