Psalms 32:9 (YLT)

Passage

Be ye not as a horse--as a mule, Without understanding, With bridle and bit, its ornaments, to curb, Not to come near unto thee.

Nearby Context

Psalms 32:7 Thou <FI>art<Fi> a hiding-place for me, From distress Thou dost keep me, <FI>With<Fi> songs of deliverance dost compass me. Selah.

Psalms 32:8 I cause thee to act wisely, And direct thee in the way that thou goest, I cause mine eye to take counsel concerning thee.

Psalms 32:9 Be ye not as a horse--as a mule, Without understanding, With bridle and bit, its ornaments, to curb, Not to come near unto thee.

Psalms 32:10 Many <FI>are<Fi> the pains of the wicked; As to him who is trusting in Jehovah, Kindness doth compass him.

Psalms 32:11 Be glad in Jehovah, and rejoice, ye righteous, And sing, all ye upright of heart!

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "horse--as", "mule", "without", "understanding", "bridle", "ornaments", "curb", and "come". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "horse--as" and "mule", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 8's "I cause thee to act wisely And..." into verse 10's "Many FI are Fi the pains of...", so "horse--as" and "mule" belong inside that flow. In Psalms context, the local focus is worship, trust, the LORD's kingship, and covenant mercy.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "horse--as" and "mule" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.