Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 34:13
Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
13. Keep ] Guard. Cp. Pro 13:3 (R.V.); Pro 21:23; Psa 39:1; Jas 3:2 ff.
guile ] Deceit. Cp. Psa 35:20; Psa 36:3.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Keep thy tongue from evil – From speaking wrong things. Always give utterance to truth, and truth alone. The meaning is, that this is one of the methods of lengthening out life. To love the truth; to speak the truth; to avoid all falsehood, slander, and deceit, will contribute to this, or will be a means which will tend to prolong life, and to make it happy.
And thy lips from speaking guile – Deceit. Do not deceive others by your words. Do not make any statements which are not true, or any promises which you cannot and will not keep. Do not flatter others; and do not give utterance to slander. Be a man characterized by the love of truth: and let all your words convey truth, and truth only. It cannot be doubted that this, like all other virtues, would tend to lengthen life, and to make it prosperous and peaceful. There is no vice which does not tend to abridge human life, as there is no virtue which does not tend to lengthen it. But probably the specific idea here is, that the way to avoid the hostility of other people, and to secure their favor and friendship, is to deal with them truly, and thus to live in peace with them. It is true, also, that God will bless a life of virtue and uprightness, and though there is no absolute certainty that anyone, however virtuous he may be, may not be cut off in early life, yet it is also true that, other things being equal, a man of truth and integrity will be more likely to live long – (as he will be more certain to make the most of life) – than one who is false and corrupt.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
From evil; from all manner of evil-speaking, from all opprobrious, injurious, false, and deceitful speeches; which, though men commonly use to ease and gratify their own minds, or to compass their designs, do frequently fall upon their own heads, by provoking both God and men against them.
Guile; or guileful words, contrary to thy intentions, and with a purpose of deceiving men by them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
13, 14. Sins of thought includedin those of speech (Lu 6:45),avoiding evil and doing good in our relations to men are based on aright relation to God.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Keep thy tongue from evil,…. This, and what follows in this verse and Ps 34:14, point at the things wherein the fear of God shows itself; and suggest, that those who have it, and which is known by these fruits, shall enjoy the desirable and good days before mentioned. The tongue is an instrument of much evil, an unruly member, and needs restraint; and it is from evil, and not from good, it is to be kept; from evil speaking of God, from cursing and swearing; from evil speaking of men, reproaching and reviling them; from filthy speaking, from all obscene and unchaste words, and from all lying ones; for where such evil speaking is indulged, the fear of God cannot be in that man;
and thy lips from speaking guile; hypocritical and deceitful words, speaking with flattering lips and a double heart: some speak bad words in common conversation, through an evil habit and custom; and some speak good words with an ill design; and in neither of them is the fear of God before their eyes, nor in their hearts.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
13. Keep thy tongue from evil The precept which David here delivers relates to a virtue which is very rare, namely, that we should be truthful and free from deceit in our discourse. Some, indeed, understand it in a much more extended sense, supposing that slander is condemned in this first clause. But it seems to me more simple, and more to the purpose, to understand this as of the same import with what he repeats in the second clause, that we should not speak deceitfully with our neighbors, so as that our words may prove the means of ensnaring them. And since nothing is more difficult than to regulate our discourse in such a manner as that our speech may be a true representation of our hearts, David calls upon us to exercise over it a strict and watchful control, not suffering it to run riot, lest it should prove the occasion of our deceiving others.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
Psa 34:13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
Ver. 13. Keep thy tongue from evil, &c. ] This is a hard saying, think the most; who will therefore rather venture it than yield to be so tied up. The tongue is an unruly member, and can hardly be hampered. But who would not temper his tongue, and bind it to the good abearance, for true blessedness? Who would not rather bite it off, and spit it out (as that ancient martyr did his, into the face of the tyrant, who solicited him to deny Christ), than miss heaven? Ficinus after his tract De sanitate tuenda, of keeping good health; and another, of recovering health; and a third, of prolonging life; because all will not do, wisely addeth a fourth, of laying hold on eternal life; which cannot be done but by mortifying this earthly member, a loose and lewd tongue. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned, saith the Judge himself, Mat 12:37 : compare Gen 49:21 , with Deu 33:23 , and it will appear that good words ingratiate with God and men.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Keep, &c. Figure of speech Apostrophe.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Keep: Psa 39:1, Pro 18:21, Mat 12:35-37, Jam 1:19, Jam 1:26, Jam 3:2, Jam 3:5-10
speaking: Psa 55:11, Pro 12:7, Pro 12:19, Pro 12:22, Pro 19:9, Isa 63:8, Col 3:9, 1Pe 2:1, 1Pe 2:22, Rev 14:4, Rev 14:5
Reciprocal: 1Sa 29:8 – that I may not Job 15:13 – and lettest Psa 15:2 – speaketh
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 34:13-14. Keep thy tongue from evil From all manner of evil speaking, from all injurious, false, and deceitful speeches; and thy lips from speaking guile Or, guileful words, contrary to truth and sincerity, and the real thoughts and intentions of thy heart, and used with a purpose of deceiving others by them. Depart from evil From all sin, and especially from all wicked, and injurious acts and practices against thy neighbour. And do good Be ready to perform all good and friendly offices to all men, as thou hast opportunity. Seek peace Study, by all possible means, to live peaceably and quietly with all men, avoiding grudges, debates, dissensions, strifes, and enmities; and pursue it Do not only embrace it gladly, when it is offered, but follow hard after it, when it seems to flee away from thee, and use all possible endeavours by fair and kind words, by condescensions, and by the mediation or assistance of others to recover it, and to compose all differences, which may arise between thee and others.