Psalms 119:98

98 Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies.

Psalms 119:98 in Other Translations

KJV
98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.
ESV
98 Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me.
NLT
98 Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide.
MSG
98 Your commands give me an edge on my enemies; they never become obsolete.
CSB
98 Your command makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is always with me.

Psalms 119:98 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 119:98

Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine
enemies
David had his enemies, as every good man has: and these are often cunning and crafty ones, at least in wickedness; many of them are wise and prudent as to natural things, wiser in worldly things and political matters than the children of light, and often lay deep schemes and take crafty counsel against the saints; and yet they, by attending to the word and commands of God, and being under his direction and counsel, counterwork the designs of their enemies, and overturn their schemes and measures, which are brought to confusion; honesty being in the issue the best policy. However, the people of God are wiser than they in the best things; in the affair of salvation; in things relating to a future state, and their happiness there; which wisdom they attain unto through the Word of God, which is written for their learning; through the Scriptures, which are able to make men wise to salvation: these are the means, and no more; for it is God that is the efficient cause, or makes the means effectual, to make them wise, and wiser than others; it is owing to his divine teachings, to his Spirit and grace. The words may be rendered, "it hath made me wiser in thy commandments than mine enemies" F4; that is, the law; and so is another reason why it was so greatly loved by him: or, "thy commandments", that is, everyone of thy commandments, "have made me wiser" F5. Joseph Kimchi give, this as the sense,

``by mine enemies thou hast made me wise F6; thou hast learned me thy commandments, so that I see they cannot remove thy law from my mouth;''

for they [are] ever with me;
that is, the commandments of God, or his law, and the precepts of it; they were his privy counsellors, with whom on all occasions he consulted, and so became wiser than his enemies, and outwitted them: these were always near him, in his heart and in his mouth; he was ever thinking and speaking of them, and so did not forget the instructions they gave him; they were ever before his eyes, as the rule of his conduct.


FOOTNOTES:

F4 So Junius & Tremellius.
F5 So Cocceius, Muis, Gejerus and the Targum.
F6 "Fas est et ab hoste doceri", Ovid.

Psalms 119:98 In-Context

96 To all perfection I see a limit, but your commands are boundless.
97 Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.
98 Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies.
99 I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes.
100 I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts.

Cross References 1

  • 1. ver 130; S Deuteronomy 4:6; Psalms 19:7; 2 Timothy 3:15
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