The Psalms

Psalm 119

This psalm contains various prayers, praises, and professions of obedience, 1-176.

[ALEPH - א]

1  Blessed are the undefiled in the way,/
who walk in the law of the LORD.

2  Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,/
who seek him with the whole heart.

3  They also do no iniquity./
They walk in his ways.

4  You have commanded /
to keep your precepts diligently.

5  O that my ways were directed/
to keep your statutes!

6  Then I shall not be ashamed/
when I have respect for all your commandments.

7  I will praise you with uprightness of heart/
when I have learned your righteous judgments.

8  I will keep your statutes./
O do not forsake me utterly.

[BET - ב]

9  How shall a young man cleanse his way?/
By taking heed to it, according to your word.

10 With my whole heart I have sought you./
O do not let me wander from your commandments.

11 I have hid your word in my heart/
so that I might not sin against you.

12 Blessed are you, O LORD/
Teach me your statutes.

13 With my lips I have declared/
all the judgments of your mouth.

14 I have rejoiced in the way of your testimonies/
as much as in all riches.

15 I will meditate in your precepts/
and have respect for your ways.

16 I will delight myself in your statutes./
I will not forget your word.

[GIMEL - ג]

17 Deal bountifully with your servant/
so that I may live and keep your word.

18 Open my eyes so that I may behold/
wondrous things out of your law.

19 I am a stranger in the earth./
Do not hide your commandments from me.

20 My soul breaks for the longing/
that it has to your judgments at all times.

21 You have rebuked the proud who are cursed,/
who err from your commandments.

22 Remove from me reproach and contempt,/
for I have kept your testimonies.

23 Princes also sat and spoke against me,/
but your servant meditated in your statutes.

24 Your testimonies are also my delight/
and my counselors.

[DALET - ד]

25 My soul cleaves to the dust./
Revive me according to your word.

26 I have declared my ways, and you heard me./
Teach me your statutes.

27 Make me to understand the way of your precepts,/
and I shall talk of your wondrous works.

28 My soul melts for heaviness./
Strengthen me according to your word.

29 Remove from me the way of lying/
and grant me your law graciously.

30 I have chosen the way of truth./
Your judgments I have laid before me.

31 I have adhered to your testimonies./
O LORD, do not put me to shame.

32 I will run the way of your commandments/
when you enlarge my heart.

[HE - ה]

33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes,/
and I shall keep it to the end.

34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep your law./
I shall even observe it with my whole heart.

35 Make me to go in the path of your commandments,/
for in that I delight.

36 Incline my heart to your testimonies/
and not to covetousness.

37 Turn away my eyes from beholding vanity/
and revive me in your way.

38 Establish your word to your servant/
who is devoted to your fear.

39 Turn away my reproach which I fear,/
for your judgments are good.

40 Behold, I have longed after your precepts./
Revive me in your righteousness.

[VAV - ו]

41 Let your mercies come also to me, O LORD,/
even your salvation, according to your word.

42 And I shall have an answer for him who reproaches me,/
for I trust in your word.

43 And do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,/
for I have hoped in your judgments.

44 And I shall keep your law continually/
forever and ever.

45 And I will walk at liberty,/
for I seek your precepts.

46 I will also speak of your testimonies before kings/
and will not be ashamed.

47 And I will delight myself in your commandments,/
which I have loved.

48 I will also lift my hands to your commandments, which I have loved./
And I will meditate in your statutes.

[ZAYIN - ז]

49 Remember the word to your servant,/
upon which you have caused me to hope.

50 This is my comfort in my affliction,/
for your word has revived me.

51 The proud have had me greatly in derision,/
yet I have not declined from your law.

52 I remembered your judgments of old, O LORD,/
and have comforted myself.

53 Horror has taken hold upon me/
because of the wicked who forsake your law.

54 Your statutes have been my songs/
in the house of my pilgrimage.

55 I have remembered your name, O LORD, in the night/
and have kept your law.

56 This I had/
because I kept your precepts.

[HET - ח]

57 You are my portion, O LORD./
I have said that I would keep your words.

58 I entreated your favor with my whole heart./
Be merciful to me according to your word.

59 I considered my ways/
and turned my feet to your testimonies.

60 I made haste and did not delay/
to keep your commandments.

61 The ropes of the wicked have surrounded me,/
but I have not forgotten your law.

62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks to you/
because of your righteous judgments.

