Matthew Poole and continuators on Psalms 32:9

9. Be ye not as the horse, Or, as the mule which have no understanding : whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee .

Be not such brutish and sottish Creatures, as I have been, not having Reason or Grace to govern your selves, nor hearkening to the Counsels, and Admonitions of others.

Lest they should come too near to thee, so as to Bite or Kick thee. But neither is this the Common practise of Horses or Mules, of which he seems to speak; nor is this the proper use of a Bit or Bridle, to keep them from so doing, but rather to bring them nearer to the Rider for his use, and to keep them under his Conduct and Power, from whom they are otherwise apt to run away. The words therefore are, and may be otherwise rendred, because they do not, Or, will not come near unto thee: To wit, for thy Service, unless they be forced to it, by a Bit or Bridle. And so all the an[illegible: 1+ letters]ient Translators understand it.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word]. 16. 3.