Psalm 119
BSB
Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet
ALEPH
1Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the Law of the LORD.
2Blessed are those who keep His testimonies
and seek Him with all their heart.
3They do no iniquity;
they walk in His ways.
4You have ordained Your precepts,
that we should keep them diligently.
5Oh, that my ways were committed
to keeping Your statutes!
6Then I would not be ashamed
when I consider all Your commandments.
7I will praise You with an upright heart
when I learn Your righteous judgments.
8I will keep Your statutes;
do not utterly forsake me.
BETH
9How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to Your word.
10With all my heart I have sought You;
do not let me stray from Your commandments.
11I have hidden Your word in my heart
that I might not sin against You.
12Blessed are You, O LORD;
teach me Your statutes.
13With my lips I proclaim
all the judgments of Your mouth.
14I rejoice in the way of Your testimonies
as much as in all riches.
15I will meditate on Your precepts
and regard Your ways.
16I will delight in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your word.
GIMEL
17Deal bountifully with Your servant,
that I may live and keep Your word.
18Open my eyes that I may see
wondrous things from Your law.
19I am a stranger on the earth;
do not hide Your commandments from me.
20My soul is consumed with longing
for Your judgments at all times.
21You rebuke the arrogant—
the cursed who stray from Your commandments.
22Remove my scorn and contempt,
for I have kept Your testimonies.
23Though rulers sit and slander me,
Your servant meditates on Your statutes.
24Your testimonies are indeed my delight;
they are my counselors.
DALETH
25My soul cleaves to the dust;
revive me according to Your word.
26I recounted my ways, and You answered me;
teach me Your statutes.
27Make clear to me the way of Your precepts;
then I will meditate on Your wonders.
28My soul melts with sorrow;
strengthen me according to Your word.
29Remove me from the path of deceit
and graciously grant me Your law.
30I have chosen the way of truth;
I have set Your ordinances before me.
31I cling to Your testimonies, O LORD;
let me not be put to shame.
32I run in the path of Your commandments,
for You will enlarge my heart.
HE
33Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes,
and I will keep them to the end.
34Give me understanding that I may obey Your law,
and follow it with all my heart.
35Direct me in the path of Your commandments,
for there I find delight.
36Turn my heart to Your testimonies
and not to covetous gain.
37Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
revive me with Your word.
38Establish Your word to Your servant,
to produce reverence for You.
39Turn away the disgrace I dread,
for Your judgments are good.
40How I long for Your precepts!
Revive me in Your righteousness.
WAW
41May Your loving devotion come to me, O LORD,
Your salvation, according to Your promise.
42Then I can answer him who taunts,
for I trust in Your word.
43Never take Your word of truth from my mouth,
for I hope in Your judgments.
44I will always obey Your law,
forever and ever.
45And I will walk in freedom,
for I have sought Your precepts.
46I will speak of Your testimonies before kings,
and I will not be ashamed.
47I delight in Your commandments
because I love them.
48I lift up my hands to Your commandments, which I love,
and I meditate on Your statutes.
ZAYIN
49Remember Your word to Your servant,
upon which You have given me hope.
50This is my comfort in affliction,
that Your promise has given me life.
51The arrogant utterly deride me,
but I do not turn from Your law.
52I remember Your judgments of old, O LORD,
and in them I find comfort.
53Rage has taken hold of me
because of the wicked who reject Your law.
54Your statutes are songs to me
in the house of my pilgrimage.
55In the night, O LORD, I remember Your name,
that I may keep Your law.
56This is my practice,
for I obey Your precepts.
HETH
57The LORD is my portion;
I have promised to keep Your words.
58I have sought Your face with all my heart;
be gracious to me according to Your promise.
59I considered my ways
and turned my steps to Your testimonies.
60I hurried without hesitating
to keep Your commandments.
61Though the ropes of the wicked bind me,
I do not forget Your law.
62At midnight I rise to give You thanks
for Your righteous judgments.
63I am a friend to all who fear You,
and to those who keep Your precepts.
64The earth is filled with Your loving devotion, O LORD;
teach me Your statutes.
TETH
65You are good to Your servant, O LORD,
according to Your word.
66Teach me good judgment and knowledge,
for I believe in Your commandments.
