1 I said, “I will watch my ways

and keep my tongue from sin;

I will put a muzzle on my mouth

while in the presence of the wicked.”

2 So I remained utterly silent,

not even saying anything good.

But my anguish increased;

3 my heart grew hot within me.

While I meditated, the fire burned;

then I spoke with my tongue:

1 I said, I will take heed to my ways,

That I sin not with my tongue:

I will keep my mouth with a bridle,

While the wicked is before me.

2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good;

And my sorrow was stirred.

3 My heart was hot within me,

While I was musing the fire burned:

Then spake I with my tongue,

1 I said to myself, “I will watch what I do

and not sin in what I say.

I will hold my tongue

when the ungodly are around me.”

2 But as I stood there in silence—

not even speaking of good things—

the turmoil within me grew worse.

3 The more I thought about it,

the hotter I got,

igniting a fire of words:

1 I said, “I will guard my ways, Lest I sin with my tongue;

I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle,

While the wicked are before me.”

2 I was mute with silence,

I held my peace even from good;

And my sorrow was stirred up.

3 My heart was hot within me;

While I was musing, the fire burned.

Then I spoke with my tongue:

1 I said, “I will be careful how I act

and will not sin by what I say.

I will be careful what I say

around wicked people.”

2 So I kept very quiet.

I didn’t even say anything good,

but I became even more upset.

3 I became very angry inside,

and as I thought about it, my anger burned.

So I spoke:

1 I said, I will take heed to my ways,

That I sin not with my tongue:

I will keep my mouth with a bridle,

While the wicked is before me.

2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good;

And my sorrow was stirred.

3 My heart was hot within me;

While I was musing the fire burned:

Then spake I with my tongue:

1 I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a muzzle, while the wicked is before me. 2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace from good; and my sorrow was stirred. 3 My heart burned within me; the fire was kindled in my musing: I spoke with my tongue,

1 I said, 

“I will watch my ways so that I do not sin with my tongue. 

I will bridle my mouth while wicked people are in my presence.” 

2 I remained totally speechless. 

I kept silent, although it did me no good. 

While I was deep in thought, my pain grew worse. 

3 My heart burned like a fire flaring up within me. 

Then I spoke with my tongue: 

1 I said, “I will guard my ways

so that I may not sin with my tongue;

I will guard my mouth with a muzzle

as long as the wicked are in my presence.”

2 I was speechless and quiet;

I kept silent, even from speaking good,

and my pain intensified.

3 My heart grew hot within me;

as I mused, a fire burned.

I spoke with my tongue:

1 I said, “I will guard my ways

that I may not sin with my tongue;

I will keep a muzzle on my mouth

as long as the wicked are in my presence.”

2 I was silent and still;

I held my peace to no avail;

my distress grew worse,

3 my heart became hot within me.

While I mused, the fire burned;

then I spoke with my tongue:

1 I said, “I will guard my ways

that I may not sin with my tongue.

I will keep a muzzle over my mouth

as long as the wicked are before me.”

2 I was mute with silence. I was silent even from saying good things,

and my pain was stirred up.

3 My heart grew hot inside me;

in my sighing a fire burned.

Then I spoke with my tongue,

1 I said, “I will be careful about how I live.

I will not sin by what I say.

I will keep my mouth closed

when sinful people are near me.”

2 I was silent and kept quiet.

I didn’t even say anything good.

But the pain inside me grew worse.

3 My heart was deeply troubled.

As I thought about what was happening to me,

I became even more troubled.

Then I spoke out.

1 I said, “I will guard my ways

That I may not sin with my tongue;

I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle

While the wicked are in my presence.”

2 I was mute and silent,

I refrained even from good,

And my sorrow grew worse.

3 My heart was hot within me,

While I was musing the fire burned;

Then I spoke with my tongue: