Psalms 119:81-176

81 My soul is weak from waiting for you to save me. My hope is based on your word.

82 My eyes have become strained from looking for your promise. I ask, "When will you comfort me?"

83 Although I have become like a shriveled and dried out wineskin, I have not forgotten your laws.

84 What is left of my life? When will you bring those who persecute me to justice?

85 Arrogant people have dug pits to trap me in defiance of your teachings.

86 (All your commandments are reliable.) Those people persecute me with lies. Help me!

87 They almost wiped me off [the face of] the earth. But I did not abandon your guiding principles.

88 Give me a new life through your mercy so that I may obey the written instructions, [which came] from your mouth.

89 O LORD, your word is established in heaven forever.

90 Your faithfulness endures throughout every generation. You set the earth in place, and it continues to stand.

91 All things continue to stand today because of your regulations, since they are all your servants.

92 If your teachings had not made me happy, then I would have died in my misery.

93 I will never forget your guiding principles, because you gave me a new life through them.

94 I am yours. Save me, because I have searched for your guiding principles.

95 The wicked people have waited for me in order to destroy me, [yet] I want to understand your written instructions.

96 I have seen a limit to everything else, [but] your commandments have no limit.

97 Oh, how I love your teachings! They are in my thoughts all day long.

98 Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, because your commandments are always with me.

99 I have more insight than all my teachers, because your written instructions are in my thoughts.

100 I have more wisdom than those with many years of experience, because I have obeyed your guiding principles.

101 I have kept my feet [from walking] on any evil path in order to obey your word.

102 I have not neglected your regulations, because you have taught me.

103 How sweet the taste of your promise is! It tastes sweeter than honey.

104 From your guiding principles I gain understanding. That is why I hate every path that leads to lying.

105 Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.

106 I took an oath, and I will keep it. I took an oath to follow your regulations, which are based on your righteousness.

107 I have suffered so much. Give me a new life, O LORD, as you promised.

108 Please accept the praise I gladly give you, O LORD, and teach me your regulations.

109 I always take my life into my own hands, but I never forget your teachings.

110 Wicked people have set a trap for me, but I have never wandered away from your guiding principles.

111 Your written instructions are mine forever. They are the joy of my heart.

112 I have decided to obey your laws. They offer a reward that never ends.

113 I hate two-faced people, but I love your teachings.

114 You are my hiding place and my shield. My hope is based on your word.

115 Get away from me, you evildoers, so that I can obey the commandments of my God.

116 Help me God, as you promised, so that I may live. Do not turn my hope into disappointment.

117 Hold me, and I will be safe, and I will always respect your laws.

118 You reject all who wander away from your laws, because their lies mislead them.

119 You get rid of all wicked people on earth as if they were rubbish. That is why I love your written instructions.

120 My body shudders in fear of you, and I am afraid of your regulations.

121 I have done what is fair and right. Do not leave me at the mercy of those who oppress me.

122 Guarantee my well-being. Do not let arrogant people oppress me.

123 My eyes are strained from looking for you to save me and from looking for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.

124 Treat me with kindness, and teach me your laws.

125 I am your servant. Help me understand so that I may come to know your written instructions.

126 It is time for you to act, O LORD. Even though people have abolished your teachings,

127 I love your commandments more than gold, more than pure gold.

128 I follow the straight paths of your guiding principles. I hate every pathway that leads to lying.

129 Your written instructions are miraculous. That is why I obey them.

130 Your word is a doorway that lets in light, and it helps gullible people understand.

131 I open my mouth and pant because I long for your commandments.

132 Turn toward me, and have pity on me as you have pledged to do for those who love your name.

133 Make my steps secure through your promise, and do not let any sin control me.

134 Save me from human oppression so that I may obey your guiding principles.

135 Smile on me, and teach me your laws.

136 Streams of tears flow from my eyes because others do not follow your teachings.

137 You are righteous, O LORD, and your regulations are fair.

138 You have issued your written instructions. They are fair and completely dependable.

139 My devotion [for your words] consumes me, because my enemies have forgotten your words.

140 Your promise has been thoroughly tested, and I love it.

141 I am unimportant and despised, [yet] I never forget your guiding principles.

142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and your teachings are reliable.

143 Trouble and hardship have found me, but your commandments [still] make me happy.

144 Your written instructions are always right. Help me understand [them] so that I will live.

145 I have called out with all my heart. Answer me, O LORD. I want to obey your laws.

146 I have called out. Save me, so that I can obey your written instructions.

147 I got up before dawn, and I cried out for help. My hope is based on your word.

148 My eyes are wide-open throughout the nighttime hours to reflect on your word.

149 In keeping with your mercy, hear my voice. O LORD, give me a new life guided by your regulations.

150 Those who carry out plots against me are near, [yet] they are far away from your teachings.

151 You are near, O LORD, and all your commandments are reliable.

152 Long ago I learned from your written instructions that you made them to last forever.

153 Look at my misery, and rescue me, because I have never forgotten your teachings.

154 Plead my case [for me], and save me. Give me a new life as you promised.

155 Wicked people are far from being saved, because they have not searched for your laws.

156 Your acts of compassion are many in number, O LORD. Give me a new life guided by your regulations.

157 I have many persecutors and opponents, [yet] I have not turned away from your written instructions.

158 I have seen traitors, and I am filled with disgust. They have not accepted your promise.

159 See how I have loved your guiding principles! O LORD, in keeping with your mercy, give me a new life.

160 There is nothing but truth in your word, and all of your righteous regulations endure forever.

161 Influential people have persecuted me for no reason, but it is only your words that fill my heart with terror.

162 I find joy in your promise like someone who finds a priceless treasure.

163 I hate lying; I am disgusted with it. I love your teachings.

164 Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous regulations.

165 There is lasting peace for those who love your teachings. Nothing can make those people stumble.

166 I have waited with hope for you to save me, O LORD. I have carried out your commandments.

167 I have obeyed your written instructions. I have loved them very much.

168 I have followed your guiding principles and your written instructions, because my whole life is in front of you.

169 Let my cry for help come into your presence, O LORD. Help me understand as you promised.

170 Let my plea for mercy come into your presence. Rescue me as you promised.

171 Let my lips pour out praise because you teach me your laws.

172 Let my tongue sing about your promise because all your commandments are fair.

173 Let your hand help me because I have chosen [to follow] your guiding principles.

174 I have longed for you to save me, O LORD, and your teachings make me happy.

175 Let my soul have new life so that it can praise you. Let your regulations help me.

176 I have wandered away like a lost lamb. Search for me, because I have never forgotten your commandments.

Psalms 119:81-176 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\\.