Psalms 119:89-176

lamed

89 Your word, LORD, stands firm in heaven forever!

90 Your faithfulness extends from one generation to the next! You set the earth firmly in place, and it is still there.

91 Your rules endure to this day because everything serves you.

92 If your Instruction hadn't been my delight, I would have died because of my suffering.

93 I will never forget your precepts because through them you gave me life again.

94 I'm yours—save me because I've pursued your precepts!

95 The wicked wait for me, wanting to kill me, but I'm studying your laws.

96 I've seen that everything, no matter how perfect, has a limit, but your commandment is boundless.

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97 I love your Instruction! I think about it constantly.

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

99 I have greater insight than all my teachers because I contemplate your laws.

100 I have more understanding than the elders because I guard your precepts.

101 I haven't set my feet on any evil path so I can make sure to keep your word.

102 I haven't deviated from any of your rules because you are the one who has taught me.

103 Your word is so pleasing to my taste buds— it's sweeter than honey in my mouth!

104 I'm studying your precepts— that's why I hate every false path.

nun

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

106 I have sworn, and I fully mean it: I will keep your righteous rules.

107 I have been suffering so much— LORD, make me live again according to your promise.

108 Please, LORD, accept my spontaneous gifts of praise. Teach me your rules!

109 Though my life is constantly in danger, I won't forget your Instruction.

110 Though the wicked have set a trap for me, I won't stray from your precepts.

111 Your laws are my possession forever because they are my heart's joy.

112 I have decided to keep your statutes forever, every last one.

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113 I hate fickle people, but I love your Instruction.

114 You are my shelter and my shield— I wait for your promise.

115 Get away from me, you evildoers; I want to guard my God's commandments!

116 Sustain me according to your word so I can live! Don't let me be put to shame because of hope.

117 Support me so I can be saved and so I can focus constantly on your statutes.

118 You discard everyone who strays from your statutes because they are dishonest and false.

119 You dispose of all the wicked people on earth like waste— that's why I love your laws.

120 My body shudders because I fear you; I'm in awe of your rules.

ayin

121 I've done what is just and right. Don't just hand me over to my oppressors.

122 Guarantee good things for your servant. Please don't let the arrogant oppress me.

123 My eyes are worn out looking for your saving help— looking for your word that will set things right.

124 Act toward your servant according to your faithful love. Teach me your statutes!

125 I'm your servant! Help me understand so I can know your laws.

126 It is time for the LORD to do something! Your Instruction has been broken.

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

128 That's why I walk straight by every single one of your precepts. That's why I hate every false path.

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129 Your laws are wonderful! That's why I guard them.

130 Access to your words gives light, giving simple folk understanding.

131 I open my mouth up wide, panting, because I long for your commandments.

132 Come back to me and have mercy on me; that's only right for those who love your name.

133 Keep my steps steady by your word; don't let any sin rule me.

134 Redeem me from the people who oppress me so I can keep your precepts.

135 Shine your face on your servant, and teach me your statutes.

136 Rivers of tears stream from my eyes because your Instruction isn't being kept.

tsade

137 LORD, you are righteous, and your rules are right.

138 The laws you commanded are righteous, completely trustworthy.

139 Anger consumes me because my enemies have forgotten what you've said.

140 Your word has been tried and tested; your servant loves your word!

141 I'm insignificant and unpopular, but I don't forget your precepts.

142 Your righteousness lasts forever! Your Instruction is true!

143 Stress and strain have caught up with me, but your commandments are my joy!

144 Your laws are righteous forever. Help me understand so I can live!

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145 I cry out with all my heart: "LORD, answer me so I can guard your statutes!"

146 I cry out to you, "Save me so I can keep your laws!"

147 I meet the predawn light and cry for help. I wait for your promise.

148 My eyes encounter each hour of the night as I think about your word.

149 Listen to my voice, according to your faithful love. LORD, make me live again, according to your justice.

150 The people who love to plot wicked schemes are nearby, but they are so far from your Instruction!

151 But you, LORD, are nearby too, and all your commandments are true.

152 Long ago I learned from your laws that you had established them forever.

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153 Look at my suffering and deliver me because I haven't forgotten your Instruction.

154 Argue my case and redeem me. Make me live again by your word.

155 Salvation is far from the wicked because they haven't pursued your statutes.

156 You have so much compassion, LORD— make me live again, according to your rules.

157 My oppressors and enemies are many, but I haven't turned away from your laws.

158 I look on the faithless, and I am disgusted because they haven't kept your word.

159 Look at how much I love your precepts. Make me live again, LORD, according to your faithful love!

160 The first thing to know about your word is that it is true and that all your righteous rules last forever.

sin and shin

161 Rulers oppress me without cause, but my heart honors what you've said.

162 I'm overjoyed at your word, like someone who finds great treasure.

163 I hate, I absolutely despise, what is false, but I'm in love with your Instruction.

164 I praise you seven times a day for your righteous rules.

165 The people who love your Instruction enjoy peace—and lots of it. There's no stumbling for them!

166 LORD, I wait for your saving help. I do what you've commanded.

167 I keep your laws; I love them so much!

168 I keep your precepts and your laws because all my ways are seen by you.

tav

169 Let my cry reach you, LORD; help me understand according to what you've said.

170 Let my request for grace come before you; deliver me according to your promise!

171 Let my lips overflow with praise because you've taught me your statutes.

172 Let my tongue declare your word, because all your commandments are righteous.

173 Let your power help me because I have chosen your precepts.

174 LORD, I long for your saving help! Your Instruction is my joy!

175 Let me live again so I can praise you! Let your rules help me!

176 I've wandered off like a sheep, lost. Find your servant because I haven't forgotten your commandments!

Psalms 119:89-176 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]. Heb uncertain
• [b]. Vulg, Sym