Psalms 119:89-176

89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is firmly fixed in the heavens.
90 Thy faithfulness endures to all generations; thou hast established the earth, and it stands fast.
91 By thy appointment they stand this day; for all things are thy servants.
92 If thy law had not been my delight, I should have perished in my affliction.
93 I will never forget thy precepts; for by them thou hast given me life.
94 I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.
95 The wicked lie in wait to destroy me; but I consider thy testimonies.
96 I have seen a limit to all perfection, but thy commandment is exceedingly broad.
97 Oh, how I love thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
98 Thy commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, for thy testimonies are my meditation.
100 I understand more than the aged, for I keep thy precepts.
101 I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep thy word.
102 I do not turn aside from thy ordinances, for thou hast taught me.
103 How sweet are thy words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 Through thy precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.
105 Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
106 I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to observe thy righteous ordinances.
107 I am sorely afflicted; give me life, O LORD, according to thy word!
108 Accept my offerings of praise, O LORD, and teach me thy ordinances.
109 I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget thy law.
110 The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from thy precepts.
111 Thy testimonies are my heritage for ever; yea, they are the joy of my heart.
112 I incline my heart to perform thy statutes for ever, to the end.
113 I hate double-minded men, but I love thy law.
114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield; I hope in thy word.
115 Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God.
116 Uphold me according to thy promise, that I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope!
117 Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for thy statutes continually!
118 Thou dost spurn all who go astray from thy statutes; yea, their cunning is in vain.
119 All the wicked of the earth thou dost count as dross; therefore I love thy testimonies.
120 My flesh trembles for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy judgments.
121 I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my oppressors.
122 Be surety for thy servant for good; let not the godless oppress me.
123 My eyes fail with watching for thy salvation, and for the fulfilment of thy righteous promise.
124 Deal with thy servant according to thy steadfast love, and teach me thy statutes.
125 I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies!
126 It is time for the LORD to act, for thy law has been broken.
127 Therefore I love thy commandments above gold, above fine gold.
128 Therefore I direct my steps by all thy precepts; I hate every false way.
129 Thy testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them.
130 The unfolding of thy words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.
131 With open mouth I pant, because I long for thy commandments.
132 Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is thy wont toward those who love thy name.
133 Keep steady my steps according to thy promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me.
134 Redeem me from man's oppression, that I may keep thy precepts.
135 Make thy face shine upon thy servant, and teach me thy statutes.
136 My eyes shed streams of tears, because men do not keep thy law.
137 Righteous art thou, O LORD, and right are thy judgments.
138 Thou hast appointed thy testimonies in righteousness and in all faithfulness.
139 My zeal consumes me, because my foes forget thy words.
140 Thy promise is well tried, and thy servant loves it.
141 I am small and despised, yet I do not forget thy precepts.
142 Thy righteousness is righteous for ever, and thy law is true.
143 Trouble and anguish have come upon me, but thy commandments are my delight.
144 Thy testimonies are righteous for ever; give me understanding that I may live.
145 With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O LORD! I will keep thy statutes.
146 I cry to thee; save me, that I may observe thy testimonies.
147 I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in thy words.
148 My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate upon thy promise.
149 Hear my voice in thy steadfast love; O LORD, in thy justice preserve my life.
150 They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose; they are far from thy law.
151 But thou art near, O LORD, and all thy commandments are true.
152 Long have I known from thy testimonies that thou hast founded them for ever.
153 Look on my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget thy law.
154 Plead my cause and redeem me; give me life according to thy promise!
155 Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek thy statutes.
156 Great is thy mercy, O LORD; give me life according to thy justice.
157 Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, but I do not swerve from thy testimonies.
158 I look at the faithless with disgust, because they do not keep thy commands.
159 Consider how I love thy precepts! Preserve my life according to thy steadfast love.
160 The sum of thy word is truth; and every one of thy righteous ordinances endures for ever.
161 Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of thy words.
162 I rejoice at thy word like one who finds great spoil.
163 I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love thy law.
164 Seven times a day I praise thee for thy righteous ordinances.
165 Great peace have those who love thy law; nothing can make them stumble.
166 I hope for thy salvation, O LORD, and I do thy commandments.
167 My soul keeps thy testimonies; I love them exceedingly.
168 I keep thy precepts and testimonies, for all my ways are before thee.
169 Let my cry come before thee, O LORD; give me understanding according to thy word!
170 Let my supplication come before thee; deliver me according to thy word.
171 My lips will pour forth praise that thou dost teach me thy statutes.
172 My tongue will sing of thy word, for all thy commandments are right.
173 Let thy hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen thy precepts.
174 I long for thy salvation, O LORD, and thy law is my delight.
175 Let me live, that I may praise thee, and let thy ordinances help me.
176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant, for I do not forget thy commandments.

Images for Psalms 119:89-176

Psalms 119:89-176 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 119

This psalm is generally thought to be written by David, but when is uncertain; very probably towards the decline of life; and, as some think, for the sake or his son Solomon. It seems to be a collection of observations on the word of God and its precepts, the usefulness and excellency of it, he had made in the course of his life; interspersed with various petitions for the grace of God, to enable him to observe it. The psalm is a very extraordinary one; partly on account of the unusual length of it, it being more than double the length of the longest psalm in the whole book; and partly on account of its curious composition. It consists of twenty two parts, according to the number of the letters in the Hebrew alphabet; the names of which letters stand between each part; and every part consists of eight verses, all of which begin with the same letter: thus, for instance, the first eight verses begin with the letter a, "aleph", and the second eight verses begin with the letter b, "beth", and so on throughout; hence the Masorah calls this psalm the Great Alphabet. This the psalmist did, perhaps to excite attention to what he said, and also to help the memory. And it is observable that there are very few verses in the whole, not more than one or two, but what has something in it concerning the word of God, and its precepts and ordinances; there are nine or ten different words used relative to it, which signify much one and the same thing; as laws, statutes, judgments, testimonies Luther {m} observes, that neither Cicero, nor Virgil, nor Demosthenes, are to be compared with David for eloquence, as we see in the hundred nineteenth Psalm, where he divideth one sense and meaning into twenty two sorts. And it may also be remarked, that there is nothing in it concerning the tabernacle worship, or the rites and ceremonies of the legal dispensation; so that it seems to be calculated for, and is suited to, the word of God, and the ordinances of it, as we now have them in their full perfection: and the design of the whole is to show the fervent affection the psalmist had for the word of God, and to stir up the same in others.

{m} Mensal. Colloqu. c. 32. p. 365.

a, \\ALEPH.--The First Part\\.

Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.