Psalm 109:1
New International Version
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. My God, whom I praise, do not remain silent,

New Living Translation
O God, whom I praise, don’t stand silent and aloof

English Standard Version
Be not silent, O God of my praise!

Berean Standard Bible
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O God of my praise, be not silent.

King James Bible
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise;

New King James Version
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. Do not keep silent, O God of my praise!

New American Standard Bible
For the music director. A Psalm of David. God of my praise, Do not be silent!

NASB 1995
For the choir director. A Psalm of David. O God of my praise, Do not be silent!

NASB 1977
O God of my praise, Do not be silent!

Legacy Standard Bible
For the choir director. Of David. A Psalm. O God of my praise, Do not be silent!

Amplified Bible
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. O God of my praise! Do not keep silent,

Christian Standard Bible
For the choir director. A psalm of David. God of my praise, do not be silent.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For the choir director. A Davidic psalm. God of my praise, do not be silent.

American Standard Version
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise;

Contemporary English Version
I praise you, God! Don't keep silent.

English Revised Version
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
[For the choir director; a psalm by David.] O God, whom I praise, do not turn a deaf ear to me.

Good News Translation
I praise you, God; don't remain silent!

International Standard Version
God, whom I praise, do not be silent,

Majority Standard Bible
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O God of my praise, be not silent.

NET Bible
For the music director, a psalm of David. O God whom I praise, do not ignore me!

New Heart English Bible
[For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.] God of my praise, do not remain silent,

Webster's Bible Translation
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise;

World English Bible
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. God of my praise, don’t remain silent,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
TO THE OVERSEER. A PSALM OF DAVID. O God of my praise, do not be silent,

Young's Literal Translation
To the Overseer. -- A Psalm of David. O God of my praise, be not silent,

Smith's Literal Translation
To the overseer, to David a chanting. O God of my praise, thou wilt not be silent;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Unto the end, a psalm for David.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Unto the end. A Psalm of David.

New American Bible
For the leader. A psalm of David.

New Revised Standard Version
Do not be silent, O God of my praise.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
HOLD not thy peace, O God of my praise;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
God of my praise, do not be silent!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For the Leader. A Psalm of David. O God of my praise, keep not silence;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For the end, a Psalm of David. O God, pass not over my praise in silence;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Song of the Slandered
1For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O God of my praise, be not silent. 2For wicked and deceitful mouths open against me; they speak against me with lying tongues.…

Cross References
Psalm 35:22
O LORD, You have seen it; be not silent. O Lord, be not far from me.

Psalm 38:13-14
But like a deaf man, I do not hear; and like a mute man, I do not open my mouth. / I am like a man who cannot hear, whose mouth offers no reply.

Psalm 69:4
Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs of my head; many are those who would destroy me—my enemies for no reason. Though I did not steal, I must repay.

Psalm 83:1
A song. A Psalm of Asaph. O God, be not silent; be not speechless; be not still, O God.

Psalm 28:1
Of David. To You, O LORD, I call; be not deaf to me, O my Rock. For if You remain silent, I will be like those descending to the Pit.

Psalm 39:12
Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. For I am a foreigner dwelling with You, a stranger like all my fathers.

Psalm 50:21
You have done these things, and I kept silent; you thought I was just like you. But now I rebuke you and accuse you to your face.

Isaiah 42:14
“I have kept silent from ages past; I have remained quiet and restrained. But now I will groan like a woman in labor; I will at once gasp and pant.

Isaiah 53:7
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.

Lamentations 3:26
It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

Matthew 27:12-14
And when He was accused by the chief priests and elders, He gave no answer. / Then Pilate asked Him, “Do You not hear how many charges they are bringing against You?” / But Jesus gave no answer, not even to a single charge, much to the governor’s amazement.

Mark 14:61
But Jesus remained silent and made no reply. Again the high priest questioned Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”

Luke 23:9
Herod questioned Jesus at great length, but He gave no answer.

John 19:9
and he went back into the Praetorium. “Where are You from?” he asked. But Jesus gave no answer.

Acts 8:32-33
The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so He did not open His mouth. / In His humiliation He was deprived of justice. Who can recount His descendants? For His life was removed from the earth.”


Treasury of Scripture

Hold not your peace, O God of my praise;

A.

hold

Psalm 28:1
A Psalm of David. Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.

Psalm 35:22,23
This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me…

Psalm 83:1
A Song or Psalm of Asaph. Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.