67Before I was afflicted, I went astray;
but now I keep Your word.
68You are good, and You do what is good;
teach me Your statutes.
69Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies,
I keep Your precepts with all my heart.
70Their hearts are hard and callous,
but I delight in Your law.
71It was good for me to be afflicted,
that I might learn Your statutes.
72The law from Your mouth is more precious to me
than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.
YODH
73Your hands have made me and fashioned me;
give me understanding to learn Your commandments.
74May those who fear You see me and rejoice,
for I have hoped in Your word.
75I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are righteous,
and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.
76May Your loving devotion comfort me, I pray,
according to Your promise to Your servant.
77May Your compassion come to me, that I may live,
for Your law is my delight.
78May the arrogant be put to shame for subverting me with a lie;
I will meditate on Your precepts.
79May those who fear You turn to me,
those who know Your testimonies.
80May my heart be blameless in Your statutes,
that I may not be put to shame.
KAPH
81My soul faints for Your salvation;
I wait for Your word.
82My eyes fail, looking for Your promise;
I ask, “When will You comfort me?”
83Though I am like a wineskin dried up by smoke,
I do not forget Your statutes.
84How many days must Your servant wait?
When will You execute judgment on my persecutors?
85The arrogant have dug pits for me
in violation of Your law.
86All Your commandments are faithful;
I am persecuted without cause—help me!
87They almost wiped me from the earth,
but I have not forsaken Your precepts.
88Revive me according to Your loving devotion,
that I may obey the testimony of Your mouth.
LAMEDH
89Your word, O LORD, is everlasting;
it is firmly fixed in the heavens.
90Your faithfulness continues through all generations;
You established the earth, and it endures.
91Your ordinances stand to this day,
for all things are servants to You.
92If Your law had not been my delight,
then I would have perished in my affliction.
93I will never forget Your precepts,
for by them You have revived me.
94I am Yours; save me,
for I have sought Your precepts.
95The wicked wait to destroy me,
but I will ponder Your testimonies.
96I have seen a limit to all perfection,
but Your commandment is without limit.
MEM
97Oh, how I love Your law!
All day long it is my meditation.
98Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies,
for they are always with me.
99I have more insight than all my teachers,
for Your testimonies are my meditation.
100I discern more than the elders,
for I obey Your precepts.
101I have kept my feet from every evil path,
that I may keep Your word.
102I have not departed from Your ordinances,
for You Yourself have taught me.
103How sweet are Your words to my taste—
sweeter than honey in my mouth!
104I gain understanding from Your precepts;
therefore I hate every false way.
NUN
105Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
106I have sworn and confirmed
that I will keep Your righteous judgments.
107I am severely afflicted, O LORD;
revive me through Your word.
108Accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD,
and teach me Your judgments.
109I constantly take my life in my hands,
yet I do not forget Your law.
110The wicked have set a snare for me,
but I have not strayed from Your precepts.
111Your testimonies are my heritage forever,
for they are the joy of my heart.
112I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes,
even to the very end.
SAMEKH
113The double-minded I despise,
but Your law I love.
114You are my hiding place and my shield;
I put my hope in Your word.
115Depart from me, you evildoers,
that I may obey the commandments of my God.
116Sustain me as You promised, that I may live;
let me not be ashamed of my hope.
117Uphold me, and I will be saved,
that I may always regard Your statutes.
118You reject all who stray from Your statutes,
for their deceitfulness is in vain.
119All the wicked on earth You discard like dross;
therefore I love Your testimonies.
120My flesh trembles in awe of You;
I stand in fear of Your judgments.
AYIN
121I have done what is just and right;
do not leave me to my oppressors.
122Ensure Your servant’s well-being;
do not let the arrogant oppress me.
123My eyes fail, looking for Your salvation,
and for Your righteous promise.
124Deal with Your servant according to Your loving devotion,
and teach me Your statutes.
125I am Your servant; give me understanding,
that I may know Your testimonies.
126It is time for the LORD to act,
for they have broken Your law.
127Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold,
even the purest gold.
128Therefore I admire all Your precepts
and hate every false way.
PE
129Wonderful are Your testimonies;
therefore I obey them.
