Harpercollins study bibl.., p.229
HarperCollins Study Bible, page 229
for I have kept your precepts.
57The LORD is my portion;
I promise to keep your words.
58I implore your favor with all my heart;
be gracious to me according to your promise.
59When I think of your ways,
I turn my feet to your decrees;
60I hurry and do not delay
to keep your commandments.
61Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me,
I do not forget your law.
62At midnight I rise to praise you,
because of your righteous ordinances.
63I am a companion of all who fear you,
of those who keep your precepts.
64The earth, O LORD, is full of your steadfast love;
teach me your statutes.
65You have dealt well with your servant,
O LORD, according to your word.
66Teach me good judgment and knowledge,
for I believe in your commandments.
67Before I was humbled I went astray,
but now I keep your word.
68You are good and do good;
teach me your statutes.
69The arrogant smear me with lies,
but with my whole heart I keep your precepts.
70Their hearts are fat and gross,
but I delight in your law.
71It is good for me that I was humbled,
so that I might learn your statutes.
72The law of your mouth is better to me
than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
73Your hands have made and fashioned me;
give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
74Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice,
because I have hoped in your word.
75I know, O LORD, that your judgments are right,
and that in faithfulness you have humbled me.
76Let your steadfast love become my comfort
according to your promise to your servant.
77Let your mercy come to me, that I may live;
for your law is my delight.
78Let the arrogant be put to shame,
because they have subverted me with guile;
as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.
79Let those who fear you turn to me,
so that they may know your decrees.
80May my heart be blameless in your statutes,
so that I may not be put to shame.
81My soul languishes for your salvation;
I hope in your word.
82My eyes fail with watching for your promise;
I ask, “When will you comfort me?”
83For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,
yet I have not forgotten your statutes.
84How long must your servant endure?
When will you judge those who persecute me?
85The arrogant have dug pitfalls for me;
they flout your law.
86All your commandments are enduring;
I am persecuted without cause; help me!
87They have almost made an end of me on earth;
but I have not forsaken your precepts.
88In your steadfast love spare my life,
so that I may keep the decrees of your mouth.
89The LORD exists forever;
your word is firmly fixed in heaven.
90Your faithfulness endures to all generations;
you have established the earth, and it stands fast.
91By your appointment they stand today,
for all things are your servants.
92If your law had not been my delight,
I would have perished in my misery.
93I will never forget your precepts,
for by them you have given me life.
94I am yours; save me,
for I have sought your precepts.
95The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,
but I consider your decrees.
96I have seen a limit to all perfection,
but your commandment is exceedingly broad.
97Oh, how I love your law!
It is my meditation all day long.
98Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,
for it is always with me.
99I have more understanding than all my teachers,
for your decrees are my meditation.
100I understand more than the aged,
for I keep your precepts.
101I hold back my feet from every evil way,
in order to keep your word.
102I do not turn away from your ordinances,
for you have taught me.
103How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104Through your precepts I get understanding;
therefore I hate every false way.
105Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
106I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,
to observe your righteous ordinances.
107I am severely afflicted;
give me life, O LORD, according to your word.
108Accept my offerings of praise, O LORD,
and teach me your ordinances.
109I hold my life in my hand continually,
but I do not forget your law.
110The wicked have laid a snare for me,
but I do not stray from your precepts.
111Your decrees are my heritage forever;
they are the joy of my heart.
112I incline my heart to perform your statutes
forever, to the end.
113I hate the double-minded,
but I love your law.
114You are my hiding place and my shield;
I hope in your word.
115Go away from me, you evildoers,
that I may keep the commandments of my God.
116Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live,
and let me not be put to shame in my hope.
117Hold me up, that I may be safe
and have regard for your statutes continually.
118You spurn all who go astray from your statutes;
for their cunning is in vain.
119All the wicked of the earth you count as dross;
therefore I love your decrees.
120My flesh trembles for fear of you,
and I am afraid of your judgments.
121I have done what is just and right;
do not leave me to my oppressors.
122Guarantee your servant’s well-being;
do not let the godless oppress me.