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

64 The earth, O LORD, is full of your mercy./
Teach me your statutes.

[TET - ט]

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

66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge,/
for I have believed your commandments.

67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,/
but now I have kept your word.

68 You are good and do good./
Teach me your statutes.

69 The proud have forged a lie against me,/
but I will keep your precepts with my whole heart.

70 Their heart is as gross as fat,/
but I delight in your law.

71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted/
so that I might learn your statutes.

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

[YOD - י]

73 Your hands have made me and fashioned me./
Give me understanding so that I may learn your commandments.

74 Those who fear you will be glad when they see me/
because I have hoped in your word.

75 I know, O LORD, that your judgments are right/
and that you in faithfulness have afflicted me.

76 Let, I pray you, your merciful kindness be for my comfort,/
according to your word to your servant.

77 Let your tender mercies come to me so that I may live,/
for your law is my delight.

78 Let the proud be ashamed, for they dealt perversely with me without a cause./
But I will meditate in your precepts.

79 Let those who fear you turn to me,/
and those who have known your testimonies.

80 Let my heart be sound in your statutes/
so that I may not be ashamed.

[KAF - כ]

81 My soul faints for your salvation,/
but I hope in your word.

82 My eyes fail for your word,/
saying, "When will you comfort me?"

83 For I have become like a bottle in the smoke,/
yet I do not forget your statutes.

84 How many are the days of your servant/
When will you execute judgment on those who persecute me?

85 The proud have dug pits for me,/
which are not according to your law.

86 All your commandments are faithful./
They persecute me wrongfully. Help me.

87 They had almost consumed me upon earth,/
but I did not forsake your precepts.

88 Revive me after your loving-kindness,/
and I shall keep the testimony of your mouth.

[LAMED - ל]

89 Forever, O LORD,/
your word is settled in heaven.

90 Your faithfulness is to all generations./
You have established the earth, and it abides.

91 They continue this day according to your ordinances,/
for all are your servants.

92 Unless your law had been my delight,/
I would have perished in my affliction.

93 I will never forget your precepts,/
for with them you have revived me.

94 I am yours. Save me,/
for I have sought your precepts.

95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me,/
but I will consider your testimonies.

96 I have seen an end of all perfection,/
but your commandment is exceedingly broad.

[MEM - מ]

97 O how I love your law!/
It is my meditation all the day.

98 You, through your commandments, have made me wiser than my enemies,/
for they are always with me.

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

100 I understand more than the ancients/
because I keep your precepts.

101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way/
so that I might keep your word.

102 I have not departed from your judgments,/
for you have taught me.

103 How sweet your words are to my taste!/
They are even sweeter than honey to my mouth!

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

[NUN - נ]

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

106 I have sworn, and I will perform it,/
that I will keep your righteous judgments.

107 I am afflicted very much./
Revive me, O LORD, according to your word.

108 Accept, I implore you, the voluntary-offerings of my mouth, O LORD,/
and teach me your judgments.

109 My soul is continually in my hand,/
yet I do not forget your law.

110 The wicked have laid a snare for me,/
yet I did not err from your precepts.

111 I have taken your testimonies as a heritage forever,/
for they are the rejoicing of my heart.

112 I have inclined my heart to perform your statutes/
always, even to the end.

[SAMEKH - ס]

113 I hate vain thoughts,/
but I love your law.

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

115 Depart from me, you evil-doers,/
for I will keep the commandments of my God.

116 Uphold me according to your word so that I may live,/
and do not let me be ashamed of my hope.

117 Support me, and I shall be safe/
and will have respect to your statutes continually.

118 You have trodden down all those who err from your statutes,/
for their deceit is falsehood.

119 You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross;/
therefore, I love your testimonies.

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

[AYIN - ע]

121 I have done judgment and justice./
Do not leave me to my oppressors.

122 Be surety for your servant for good./
Do not let the proud oppress me.

123 My eyes fail for your /
and for the word of your righteousness.

124 Deal with your servant according to your mercy/
and teach me your statutes.

125 I am your servant. Give me understanding/
so that I may know your testimonies.

126 It is time for you, LORD, to work,/
for they have made your law void.

127 Therefore, I love your commandments/
above gold, even above fine gold.

128 Therefore, I esteem all your precepts concerning all things to be right/
and I hate every false way.

[PE - פ]