130The unfolding of Your words gives light;
it informs the simple.
131I open my mouth and pant,
longing for Your commandments.
132Turn to me and show me mercy,
as You do to those who love Your name.
133Order my steps in Your word;
let no sin rule over me.
134Redeem me from the oppression of man,
that I may keep Your precepts.
135Make Your face shine upon Your servant,
and teach me Your statutes.
136My eyes shed streams of tears
because Your law is not obeyed.
TZADE
137Righteous are You, O LORD,
and upright are Your judgments.
138The testimonies You have laid down are righteous
and altogether faithful.
139My zeal has consumed me
because my foes forget Your words.
140Your promise is completely pure;
therefore Your servant loves it.
141I am lowly and despised,
but I do not forget Your precepts.
142Your righteousness is everlasting
and Your law is true.
143Trouble and distress have found me,
but Your commandments are my delight.
144Your testimonies are righteous forever.
Give me understanding, that I may live.
KOPH
145I call with all my heart; answer me, O LORD!
I will obey Your statutes.
146I call to You; save me,
that I may keep Your testimonies.
147I rise before dawn and cry for help;
in Your word I have put my hope.
148My eyes anticipate the watches of night,
that I may meditate on Your word.
149Hear my voice, O LORD, according to Your loving devotion;
give me life according to Your justice.
150Those who follow after wickedness draw near;
they are far from Your law.
151You are near, O LORD,
and all Your commandments are true.
152Long ago I learned from Your testimonies
that You have established them forever.
RESH
153Look upon my affliction and rescue me,
for I have not forgotten Your law.
154Defend my cause and redeem me;
revive me according to Your word.
155Salvation is far from the wicked
because they do not seek Your statutes.
156Great are Your mercies, O LORD;
revive me according to Your ordinances.
157Though my persecutors and foes are many,
I have not turned from Your testimonies.
158I look on the faithless with loathing
because they do not keep Your word.
159Consider how I love Your precepts, O LORD;
give me life according to Your loving devotion.
160The entirety of Your word is truth,
and all Your righteous judgments endure forever.
SIN and SHIN
161Rulers persecute me without cause,
but my heart fears only Your word.
162I rejoice in Your promise
like one who finds great spoil.
163I hate and abhor falsehood,
but Your law I love.
164Seven times a day I praise You
for Your righteous judgments.
165Abundant peace belongs to those who love Your instruction;
nothing can make them stumble.
166I wait for Your salvation, O LORD,
and I carry out Your commandments.
167I obey Your testimonies
and love them greatly.
168I obey Your precepts and Your testimonies,
for all my ways are before You.
TAW
169May my cry come before You, O LORD;
give me understanding according to Your word.
170May my plea come before You;
rescue me according to Your promise.
171My lips pour forth praise,
for You teach me Your statutes.
172My tongue sings of Your word,
for all Your commandments are righteous.
173May Your hand be ready to help me,
for I have chosen Your precepts.
174I long for Your salvation, O LORD,
and Your law is my delight.
175Let me live to praise You;
may Your judgments sustain me.
176I have strayed like a lost sheep;
seek Your servant, for I have not forgotten Your commandments.
