Psalms 119:161-176

שׂ/שׁ (Sin/Shin)

119:161 Rulers pursue me for no reason,

yet I am more afraid of disobeying your instructions. ¹ 

119:162 I rejoice in your instructions,

like one who finds much plunder. ² 

119:163 I hate and despise deceit;

I love your law.

119:164 Seven ³  times a day I praise you

because of your just regulations.

119:165 Those who love your law are completely secure; ⁴ 

nothing causes them to stumble. ⁵ 

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

and I obey ⁶  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. ⁷ 

ת (Tav)

119:169 Listen to my cry for help, ⁸  O Lord!

Give me insight by your word!

119:170 Listen to my appeal for mercy! ⁹ 

Deliver me, as you promised. ¹⁰ 

119:171 May praise flow freely from my lips,

for you teach me your statutes.

119:172 May my tongue sing about your instructions, ¹¹ 

for all your commands are just.

119:173 May your hand help me,

for I choose to obey ¹²  your precepts.

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

I find delight in your law.

119:175 May I ¹³  live and praise you!

May your regulations help me! ¹⁴ 

119:176 I have wandered off like a lost sheep. ¹⁵ 

Come looking for your servant,

for I do not forget your commands.

[119:161]  ¹ 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]  ² 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]  ³ tn The number “seven” is use rhetorically to suggest thoroughness.

[119:165]  ⁴ tn Heb “great peace [is] to the lovers of your law.”

[119:165]  ⁵ tn Heb “and there is no stumbling to them.”

[119:166]  ⁶ tn Heb “do.”

[119:168]  ⁷ tn Heb “for all my ways [are] before you.”

[119:169]  ⁸ tn Heb “may my cry approach before you.”

[119:170]  ⁹ tn Heb “may my appeal for mercy come before you.”

[119:170]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “according to your speech.”

[119:172]  ¹¹ tn Heb “your word.”

[119:173]  ¹² 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]  ¹³ tn Heb “my life.”

[119:175]  ¹⁴ tn God’s regulations will “help” the psalmist by giving him moral and ethical guidance.

[119:176]  ¹⁵ 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).