Psalms 119–24
Psalm 119:17-24
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Psa.119.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- גמל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- עבדך: NOUN,m,sg,abs,2,ms
- אחיה: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ואשמרה: VERB,qal,impf,1,c,sg,pref:w
- דברך: NOUN,m,sg,abs,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Psalm 119:25 (verbal): Both verses petition God to 'quicken' or give life 'according to thy word'—linking restoration of life with fidelity to God's word.
- Psalm 119:88 (verbal): Asks God to quicken the speaker so that he may keep God's testimony—closely parallels the request to be dealt with kindly so he can live and keep the word.
- Psalm 119:40 (thematic): A plea for renewal ('quicken me') tied to longing for God's precepts; thematically similar in seeking life/renewal in order to follow God's commands.
- Isaiah 38:3 (thematic): Hezekiah's appeal for extended life appeals to his walk before God; thematically echoes asking God to show mercy so the petitioner may continue in faithfulness.
Alternative generated candidates
- Deal kindly with your servant; let me live, that I may keep your word.
- Deal graciously with your servant—let me live, that I may keep your word.
Psa.119.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- גל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עיני: NOUN,f,pl,cons+1s
- ואביטה: VERB,qal,impf,1,sg
- נפלאות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- מתורתך: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Psalm 119:130 (thematic): Both verses speak of the law/word bringing light and understanding — illumination of Scripture that enables insight into God’s teachings.
- Psalm 119:34 (thematic): A close petition-pattern within the same psalm: asking God for understanding so the psalmist can perceive and obey the Torah.
- Ephesians 1:18 (allusion): Paul prays that believers’ 'eyes of the heart' be enlightened so they know divine hope and riches — a New Testament echo of seeking spiritual sight to grasp God’s revelation.
- Luke 24:45 (allusion): Jesus 'opened their minds' to understand the Scriptures, paralleling the request to have eyes opened in order to perceive wondrous things in God’s law.
- Acts 26:18 (verbal): Paul’s commission 'to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light' uses the same imagery of opening eyes to gain spiritual sight and knowledge.
Alternative generated candidates
- Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things from your law.
- Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things from your law.
Psa.119.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- גר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אנכי: PRON,1,sg
- בארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,def
- אל: NEG
- תסתר: VERB,qal,impf,2,ms
- ממני: PREP,suff,1,m,sg
- מצותיך: NOUN,f,pl,cons,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Psalm 27:9 (verbal): A direct plea not to have God's presence/face hidden—parallels the request here that God's ways/commandments not be concealed.
- Psalm 39:12 (verbal): Uses the same 'I am a stranger/sojourner' language; the speaker identifies as a transient on earth and appeals to God.
- Psalm 119:10 (thematic): Within the same psalm: an earnest seeking of the LORD and a plea to remain faithful to his commandments, echoing the dependence on God's instruction.
- 1 Peter 2:11 (thematic): Addresses believers as 'sojourners and pilgrims'—the New Testament reflection of the same identity of being strangers on earth and dependent on God's truth.
- Hebrews 11:13 (thematic): Describes the patriarchs as 'strangers and pilgrims' on earth, echoing the biblical motif of life as temporary sojourning that underlies the psalmist's plea.
Alternative generated candidates
- I am a sojourner in the land; do not hide your commandments from me.
- I am a sojourner on the earth; do not hide your commandments from me.
Psa.119.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- גרסה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- נפשי: NOUN,f,sg,abs+1cs
- לתאבה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- משפטיך: NOUN,m,pl,abs,2ms
- בכל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עת: NOUN,f,sg,cons
Parallels
- Psalm 119:40 (verbal): Direct verbal parallel—'I long for thy precepts' echoes the psalmist's craving for God's statutes in Ps.119:20.
- Psalm 119:131 (verbal): Very similar wording/image—'I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments,' matching the sense of deep, panting desire for God's words.
- Psalm 119:97 (thematic): Same overarching theme—intense love and delight in God's law ('O how love I thy law') expresses the psalmist's continual devotion to divine statutes.
- Psalm 42:1 (thematic): Parallel metaphor of longing—'As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for thee' captures the soul's eager, urgent desire analogous to longing for God's decrees.
- Psalm 63:1 (thematic): Related motif of thirsting for God—'my soul thirsteth for thee' reflects the psalmist's continual, heartfelt yearning found in Ps.119:20.
Alternative generated candidates
- My soul is consumed with longing for your judgments at all times.
- My soul is consumed with longing for your ordinances at all times.
Psa.119.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- גערת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- זדים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ארורים: ADJ,m,pl
- השגים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- ממצותיך: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs+2,m,sg
Parallels
- Proverbs 16:18 (thematic): Links pride/arrogance with downfall — parallels Psalm 119:21’s condemnation of the proud who err from God’s way.
