Discovery BoxPsalms 119:153-176
Contextר (Resh)
119:153 See my pain and rescue me!
For I do not forget your law.
119:154 Fight for me 1 and defend me! 2
Revive me with your word!
119:155 The wicked have no chance for deliverance, 3
for they do not seek your statutes.
119:156 Your compassion is great, O Lord.
Revive me, as you typically do! 4
119:157 The enemies who chase me are numerous. 5
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. 6
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. 7
שׂ/שׁ (Sin/Shin)
119:161 Rulers pursue me for no reason,
yet I am more afraid of disobeying your instructions. 8
119:162 I rejoice in your instructions,
like one who finds much plunder. 9
119:163 I hate and despise deceit;
I love your law.
119:164 Seven 10 times a day I praise you
because of your just regulations.
119:165 Those who love your law are completely secure; 11
nothing causes them to stumble. 12
119:166 I hope for your deliverance, O Lord,
and I obey 13 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. 14
ת (Tav)
119:169 Listen to my cry for help, 15 O Lord!
Give me insight by your word!
119:170 Listen to my appeal for mercy! 16
Deliver me, as you promised. 17
119:171 May praise flow freely from my lips,
for you teach me your statutes.
119:172 May my tongue sing about your instructions, 18
for all your commands are just.
119:173 May your hand help me,
for I choose to obey 19 your precepts.
119:174 I long for your deliverance, O Lord;
I find delight in your law.
119:175 May I 20 live and praise you!
May your regulations help me! 21
119:176 I have wandered off like a lost sheep. 22
Come looking for your servant,
for I do not forget your commands.
[119:154] 1 tn Or “argue my case.”
[119:154] 2 tn Heb “and redeem me.” The verb “redeem” casts the
[119:155] 3 tn Heb “far from the wicked [is] deliverance.”
[119:156] 4 tn Heb “according to your customs.”
[119:157] 5 tn Heb “many [are] those who chase me and my enemies.”
[119:158] 6 tn Heb “your word.”
[119:160] 7 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] 8 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] 9 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] 10 tn The number “seven” is use rhetorically to suggest thoroughness.
[119:165] 11 tn Heb “great peace [is] to the lovers of your law.”
[119:165] 12 tn Heb “and there is no stumbling to them.”
[119:168] 14 tn Heb “for all my ways [are] before you.”
[119:169] 15 tn Heb “may my cry approach before you.”
[119:170] 16 tn Heb “may my appeal for mercy come before you.”
[119:170] 17 tn Heb “according to your speech.”
[119:172] 18 tn Heb “your word.”
[119:173] 19 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] 20 tn Heb “my life.”
[119:175] 21 tn God’s regulations will “help” the psalmist by giving him moral and ethical guidance.
[119:176] 22 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).
