Psalms 119:1-148
[A.M. 3560. B.C. 444. (Title.)]
This Psalm, which was probably composed by Ezra, is another of the alphabetical Psalms: it consists of twenty-two parts, answering to the number of the Hebrew letters; every part being divided into eight verses, and each verse beginning with that letter which forms the title of the part; that is, the first part of eight verses with [Aleph,] the second with [Bˆyth,] etc. It is an elegant, important, and useful composition; the chief subjects of which are the excellence of God's laws, and the happiness of those who observe them. ALEPH
blessed <0835> [Blessed.]
blameless <08549> [undefiled. or, perfect, or sincere.]
obey <01980> [walk.]
observe <05341> [keep.]
seek <01875> [seek.]
ashamed <0954> [shall I.]
focused <05027> [I have.]
give you ... thanks <03034> [I will.]
learn <03925> [when.]
just regulations <06664 04941> [thy righteous judgments. Heb. judgments of thy righteousness.]
keep <08104> [I will.]
abandon <05800> [O forsake.]
young person <05288> [shall.]
guarding ...... instructions <08104> [by taking.]
heart <03820> [my whole.]
stray <07686> [O let me.]
words <0565> [Thy word.]
sin <02398> [that I.]
praise <01288> [Blessed.]
Teach <03925> [teach.]
proclaim <05608> [I declared.]
rejoice <07797> [rejoiced.]
meditate <07878> [meditate.]
focus <05027> [have respect.]
delight <08173> [delight.]
forget <07911> [not forget.]
Gimel <01580> [Deal.]
{Gemol,} "reward" thy servant: let him have the return of his faith and prayers. From this word is derived the name of [GÅ’ymel,] {gimmel,} the third letter of the alphabet, which is prefixed to every verse in this part: this is a stroke of the Psalmist's art and ingenuity.
live <02421> [I may live.]
Open <01540> [Open. Heb. Reveal.]
marvelous <06381> [wondrous.]
foreigner <01616> [a stranger.]
hide <05641> [hide.]
I <05315> [soul.]
times <06256> [at all times.]
reprimand <01605> [rebuked.]
doomed <0779> [cursed.]
Spare <01556> [Remove.]
observe <05341> [for I have.]
rulers <08269> [Princes.]
servant <05650> [thy servant.]
rules <05713> [testimonies.]
<0582> [my counsellors. Heb. men of my counsel.]
collapse <05315> [soul.]
Revive <02421> [quicken.]
word <01697> [according.]
told <05608> [declared.]
Teach <03925> [teach.]
meditate <07878> [so shall I talk.]
I <05315> [soul.]
collapse <01811> [melteth. Heb. droppeth. strengthen.]
Remove <05493> [Remove.]
law <08451> [grant me.]
choose <0977> [chosen.]
regulations <04941> [thy judgments.]
fast <01692> [stuck.]
ashamed <0954> [put me.]
run <07323> [run.]
enable <07337> [enlarge.]
Teach <03384> [Teach.]
observe <05341> [I shall keep.]
understanding <0995> [Give me.]
observe ..... keep <05341 08104> [I shall.]
keep <08104> [observe.]
Guide <01869> [Make me.]
path <05410> [the path.]
delight <02654> [therein.]
Give <05186> [Incline.]
unjustly <01215> [and not to.]
Turn <05674> [Turn. Heb. Make to pass.]
Revive <02421> [quicken.]
Confirm <06965> [Stablish.]
honors <03374> [who is devoted.]
away <05674> [Turn.]
regulations <04941> [for thy.]
long <08373> [I have.]
Revive <02421> [quicken.]
word <01697> [So shall.]
word <01697> [have wherewith, etc. or, answer him that reproacheth me in a thing.]
trust <0982> [for I trust.]
deprive me <05337 01697> [take not.]
await <03176> [for I have.]
keep <08104> [So shall.]
The language of this verse is very emphatic. Perfect obedience will constitute a large proportion of heavenly happiness to all eternity; and the nearer we approach to it on earth, the more we anticipate the felicity of heaven.
keep <08104> [keep.]
<01980> [And I will.]
secure <07342> [at liberty. Heb. at large.]
seek <01875> [for I seek.]
speak <01696> [speak.]
ashamed <0954> [will not.]
delight <08173> [I will delight.]
love <0157> [which.]
hands <03709> [hands.]
commands <04687> [unto thy.]
meditate <07878> [and I will.]
Remember <02142> [Remember.]
hope <03176> [upon which.]
comforts <05165> [This.]
promise <0565> [for thy.]
Arrogant <02086> [proud.]
aside <05186> [yet have.]
remember <02142> [remembered.]
Rage <02152> [horror.]
{ZilÆ’phah} properly signifies the pestilential burning wind called by the Arabs {Simoom,} (see Ps 11:6.) It is here used in a figurative sense for the most horrid mental distress; and strongly marks the idea the Psalmist had of the corrupting, pestilential, and destructive nature of sin.
night <03915> [night.]
keep <08104> [kept.]
observe <05341> [because.]
