Job 23:12

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 

Psalms 19:10

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.

Psalms 119:72

119:72 The law you have revealed is more important to me

than thousands of pieces of gold and silver. ⁴ 

Psalms 119:97

מ (Mem)

119:97 O how I love your law!

All day long I meditate on it.

Psalms 119:101-103

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 

Psalms 119:111

119:111 I claim your rules as my permanent possession,

for they give me joy. ⁸ 

[23:12]  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”).

[19:10]  ² tn Heb “more desirable.”

[19:10]  ³ tn Heb “are sweeter.” God’s law is “sweet’ in the sense that, when obeyed, it brings a great reward (see v. 11b).

[119:72]  ⁴ tn Heb “better to me [is] the law of your mouth than thousands of gold and silver.”

[119:101]  ⁵ tn Heb “I hold back my feet.”

[119:101]  ⁶ tn Heb “your word.” Many medieval Hebrew mss read the plural.

[119:103]  ⁷ tn Heb “How smooth they are to my palate, your word, more than honey to my mouth.” A few medieval Hebrew mss, as well as several other ancient witnesses, read the plural “your words,” which can then be understood as the subject of the plural verb “they are smooth.”

[119:111]  ⁸ tn Heb “for the joy of my heart [are] they.”