Psalms 119:37

37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.[a]

Psalms 119:37 in Other Translations

KJV
37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.
ESV
37 Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.
NLT
37 Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.
MSG
37 Divert my eyes from toys and trinkets, invigorate me on the pilgrim way.
CSB
37 Turn my eyes from looking at what is worthless; give me life in Your ways.

Psalms 119:37 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 119:37

Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity
As the things of this world, the riches, honours, and pleasures of it, which are all vanity and vexation of spirit; and yet these catch the eye, and allure the heart: and all false doctrines, glided over with the specious pretence of truth; and all false worship and superstition, set off with pomp and pageantry, with which the eyes of the body or the eyes of the mind are taken, and by which the heart is ensnared; and therefore it is desirable to have the eyes turned away from such objects unto better;

[and] quicken thou me in thy way;
so as to walk and even run in the path of truth, in the way of true religion and godliness; and, instead of looking upon vanity, press towards the mark for the prize; keep Christ in view, while running the race; and look to things unseen, and not things that are seen; and set the affections on things above, and serve the Lord fervently; all which is done when God quickens the hearts of his people, and the graces of his Spirit in them.

Psalms 119:37 In-Context

35 Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.
36 Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.
37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.
38 Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared.
39 Take away the disgrace I dread, for your laws are good.

Cross References 2

  • 1. ver 25; Psalms 71:20; Isaiah 33:15
  • 2. ver 9

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Two manuscripts of the Masoretic Text and Dead Sea Scrolls; most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text "life in your way"
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