| Psalms 140:3
| Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth: and a door round about my lips.
| And. Hebrew, "keep guard at the door of my lips," (Montanus) or "on the poverty of," etc., (St. Jerome) that I may not speak too much, or imprudently; as I shall do, if left to myself. (Haydock) --- Houbigant rejects this version, which is very expressive. (Berthier) (Ecclesiasticus 28:28.) --- Hebrew dal is rendered "elevation," (Chaldean) and may here stand for "a door." Nature has included the tongue within a double restraint of the teeth and lips, to counteract its too great volubility. (Theodoret) --- David prays that he may not be unguarded in his speech. He always spoke to Saul with the greatest respect, 1 Kings 24:18. (Calmet) --- The lips must be like a door, neither always open, when we ought to be silent, nor always shut, when we should confess our sins. (Worthington)
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