129 Your testimonies are wonderful;/
therefore, my soul keeps them.

130 The entrance of your words gives light./
It gives understanding to the simple.

131 I opened my mouth and panted,/
for I longed for your commandments.

132 Look upon me and be merciful to me,/
as you always do to those who love your name.

133 Order my steps in your word/
and do not let any iniquity have dominion over me.

134 Deliver me from the oppression of man/
and I will keep your precepts.

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

136 Rivers of waters run down my eyes/
because they do not keep your law.

[TSADI - צ]

137 You are righteous, O LORD,/
and your judgments are upright.

138 Your testimonies that you have commanded are righteous/
and very faithful.

139 My zeal has consumed /
because my enemies have forgotten your words.

140 Your word is very pure;/
therefore, 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 taken hold of me,/
yet your commandments are my delights.

144 The righteousness of your testimonies is everlasting./
Give me understanding, and I shall live.

[QOF - ק]

145 I cried with my whole heart. Hear me, O LORD./
I will keep your statutes.

146 I cried to you. Save me,/
and I shall keep your testimonies.

147 I came before the dawning of the morning and cried./
I hoped in your word.

148 My eyes anticipated the night watches/
so that I might meditate in your word.

149 Hear my voice according to your loving-kindness./
O LORD, revive me according to your judgment.

150 They draw near who follow after mischief./
They are far from your law.

151 You are near, O LORD,/
and all your commandments are truth.

152 Concerning your testimonies, I have known of old/
that you have founded them forever.

[RESH - ר]

153 Consider my affliction and deliver me,/
for I do not forget your law.

154 Plead my cause and deliver me./
Revive me according to your word.

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

156 Your tender mercies are great, O LORD./
Revive me according to your judgments.

157 Many are my persecutors and my enemies,/
yet I do not decline from your testimonies.

158 I beheld the transgressors and was grieved/
because they did not keep your word.

159 Consider how I love your precepts./
Revive me, O LORD, according to your loving-kindness.

160 Your word is true from the beginning./
Every one of your righteous judgments endures forever.

[SHIN - ש]

161 Princes have persecuted me without a cause,/
but my heart stands in awe of your word.

162 I rejoice at your word/
as one who finds great plunder.

163 I hate and abhor lying,/
but I love your law.

164 Seven times a day I praise you/
because of your righteous judgments.

165 Those who love your law have great peace,/
and nothing shall cause them to stumble.

166 LORD, I have hoped for your salvation/
and performed your commandments.

167 My soul has kept your testimonies,/
and I love them exceedingly.

168 I have kept your precepts and your testimonies,/
for all my ways are before you.

[TAV - ת]

169 Let my cry come near before you, O LORD./
Give me understanding according to your word.

170 Let my supplication come before you./
Deliver me according to your word.

171 My lips shall utter praise/
when you have taught me your statutes.

172 My tongue shall speak of your word,/
for all your commandments are righteousness.

173 Let your hand help me,/
for I have chosen your precepts.

174 I have longed for your salvation, O LORD,/
and your law is my delight.

175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise you./
Let your judgments help me.

176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep. Seek your servant,/
for I do not forget your commandments.

Commentary

Matthew Henry Commentary - Psalms, Chapter 119[➚]

Notes

John Calvin's Chapter Summary:

As this psalm treats of various matters, it is difficult to give an epitome of its contents. There are, however, two things which the prophet mainly aims at; the exhorting of the children of God to follow godliness and a holy life; and the prescribing of the rule, and pointing out the form of the true worship of God, so that the faithful may devote themselves wholly to the study of the Law. Along with these he frequently blends promises for the purpose of animating the worshippers of God to live more justly and piously; and, at the same time, he introduces complaints respecting the impious contempt of the Law, lest they should become tainted by bad examples. In short, he frequently passes from one topic to another, and prosecutes no one particular subject continuously; and therefore it will be best to discuss each subject in its proper place.

[v.105] - Christ is not only the word, but also the lamp and the light. See the comment for 2nd Samuel 22:29. Reference, John 1:1, 4, 9.

[v.115] - Quoted in Matthew 7:23.

[v.136] - "they" - From John Gill's Exposition: "The persons are not mentioned, but must be understood of wicked men; whose open and impudent transgression of the law in innumerable instances, and in the most flagrant manner, gave the psalmist great distress, as it does all good men; because the law of God is despised, his authority is trampled on, his name is dishonored, and he has not the glory which is due unto him."

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