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Read the Bible
THE MESSAGE
Psalms 32:9
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- AmericanEncyclopedias:
- InternationalParallel Translations
Do not be like a horse or mule,without understanding,that must be controlled with bit and bridleor else it will not come near you.
Don't be like the horse, or like the mule, which have no understanding, Whose are controlled by bit and bridle, or else they will not come near to you.
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.
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.
So don't be like a horse or donkey, that doesn't understand. They must be led with bits and reins, or they will not come near you."
Do not be like an unintelligent horse or mule, which will not obey you unless they are controlled by a bridle and bit.
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.
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.
Don't be like the horse, or like the mule, which have no understanding, Whose are controlled by bit and bridle, or else they will not come near to you.
Be ye not like an horse, or like a mule, which vnderstand not: whose mouthes thou doest binde with bit and bridle, least they come neere thee.
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.
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.
Don't be stupid like horses and mules that must be led with ropes to make them obey."
Don't be like a horse or mule that has no understanding, that has to be curbed with bit and bridle, or else it won't come near you.
Be ye not as a horse, as a mule, which have no understanding: whose trappings must be bit and bridle, for restraint, or they will not come unto thee.
Don't be like a stupid horse or mule that will not come to you unless you put a bit in its mouth and pull it with reins."
Be not as the horse or as the mule, which have no understanding, which must be subdued with bit and bridle from their youth; no one goes near them.
Don't be stupid like a horse or a mule, which must be controlled with a bit and bridle to make it submit."
Do not be like a horse or like a mule, without understanding; that needs his tackle—bridle and rein—for restraint or he would not come near you.
Be not like the horse, like the mule, with no understanding; with bit and bridle his gear to be held in, that they do not come near you.
Sela. I wil enforme the, and shewe the the waye wherin thou shalt go: I wil fasten myne eyes vpon the.
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.
Do not be like the horse or the ass, without sense; Three dots are used where it is no longer possible to be certain of the true sense of the Hebrew words, and for this reason no attempt has been made to put them into Basic English.
Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding;
Be yee not as the horse, or as the mule which haue no vnderstanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, least they come neere vnto thee.
Be ye not lyke a horse [or] lyke a mule whiche haue no vnderstanding: whose mouthes must be holden with bit and brydle, lest they fall vpon thee.
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.
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.
Nile ye be maad as an hors and mule; to whiche is noon vndurstondyng. Lord, constreyne thou the chekis of hem with a bernacle and bridil; that neiyen not to thee.
Don't be 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 to you.
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.
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.
Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control."
Do not be like the horse or the donkey which have no understanding. They must be made to work by using bits and leather ropes or they will not come to you.
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.
Do not ye become like a horse, like a mule, without discernment, - With the bit and bridle of his mouth, hast thou to restrain him, - He will not come near unto thee.
(31-9) 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.
Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, else it will not keep with you.
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.
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.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Be ye: Proverbs 26:3, Jeremiah 31:18, James 3:3, James 4:7-10
no: Job 35:11, Jeremiah 4:22, Jeremiah 8:6, Jeremiah 8:7
Reciprocal: Exodus 4:12 - General 2 Kings 19:28 - I will put Job 41:13 - double Psalms 25:9 - guide Psalms 73:22 - as a Psalms 92:6 - A brutish Proverbs 10:13 - a rod Proverbs 12:1 - he that Isaiah 30:28 - a bridle Isaiah 37:29 - will I Jeremiah 35:13 - Will James 1:26 - bridleth
Cross-References
Then God was right before him, saying, "I am God , the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. I'm giving the ground on which you are sleeping to you and to your descendants. Your descendants will be as the dust of the Earth; they'll stretch from west to east and from north to south. All the families of the Earth will bless themselves in you and your descendants. Yes. I'll stay with you, I'll protect you wherever you go, and I'll bring you back to this very ground. I'll stick with you until I've done everything I promised you."
That's when God said to Jacob, "Go back home where you were born. I'll go with you."