Introduction
Psalms 119
This is a psalm by itself, like none of the rest; it excels them all, and shines brightest in this constellation. It is much longer than any of them more than twice as long as any of them. It is not making long prayers that Christ censurers, but making them for a pretence, which intimates that they are in themselves good and commendable. It seems to me to be a collection of David's pious and devout ejaculations, the short and sudden breathings and elevations of his soul to God, which he wrote down as they occurred, and, towards the latter end of his time, gathered out of his day-book where they lay scattered, added to them many like words, and digested them into this psalm, in which there is seldom any coherence between the verses, but, like Solomon's proverbs, it is a chest of gold rings, not a chain of gold links. And we may not only learn, by the psalmist's example, to accustom ourselves to such pious ejaculations, which are an excellent means of maintaining constant communion with God, and keeping the heart in frame for the more solemn exercises of religion, but we must make use of the psalmist's words, both for the exciting and for the expressing of our devout affections; what some have said of this psalm is true, "He that shall read it considerately, it will either warm him or shame him." The composition of it is singular and very exact. It is divided into twenty-two parts, according to the number of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, and each part consists of eight verses, all the verses of the first part beginning with Aleph, all the verses of the second with Beth, and so on, without any flaw throughout the whole psalm. Archbishop Tillotson says, It seems to have more of poetical skill and number in it than we at this distance can easily understand. Some have called it the saints' alphabet; and it were to be wished we had it as ready in our memories as the very letters of our alphabet, as ready as our A B C. Perhaps the penman found it of use to himself to observe this method, as it obliged him to seek for thoughts, and search for them, that he might fill up the quota of every part; and the letter he was to begin with might lead him to a word which might suggest a good sentence; and all little enough to raise any thing that is good in the barren soil of our hearts. However, it would be of use to the learners, a help to them both in committing it to memory and in calling it to mind upon occasion; by the letter the first word would be got, and that would bring in the whole verse; thus young people would the more easily learn it by heart and retain it the better even in old age. If any censure it as childish and trifling, because acrostics are now quite out of fashion, let them know that the royal psalmist despises their censure; he is a teacher of babes, and, if this method may be beneficial to them, he can easily stoop to it; if this to be vile, he will be yet more vile.
II. The general scope and design of it is to magnify the law, and make it honourable; to set forth the excellency and usefulness of divine revelation, and to recommend it to us, not only for the entertainment, but for the government, of ourselves, by the psalmist's own example, who speaks by experience of the benefit of it, and of the good impressions made upon him by it, for which he praises God, and earnestly prays, from first to last, for the continuance of God's grace with him, to direct and quicken him in the way of his duty. There are ten different words by which divine revelation is called in this psalm, and they are synonymous, each of them expressive of the whole compass of it (both that which tells us what God expects from us and that which tells us that we may expect from him) and of the system of religion which is founded upon it and guided by it. The things contained in the scripture, and drawn from it, are here called, 1. God's law, because they are enacted by him as our Sovereign. 2. His way, because they are the rule both of his providence and of our obedience. 3. His testimonies, because they are solemnly declared to the world and attested beyond contradiction. 4. His commandments, because given with authority, and (as the word signifies) lodged with us as a trust. 5. His precepts, because prescribed to us and not left indifferent. 6. His word, or saying, because it is the declaration of his mind, and Christ, the essential eternal Word, is all in all in it. 7. His judgments, because framed in infinite wisdom, and because by them we must both judge and be judged. 8. His righteousness, because it is all holy, just, and good, and the rule and standard of righteousness. 9. His statutes, because they are fixed and determined, and of perpetual obligation. His truth, or faithfulness, because the principles upon which the divine law is built are eternal truths. And I think there is but one verse (it is Psa 119:122) in all this long psalm in which there is not one or other of these ten words; only in three or four they are used concerning God's providence or David's practice (as Psa 119:75, Psa 119:84, Psa 119:121), and Psa 119:132 they are called God's name. The great esteem and affection David had for the word of God is the more admirable considering how little he had of it, in comparison with what we have, no more perhaps in writing than the first books of Moses, which were but the dawning of this day, which may shame us who enjoy the full discoveries of divine revelation and yet are so cold towards it. In singing this psalm there is work for all the devout affections of a sanctified soul, so copious, so various, is the matter of it. We here find that in which we must give glory to God both as our ruler and great benefactor, that in which we are to teach and admonish ourselves and one another (so many are the instructions which we here find about a religious life), and that in which we are to comfort and encourage ourselves and one another, so many are the sweet experiences of one that lived such a life. Here is something or other to suit the case of every Christian. Is any afflicted? Is any merry? Each will find that here which is proper for him. And it is so far from being a tedious repetition of the same thing, as may seem to those who look over it cursorily, that, if we duly meditate upon it, we shall find almost every verse has a new thought and something in it very lively. And this, as many other of David's psalms, teaches us to be sententious in our devotions, both alone and when others join with us; for, ordinarily, the affections, especially of weaker Christians, are more likely to be raised and kept by short expressions, the sense of which lies in a little compass, than by long and laboured periods.
Cross-references: Ps 119:122 · Ps 119:75 · Ps 119:84 · Ps 119:121 · Ps 119:132