123My eyes fail from watching for your salvation,
and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.
124Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love,
and teach me your statutes.
125I am your servant; give me understanding,
so that I may know your decrees.
126It is time for the LORD to act,
for your law has been broken.
127Truly I love your commandments
more than gold, more than fine gold.
128Truly I direct my steps by all your precepts;a
I hate every false way.
129Your decrees are wonderful;
therefore my soul keeps them.
130The unfolding of your words gives light;
it imparts understanding to the simple.
131With open mouth I pant,
because I long for your commandments.
132Turn to me and be gracious to me,
as is your custom toward those who love your name.
133Keep my steps steady according to your promise,
and never let iniquity have dominion over me.
134Redeem me from human oppression,
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 kept.
137You are righteous, O LORD,
and your judgments are right.
138You have appointed your decrees in righteousness
and in all faithfulness.
139My zeal consumes me
because my foes forget your words.
140Your promise is well tried,
and your servant loves it.
141I am small and despised,
yet I do not forget your precepts.
142Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
and your law is the truth.
143Trouble and anguish have come upon me,
but your commandments are my delight.
144Your decrees are righteous forever;
give me understanding that I may live.
145With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O LORD.
I will keep your statutes.
146I cry to you; save me,
that I may observe your decrees.
147I rise before dawn and cry for help;
I put my hope in your words.
148My eyes are awake before each watch of the night,
that I may meditate on your promise.
149In your steadfast love hear my voice;
O LORD, in your justice preserve my life.
150Those who persecute me with evil purpose draw near;
they are far from your law.
151Yet you are near, O LORD,
and all your commandments are true.
152Long ago I learned from your decrees
that you have established them forever.
153Look on my misery and rescue me,
for I do not forget your law.
154Plead my cause and redeem me;
give me life according to your promise.
155Salvation is far from the wicked,
for they do not seek your statutes.
156Great is your mercy, O LORD;
give me life according to your justice.
157Many are my persecutors and my adversaries,
yet I do not swerve from your decrees.
158I look at the faithless with disgust,
because they do not keep your commands.
159Consider how I love your precepts;
preserve my life according to your steadfast love.
160The sum of your word is truth;
and every one of your righteous ordinances endures forever.
161Princes persecute me without cause,
but my heart stands in awe of your words.
162I rejoice at your word
like one who finds great spoil.
163I hate and abhor falsehood,
but I love your law.
164Seven times a day I praise you
for your righteous ordinances.
165Great peace have those who love your law;
nothing can make them stumble.
166I hope for your salvation, O LORD,
and I fulfill your commandments.
167My soul keeps your decrees;
I love them exceedingly.
168I keep your precepts and decrees,
for all my ways are before you.
169Let my cry come before you, O LORD;
give me understanding according to your word.
170Let my supplication come before you;
deliver me according to your promise.
171My lips will pour forth praise,
because you teach me your statutes.
172My tongue will sing of your promise,
for all your commandments are right.
173Let 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 that I may praise you,
and let your ordinances help me.
176I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek out your servant,
for I do not forget your commandments.
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a Gk Jerome: Meaning of Heb uncertain
119.1–176 A prayer for God’s help in time of trouble as well as in the keeping of the law. It may be an anthology of psalm pieces. Elements of prayers for help and songs of thanksgiving intermix with exaltation of the law and expressions of commitment to it, giving the psalm the character of both instruction and prayer. It is an alphabetic acrostic psalm (see note on 9.1–10.18) made up of twenty-two stanzas of eight lines each. Following the order of the Hebrew alphabet, each stanza uses one letter of the alphabet to begin each of its eight lines. Eight different terms for the law (commandments, statutes, ordinances, decrees, words, precepts, promise, and law) are used, most of them in each stanza, and all of them in four stanzas. In its delight in the law of the Lord and commitment to it, the psalm is to be compared with Pss 1; 19.
119.1–8 Praise of the law and the benefits of keeping God’s instruction.
119.1–2 Happy. See note on 1.1.
119.9–16 Prayer for help in keeping the law.
