40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness. |
41 Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word. |
42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word. |
43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments. |
44 So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever. |
45 And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts. |
46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed. |
47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved. |
48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes. |
49 Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. |
50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me. |
51 The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law. |
52 I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself. |
53 Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law. |
54 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage. |
55 I have remembered thy name, O LORD, in the night, and have kept thy law. |
56 This I had, because I kept thy precepts. |
57 Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words. |
58 I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word. |
59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. |
60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments. |
61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law. |
62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments. |
63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. |
64 The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes. |
65 Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word. |
66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments. |
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. |
68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes. |
69 The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart. |
70 Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law. |
71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. |
72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver. |
73 Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments. |
74 They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word. |
75 I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. |
76 Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant. |
77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight. |
78 Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts. |
79 Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies. |
119 Because this psalm was very large, and the matter of it of the greatest importance, the psalmist thought fit to divide it into two and twenty several parts, according to the number of the Hebrew letters, that he might both prevent tediousness, and fix it in the memory. 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. It is observable, that the word of God is here called by the names of law, statutes, precepts or commandments, judgments, ordinances, righteousness, testimonies, way and word. By which variety, he designed to express the nature and perfection of God's word. It is called his word, as revealed by him to us; his way, as prescribed by him for us to walk in; his law, as binding us to obedience; his statutes, as declaring his authority of giving us laws; his precepts as directing our duty; his ordinances, as ordained by him; his righteousness, as exactly agreeable to God's righteous nature and will; his judgments, as proceeding from the great judge of the world, and being his judicial sentence to which all men must submit; and his testimonies, as it contains the witness of God's will, and of man's duty. And there is but one of these one hundred and seventy six verses, in which one or other of these titles is not found. The general scope and design of this psalm is, to magnify the law and make it honourable: to shew the excellency and usefulness of divine revelation, and recommend it to us, by the psalmist's own example, who speaks by experience of the benefits of it, for which he praises God, and earnestly prays for the continuance of God's grace, to direct and quicken him in his way.
119:40 Longed - After a more solid knowledge and constant performance of them. In - According to thy faithfulness.
119:43 Take not - Do not deal so with me, that I shall be ashamed to mention thy word. Judgments - In thy word.
119:45 At liberty - Enjoy great freedom and comfort in thy ways.
119:48 Lift up - To receive and embrace thy precepts and promises.
119:49 Thy word - Thy promises.
119:52 Judgments - Thy ancient dispensations to the children of men in punishing the ungodly.
119:53 Horror - A mixed passion, made up of abhorrence of their sins, and dread and sorrow at the consideration of the judgments of God coming upon them.
119:54 The house - In this world, wherein I am a stranger and pilgrim, as all my fathers were.
119:55 Thy name - Thy holy nature and attributes, thy blessed word, and thy wonderful works. In the night - When darkness causes fear in others, I took pleasure in remembering thee; and when others gave themselves up to sleep, my thoughts and affections were working towards thee.
119:56 This - This comfortable remembrance.
119:57 Said - I have professed and owned it.
119:59 Thought - I seriously considered both my former courses, and my duty in all my future actions.
119:61 Robbed - Done me many injuries, for my respect to thy law.
119:66 Judgment - Whereby I may rightly discern between truth and falsehood. Knowledge - A spiritual experimental knowledge.
119:70 Fat - They are stupid and insensible.
119:74 Glad - For the encouragement they have by my example to trust in God. See me - Alive and in safety. Word - In thy promise, and have not been disappointed of my hope.
119:75 Judgments - Thy corrections. Of faithfulness - In pursuance of thy promises, and in order to my good.
119:79 Known - Loved and practised them.