Khet <02506> [my portion.]
<0559> [I have.]
seek <02470> [I intreated.]
<06440> [favour. Heb. face.]
mercy <02603> [be merciful.]
consider <02803> [thought.]
<07725> [turned.]
eagerly <02363> [made.]
ropes <02256> [The bands. or, The companies.]
forget <07911> [but I.]
middle <02676> [midnight.]
just <06664> [thy.]
friend <02270> [a companion.]
earth <0776> [earth.]
Teach <03925> [teach.]
good <02896 06213> [dealt well.]
Teach ... proper <03925 02898> [Teach me.]
reliable <0539> [I Have.]
afflicted <06031> [Before.]
keep <08104> [but now.]
good ..... good <02896 02895> [good.]
Teach <03925> [teach.]
Arrogant <02086> [proud.]
observe <05341> [I will.]
heart <03820> [with my whole.]
hearts ... calloused <02954 03820> [heart is as fat.]
delight <08173> [but I.]
good <02896> [good.]
important <02896> [better.]
hands <03027> [Thy hands.]
understanding <0995> [give me.]
learn <03925> [that I may.]
loyal followers .... glad <03373 08055> [fear thee.]
hope <03176> [I have.]
know <03045> [I know.]
just <06664> [right. Heb. righteousness.]
faithful devotion <0530> [thou in.]
loyal love <02617> [merciful.]
console <05162> [for my comfort. Heb. to comfort me.]
compassion <07356> [thy tender.]
law <08451> [for thy.]
arrogant <02086> [the proud.]
me <08267> [without.]
meditate <07878> [but I will.]
loyal followers <03373> [Let those.]
fully <08549> [sound.]
ashamed <0954> [that I be.]
Kaf <03615> [fainteth.]
hope <03176> [but I.]
eyes <05869> [eyes.]
comfort <05162> [When wilt.]
wineskin ..... smoke <07008 04997> [like a bottle in the smoke.]
As the bottles in the East are made of skin, it is evident that one of these hung up in the smoke must soon be parched, shrivelled up, lose all its strength, and become unsightly and useless. Thus the Psalmist appeared to himself to have become useless and despicable, through the exhausted state of his body and mind, by long bodily afflictions and mental distress.
forget <07911> [yet do I.]
How long <03117> [How.]
endure <06213> [when.]
arrogant <02086> [The proud.]
This metaphor is taken from the mode in which wild beasts are caught in the East: deep pits are dug in the earth, and slightly covered over with reeds, turf, etc., so as not to be discerned from the solid ground; and the animals attempting to walk over them, the surface breaks, they fall in, and are taken alive. Thus the Psalmist's enemies employed craft as well as power in order to effect his ruin.
law <08451> [which.]
commands <04687> [All thy.]
reliable <0530> [faithful. Heb. faithfulness. they.]
Help <05826> [help.]
almost <04592> [almost.]
reject <05800> [but I forsook.]
Revive <02421> [Quicken.]
keep <08104> [so shall I.]
Lamed <05769> [For ever.]
faithfulness <0530> [faithfulness.]
all generations <01755> [unto all generations. Heb. to generation and generation.]
established <03559> [thou hast]
stood <05975> [abideth. Heb. standeth.]
Today ... stand <05975 03117> [They continue this.]
servants <05650> [all are.]
law <08451> [thy law.]
died <06> [I should.]
never <05769> [will never.]
Deliver <03467> [I am thine.]
seek <01875> [for I have.]
wicked <07563> [wicked.]
concentrate <0995> [but I.]
realize <07200> [I have seen.]
That is, I have seen that all human wisdom or knowledge, however extensive, noble, and excellent, has it bounds, and limits, and end; but Thy law, a transcript of Thine own mind, is infinite, and extends to eternity.
commands <04687> [but thy.]
love <0157> [O how.]
commandments <04687> [through.]
always <05769> [they are ever. Heb. it is ever.]
teachers <03925> [than all.]
rules <05715> [for thy.]
discerning <0995> [understand.]
observe <05341> [because.]
<03607> [refrained.]
aside <05493> [departed.]
teach <03384> [for thou.]
sweeter <04452> [sweet.]
mouth <02441> [taste. Heb. palate.]
precepts <06490> [Through.]
hate <08130> [therefore.]
deceitful actions <0734 08267> [false way.]
word <01697> [word.]
lamp <05216> [lamp. or, candle.]
vowed <07650> [sworn.]
keep <08104> [that I will.]
terribly <06031> [afflicted.]
revive <02421> [quicken.]
accept <07521> [Accept.]
Teach <03925> [teach.]
life <05315> [My soul.]