O God

Psalm 118:28
Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.

Exodus 15:2
The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.

Deuteronomy 10:21
He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.

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Psalm 109
1. David complains of his slanderous enemies
16. He shows their sin
21. Complaining of his own misery, he prays for help
29. He promises thankfulness














For the choirmaster.
This phrase indicates that the psalm was intended for public worship and was to be directed by the choirmaster, a leader of music in the temple. The role of the choirmaster was significant in ancient Israelite worship, as music was a central part of their religious expression. This suggests that the psalm was not only a personal lament but also a communal prayer, reflecting the collective struggles and faith of the people.

A Psalm of David.
Attributed to King David, this psalm reflects his experiences and emotions. David, known as a man after God's own heart, often faced opposition and betrayal, which is a central theme in this psalm. The historical context of David's life, including his conflicts with Saul, Absalom, and other adversaries, provides a backdrop for understanding the intensity of his plea. David's psalms often serve as a type of Christ, foreshadowing the suffering and rejection Jesus would face.

O God of my praise,
David begins by acknowledging God as the source of his praise, emphasizing a relationship of trust and reverence. This phrase highlights the importance of worship and gratitude, even in times of distress. It connects to other scriptures where God is praised for His faithfulness and deliverance, such as in Psalm 22 and Psalm 34. The invocation of God as the object of praise sets the tone for the psalm, underscoring the belief that God is worthy of honor regardless of circumstances.

be not silent.
David's plea for God not to be silent reflects a deep desire for divine intervention and justice. In the cultural and historical context, silence from God could be perceived as absence or inaction, which was distressing for someone in dire need. This echoes other biblical instances where God's people cry out for Him to speak or act, such as in Habakkuk 1:2 and Psalm 28:1. The request for God to break His silence is a call for His presence and power to be made manifest in the face of adversity.

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
Traditionally attributed as the author of Psalm 109, David is expressing a plea to God amidst adversity and false accusations.

2. God
Referred to as the "God of my praise," indicating a personal relationship and acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and worthiness of worship.

3. Enemies
Though not directly mentioned in this verse, the context of the psalm involves adversaries who are speaking deceitfully against David.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Praise
Even in distress, David acknowledges God as the "God of my praise," teaching us to maintain a heart of worship regardless of circumstances.

God's Silence and Our Faith
When God seems silent, it is an opportunity to deepen our faith and trust in His timing and justice.

Responding to Adversity
David's response to his enemies is to turn to God rather than retaliate, setting an example for us to seek divine intervention rather than personal revenge.

The Power of Prayer
This verse highlights the importance of prayer as a means of communication with God, especially when facing trials.

Trust in God's Justice
David's plea is rooted in a belief that God will ultimately bring justice, encouraging us to trust in God's righteous judgment.(1) God of my praise.--That is, God to whom as covenant God it was a privilege to make tehillah. (See Deuteronomy 10:20-21, where Jehovah is said to be "the praise" of those who "swear by His name." Comp. also Psalm 106:2-3, and Note, and Psalm 33:1. Perhaps "God of my glory or boast" would more nearly give the force of the original. The psalmist prays that Jehovah's silence may not make his confident glorifying in the covenant promises vain.

Verses 1-5. - The initial prayer and complaint. The prayer occupies one verse only (ver. 1); the complaint four verses (vers. 2-5). Verse 1. - Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise (comp. Psalm 28:1; Psalm 35:22; Psalm 39:12). If God makes no sign when men arc grievously persecuted, he seems to be indifferent to their sufferings. Surely he will not thus treat one who praises him continually (Psalm 22:26; Psalm 71:6).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For the choirmaster.
לַ֭מְנַצֵּחַ (lam·naṣ·ṣê·aḥ)
Preposition-l, Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5329: To glitter from afar, to be eminent, to be permanent

A Psalm
מִזְמ֑וֹר (miz·mō·wr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4210: Instrumental music, a poem set to notes

of David.
לְדָוִ֣ד (lə·ḏā·wiḏ)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

O God
אֱלֹהֵ֥י (’ĕ·lō·hê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

of my praise,
תְ֝הִלָּתִ֗י (ṯə·hil·lā·ṯî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 8416: Praise, song of praise

do not
אַֽל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

be silent.
תֶּחֱרַֽשׁ׃ (te·ḥĕ·raš)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 2790: To cut in, engrave, plow, devise


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OT Poetry: Psalm 109:1 For the Chief Musician (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 108:13
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