Psalms 119–16
Psalm 119:9-16
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
Jude
Revelation
Psa.119.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- במה: PREP+PRON,interr
- יזכה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- נער: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- ארחו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- לשמר: VERB,qal,inf
- כדברך: PREP+NOUN+PRON,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Ps.119.11 (verbal): Directly related within the same psalm: verse 9 asks how a young person keeps his way pure, and v.11 gives the means—storing God's word in the heart to avoid sin.
- Proverbs 6:20-23 (thematic): Advises the young to keep a father's commands and teaches that the law/commandment is a guiding light—paralleling the idea that obedience to God's word preserves one’s way.
- Proverbs 2:10-12 (thematic): Speaks of acquiring wisdom and discretion which ‘preserve’ one from wicked ways—similar theme of ethical preservation through divine instruction.
- 2 Timothy 2:22 (thematic): Urges fleeing youthful passions and pursuing righteousness, faith, love and peace—an apostolic echo of the call for young people to keep their conduct pure.
- John 17:17 (thematic): Jesus prays ‘Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth,’ linking God’s word with sanctification and purity in a manner comparable to Ps.119:9’s locating purity in obedience to God’s word.
Alternative generated candidates
- How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
- How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
Psa.119.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- בכל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לבי: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1cs
- דרשתיך: VERB,qal,perf,1,com,sg+2ms_obj
- אל: NEG
- תשגני: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg+1cs_obj
- ממצותיך: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs+2,m,sg
Parallels
- Deut. 4:29 (verbal): Commands seeking the LORD 'with all your heart and with all your soul' — a close verbal and thematic parallel to wholehearted pursuit of God in Ps 119:10.
- Jer. 29:13 (verbal): 'You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart' — echoes the psalmist's plea to seek God wholly and the promise linked to wholehearted seeking.
- Ps. 27:8 (thematic): 'Your face, LORD, I will seek' expresses the same single‑minded, heart‑felt seeking of God's presence found in Ps 119:10.
- Ps. 119:11 (structural): Immediate companion verse: hiding God's word in the heart 'that I might not sin' parallels the request in v.10 not to be led away from God's commandments.
- Ps. 119:2 (thematic): 'Blessed are those who seek him with their whole heart' — reiterates the psalmic theme that wholehearted seeking is linked with keeping God's testimonies/commandments.
Alternative generated candidates
- With my whole heart I have sought you; do not let me turn aside from your commandments.
- With my whole heart I sought you; do not let me stray from your commandments.
Psa.119.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- בלבי: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs,1cs
- צפנתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- אמרתך: NOUN,f,sg,abs+2f
- למען: PREP
- לא: PART_NEG
- אחטא: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (verbal): Commands and sayings are to be 'on your heart' and taught continually—parallel language and idea of internalizing God's words to shape life and conduct.
- Proverbs 3:1 (verbal): 'Let not your heart abandon my commandments' echoes the instruction to keep God's instruction in the heart as the means of faithful living.
- Jeremiah 15:16 (thematic): The prophet speaks of finding and 'eating' God's words so they become a delight in the heart—shares the image of internalizing Scripture so one may live rightly.
- Colossians 3:16 (allusion): 'Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly' mirrors the Psalm's concern that God's word reside inwardly and govern speech, teaching, and moral formation, preventing sin.
Alternative generated candidates
- I have hidden your word in my heart, that I may not sin against you.
- I have stored your word in my heart, that I may not sin against you.
Psa.119.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ברוך: ADJ,m,sg
- אתה: PRON,2,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- למדני: VERB,piel,impv,2,m,sg
- חקיך: NOUN,m,pl,poss_2ms
Parallels
- Psalm 119:33 (verbal): Directly parallels the petition form—'Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes'—an almost identical request for divine instruction.
- Psalm 119:26 (verbal): Uses the same imperative request 'teach me your statutes' following the psalmist's confession, echoing the plea for God's teaching.
- Psalm 25:4-5 (verbal): A closely related prayer: 'Make me to know your ways... teach me your paths,' sharing the theme of asking the Lord for guidance and instruction.
- Psalm 86:11 (verbal): Another personal petition: 'Teach me your way, O LORD,' linking the desire to be taught with walking in God's truth—same instructional motif.
- Proverbs 2:6 (thematic): Portrays the Lord as the source of wisdom and understanding—the broader theological basis for the psalmist's request that God 'teach' him his statutes.
Alternative generated candidates
- Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your statutes.
- Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your statutes.
