מ (Mem)
119:97 O how I love your law!
All day long I meditate on it.
119:98 Your commandments 1 make me wiser than my enemies,
for I am always aware of them.
119:99 I have more insight than all my teachers,
for I meditate on your rules.
119:100 I am more discerning than those older than I,
for I observe your precepts.
119:101 I stay away 2 from the evil path,
so that I might keep your instructions. 3
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! 4
119:104 Your precepts give me discernment.
Therefore I hate all deceitful actions. 5
119:111 I claim your rules as my permanent possession,
for they give me joy. 6
ס (Samek)
119:113 I hate people with divided loyalties, 7
but I love your law.
119:127 For this reason 8 I love your commands
more than gold, even purest gold.
119:167 I keep your rules;
I love them greatly.
119:174 I long for your deliverance, O Lord;
I find delight in your law.
1 tn The plural form needs to be revocalized as a singular in order to agree with the preceding singular verb and the singular pronoun in the next line. The
2 tn Heb “I hold back my feet.”
3 tn Heb “your word.” Many medieval Hebrew
4 tn Heb “How smooth they are to my palate, your word, more than honey to my mouth.” A few medieval Hebrew
5 tn Heb “every false path.”
6 tn Heb “for the joy of my heart [are] they.”
7 tn Heb “divided ones.” The word occurs only here; it appears to be derived from a verbal root, attested in Arabic, meaning “to split” (see HALOT 762 s.v. *סֵעֵף). Since the psalmist is emphasizing his unswerving allegiance to God and his law, the term probably refers to those who lack such loyalty. The translation is similar to that suggested by L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 131.
8 tn “For this reason” connects logically with the statement made in v. 126. Because the judgment the psalmist fears (see vv. 119-120) is imminent, he remains loyal to God’s law.