Unless Yahweh had been my help, my soul would have soon lived in silence.
When I said, “My foot is slipping!” Your loving kindness, Yahweh, held me up.
In the multitude of my thoughts within me, your comforts delight my soul.
Parallel Translations
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Unless Yahweh had been my help, my soul would have soon lived in silence.
When I said, “My foot is slipping!” Your loving kindness, Yahweh, held me up.
In the multitude of my thoughts within me, your comforts delight my soul.
-
Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.
When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.
In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.
Show all 3 translations
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Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had soon dwelt in silence.
If I say: 'My foot slippeth', Thy mercy, O LORD, holdeth me up.
When my cares are many within me, Thy comforts delight my soul.
Cross-references (30)
- Psalms 61:2 (v19) From the end of the earth, I will call to you when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
- 2 Corinthians 1:4-5 (v19) who comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we…
- Psalms 77:2-10 (v19) In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord. My hand was stretched out in the night, and didn’t get tired. My soul refused to be comforted.…
- Psalms 121:3 (v18) He will not allow your foot to be moved. He who keeps you will not slumber.
- Isaiah 41:10 (v18) Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will…
Show all 30 cross-references
- Romans 5:2-5 (v19) through whom we also have our access by faith into this grace in which we stand. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only this, but…
- Psalms 63:5-6 (v19) My soul shall be satisfied as with the richest food. My mouth shall praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you on my bed, and think…
- Habakkuk 3:16-18 (v19) I heard, and my body trembled. My lips quivered at the voice. Rottenness enters into my bones, and I tremble in my place, because I must…
- Psalms 119:116-117 (v18) Uphold me according to your word, that I may live. Let me not be ashamed of my hope. Hold me up, and I will be safe, and will have respect…
- Psalms 37:23-24 (v18) A man’s steps are established by Yahweh. He delights in his way. Though he stumble, he shall not fall, for Yahweh holds him up with his…
- 1 Peter 1:7-8 (v19) that the proof of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes even though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in…
- Psalms 43:2-5 (v19) For you are the God of my strength. Why have you rejected me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? Oh, send out…
- Psalms 38:16 (v18) For I said, “Don’t let them gloat over me, or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips.”
- Psalms 17:5 (v18) My steps have held fast to your paths. My feet have not slipped.
- Luke 22:32 (v18) but I prayed for you, that your faith wouldn’t fail. You, when once you have turned again, establish your brothers.”
- 1 Samuel 2:9 (v18) He will keep the feet of his holy ones, but the wicked will be put to silence in darkness; for no man will prevail by strength.
- Psalms 73:2 (v18) But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had nearly slipped.
- Psalms 73:12-16 (v19) Behold, these are the wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches. Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands…
- Psalms 124:1-2 (v17) If it had not been Yahweh who was on our side, let Israel now say, if it had not been Yahweh who was on our side, when men rose up against…
- Jeremiah 20:7-11 (v19) Yahweh, you have persuaded me, and I was persuaded. You are stronger than I, and have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all day.…
- 1 Peter 1:5 (v18) who by the power of God are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
- Psalms 31:17 (v17) Let me not be disappointed, Yahweh, for I have called on you. Let the wicked be disappointed. Let them be silent in Sheol.
- Psalms 118:13 (v17) You pushed me back hard, to make me fall, but Yahweh helped me.
- 2 Timothy 4:16-17 (v17) At my first defense, no one came to help me, but all left me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood by me and strengthened…
- Psalms 13:3 (v17) Behold, and answer me, Yahweh, my God. Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death;
- Psalms 115:17 (v17) The dead don’t praise Yah, neither any who go down into silence;
- Psalms 125:1 (v17) Those who trust in Yahweh are as Mount Zion, which can’t be moved, but remains forever.
- Psalms 142:4-5 (v17) Look on my right, and see; for there is no one who is concerned for me. Refuge has fled from me. No one cares for my soul. I cried to you,…
- John 16:32 (v17) Behold, the time is coming, yes, and has now come, that you will be scattered, everyone to his own place, and you will leave me alone. Yet…
- 2 Corinthians 1:8-10 (v17) For we don’t desire to have you uninformed, brothers, concerning our affliction which happened to us in Asia, that we were weighed down…
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (17 sources)
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John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain On v18 18. If I said, My foot has fallen What…
18. If I said, My foot has fallen What is said in this verse confirms the preceding statement. The more to commend God’s kindness and power, he declares that it was no common danger from which he had been rescued, but in a manner from present death. The import of the language is, that death stared him so full in view, that he despaired of himself; as Paul speaks of having had the message of death in himself, when his condition was desperate, and he had given up hope of life, (2 Corinthians 1:9.) The fact of the Psalmist having been delivered after he had considered death certain, made the Divine interposition the more conspicuous. If we understand him as speaking of temporal death only in the expression, My foot has fallen — there is nothing unaccountable in the circumstance of his having despaired, as God often prolongs the life of his people in the world, when they had lost hope, and were preparing for their departure. Possibly, however, the Psalmist only means that this was the language of sense; and this is the more probable, because we have already seen that he never ceased praying to God — a proof that he had still some hope. The next verse affords still further proof, for there he tells us that his afflictions were always mixed with some comfort. By thoughts, he means anxious and perplexing cares, which would have overwhelmed him had not consolation been communicated to him from above. We learn this truth from the passage, That God interposes in behalf of his people, with a due regard to the magnitude of their trials and distresses, and at the very moment which is necessary, enlarging them in their straits, as we find stated in other places. The heavier our calamities grow, we should hope that Divine grace will only be the more powerfully manifested in comforting us under them, (Psalm 4:1; 118:5,) But should we through weakness of the flesh be vexed and tormented by anxious cares, we must be satisfied with the remedy which the Psalmist here speaks of in such high terms. Believers are conscious of two very different states of mind. On the one hand, they are afflicted and distressed with various fears and anxieties; on the other, there is a secret joy communicated to them from above, and this in accommodation to their necessity, so as to preserve them from being swallowed up by any complication or force of calamity which may assail them.
John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv17–19 He complaineth of them which would not help him…
He complaineth of them which would not help him to resist the enemies: yet was assured that God’s help would not fail.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv17–19 Psa 94:17 Unless the LORD [had been] my help,…
Psa 94:17 Unless the LORD [had been] my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.
Ver. 17. Unless the Lord had been my help] He loveth to help at a pinch; he usually reserveth his hand for a dead lift. See 2Ti 4:16-17.
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My soul had almost dwelt in silence] i.e. In the dark cloisters of death. The Greek and Latin translators render it, In hell.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv17–19 In the place of silence, to wit, the grave.…
In the place of silence, to wit, the grave. Compare Job 3:17,18; Psa 88:12; 115:17.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv17–19 Unless the Lord had been my help,.... Against her…
Unless the Lord had been my help,.... Against her enemies, which were so many and mighty, and her friends so few and feeble, and having no heart to defend her cause; especially this will be the case at the time of the slaying of the witnesses; but the Lord will appear, and help her; the Spirit of life, from him, shall enter into them, and cause them to live again, and to ascend up to heaven; and shall destroy great numbers of their enemies, and the rest shall be frightened, and give glory to God, Rev 11:11,
my soul had almost dwelt in silence; or "within a little", or "must quickly" (e); not only have been, but must have dwelt, continued in silence, in the grave; see Psa 115:17 his case being desperate, like that of the apostles, when they had the sentence of death within themselves, Co2 1:10, this is to be understood not of the soul precisely, and abstractly considered, which dies not, nor is it silent after death; but of the whole person, being a part for the whole; and of the person, with respect to the mortal part, the body, which only dies, and while in a state of separation, or in the grave, is silent, and ceases from all operations of life: perhaps this may have some respect to the silencing of the witnesses, which is a principal thing meant by the slaying of them; a stop put to their ministrations, partly by the edicts of their enemies, and partly by the discouragement of their friends, their shyness, and negligence of them; and which silence will be almost total, if not altogether; though it will last but for a short time; they shall not dwell or continue in silence, but will open their mouths again; signified by the angel flying through the midst of heaven, with the everlasting Gospel, Rev 14:6.