Psa.119.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- בשפתי: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs,1,sg
- ספרתי: VERB,piel,perf,1,sg
- כל: DET
- משפטי: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1cs
- פיך: NOUN,m,sg,abs+2ms
Parallels
- Psalm 119:46 (verbal): Both verses express openly declaring God's testimonies/statutes with the mouth; similar wording about speaking God's words without shame.
- Psalm 40:9 (verbal): Proclaims God's righteousness in public and refuses to seal the lips—parallel theme of boldly declaring God’s ways with the mouth.
- Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (thematic): Commands parents to speak and teach God's commandments continually—aligns with the practice of verbalizing God's statutes.
- Jeremiah 20:9 (thematic): Describes a compelled, inward need to speak God's word despite restraint—parallels the drive to declare God's ordinances with the lips.
- Ezekiel 3:1-4 (allusion): The prophet is told to eat the scroll and then speak God's words to Israel—a prophetic model for internalizing and declaring God's message aloud.
Alternative generated candidates
- With my lips I have declared all the judgments of your mouth.
- With my lips I have recounted all the judgments of your mouth.
Psa.119.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- בדרך: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- עדותיך: NOUN,f,pl,abs+2ms
- ששתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- כעל: PREP
- כל: DET
- הון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Psalm 19:10 (verbal): Speaks of God's testimonies/law as more desirable than gold; parallels the valuation of divine revelation above material wealth.
- Psalm 119:72 (verbal): Directly comparable language within the same psalm family: the law/word is stated to be better than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.
- Psalm 1:2 (thematic): Describes delight in the law of the LORD and continual meditation on it, echoing the joy expressed over God's testimonies in Ps 119:14.
- Jeremiah 15:16 (thematic): The prophet speaks of finding and valuing God's words as a joy and delight, similar to rejoicing in God's testimonies above riches.
- Job 23:12 (thematic): Declares treasuring God's words more than necessary food; parallels the preference for divine instruction over all earthly wealth.
Alternative generated candidates
- In the way of your testimonies I have rejoiced, as in all riches.
- I have delighted in the way of your testimonies as in all riches.
Psa.119.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- בפקדיך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs,2,m,sg
- אשיחה: VERB,qal,impf,1,sg
- ואביטה: VERB,qal,impf,1,sg
- ארחתיך: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg+PRON,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Psalm 1:2 (thematic): Both speak of delighting in and meditating on the law/teaching of the LORD (meditation on God’s instruction as defining righteous life).
- Joshua 1:8 (quotation): Commands constant meditation on the Book of the Law—'meditate on it day and night'—paralleling the Psalmist's resolve to muse on God's precepts and ways.
- Psalm 119:97 (verbal): Uses the same motif and language of continual meditation on God's law ('How I love your law! It is my meditation all the day').
- Psalm 119:27 (structural): Combines petition for understanding of God’s precepts with the Psalmist’s intention to meditate on God's wondrous works/ways, mirroring Ps 119:15’s focus on meditating and contemplating God’s ways.
- Psalm 119:48 (verbal): Expresses the Psalmist’s love for God's commandments and explicitly states meditation on his statutes, closely mirroring the action and vocabulary of Ps 119:15.
Alternative generated candidates
- I will meditate on your decrees and consider your ways.
- I will speak of your precepts and consider your ways.
Psa.119.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- בחקתיך: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- אשתעשע: VERB,hitpael,imperfect,1,m,sg
- לא: PART_NEG
- אשכח: VERB,qal,imperfect,1,m,sg
- דברך: NOUN,m,sg,abs,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Psalm 119:97 (verbal): Both verses express delight in God's law and ongoing engagement with his word ("O how I love thy law... it is my meditation all the day" parallels delight and refusal to forget).
- Psalm 1:2 (thematic): Both portraits present the righteous person delighting in and meditating on the law of the LORD ("but his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night").
- Proverbs 3:1-2 (verbal): Admonishes the reader not to forget teaching and to keep commandments in the heart, promising life and favor—echoing the resolve to delight in and not forget God's word.
- Jeremiah 15:16 (thematic): Jeremiah describes finding and treasuring God's words as joy and rejoicing in the heart, a prophetic parallel to delighting in and embracing God's statutes rather than forgetting them.
Alternative generated candidates
- I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.
- I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.
How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
With my whole heart I sought you; do not let me wander from your commandments.
I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your statutes.
With my lips I recount all the judgments of your mouth.
In the way of your testimonies I delight; I esteem them more than all riches.
I will speak of your precepts and meditate on your ways.
I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.