Psalms 119:121-158

121 Don’t leave me to the mercy of my enemies, for I have done what is just and right.

122 Please guarantee a blessing for me. Don’t let the arrogant oppress me!

123 My eyes strain to see your rescue, to see the truth of your promise fulfilled.

124 I am your servant; deal with me in unfailing love, and teach me your decrees.

125 Give discernment to me, your servant; then I will understand your laws.

126 LORD, it is time for you to act, for these evil people have violated your instructions.

127 Truly, I love your commands more than gold, even the finest gold.

128 Each of your commandments is right. That is why I hate every false way.

129 Your laws are wonderful. No wonder I obey them!

130 The teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand.

131 I pant with expectation, longing for your commands.

132 Come and show me your mercy, as you do for all who love your name.

133 Guide my steps by your word, so I will not be overcome by evil.

134 Ransom me from the oppression of evil people; then I can obey your commandments.

135 Look upon me with love; teach me your decrees.

136 Rivers of tears gush from my eyes because people disobey your instructions.

137 O LORD, you are righteous, and your regulations are fair.

138 Your laws are perfect and completely trustworthy.

139 I am overwhelmed with indignation, for my enemies have disregarded your words.

140 Your promises have been thoroughly tested; that is why I love them so much.

141 I am insignificant and despised, but I don’t forget your commandments.

142 Your justice is eternal, and your instructions are perfectly true.

143 As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands.

144 Your laws are always right; help me to understand them so I may live.

145 I pray with all my heart; answer me, LORD ! I will obey your decrees.

146 I cry out to you; rescue me, that I may obey your laws.

147 I rise early, before the sun is up; I cry out for help and put my hope in your words.

148 I stay awake through the night, thinking about your promise.

149 In your faithful love, O LORD, hear my cry; let me be revived by following your regulations.

150 Lawless people are coming to attack me; they live far from your instructions.

151 But you are near, O LORD, and all your commands are true.

152 I have known from my earliest days that your laws will last forever.

153 Look upon my suffering and rescue me, for I have not forgotten your instructions.

154 Argue my case; take my side! Protect my life as you promised.

155 The wicked are far from rescue, for they do not bother with your decrees.

156 LORD, how great is your mercy; let me be revived by following your regulations.

157 Many persecute and trouble me, yet I have not swerved from your laws.

158 Seeing these traitors makes me sick at heart, because they care nothing for your word.

Psalms 119:121-158 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 119

This psalm is generally thought to be written by David, but when is uncertain; very probably towards the decline of life; and, as some think, for the sake or his son Solomon. It seems to be a collection of observations on the word of God and its precepts, the usefulness and excellency of it, he had made in the course of his life; interspersed with various petitions for the grace of God, to enable him to observe it. The psalm is a very extraordinary one; partly on account of the unusual length of it, it being more than double the length of the longest psalm in the whole book; and partly on account of its curious composition. It consists of twenty two parts, according to the number of the letters in the Hebrew alphabet; the names of which letters stand between each part; and every part consists of eight verses, all of which begin with the same letter: thus, for instance, the first eight verses begin with the letter a, "aleph", and the second eight verses begin with the letter b, "beth", and so on throughout; hence the Masorah calls this psalm the Great Alphabet. This the psalmist did, perhaps to excite attention to what he said, and also to help the memory. And it is observable that there are very few verses in the whole, not more than one or two, but what has something in it concerning the word of God, and its precepts and ordinances; there are nine or ten different words used relative to it, which signify much one and the same thing; as laws, statutes, judgments, testimonies Luther {m} observes, that neither Cicero, nor Virgil, nor Demosthenes, are to be compared with David for eloquence, as we see in the hundred nineteenth Psalm, where he divideth one sense and meaning into twenty two sorts. And it may also be remarked, that there is nothing in it concerning the tabernacle worship, or the rites and ceremonies of the legal dispensation; so that it seems to be calculated for, and is suited to, the word of God, and the ordinances of it, as we now have them in their full perfection: and the design of the whole is to show the fervent affection the psalmist had for the word of God, and to stir up the same in others.

{m} Mensal. Colloqu. c. 32. p. 365.

a, \\ALEPH.--The First Part\\.