Psalms 119:58-176

58 I implore your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.

59 When I think of your ways, I turn my feet to your decrees;

60 I hurry and do not delay to keep your commandments.

61 Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law.

62 At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous ordinances.

63 I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts.

64 The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes.

65 You have dealt well with your servant, O Lord, according to your word.

66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments.

67 Before I was humbled I went astray, but now I keep your word.

68 You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.

69 The arrogant smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts.

70 Their hearts are fat and gross, but I delight in your law.

71 It is good for me that I was humbled, so that I might learn your statutes.

72 The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

73 Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.

74 Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word.

75 I know, O Lord, that your judgments are right, and that in faithfulness you have humbled me.

76 Let your steadfast love become my comfort according to your promise to your servant.

77 Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight.

78 Let the arrogant be put to shame, because they have subverted me with guile; as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.

79 Let those who fear you turn to me, so that they may know your decrees.

80 May my heart be blameless in your statutes, so that I may not be put to shame.

81 My soul languishes for your salvation; I hope in your word.

82 My eyes fail with watching for your promise; I ask, "When will you comfort me?"

83 For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, yet I have not forgotten your statutes.

84 How long must your servant endure? When will you judge those who persecute me?

85 The arrogant have dug pitfalls for me; they flout your law.

86 All your commandments are enduring; I am persecuted without cause; help me!

87 They have almost made an end of me on earth; but I have not forsaken your precepts.

88 In your steadfast love spare my life, so that I may keep the decrees of your mouth.

89 The Lord exists forever; your word is firmly fixed in heaven.

90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast.

91 By your appointment they stand today, for all things are your servants.

92 If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my misery.

93 I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life.

94 I am yours; save me, for I have sought your precepts.

95 The wicked lie in wait to destroy me, but I consider your decrees.

96 I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad.

97 Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all day long.

98 Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is always with me.

99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your decrees are my meditation.

100 I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts.

101 I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word.

102 I do not turn away from your ordinances, for you have taught me.

103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

104 Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.

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

106 I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to observe your righteous ordinances.

107 I am severely afflicted; give me life, O Lord, according to your word.

108 Accept my offerings of praise, O Lord, and teach me your ordinances.

109 I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law.

110 The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your precepts.

111 Your decrees are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.

112 I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end.

113 I hate the double-minded, but I love your law.

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

115 Go away from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God.

116 Uphold me according to your 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 your statutes continually.

118 You spurn all who go astray from your statutes; for their cunning is in vain.

119 All the wicked of the earth you count as dross; therefore I love your decrees.

120 My flesh trembles for fear of you, and I am afraid of your judgments.

121 I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my oppressors.

122 Guarantee your servant's well-being; do not let the godless oppress me.

123 My eyes fail from watching for your salvation, and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.

124 Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, and teach me your statutes.

125 I am your servant; give me understanding, so that I may know your decrees.

126 It is time for the Lord to act, for your law has been broken.

127 Truly I love your commandments more than gold, more than fine gold.

128 Truly I direct my steps by all your precepts; I hate every false way.

129 Your decrees are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them.

130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.

131 With open mouth I pant, because I long for your commandments.

132 Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your custom toward those who love your name.

133 Keep my steps steady according to your promise, and never let iniquity have dominion over me.

134 Redeem me from human oppression, that I may keep your precepts.

135 Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes.

136 My eyes shed streams of tears because your law is not kept.

137 You are righteous, O Lord, and your judgments are right.

138 You have appointed your decrees in righteousness and in all faithfulness.

139 My zeal consumes me because my foes forget your words.

140 Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it.

141 I am small and despised, yet I do not forget your precepts.

142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and your law is the truth.

143 Trouble and anguish have come upon me, but your commandments are my delight.

144 Your decrees are righteous forever; give me understanding that I may live.

145 With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord. I will keep your statutes.

146 I cry to you; save me, that I may observe your decrees.

147 I rise before dawn and cry for help; I put my hope in your words.

148 My eyes are awake before each watch of the night, that I may meditate on your promise.

149 In your steadfast love hear my voice; O Lord, in your justice preserve my life.

150 Those who persecute me with evil purpose draw near; they are far from your law.

151 Yet you are near, O Lord, and all your commandments are true.

152 Long ago I learned from your decrees that you have established them forever.

153 Look on my misery and rescue me, for I do not forget your law.

154 Plead my cause and redeem me; give me life according to your promise.

155 Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek your statutes.

156 Great is your mercy, O Lord; give me life according to your justice.

157 Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, yet I do not swerve from your decrees.

158 I look at the faithless with disgust, because they do not keep your commands.

159 Consider how I love your precepts; preserve my life according to your steadfast love.

160 The sum of your word is truth; and every one of your righteous ordinances endures forever.

161 Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words.

162 I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil.

163 I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law.

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

165 Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.

166 I hope for your salvation, O Lord, and I fulfill your commandments.

167 My soul keeps your decrees; I love them exceedingly.

168 I keep your precepts and decrees, for all my ways are before you.

169 Let my cry come before you, O Lord; give me understanding according to your word.

170 Let my supplication come before you; deliver me according to your promise.

171 My lips will pour forth praise, because you teach me your statutes.

172 My tongue will sing of your promise, for all your commandments are right.

173 Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.

174 I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight.

175 Let me live that I may praise you, and let your ordinances help me.

176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek out your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.

Psalms 119:58-176 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\\.

Footnotes

• [a]. Gk Jerome: Meaning of Heb uncertain