- Deuteronomy 28:15 (structural): Part of the covenantal formula of curses for disobedience; echoes Psalm 119:21’s declaration that those who turn from God’s commandments are accursed.
- Psalm 18:27 (18:26 LXX) (thematic): Speaks of God humbling the haughty and saving the lowly, echoing the theme of divine rebuke of the arrogant found in Ps 119:21.
- James 4:6 (verbal): New Testament parallel: 'God opposes the proud' — a direct theological echo of the psalm’s statement that God rebukes the arrogant.
Alternative generated candidates
- You rebuked the arrogant; cursed are those who stray from your commandments.
- You rebuke the proud; accursed are those who turn aside from your commandments.
Psa.119.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- גל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מעלי: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- חרפה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ובוז: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- עדתיך: NOUN,f,pl,suff_2ms
- נצרתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
Parallels
- Psalm 119:31 (verbal): Same cluster of ideas—'I have stuck to/kept your testimonies' paired with a plea not to be put to shame, closely matching the verse's request to remove reproach for faithfulness to God's testimonies.
- Psalm 119:80 (thematic): Prays for a steadfast heart in God's statutes 'that I be not ashamed'—the opposite of reproach and the same concern for integrity before God.
- Psalm 119:6 (verbal): Expresses the related conviction 'then shall I not be ashamed' when one regards all God's commandments—paralleling the plea to be cleared of reproach because of obedience.
- Psalm 119:134 (structural): A cause-and-effect petition: 'Deliver me... so will I keep thy precepts'—mirrors the linkage in 119:22 between being vindicated (removal of reproach) and fidelity to God's testimonies.
- Psalm 69:9 (thematic): Speaks of reproach falling on the psalmist because of zeal for God's house—connects thematically to suffering reproach in the context of loyalty to God’s cause/testimonies.
Alternative generated candidates
- Remove from me reproach and scorn, for I have kept your testimonies.
- Remove from me disgrace and scorn, for I have kept your testimonies.
Psa.119.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- גם: ADV
- ישבו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- שרים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- בי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- נדברו: VERB,niphal,perf,3,pl
- עבדך: NOUN,m,sg,abs,2,ms
- ישיח: VERB,qal,impf,3,sg
- בחקיך: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,2,ms
Parallels
- Psalm 119:51 (verbal): Speaks of the proud forging a lie against the psalmist but the psalmist’s response is loyalty to God’s precepts—parallels the opposition ('princes sat and spoke against me') and the faithful response to God’s law.
- Psalm 119:78 (verbal): Describes the proud dealing perversely with the psalmist and the psalmist’s resolve to meditate on God’s precepts—closely mirrors the contrast of hostile speech and meditation on God’s statutes in v.23.
- Psalm 119:97 (thematic): Declares continual love and meditation on God’s law ('it is my meditation all the day'), echoing v.23’s emphasis on meditating/speaking in God’s statutes despite opposition.
- Psalm 35:11 (thematic): Reports false witnesses rising up and speaking against the psalmist—parallels the motif of hostile speech by others (cf. 'princes sat and spoke against me') and the experience of persecution addressed in Psalm 119:23.
Alternative generated candidates
- Though princes sit and speak against me, your servant will speak of your statutes.
- Even princes sit and speak against me; yet your servant will meditate on your statutes.
Psa.119.24 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- גם: ADV
- עדתיך: NOUN,f,pl,suff_2ms
- שעשעי: NOUN,m,sg,suff
- אנשי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- עצתי: NOUN,f,sg,abs+1s
Parallels
- Psalm 1:2 (thematic): Both verses speak of delight in the law/word of the LORD; Psalm 1:2 describes the godly person delighting in and meditating on God's law, paralleling Ps.119:24's joy in God's testimonies.
- Psalm 19:7 (verbal): Psalm 19:7 calls the law of the LORD 'perfect' and life-giving—linking the 'law/testimonies' language and the idea that God's instruction functions as guidance and benefit, as in Ps.119:24 where testimonies act as counsellors.
- Jeremiah 15:16 (thematic): Jeremiah describes God's words as found and becoming 'the joy and rejoicing of my heart,' paralleling Ps.119:24's depiction of divine testimonies as a source of delight.
- Proverbs 11:14 (thematic): Proverbs emphasizes the necessity and value of counsel ('in the multitude of counsellors there is safety'); this resonates with Ps.119:24 which presents God's testimonies as the psalmist's counsellors—divine rather than human guidance.
Alternative generated candidates
- Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.
- Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.
Deal graciously with your servant; let me live, that I may keep your word.
Open my eyes, that I may behold the wondrous things of your law.
I am a sojourner on the earth; do not hide your commandments from me.
My soul is consumed with longing for your judgments at all times.
You rebuke the haughty—cursed are those who stray from your commandments.
Remove disgrace and scorn from me, for I have kept your testimonies.
Even when princes sit and speak against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.
Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.