Psalms 119:109-176

119:109 My life is in continual danger, ¹ 

but I do not forget your law.

119:110 The wicked lay a trap for me,

but I do not wander from your precepts.

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

for they give me joy. ² 

119:112 I am determined to obey ³  your statutes

at all times, to the very end.

ס (Samek)

119:113 I hate people with divided loyalties, ⁴ 

but I love your law.

119:114 You are my hiding place and my shield.

I find hope in your word.

119:115 Turn away from me, you evil men,

so that I can observe ⁵  the commands of my God. ⁶ 

119:116 Sustain me as you promised, ⁷  so that I will live. ⁸ 

Do not disappoint me! ⁹ 

119:117 Support me, so that I will be delivered.

Then I will focus ¹⁰  on your statutes continually.

119:118 You despise ¹¹  all who stray from your statutes,

for they are deceptive and unreliable. ¹² 

119:119 You remove all the wicked of the earth like slag. ¹³ 

Therefore I love your rules. ¹⁴ 

119:120 My body ¹⁵  trembles ¹⁶  because I fear you; ¹⁷ 

I am afraid of your judgments.

ע (Ayin)

119:121 I do what is fair and right. ¹⁸ 

Do not abandon me to my oppressors!

119:122 Guarantee the welfare of your servant! ¹⁹ 

Do not let the arrogant oppress me!

119:123 My eyes grow tired as I wait for your deliverance, ²⁰ 

for your reliable promise to be fulfilled. ²¹ 

119:124 Show your servant your loyal love! ²² 

Teach me your statutes!

119:125 I am your servant. Give me insight,

so that I can understand ²³  your rules.

119:126 It is time for the Lord to act –

they break your law!

119:127 For this reason ²⁴  I love your commands

more than gold, even purest gold.

119:128 For this reason I carefully follow all your precepts. ²⁵ 

I hate all deceitful actions. ²⁶ 

פ (Pe)

119:129 Your rules are marvelous.

Therefore I observe them.

119:130 Your instructions are a doorway through which light shines. ²⁷ 

They give ²⁸  insight to the untrained. ²⁹ 

119:131 I open my mouth and pant,

because I long ³⁰  for your commands.

119:132 Turn toward me and extend mercy to me,

as you typically do to your loyal followers. ³¹ 

119:133 Direct my steps by your word! ³² 

Do not let any sin dominate me!

119:134 Deliver me ³³  from oppressive men,

so that I can keep ³⁴  your precepts.

119:135 Smile ³⁵  on your servant!

Teach me your statutes!

119:136 Tears stream down from my eyes, ³⁶ 

because people ³⁷  do not keep your law.

צ (Tsade)

119:137 You are just, O Lord,

and your judgments are fair.

119:138 The rules you impose are just, ³⁸ 

and absolutely reliable.

119:139 My zeal ³⁹  consumes ⁴⁰  me,

for my enemies forget your instructions. ⁴¹ 

119:140 Your word is absolutely pure,

and your servant loves it!

119:141 I am insignificant and despised,

yet I do not forget your precepts.

119:142 Your justice endures, ⁴² 

and your law is reliable. ⁴³ 

119:143 Distress and hardship confront ⁴⁴  me,

yet I find delight in your commands.

119:144 Your rules remain just. ⁴⁵ 

Give me insight so that I can live. ⁴⁶ 

ק (Qof)

119:145 I cried out with all my heart, “Answer me, O Lord!

I will observe your statutes.”

119:146 I cried out to you, “Deliver me,

so that I can keep ⁴⁷  your rules.”

119:147 I am up before dawn crying for help.

I find hope in your word.

119:148 My eyes anticipate the nighttime hours,

so that I can meditate on your word.

119:149 Listen to me ⁴⁸  because of ⁴⁹  your loyal love!

O Lord, revive me, as you typically do! ⁵⁰ 

119:150 Those who are eager to do ⁵¹  wrong draw near;

they are far from your law.

119:151 You are near, O Lord,

and all your commands are reliable. ⁵² 

119:152 I learned long ago that

you ordained your rules to last. ⁵³ 

ר (Resh)

119:153 See my pain and rescue me!

For I do not forget your law.

119:154 Fight for me ⁵⁴  and defend me! ⁵⁵ 

Revive me with your word!

119:155 The wicked have no chance for deliverance, ⁵⁶ 

for they do not seek your statutes.

119:156 Your compassion is great, O Lord.

Revive me, as you typically do! ⁵⁷ 

119:157 The enemies who chase me are numerous. ⁵⁸ 

Yet I do not turn aside from your rules.

119:158 I take note of the treacherous and despise them,

because they do not keep your instructions. ⁵⁹ 

119:159 See how I love your precepts!

O Lord, revive me with your loyal love!

