Psalm 119:36

36 Neige mein Herz zu deinen Zeugnissen, und nicht zum Geiz.

Psalm 119:36 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 119:36

Incline my heart unto thy testimonies
To read the word of God, to hear it opened and explained, to observe and keep the things contained in it; to which there is a disinclination in men naturally: but the Lord, who fashions the hearts of men, and has them in his hands, can bend and incline them by his efficacious grace to regard these his testimonies; which, as Aben Ezra observes, are more precious than all substance, and so are opposed to what follows:

and not to covetousness;
not to mammon or money, as the Targum; the love of it, which is the root of all evil, and very pernicious and harmful; in hearing the word it chokes it, and makes it unfruitful, ( 1 Timothy 6:9 1 Timothy 6:10 ) ( Matthew 13:22 ) . Not that God inclines the heart to evil, as he does to good; but he may suffer the heart to be inclined, and may leave a man to the natural inclinations of his heart, and to the temptations of Satan, and the snares of the world, which may have great influence upon him; and this is what is here deprecated; see ( Psalms 141:4 ) ( Matthew 6:13 ) .

Psalm 119:36 In-Context

34 Unterweise mich, daß ich bewahre dein Gesetz und halte es von ganzem Herzen.

35 Führe mich auf dem Steige deiner Gebote; denn ich habe Lust dazu.

36 Neige mein Herz zu deinen Zeugnissen, und nicht zum Geiz.

37 Wende meine Augen ab, daß sie nicht sehen nach unnützer Lehre; sondern erquicke mich auf deinem Wege.

38 Laß deinen Knecht dein Gebot fest für dein Wort halten, daß ich mich nicht fürchte.