Rather, "My life {naphshee} is continually in my hand;" i.e., it is in constant danger; every hour I am on the confines of death. The LXX., Syriac, and Ethiopic read, "in thy hand;" but this is a conjectural and useless alteration.
forget <07911> [yet do I not.]
wicked <07563> [wicked.]
wander <08582> [yet I erred.]
rules <05715> [Thy testimonies.]
joy <08342> [for they.]
determined <05186> [inclined.]
obey <06213> [perform. Heb. do. the end.]
hate <08130> [hate.]
divided loyalties <05588> [vain thoughts.]
Or, "divided thoughts," {saiÆ’phim,} or, as Gesenius renders, {bie Bneybeutigen (in ber Religion)} "ambiguities (or indecisions) in Religion;" Luther, {Flattergeister,} "inconstant fellows;" LXX. [paranomoi,] "transgressors," Vulgate {iniqui,} "iniquitous," and Jerome, {tumultuosos,} "tumultuous."
law <08451> [thy law.]
hiding <05643> [my hiding.]
shield <04043> [my shield.]
hope <03176> [I hope.]
Turn <05493> [Depart.]
observe <05341> [for I will.]
Sustain <05564> [Uphold.]
disappoint <0954> [and let me.]
Support <05582> [Hold.]
focus <08159> [and I will.]
despise <05541> [trodden.]
stray <07686> [err.]
unreliable <08649> [their deceit.]
remove <07673> [Thou.]
When Thou triest them in the refining fire, they are burnt up, fly off in fumes, or in {scori‘,} which Thou sweepest away.
remove <07673> [puttest away. Heb. causest to cease.]
love <0157> [therefore.]
body <01320> [My flesh.]
do <06213> [I have.]
abandon ..... oppressors <03240 06231> [leave me.]
Guarantee <06148> [surety.]
arrogant <02086> [let not.]
Show <06213> [Deal.]
Teach <03925> [teach.]
servant <05650> [I am thy.]
insight <0995> [give.]
understand <03045> [that I.]
time <06256> [time.]
<06213> [to work.]
That is, "to take vengeance," as {Æ’sah} signifies, Jer 18:23; Mal 3:17, by an ellipsis of the noun. When infidels, profligates, and Pharisees, "make void the law of God," generally, then it is time for God to arise to vindicate His own honour and maintain His cause among men.
break <06565> [they.]
love <0157> [I love.]
precepts <06490> [I esteem.]
<03474> [all things.]
{Kol,} "all" seems to have been omitted by all the versions, except the Chaldee; which reads simply, "all thy precepts;" and this renders the text more perspicuous and unembarrassed.
hate <08130> [and I.]
rules <05715> [testimonies.]
<05315> [doth.]
doorway <06608> [entrance.]
Or, "opening;" {paithach:} the Scriptures give satisfactory light to the mind upon every subject of which they treat; and speedily communicate more useful knowledge to the simplest believer, upon the most important topics, than the acutest philosophers have been able to develop through successive ages.
insight <0995> [it giveth.]
open <06473> [opened.]
long <02968> [I longed.]
Turn <06437> [Look.]
typically ..... loyal <04941 0157> [as thou usest to do unto those. Heb. according to the custom toward those.]
Direct <03559> [Order.]
sin <0205> [let not.]
<06440> [Make.]
Teach <03925> [and teach.]
rules <05713> [testimonies.]
just <06664> [righteous. Heb. righteousness. faithful. Heb. faithfulness.]
zeal <07068> [zeal.]
consumes ..... enemies <06789 06862> [consumed me. or, cut me off. because.]
word <0565> [Thy word.]
Gold has need to be refined; but thy word is purity itself, reflecting the holiness of Jehovah's character and government, and requiring and leading to purity of heart and life.
pure <06884> [pure. Heb. tried, or refined.]
insignificant <06810> [small.]
forget <07911> [yet do.]
<06666> [Thy righteousness.]
Men, as Bp. Horne observes, may decree wickedness by a law; or they may change their decrees, and with them what is right to-day may be wrong to-morrow; but the law of God is righteousness, and it is truth, to-day and for ever.
endures <05769> [an everlasting.]
law <08451> [and thy.]
Distress <06862> [Trouble.]
confront ......... commands <04672 04687> [taken hold on me. Heb. found me. yet thy.]
just <06664> [righteousness.]
insight <0995> [give me.]
insight <0995> [understanding.]
cried <07121> [cried.]
observe <05341> [I will.]
keep <08104> [and I shall keep. or, that I may keep.]
before <06923> [I prevented.]
That is, I anticipated, or rose before, the morning dawn; and was before hand with the light itself.
hope <03176> [hoped.]
eyes <05869> [eyes.]
nighttime hours <0821> [the night watches.]
The ancient Jews divided the night into three watches of four hours each, beginning at six o'clock in the evening; before the last of which, "the day break," or "morning watch," as the LXX. and Vulgate read, the Psalmist was awake.
