Psalms 39:2 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

I was dumb with silence— I was dumb in silence: I held my peace from what is good; but my pain was irritated: i.e. "I refrained from speaking what is good, from giving God the glory with relation to my illness, by acknowledging the greatness and justice of God, and the nothingness and sinfulness of man." This seems to shew, that the reason why he would not speak at all before his enemies was, because he did not care to give them an occasion of triumph; as he must by acknowledging his own weakness and sin. But he could not bear this restraint; it grew worse and worse; and therefore he burst out, &c. Mudge. I have before observed, and it is especially remarkable in the poetical parts of Scripture, that the whole energy and beauty of the passages are frequently spoiled by the addition of connective and other particles which are not in the Hebrew. There is a remarkable instance in the next verse; which in the original is very expressive, My heart grew hot within me—While I was musing, the fire flamed out:—I spake with my tongue.