Psalm 34 13

Psalm 34:13 kjv

Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

Psalm 34:13 nkjv

Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit.

Psalm 34:13 niv

keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.

Psalm 34:13 esv

Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.

Psalm 34:13 nlt

Then keep your tongue from speaking evil
and your lips from telling lies!

Psalm 34 verses

Psalm 34 13 Meaning

Psalm 34:13 issues a direct and potent command for moral and spiritual discipline: to guard one's tongue from uttering harmful, malicious, or destructive speech, and to restrain one's lips from speaking deceitful, false, or manipulative words. It emphasizes that a vital aspect of living a righteous life and experiencing true blessing from God is the intentional control over one's verbal communication, ensuring it causes no injury through wickedness or dishonesty.

Psalm 34 13 Context

Psalm 34 is an acrostic psalm (though imperfectly so), often attributed to David after his feigned madness before Abimelech (Achish) and subsequent escape (1 Sam 21:10-15). It is a didactic or wisdom psalm, designed to instruct God's people on how to live a life that honors Him and receives His blessings. David, having experienced God's deliverance firsthand, now teaches others the fear of the Lord.

Verse 13 directly follows the foundational question posed in verse 12: "Who is the man who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good?" The verse then begins to provide the practical answer to that profound query, listing essential ethical behaviors, starting with the control of the tongue. It highlights speech as a critical aspect of righteousness, implying that an unrestrained, evil, or deceitful tongue hinders a "good life" and "many days" of peace and prosperity, which are common Old Testament blessings for obedience.

Psalm 34 13 Word analysis

• Keep (נְצֹר֙ - netsōr): This is a strong verb in the imperative, meaning to guard, protect, preserve, or keep watch over. It implies intentional, vigilant, and careful protection, suggesting that restraining the tongue is not a passive act but an active, continuous effort. It's like guarding a precious possession or a fortress, signifying high importance.

• thy tongue (לְשׁוֹנְךָ֙ - lĕšōwn·ḵā): Refers to the physical organ, but metaphorically stands for all forms of vocal communication—words spoken, vows made, expressions uttered. The tongue is viewed as a powerful instrument for both good and evil, and its output reveals the inner condition of the person.

• from evil (מֵרָ֗ע - mē·rāʿ): From the Hebrew word raʿ, meaning evil, wickedness, harm, malice, mischief, or misfortune. Here, it refers specifically to "evil speech"—words that are malicious, injurious, slanderous, backbiting, defaming, cursing, or causing division and hurt. It covers a broad spectrum of negative verbal actions.

• and thy lips (וּשְׂפָתֶ֣יךָ - ūśəp̄ā·ṯeḵā): A parallelism reinforcing the previous phrase. Lips are the instruments of speech, emphasizing the totality of one's vocal expression. This serves to stress the point, making the command comprehensive to all forms of speech emanating from the mouth.

• from speaking (מִדַּבֵּ֥ר - mid·dab·bêr): From dabbar, meaning to speak, utter, declare. This participle form implies the act of habitually speaking, not just an occasional slip. The emphasis is on refraining from the continuous practice of the stated sin.

• guile (מִרְמָֽה׃ - mir·māh): Deceit, treachery, fraud, falsehood, cunning. This is speech that is not necessarily openly evil or aggressive, but is inherently deceptive. It includes lying, misleading, manipulation, flattery with ill intent, breaking promises, or using words to ensnare others. It strikes at the integrity and truthfulness of communication.

• "Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile": This phrase combines two facets of corrupt speech: "evil" (harmful intent, malice, slander) and "guile" (deceitful intent, dishonesty, fraud). It shows a comprehensive demand for moral integrity in speech, covering both content and intention. The parallel structure highlights the critical importance of speech in leading a godly life. The inclusion of both "tongue" and "lips" serves as a poetic emphasis on all forms of vocal expression, reinforcing that no part of one's verbal communication should be dedicated to wickedness or falsehood. This command addresses the character and impact of a person's words, seeing them as direct reflections of the heart's true condition.

Psalm 34 13 Bonus section

The command in Psalm 34:13 finds powerful resonance and continuation in the New Testament, particularly in 1 Peter 3:10, which directly quotes from this very psalm as a cornerstone for righteous Christian living. This indicates the enduring relevance and centrality of speech control in the walk of faith across dispensations.

In Jewish tradition, particularly through the concept of lashon hara (evil speech), the gravity of verbal transgression is extensively explored, often being deemed more severe than certain physical transgressions because of its wide-ranging and often irreparable damage to relationships and reputation. This perspective deepens the understanding of "evil" in Psalm 34:13.

The emphasis on "guile" is particularly pertinent for discerning spiritual warfare. Satan, described as "the father of lies" (John 8:44), operates through deception and falsehood. Therefore, speaking "guile" aligns one with the kingdom of darkness, whereas speaking truth aligns one with Christ, "the Way, the Truth, and the Life" (John 14:6).

Furthermore, the "keeping" of the tongue implies an active self-governance rather than merely an absence of malicious intent. It is a discipline of spiritual maturity that develops over time, rooted in a deepening reverence for God and a genuine love for others. It involves recognizing that every word carries spiritual weight and eternal consequences, thus contributing to one's spiritual well-being and longevity in the Lord's service.

Psalm 34 13 Commentary

Psalm 34:13 stands as a pivotal instruction within the larger context of living a blessed life according to God's ways. Following the question of how to experience life and see good, this verse immediately pinpoints the control of speech as a foundational prerequisite. The "keeping" of the tongue implies a deliberate, active, and persistent act of spiritual discipline. It's not about merely refraining from some evil words, but safeguarding the entire vocal faculty from the destructive capacity of malicious talk (raʿ) and the insidious nature of deceit (mirmah).

The admonition to avoid "evil" in speech encompasses slander, gossip, backbiting, cursing, verbal abuse, or any words designed to inflict harm or pain. This is a common theme in wisdom literature, recognizing the profound power of words to build up or tear down, to foster unity or sow discord. The prohibition against "guile" further expands this, moving beyond outright maliciousness to address dishonesty in all its forms—lying, deception, half-truths, flattery, or misleading communication that subtly corrupts trust and integrity. Guile speaks to the corruption of truth, which is foundational to the character of God Himself.

This verse reveals a profound theological truth: a person's words are a direct outflow of their inner spiritual condition (Luke 6:45). To genuinely guard one's tongue from evil and guile requires a heart transformed by God's grace. It's an internal battle against the carnal impulses of pride, envy, and selfishness that often manifest in destructive speech. Therefore, the command to guard the tongue is a call to inner purification and reliance on the Holy Spirit's guidance. When believers practice this discipline, they align their communication with the truth and love of God, contributing to personal peace, community harmony, and their testimony before a watching world, ultimately fulfilling the promise of "desiring life" and "seeing good."

Examples for practical usage:

• Discernment: Before speaking, ask: "Is this true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?"
• Active restraint: When tempted to gossip, choose silence or change the subject.
• Honesty: Commit to full transparency in business and personal dealings, avoiding even slight exaggerations or omissions meant to mislead.