23:12 I have not departed from the commands of his lips;
I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my allotted portion. 1
19:10 They are of greater value 2 than gold,
than even a great amount of pure gold;
they bring greater delight 3 than honey,
than even the sweetest honey from a honeycomb.
119:72 The law you have revealed is more important to me
than thousands of pieces of gold and silver. 4
מ (Mem)
119:97 O how I love your law!
All day long I meditate on it.
119:101 I stay away 5 from the evil path,
so that I might keep your instructions. 6
119:102 I do not turn aside from your regulations,
for you teach me.
119:103 Your words are sweeter
in my mouth than honey! 7
119:111 I claim your rules as my permanent possession,
for they give me joy. 8
1 tc The form in the MT (מֵחֻקִּי, mekhuqqi) means “more than my portion” or “more than my law.” An expanded meaning results in “more than my necessary food” (see Ps 119:11; cf. KJV, NASB, ESV). HALOT 346 s.v. חֹק 1 indicates that חֹק (khoq) has the meaning of “portion” and is here a reference to “what is appointed for me.” The LXX and the Latin versions, along with many commentators, have בְּחֵקִי (bÿkheqi, “in my bosom”).
2 tn Heb “more desirable.”
3 tn Heb “are sweeter.” God’s law is “sweet’ in the sense that, when obeyed, it brings a great reward (see v. 11b).
4 tn Heb “better to me [is] the law of your mouth than thousands of gold and silver.”
5 tn Heb “I hold back my feet.”
6 tn Heb “your word.” Many medieval Hebrew
7 tn Heb “How smooth they are to my palate, your word, more than honey to my mouth.” A few medieval Hebrew
8 tn Heb “for the joy of my heart [are] they.”