Psalms 119:1-93

1 Happy are those who live pure lives, who follow the Lord's teachings.

2 Happy are those who keep his rules, who try to obey him with their whole heart.

3 They don't do what is wrong; they follow his ways.

4 Lord, you gave your orders to be obeyed completely.

5 I wish I were more loyal in obeying your demands.

6 Then I would not be ashamed when I study your commands.

7 When I learned that your laws are fair, I praised you with an honest heart.

8 I will obey your demands, so please don't ever leave me.

9 How can a young person live a pure life? By obeying your word.

10 With all my heart I try to obey you. Don't let me break your commands.

11 I have taken your words to heart so I would not sin against you.

12 Lord, you should be praised. Teach me your demands.

13 My lips will tell about all the laws you have spoken.

14 I enjoy living by your rules as people enjoy great riches.

15 I think about your orders and study your ways.

16 I enjoy obeying your demands, and I will not forget your word.

17 Do good to me, your servant, so I can live, so I can obey your word.

18 Open my eyes to see the miracles in your teachings.

19 I am a stranger on earth. Do not hide your commands from me.

20 I wear myself out with desire for your laws all the time.

21 You scold proud people; those who ignore your commands are cursed.

22 Don't let me be insulted and hated because I keep your rules.

23 Even if princes speak against me, I, your servant, will think about your demands.

24 Your rules give me pleasure; they give me good advice.

25 I am about to die. Give me life, as you have promised.

26 I told you about my life, and you answered me. Teach me your demands.

27 Help me understand your orders. Then I will think about your miracles.

28 I am sad and tired. Make me strong again as you have promised.

29 Don't let me be dishonest; have mercy on me by helping me obey your teachings.

30 I have chosen the way of truth; I have obeyed your laws.

31 I hold on to your rules. Lord, do not let me be disgraced.

32 I will quickly obey your commands, because you have made me happy.

33 Lord, teach me your demands, and I will keep them until the end.

34 Help me understand, so I can keep your teachings, obeying them with all my heart.

35 Lead me in the path of your commands, because that makes me happy.

36 Make me want to keep your rules instead of wishing for riches.

37 Keep me from looking at worthless things. Let me live by your word.

38 Keep your promise to me, your servant, so you will be respected.

39 Take away the shame I fear, because your laws are good.

40 How I want to follow your orders. Give me life because of your goodness.

41 Lord, show me your love, and save me as you have promised.

42 I have an answer for people who insult me, because I trust what you say.

43 Never keep me from speaking your truth, because I depend on your fair laws.

44 I will obey your teachings forever and ever.

45 So I will live in freedom, because I want to follow your orders.

46 I will discuss your rules with kings and will not be ashamed.

47 I enjoy obeying your commands, which I love.

48 I praise your commands, which I love, and I think about your demands.

49 Remember your promise to me, your servant; it gives me hope.

50 When I suffer, this comforts me: Your promise gives me life.

51 Proud people always make fun of me, but I do not reject your teachings.

52 I remember your laws from long ago, and they comfort me, Lord.

53 I become angry with wicked people who do not keep your teachings.

54 I sing about your demands wherever I live.

55 Lord, I remember you at night, and I will obey your teachings.

56 This is what I do: I follow your orders.

57 Lord, you are my share in life; I have promised to obey your words.

58 I prayed to you with all my heart. Have mercy on me as you have promised.

59 I thought about my life, and I decided to follow your rules.

60 I hurried and did not wait to obey your commands.

61 Wicked people have tied me up, but I have not forgotten your teachings.

62 In the middle of the night, I get up to thank you because your laws are right.

63 I am a friend to everyone who fears you, to anyone who obeys your orders.

64 Lord, your love fills the earth. Teach me your demands.

65 You have done good things for your servant, as you have promised, Lord.

66 Teach me wisdom and knowledge because I trust your commands.

67 Before I suffered, I did wrong, but now I obey your word.

68 You are good, and you do what is good. Teach me your demands.

69 Proud people have made up lies about me, but I will follow your orders with all my heart.

70 Those people have no feelings, but I love your teachings.

71 It was good for me to suffer so I would learn your demands.

72 Your teachings are worth more to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.

73 You made me and formed me with your hands. Give me understanding so I can learn your commands.

74 Let those who respect you rejoice when they see me, because I put my hope in your word.

75 Lord, I know that your laws are right and that it was right for you to punish me.

76 Comfort me with your love, as you promised me, your servant.

77 Have mercy on me so that I may live. I love your teachings.

78 Make proud people ashamed because they lied about me. But I will think about your orders.

79 Let those who respect you return to me, those who know your rules.

80 Let me obey your demands perfectly so I will not be ashamed.

81 I am weak from waiting for you to save me, but I hope in your word.

82 My eyes are tired from looking for your promise. When will you comfort me?

83 Even though I am like a wine bag going up in smoke, I do not forget your demands.

84 How long will I live? When will you judge those who are hurting me?

85 Proud people have dug pits to trap me. They have nothing to do with your teachings.

86 All of your commands can be trusted. Liars are hurting me. Help me!

87 They have almost put me in the grave, but I have not rejected your orders.

88 Give me life by your love so I can obey your rules.

89 Lord, your word is everlasting; it continues forever in heaven.

90 Your loyalty will go on and on; you made the earth, and it still stands.

91 All things continue to this day because of your laws, because all things serve you.

92 If I had not loved your teachings, I would have died from my sufferings.

93 I will never forget your orders, because you have given me life by them.

Psalms 119:1-93 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\\.