119.12 Blessed. See note on 103.1–2.
119.17–24 Prayer for help against enemies, as the one who prays keeps all the law.
119.25–32 Prayer to be strengthened and rejuvenated through keeping the way of God’s commandments.
119.33–40 Plea for understanding in order to keep God’s law.
119.35 Delight (also v. 47). See 1.2.
119.38 Fear you (also vv. 63, 74, 79). See note on 34.7.
119.41–48 Prayer for God’s deliverance so that the taunts of persecutors will be answered by the one who trusts and keeps God’s law.
119.49–56 Prayer for help (v. 49) and expressions of confidence in the face of the arrogant and the wicked because God’s servant (v. 49) keeps the law.
119.57–64 Prayer, praise, and commitment to God’s law.
119.65–72 The psalmist has experienced God’s chastening help and has learned from it the value of the law of the Lord.
119.73–80 Prayer for help and understanding of God’s commandments.
119.81–88 Cry for help by one who has kept the divine decrees.
119.89–96 Praise of the Lord, whose law gives life.
119.97–104 The constant devotion of the psalmist to God’s law.
119.103 See 19.10.
119.105–112 Whatever afflictions come, the psalmist holds to God’s decrees.
119.113–120 The psalmist’s obedience to the law is contrasted with the ways of evildoers, and a prayer for help is uttered.
119.121–128 Claims of righteousness and prayers for help against persecutors join with the prayer that God will instruct the psalmist.
119.127 See 19.10.
119.129–136 Praise of God’s law and prayer for help against oppression.
119.135 Make your face shine. See note on 31.16.
119.137–144 Praise of the Lord’s righteousness as seen in the law.
119.145–152 A cry for help and confidence in God’s presence.
119.151 Cf. Deut 4.7–8; 30.14.
119.153–160 A plea for God to preserve the life of the faithful servant.
119.161–168 The devotion of the psalmist to the words of the Lord.
119.169–176 The psalmist asks God to hear the cry for help and to save in order that praise may come forth from God’s servant.
PSALM 120
Prayer for Deliverance from Slanderers
A Song of Ascents.
1In my distress I cry to the LORD, that he may answer me:
2“Deliver me, O LORD,
from lying lips,
from a deceitful tongue.”
3What shall be given to you?
And what more shall be done to you,
you deceitful tongue?
4A warrior’s sharp arrows,
with glowing coals of the broom tree!
5Woe is me, that I am an alien in Meshech,
that I must live among the tents of Kedar.
6Too long have I had my dwelling
among those who hate peace.
7I am for peace;
but when I speak,
they are for war.
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120.1–7 A prayer by an individual for help. A Song of Ascents, the superscription to each psalm in the collection Pss 120–134. Most of the psalms are brief, often reflecting concerns of and images from the family and agricultural life of the common people. The meaning of the superscription is debated. It may refer to an ascending style of poetic form, but more likely it has some reference to the ascent of pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem and/or to the sanctuary there. These psalms may have been sung on such pilgrimages.
120.5 Meshech, listed in Gen 10.2 as a descendant of Japhet, in the OT usually refers to a distant region and its inhabitants in eastern Asia Minor near the Black Sea. Kedar, a descendant of Abraham and Hagar via Ishmael (see Gen 25.12–13; 1 Chr 1.29), is a general designation for certain Arab tribes inhabiting the northern regions of the Arabian peninsula (cf. Jer 49.28–33). The psalmist here uses these names symbolically, as representing the warlike people among whom he is forced to live (see v. 6).
PSALM 121
Assurance of God’s Protection
A Song of Ascents.
1I lift up my eyes to the hills—
from where will my help come?
2My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
3He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
4He who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5The LORD is your keeper;
the LORD is your shade at your right hand.
6The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7The LORD will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
8The LORD will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time on and forevermore.
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121.1–8 A song of confidence in God’s providential care. A Song of Ascents. See note on 120.1–7.
121.1–2 The psalmist asks a question about the source of help when one is in trouble of any sort and then answers it.
