I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it.
I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it. The sense is 'I have become mute (as to complaints against God); I do not open my mouth; because Thou hast done it.' Not that David ceases to speak in prayer for deliverance from enemies, but he no longer opens his mouth in complaints against God. His silence, in the latter respect, is not the constrained one which he had at first vainly attempted (Psalms 39:1-2), wherein he kept from utterance the then prevalent promptings of his impatience, but the reverent silence of one who justified God in His dealings, and therefore instinctively repressed the ebullitions of the old man, while he gave free vent to right prayers. This justifies the English version (Psalms 39:2), "I held my peace, (even) from good" (words). 'THOU hast done it' is a sufficient justification of whatever affliction the believer suffers. Our God and loving Father can do nothing unwise, unrighteous, or unkind to His children. So Aaron "held his peace" when fire from the Lord slew his sons, Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1-3). So Job (Job 40:4-5) renounced his previous impatience: "Behold, I am vile: what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further." So David, when cursed by Shimei, said, "So let him curse, because the Lord hath said unto him, Curse David" (2 Samuel 16:10).