The messengers came back to Jacob and said, "We talked to your brother Esau and he's on his way to meet you. But he has four hundred men with him."
Jacob was scared. Very scared. Panicked, he divided his people, sheep, cattle, and camels into two camps. He thought, "If Esau comes on the first camp and attacks it, the other camp has a chance to get away."
Then he said, "I am the God of your father: The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob." Moses hid his face, afraid to look at God.
King Hezekiah, joined by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz, responded by praying, calling up to heaven. God answered by sending an angel who wiped out everyone in the Assyrian camp, both warriors and officers. Sennacherib was forced to return home in disgrace, tail between his legs. When he went into the temple of his god, his own sons killed him.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Be ye not as the horse, [or] as the mule, [which] have no understanding,.... The design of this exhortation is to direct men how to behave under the instructions given; not as brutes, which have no rational faculties, but as men; that they should not show themselves thoughtless, stupid, and unteachable, as these animals, or worse than they; nor stubborn and obstinate, refractory and untractable, resolving not to be taught, stopping the ear, and pulling away the shoulder; nor ill natured and mischievous; not only hating instruction, casting away the law of the Lord, but kicking and spurning at, and persecuting such who undertake to instruct them; as these creatures sometimes attempt to throw their riders, and, when down, kick at them;
whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee; to do mischief, bite or kick; or "because they do not come near to thee" t; and that they may come near, and be brought into subjection, and become obedient; therefore such methods are used; see James 3:3; there is in the words a tacit intimation, that men are commonly, and for the most part, like these creatures, stupid, stubborn, and mischievous; and therefore severe methods are used by the Lord, sore chastenings, to humble and instruct them; see
Jeremiah 31:18; the mule, more especially, is remarkable for its stupidity u; and though the horse is docile, yet he is sometimes stubborn and refractory.
t בל קרב אליך "quia non accedunt ad te", Grotius. u "Mule, nihil sentis----", Catullus.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Be ye not as the horse - The horse as it is by nature - wild, ungoverned, unwilling to be caught and made obedient. The counsel referred to in the previous verse is here given; and it is, that one who wishes to obtain the favor of God should not be as the wild and unbroken horse, an animal that can be subdued only by a curb, but should evince a calm, submissive spirit - a spirit “disposed” to obey and submit. If he becomes a subject of God’s government, he is not to be subdued and held as the horse is - by mere force; there must be the cheerful submission of the will. People are not brought into the service of God by physical power; they are not kept there by an iron “curb.” They come and yield themselves willingly to his law; they “must” come with that spirit if they would find the favor of God.
Or as the mule - The mule is distinguished for its obstinacy, and this is evidently the ground of comparison here. The meaning is, be tractable, gentle, yielding; submit to the guidance and direction of God and his truth.
Which have no understanding - That cannot be controlled by reason and conscience. They are governed only by power and by fear. People have reason and conscience, and they should allow themselves to be controlled by appeals TO their reason and to their moral sense. They are not made to be governed as brutes are. Since they have a higher nature, they should permit themselves to be governed by it.
Whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle - More literally, “in bit and bridle is their ornament to restrain them;” that is, the trappings or the ornaments of the horse and the mule consist of the bridle and the bit, the purpose of which is to restrain or control them. The allusion, however, is not to the bit and bridle as an “ornament,” but as the ordinary trappings of the mule and the horse.
Lest they come near unto thee - Or rather, “because of its not approaching thee;” that is, because the horse and the mule will not come to thee of their own accord, but must be restrained and controlled.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Psalms 32:9. Be ye not as the horse or as the mule — They will only act by force and constraint; be not like them; give a willing service to your Maker. "They have no understanding;" you have a rational soul, made to be guided and influenced by reason. The service of your God is a reasonable service; act, therefore, as a rational being. The horse and the mule are turned with difficulty; they must be constrained with bit and bridle. Do not be like them; do not oblige your Maker to have continual recourse to afflictions, trials, and severe dispensations of providence, to keep you in the way, or to recover you after you have gone out of it.