119:160 Your instructions are totally reliable;

all your just regulations endure. ⁶⁰ 

שׂ/שׁ (Sin/Shin)

119:161 Rulers pursue me for no reason,

yet I am more afraid of disobeying your instructions. ⁶¹ 

119:162 I rejoice in your instructions,

like one who finds much plunder. ⁶² 

119:163 I hate and despise deceit;

I love your law.

119:164 Seven ⁶³  times a day I praise you

because of your just regulations.

119:165 Those who love your law are completely secure; ⁶⁴ 

nothing causes them to stumble. ⁶⁵ 

119:166 I hope for your deliverance, O Lord,

and I obey ⁶⁶  your commands.

119:167 I keep your rules;

I love them greatly.

119:168 I keep your precepts and rules,

for you are aware of everything I do. ⁶⁷ 

ת (Tav)

119:169 Listen to my cry for help, ⁶⁸  O Lord!

Give me insight by your word!

119:170 Listen to my appeal for mercy! ⁶⁹ 

Deliver me, as you promised. ⁷⁰ 

119:171 May praise flow freely from my lips,

for you teach me your statutes.

119:172 May my tongue sing about your instructions, ⁷¹ 

for all your commands are just.

119:173 May your hand help me,

for I choose to obey ⁷²  your precepts.

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

I find delight in your law.

119:175 May I ⁷³  live and praise you!

May your regulations help me! ⁷⁴ 

119:176 I have wandered off like a lost sheep. ⁷⁵ 

Come looking for your servant,

for I do not forget your commands.

[119:109]  ¹ tn Heb “my life [is] in my hands continually.”

[119:111]  ² tn Heb “for the joy of my heart [are] they.”

[119:112]  ³ tn Heb “I turn my heart to do.”

[119:113]  ⁴ 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.

[119:115]  ⁵ tn The cohortative verbal form with vav (ו) conjunctive indicates purpose/result after the preceding imperative.

[119:115]  ⁶ tn The psalmist has already declared that he observes God’s commands despite persecution, so here the idea must be “so that I might observe the commands of my God unhindered by threats.”

[119:116]  ⁷ tn Heb “according to your word.”

[119:116]  ⁸ tn The prefixed verbal form with vav (ו) conjunctive indicates purpose/result after the preceding imperative.

[119:116]  ⁹ tn Heb “do not make me ashamed of my hope.” After the Hebrew verb בּוֹשׁ (bosh, “to be ashamed”) the preposition מִן (min, “from”) often introduces the reason for shame.

[119:117]  ¹⁰ tn Or “and that I might focus.” The two cohortatives with vav (ו) conjunctive indicate purpose/result after the imperative at the beginning of the verse.

[119:118]  ¹¹ tn The Hebrew verb סָלָה (salah, “to disdain”) occurs only here and in Lam 1:15. Cognate usage in Aramaic and Akkadian, as well as Lam 1:15, suggest it may have a concrete nuance of “to throw away.”

[119:118]  ¹² tn Heb “for their deceit [is] falsehood.”

[119:119]  ¹³ sn Traditionally “dross” (so KJV, ASV, NIV). The metaphor comes from metallurgy; “slag” is the substance left over after the metallic ore has been refined.

[119:119]  ¹⁴ sn As he explains in the next verse, the psalmist’s fear of judgment motivates him to obey God’s rules.

[119:120]  ¹⁵ tn Heb “my flesh.”

[119:120]  ¹⁶ tn The Hebrew verb סָמַר (samar, “to tremble”) occurs only here and in Job 4:15.

[119:120]  ¹⁷ tn Heb “from fear of you.” The pronominal suffix on the noun is an objective genitive.

[119:121]  ¹⁸ tn Heb “do justice and righteousness.”

[119:122]  ¹⁹ tn Heb “be surety for your servant for good.”

[119:123]  ²⁰ tn Heb “my eyes fail for your deliverance.” The psalmist has intently kept his eyes open, looking for God to intervene, but now his eyes are watery and bloodshot, impairing his vision. See the similar phrase in v. 82.

[119:123]  ²¹ tn Heb “and for the word of your faithfulness.”

[119:124]  ²² tn Heb “do with your servant according to your loyal love.”

[119:125]  ²³ tn or “know.” The cohortative verbal form with vav (ו) conjunctive indicates purpose/result after the preceding imperative.

[119:127]  ²⁴ 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.

[119:128]  ²⁵ tn Heb “for this reason all the precepts of everything I regard as right.” The phrase “precepts of everything” is odd. It is preferable to take the kaf (כ) on כֹּל (kol, “everything) with the preceding form as a pronominal suffix, “your precepts,” and the lamed (ל) with the following verb as an emphatic particle. See L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 138.

[119:128]  ²⁶ tn Heb “every false path.”

[119:130]  ²⁷ tn Heb “the doorway of your words gives light.” God’s “words” refer here to the instructions in his law (see vv. 9, 57).

[119:130]  ²⁸ tn Heb “it [i.e., the doorway] gives.”

