Charles Ellicott Commentary Psalms 39:2

"I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; And my sorrow was stirred." — Psalms 39:2 (ASV)

Even from good. —This interpretation, while following the Septuagint, Vulgate, and most ancient versions, is suspicious, since the particle, rendered from, is not generally used in this sense after a verb expressing silence. Indeed, there is only one instance which at all supports this rendering (1 Kings 22:3, margin).

Nor does the context require or even admit it. If the bright side of things had been so evident that he could speak of it, the Psalmist would not have feared reproach for doing so, nor was there cause for his silence “as to the law,” the rabbinical mode of explaining the passage. The obvious translation makes the clause parallel with that which follows: “I held my peace without profit. My sorrow was increased,” that is, instead of lessening my grief by silence, I only increased it.

Stirred. —The Septuagint and Vulgate “renewed,” which is nearer the meaning than either the Authorised Version or margin.