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(e) "quasi parum", Montanus, Gejerus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv17, 19 Dwelt - In the place of silence, the grave.
Dwelt - In the place of silence, the grave.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv17–19 Verse 17. Unless the Lord had been my help]…
Verse 17. Unless the Lord had been my help] Had not God in a strange manner supported us while under his chastising hand, we had been utterly cut off.
My soul had almost dwelt in silence.] The Vulgate has in inferno, in hell or the infernal world; the Septuagint, τω αδη, in the invisible world.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv18–19 Psa 94:18. When I said, My foot slippeth —…
Psa 94:18. When I said, My foot slippeth — I am now upon the point of falling into mischief and utter destruction; thy mercy, O Lord, held me up — A merciful, gracious, and powerful hand was immediately stretched out to support my steps, and establish my goings. Observe, reader, we are beholden, not only to God’s power but to his pity, for spiritual supports, and we are then prepared to receive those supports, when we are sensible of our own weakness and inability to stand by our own strength, and come to God to acknowledge it, and to tell him how our foot slippeth.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv17–19 Unless the Lord had been my help - At…
Unless the Lord had been my help - At the time referred to. If I had not had a God to whom I could have gone - if my mind had not been directed to him - if I had not actually found him a refuge and strength, I should have despaired altogether. There was no other one to whom I could go; there was nothing else but the help of God on which I could rely.
My soul had almost dwelt in silence - Margin, quickly. The original is, “It was as it were but little;” that is, there was little lacking to bring this about; a little heavier pressure - a little added to what I was then suffering - a little longer time before relief was obtained - would have brought me down to the land of silence - to the grave. The Latin Vulgate renders this, “My soul had dwelt in inpherno.” The Septuagint, “in Hades” - τᾤ ἅδῃ tō Hadē. See Psa 31:17. The grave is represented as a place of silence, or as the land of silence: Psa 115:17 : “The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence.” Compare Amo 8:3.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On v17 17. My soul had almost dwelt in silence—My soul…
17. My soul had almost dwelt in silence—My soul had in a little time— soon—have inhabited silence; the land of silence, the region of the dead. We had quickly perished had not God been our help. On מעשׂ, little, almost, little time, etc., see Psa_81:14; Isa_26:20
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv17–19 17. Cp. Psa_124:1 ff.
17. Cp. Psa_124:1 ff.
almost] R.V. soon.
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dwelt in silence] The stillness of the grave (Psa_115:17).
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv17, 19 (17) In silence—i.e., of the grave, as in Psa_31:17.
(17) In silence—i.e., of the grave, as in Psa_31:17.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv17–19 Unless the Lord had been my Help, my soul…
Unless the Lord had been my Help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence. No; they are not without a champion; Jehovah is their Help. It is a part of their blessedness (ver. 12), that they are preserved in life and protected from the wicked, by God himself. Otherwise they "had soon dwelt in silence." Their soul had gone down to the pit, to the abyss of Sheol, the silent land. (comp. Psa_115:17)
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Charles H. Spurgeon 1885 · Public Domain On vv17–19 Ver. 17. Unless the Lord had been my help,…
Ver. 17. Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence. Without Jehovah's help, the psalmist declares that he should have died outright, and gone into the silent land, where no more testimonies can be borne for the living God. Or he may mean that he would not have had a word to speak against his enemies, but would have been wrapped in speechless shame. Blessed be God, we are not left to that condition yet, for the Almighty Lord is still the helper of all those who look to him. Our inmost soul is bowed down when we see the victories of the Lord's enemieswe cannot brook it, we cover our mouths in confusion; but he will yet arise and avenge his own cause, therefore have we hope.
