Psalms 119:97-104

מ (Mem)

119:97 O how I love your law!

All day long I meditate on it.

119:98 Your commandments ¹  make me wiser than my enemies,

for I am always aware of them.

119:99 I have more insight than all my teachers,

for I meditate on your rules.

119:100 I am more discerning than those older than I,

for I observe your precepts.

119:101 I stay away ²  from the evil path,

so that I might keep your instructions. ³ 

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! ⁴ 

119:104 Your precepts give me discernment.

Therefore I hate all deceitful actions. ⁵ 

Psalms 119:111

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

for they give me joy. ⁶ 

Psalms 119:113

ס (Samek)

119:113 I hate people with divided loyalties, ⁷ 

but I love your law.

Psalms 119:127

119:127 For this reason ⁸  I love your commands

more than gold, even purest gold.

Psalms 119:167

119:167 I keep your rules;

I love them greatly.

Psalms 119:174

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

I find delight in your law.

[119:98]  ¹ tn The plural form needs to be revocalized as a singular in order to agree with the preceding singular verb and the singular pronoun in the next line. The Lord’s “command” refers here to the law (see Ps 19:8).

[119:101]  ² tn Heb “I hold back my feet.”

[119:101]  ³ tn Heb “your word.” Many medieval Hebrew mss read the plural.

[119:103]  ⁴ 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.”

[119:104]  ⁵ tn Heb “every false path.”

[119:111]  ⁶ tn Heb “for the joy of my heart [are] they.”

[119:113]  ⁷ 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.

[119:127]  ⁸ 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.