The Meaning of Psalms 31:18 Explained

Psalms 31:18

KJV: Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.

YLT: Let lips of falsehood become dumb, That are speaking against the righteous, Ancient sayings, in pride and contempt.

Darby: Let the lying lips become dumb, which speak insolently against the righteous in pride and contempt.

ASV: Let the lying lips be dumb, Which speak against the righteous insolently, With pride and contempt.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Let the lying  lips  be put to silence;  which speak  grievous  things proudly  and contemptuously  against the righteous. 

What does Psalms 31:18 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 31:14-24 - Jehovah Preserveth The Faithful
What a change ensues in the spirit of our life when we look from men and things to God! Do not look at God through circumstances, but at circumstances through God's environing presence, as through a golden haze. Our Lord's times were in the hands of the Father, and He would not move an inch until the clock had struck in heaven, John 2:4; John 7:6; John 7:8; John 7:30; John 8:20.
As God hath laid up coal and ore in the earth; and as explorers in Arctic regions deposit provisions in cairns, that those who follow in their steps, or they themselves returning, may be supplied on their march, so unsearchable riches are stored in Christ awaiting our appropriation, 2 Peter 1:3.
What a hiding-place is the secret of His presence! Have you ever been inside that royal withdrawing-room? God's pavilion is sound-tight; the strife of tongues cannot penetrate. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 31

1  David, showing his confidence in God, craves his help
7  He rejoices in his mercy
9  He prays in his calamity
19  He praises God for his goodness

What do the individual words in Psalms 31:18 mean?

Let be put to silence the lips lying which speak against the righteous Insolent things proudly and contemptuously
תֵּ֥אָלַ֗מְנָה שִׂפְתֵ֫י שָׁ֥קֶר הַדֹּבְר֖וֹת עַל־ צַדִּ֥יק עָתָ֗ק בְּגַאֲוָ֥ה וָבֽוּז

תֵּ֥אָלַ֗מְנָה  Let  be  put  to  silence 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person feminine plural
Root: אָלַם 
Sense: to bind.
שִׂפְתֵ֫י  the  lips 
Parse: Noun, fdc
Root: שָׂפָה  
Sense: lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding.
שָׁ֥קֶר  lying 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֶׁקֶר  
Sense: lie, deception, disappointment, falsehood.
הַדֹּבְר֖וֹת  which  speak 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, feminine plural
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
עַל־  against 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
צַדִּ֥יק  the  righteous 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: צַדִּיק  
Sense: just, lawful, righteous.
עָתָ֗ק  Insolent  things 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עָתָק  
Sense: forward, bold, arrogant.
בְּגַאֲוָ֥ה  proudly 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular
Root: גַּאֲוָה  
Sense: pride, majesty, a rising up.
וָבֽוּז  and  contemptuously 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בּוּז  
Sense: contempt.