Psalms 1:2

1:2 Instead ¹  he finds pleasure in obeying the Lord’s commands; ² 

he meditates on ³  his commands ⁴  day and night.

Psalms 40:8

40:8 I want to do what pleases you, ⁵  my God.

Your law dominates my thoughts.” ⁶ 

Psalms 119:16

119:16 I find delight ⁷  in your statutes;

I do not forget your instructions. ⁸ 

Psalms 119:24

119:24 Yes, I find delight in your rules;

they give me guidance. ⁹ 

Psalms 119:35

119:35 Guide me ¹⁰  in the path of your commands,

for I delight to walk in it. ¹¹ 

Psalms 119:70

119:70 Their hearts are calloused, ¹² 

but I find delight in your law.

Psalms 119:77

119:77 May I experience your compassion, ¹³  so I might live!

For I find delight in your law.

Psalms 119:174

119:174 I long for your deliverance, O Lord;

I find delight in your law.

Romans 7:22

7:22 For I delight in the law of God in my inner being.

¹ tn Here the Hebrew expression כִּי־אִם (ki-’im, “instead”) introduces a contrast between the sinful behavior depicted in v. 1 and the godly lifestyle described in v. 2.

² tn Heb “his delight [is] in the law of the Lord.” In light of the following line, which focuses on studying the Lord’s law, one might translate, “he finds pleasure in studying the Lord’s commands.” However, even if one translates the line this way, it is important to recognize that mere study and intellectual awareness are not ultimately what bring divine favor. Study of the law is metonymic here for the correct attitudes and behavior that should result from an awareness of and commitment to God’s moral will; thus “obeying” has been used in the translation rather than “studying.”

³ tn The Hebrew imperfect verbal form draws attention to the characteristic behavior described here and lends support to the hyperbolic adverbial phrase “day and night.” The verb הָגָה (hagag) means “to recite quietly; to meditate” and refers metonymically to intense study and reflection.

⁴ tn Or “his law.”

⁵ tn Or “your will.”

⁶ tn Heb “your law [is] in the midst of my inner parts.” The “inner parts” are viewed here as the seat of the psalmist’s thought life and moral decision making.

⁷ tn The imperfects in this verse emphasize the attitude the psalmist maintains toward God’s law. Another option is to translate with the future tense, “I will find delight…I will not forget.”

⁸ tn Heb “your word.” Many medieval Hebrew mss as well as the LXX read the plural here.

⁹ tn Heb “men of my counsel.” That is, God’s rules are like advisers to the psalmist, for they teach him how to live in a godly manner that refutes the accusations of his enemies.

¹⁰ tn Or “make me walk.”

¹¹ tn Heb “for in it I delight.”

¹² tn Heb “their heart is insensitive like fat.”

¹³ tn Heb “and may your compassion come to me.”