Ver. 17. Had been my help. The word signifieth not only help, but summum et plenum auxilium, an helpfulness, or full help:the Hebrew hath a letter more than ordinary, to increase the signification, as learned Mr. Leigh observeth: there is the sufficiency of help. Nathaniel Whiting, in "The Saints' Dangers, Deliverances, and Duties, "1659.
Charles H. Spurgeon's The Treasury of David (1869–1885) — public domain. Psalms only. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On vv18–19 When I said, My foot slippeth; Thy mercy, O…
Psa_94:18
When I said, My foot slippeth; Thy mercy, O Lord, held me up.
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A common incident of the journey
The soul in peril can seldom say much, but that which is said is generally expressive. Take, for example, these words: they imply faith in the presence of One able to help--abhorrence of the sin to which ha is tempted--and confidence in His willingness to save. This experience is a common one. All of us are, at some time, found in slippery places.
I. Some slippery places, We are the more exposed to falling when we are brought into circumstances of--
1. Poverty and want. Christ was tempted when He hungered.
2. Of annoyance and vexation. Moses smote the rock in anger.
3. Of dejection and perplexity (Psa_73:2-3).
4. Of sore bereavement and trial (Job).
II. Some things concerning the traveller, rendering these the more perilous.
1. The absence of the staff, or negligence in its use. Learn the promises and use them.
2. The foot ill-shod.
3. Drowsiness. Watch and pray, that, etc.
4. Carelessness.
5. The lantern untrimmed or insecure, so that it goes out or burns dimly.
III. The sure means for preservation. We have simply to cry to the Deliverer. The secret of a secure and blessed life is constant ejaculatory prayer. The moment danger is oven anticipated, to ask for timely assistance. (R. A. Griffin.)
Upheld by Divine mercy
Not often has the voice of man pointed the way and brought sinners to Christ with so much of picturesque and sweet persuasiveness as did that of Dr. Bonar. What could be finer than this eccentric way of stating the Gospel: Suppose that I, a sinner, be walking along yon golden street, passing by one angel after another. I can hear them say, as I pass through their ranks, A sinner! a crimson sinner! Should my feet totter? Should my eye grow dim? No; I can say to them, Yes, a sinner--a crimson sinner--but a sinner brought near by a forsaken Saviour, and now a sinner who has boldness to enter into the Holiest through the blood of Christ.
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v17 Unless Yahweh had been my help ... silence
Unless Yahweh had been my help ... silence
This is a hypothetical situation. Yahweh did help him, so he was not lying in the place of silence. (See: Hypothetical Situations)
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Unless Yahweh had been my help
The abstract noun "help" can be expressed as a verb. AT: "If Yahweh had not helped me" (See: Abstract Nouns)
I would soon be lying down in the place of silence
Here "would be lying down" refers to "death" and "in the place of silence" refers to the grave." AT: "in a short time, I would be dead, lying in a silent grave" (See: Euphemism)
Your covenant faithfulness, Yahweh, held me up
The abstract noun "faithfulness" can be translated with an adjective. AT: "You, Yahweh, held me up because you are faithful to your covenant" (See: Abstract Nouns)
When cares within me are many, your consolations make me happy
The psalmist speaks of care as if he could count separate cares. The abstract noun "consolations" can be translated with the verb "console" or "comfort." AT: "When I have been worried about many things, you have comforted me and made me happy" (See: Abstract Nouns)
translationWords
covenant faithfulness
comfort
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v18 94:18-19 The psalmist’s experience of slipping contrasts with God’s…
94:18-19 The psalmist’s experience of slipping contrasts with God’s promise to stand with him (94:12-13; see 15:5; 93:1).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.