[119:130]  ²⁹ tn Or “the [morally] naive,” that is, the one who is young and still in the process of learning right from wrong and distinguishing wisdom from folly. See Pss 19:7; 116:6.

[119:131]  ³⁰ tn The verb occurs only here in the OT.

[119:132]  ³¹ tn Heb “according to custom toward the lovers of your name.” The “lovers of” God’s “name” are the Lord’s loyal followers. See Pss 5:11; 69:36; Isa 56:6.

[119:133]  ³² tn God’s “word” refers here to his law (see v. 11).

[119:134]  ³³ tn Or “redeem me.”

[119:134]  ³⁴ tn The cohortative verbal form with vav (ו) conjunctive indicates purpose/result after the preceding imperative.

[119:135]  ³⁵ tn Heb “cause your face to shine.”

[119:136]  ³⁶ tn Heb “[with] flowing streams my eyes go down.”

[119:136]  ³⁷ tn Heb “they”; even though somewhat generic, the referent (people) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[119:138]  ³⁸ tn Heb “you commanded [in] justice your rules.”

[119:139]  ³⁹ tn or “zeal.”

[119:139]  ⁴⁰ tn Heb “destroys,” in a hyperbolic sense.

[119:139]  ⁴¹ tn Heb “your words.”

[119:142]  ⁴² tn Heb “your justice [is] justice forever.”

[119:142]  ⁴³ tn Or “truth.”

[119:143]  ⁴⁴ tn Heb “find.”

[119:144]  ⁴⁵ tn Heb “just are your rules forever.”

[119:144]  ⁴⁶ tn The cohortative verbal form with vav (ו) conjunctive indicates purpose/result after the preceding imperative.

[119:146]  ⁴⁷ tn The cohortative verbal form with vav (ו) conjunctive indicates purpose/result after the preceding imperative.

[119:149]  ⁴⁸ tn Heb “my voice.”

[119:149]  ⁴⁹ tn Heb “according to.”

[119:149]  ⁵⁰ tn Heb “according to your custom.”

[119:150]  ⁵¹ tn Heb “those who pursue.”

[119:151]  ⁵² tn Or “truth.”

[119:152]  ⁵³ tn Heb “long ago I knew concerning your rules, that forever you established them.” See v. 89 for the same idea. The translation assumes that the preposition מִן (min) prefixed to “your rules” introduces the object of the verb יָדַע (yada’), as in 1 Sam 23:23. Another option is that the preposition indicates source, in which case one might translate, “Long ago I realized from your rules that forever you established them” (cf. NIV, NRSV).

[119:154]  ⁵⁴ tn Or “argue my case.”

[119:154]  ⁵⁵ tn Heb “and redeem me.” The verb “redeem” casts the Lord in the role of a leader who protects members of his extended family in times of need and crisis (see Ps 19:14).

[119:155]  ⁵⁶ tn Heb “far from the wicked [is] deliverance.”

[119:156]  ⁵⁷ tn Heb “according to your customs.”

[119:157]  ⁵⁸ tn Heb “many [are] those who chase me and my enemies.”

[119:158]  ⁵⁹ tn Heb “your word.”

[119:160]  ⁶⁰ tn Heb “the head of your word is truth, and forever [is] all your just regulation.” The term “head” is used here of the “sum total” of God’s instructions.

[119:161]  ⁶¹ tn Heb “and because of your instructions my heart trembles.” The psalmist’s healthy “fear” of the consequences of violating God’s instructions motivates him to obey them. See v. 120.

[119:162]  ⁶² tn Heb “like one who finds great plunder.” See Judg 5:30. The image is that of a victorious warrior who finds a large amount of plunder on the field of battle.

[119:164]  ⁶³ tn The number “seven” is use rhetorically to suggest thoroughness.

[119:165]  ⁶⁴ tn Heb “great peace [is] to the lovers of your law.”

[119:165]  ⁶⁵ tn Heb “and there is no stumbling to them.”

[119:166]  ⁶⁶ tn Heb “do.”

[119:168]  ⁶⁷ tn Heb “for all my ways [are] before you.”

[119:169]  ⁶⁸ tn Heb “may my cry approach before you.”

[119:170]  ⁶⁹ tn Heb “may my appeal for mercy come before you.”

[119:170]  ⁷⁰ tn Heb “according to your speech.”

[119:172]  ⁷¹ tn Heb “your word.”

[119:173]  ⁷² tn The words “to obey” are not in the Hebrew text, but have been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons and for clarity.

[119:175]  ⁷³ tn Heb “my life.”

[119:175]  ⁷⁴ tn God’s regulations will “help” the psalmist by giving him moral and ethical guidance.

[119:176]  ⁷⁵ tn Heb “I stray like a lost sheep.” It is possible that the point of the metaphor is vulnerability: The psalmist, who is threatened by his enemies, feels as vulnerable as a straying, lost sheep. This would not suggest, however, that he has wandered from God’s path (see the second half of the verse, as well as v. 110).