Psalms 119:78-158

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.

94 I am yours. Save me. I want to obey your orders.

95 Wicked people are waiting to destroy me, but I will think about your rules.

96 Everything I see has its limits, but your commands have none.

97 How I love your teachings! I think about them all day long.

98 Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, because they are mine forever.

99 I am wiser than all my teachers, because I think about your rules.

100 I have more understanding than the older leaders, because I follow your orders.

101 I have avoided every evil way so I could obey your word.

102 I haven't walked away from your laws, because you yourself are my teacher.

103 Your promises are sweet to me, sweeter than honey in my mouth!

104 Your orders give me understanding, so I hate lying ways.

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

106 I will do what I have promised and obey your fair laws.

107 I have suffered for a long time. Lord, give me life by your word.

108 Lord, accept my willing praise and teach me your laws.

109 My life is always in danger, but I haven't forgotten your teachings.

110 Wicked people have set a trap for me, but I haven't strayed from your orders.

111 I will follow your rules forever, because they make me happy.

112 I will try to do what you demand forever, until the end.

113 I hate disloyal people, but I love your teachings.

114 You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.

115 Get away from me, you who do evil, so I can keep my God's commands.

116 Support me as you promised so I can live. Don't let me be embarrassed because of my hopes.

117 Help me, and I will be saved. I will always respect your demands.

118 You reject those who ignore your demands, because their lies mislead them.

119 You throw away the wicked of the world like trash. So I will love your rules.

120 I shake in fear of you; I respect your laws.

121 I have done what is fair and right. Don't leave me to those who wrong me.

122 Promise that you will help me, your servant. Don't let proud people wrong me.

123 My eyes are tired from looking for your salvation and for your good promise.

124 Show your love to me, your servant, and teach me your demands.

125 I am your servant. Give me wisdom so I can understand your rules.

126 Lord, it is time for you to do something, because people have disobeyed your teachings.

127 I love your commands more than the purest gold.

128 I respect all your orders, so I hate lying ways.

129 Your rules are wonderful. That is why I keep them.

130 Learning your words gives wisdom and understanding for the foolish.

131 I am nearly out of breath. I really want to learn your commands.

132 Look at me and have mercy on me as you do for those who love you.

133 Guide my steps as you promised; don't let any sin control me.

134 Save me from harmful people so I can obey your orders.

135 Show your kindness to me, your servant. Teach me your demands.

136 Tears stream from my eyes, because people do not obey your teachings.

137 Lord, you do what is right, and your laws are fair.

138 The rules you commanded are right and completely trustworthy.

139 I am so upset I am worn out, because my enemies have forgotten your words.

140 Your promises are proven, so I, your servant, love them.

141 I am unimportant and hated, but I have not forgotten your orders.

142 Your goodness continues forever, and your teachings are true.

143 I have had troubles and misery, but I love your commands.

144 Your rules are always good. Help me understand so I can live.

145 Lord, I call to you with all my heart. Answer me, and I will keep your demands.

146 I call to you. Save me so I can obey your rules.

147 I wake up early in the morning and cry out. I hope in your word.

148 I stay awake all night so I can think about your promises.

149 Listen to me because of your love; Lord, give me life by your laws.

150 Those who love evil are near, but they are far from your teachings.

151 But, Lord, you are also near, and all your commands are true.

152 Long ago I learned from your rules that you made them to continue forever.

153 See my suffering and rescue me, because I have not forgotten your teachings.

154 Argue my case and save me. Let me live by your promises.

155 Wicked people are far from being saved, because they do not want your demands.

156 Lord, you are very kind; give me life by your laws.

157 Many enemies are after me, but I have not rejected your rules.

158 I see those traitors, and I hate them, because they do not obey what you say.

Psalms 119:78-158 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\\.