Psalms 119–8
Psalm 119:1-8
Old Testament
New Testament
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.119.1 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- אשרי: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- תמימי: ADJ,m,pl,cstr
- דרך: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ההלכים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- בתורת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,const
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Psalm 1:1-2 (thematic): Both open with a beatitude (ʼashrei) describing the blessed person and link blessedness to delighting in and meditating on the law/instruction of the LORD.
- Deuteronomy 5:33 (verbal): Commands Israel to 'walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you'—similar language of walking in the LORD’s way/commandments echoed in Ps 119:1.
- Proverbs 4:18 (thematic): Uses the image of a righteous person’s path (way) contrasted with the wicked—parallels Ps 119:1’s focus on the blameless way of those who follow divine instruction.
- Micah 6:8 (thematic): Summarizes what the LORD requires—doing justice, loving kindness, and 'walking humbly' with God—connecting ethical walking/way with faithfulness to God, as in Ps 119:1.
Alternative generated candidates
- Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD.
- Blessed are the blameless in their way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
Psa.119.2 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- אשרי: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- נצרי: ADJ,m,pl,cons
- עדתיו: NOUN,f,pl,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- בכל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ידרשוהו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl+3ms
Parallels
- Ps.119:1 (structural): Closely linked verse in the same stanza: both open with 'Blessed are...' and establish the theme of blessing for those who keep God's law/testimonies.
- Ps.119:10 (verbal): Uses the same motif of wholehearted seeking ('With my whole heart I seek you'), echoing the Psalm's emphasis on seeking God with the whole heart while keeping his commandments.
- Deut.6:5 (verbal): Commands loving the Lord 'with all your heart'—the language of wholehearted devotion parallels the Psalm's call to seek God with the whole heart.
- Jer.29:13 (verbal): Promises that those who 'seek me with all your heart' will find God—directly parallels the Psalm's linkage of wholehearted seeking and relation to God's testimonies.
- Prov.8:17 (thematic): Wisdom speaks of those who 'love me' and 'seek me diligently,' echoing the Psalmic theme that wholehearted love/seeking corresponds to fidelity to divine instruction.
Alternative generated candidates
- Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart.
- Blessed are those who keep his testimonies; with all their heart they seek him.
Psa.119.3 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- אף: ADV
- לא: PART_NEG
- פעלו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
- עולה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בדרכיו: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,suff3ms
- הלכו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Psalm 119:1 (structural): Closely connected opening verse of the same stanza: both passages praise the blameless who walk in the law/ways of the LORD, with verse 3 restating the ethical outcome (no iniquity).
- Psalm 1:1 (thematic): Both verses contrast righteous walking with the path of the wicked; emphasis on moral conduct and the life shaped by one’s way or companions.
- Deuteronomy 5:33 (verbal): Uses similar language about ‘walking in all the ways’ the LORD commands; both present obedience to God’s ways as the requirement for life and blessing.
- Micah 6:8 (thematic): Calls for ethical behavior before God—doing justice, loving mercy, walking humbly with God—paralleling Psalm 119:3’s link between walking in God’s ways and avoiding iniquity.
- 1 John 2:6 (allusion): New Testament exhortation that whoever claims to abide in Christ must walk as he walked echoes the Psalm’s principle that true devotion is shown by walking in God’s ways (moral imitation as evidence of fidelity).
Alternative generated candidates
- They do no wrong; they walk in his ways.
- They do no wrong; they walk in his ways.
Psa.119.4 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- אתה: PRON,2,m,sg
- צויתה: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- פקדיך: NOUN,m,pl,abs,2,m,sg
- לשמר: VERB,qal,inf
- מאד: ADV
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 6:17 (verbal): Commands to 'diligently keep' the LORD's commandments—uses the same idea and language of careful observance of God's precepts.
- Leviticus 18:4 (quotation): Direct injunction to follow God's statutes and keep his judgments—legal wording closely parallels the Psalm's command to preserve God's precepts.
- Joshua 1:8 (thematic): Tells Israel to meditate on the book of the law day and night so they may be careful to do all that is written—links diligent listening/meditation with keeping God's commands.
- Proverbs 3:1-2 (verbal): Advises 'do not forget my law; let your heart keep my commandments'—a moral exhortation using the same verb of 'keeping' commandments and promising blessing.
- Psalm 119:5 (structural): Immediate continuation within the same psalm expressing the psalmist's desire that his ways be established to keep God's statutes—an internal parallel developing the same theme of faithful observance.
Alternative generated candidates
- You have commanded that your precepts be kept diligently.
- You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently.
Psa.119.5 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- אחלי: PART
- יכנו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- דרכי: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,1,_,sg
- לשמר: VERB,qal,inf
- חקיך: NOUN,m,pl,poss_2ms
Parallels
- Ps.119:33 (verbal): Both verses link 'way' and 'statutes' (teach me the way of your statutes; I will keep it), expressing a direct desire to know and keep God's laws.
- Ps.119:10 (verbal): Shares the petitional tone and the goal of not straying from God's commands ('With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments'), echoing the wish that one's ways be steadfast to keep the statutes.
- Deut.30:16 (allusion): Collegial covenant language—obedience framed as 'keeping his commandments and his statutes' links personal fidelity in Psalm 119:5 to Deuteronomic demands for faithful living.
- John 14:15 (thematic): New Testament parallel of moral response—keeping commandments as the mark of devotion ('If you love me, keep my commandments'), resonating with the Psalmist's desire for steadfast obedience.
Alternative generated candidates
- Oh that my ways were steadfast to keep your statutes!
- May my ways be steadfast in keeping your statutes.
Psa.119.6 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- אז: ADV
- לא: PART_NEG
- אבוש: VERB,qal,impf,1,c,sg
- בהביטי: PREP+VERB,hif,perf,1,c,sg
- אל: NEG
- כל: DET
- מצותיך: NOUN,f,pl,cons,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Romans 1:16 (thematic): Paul declares he is not ashamed of the gospel — a New Testament parallel to the psalmist's confidence in God's word and refusal to be ashamed of God's commandments.
- Psalm 119:46 (verbal): Directly echoes the language of being unashamed regarding God's testimonies: 'I will ... not be ashamed' when speaking of God's statutes.
- Psalm 119:80 (verbal): Expresses the same desire that a heart sound in God's statutes will result in not being ashamed — a near-verbatim thematic parallel within the same psalm.
- Isaiah 51:7 (allusion): Calls those who know righteousness and have God's law in their hearts not to fear the reproach of men — thematically linked to not being ashamed when contemplating God's commandments.
- Psalm 119:15 (structural): Speaks of meditating on God's precepts and regarding his ways, paralleling the act of 'looking upon' the commandments as the basis for upright confidence.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then I will not be ashamed when I consider all your commandments.
- Then I will not be put to shame when I regard all your commandments.
Psa.119.7 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- אודך: VERB,qal,impf,1,sg
- בישר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לבב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בלמדי: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+1,sg
- משפטי: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1cs
- צדקך: NOUN,m,sg,abs,2ms
Parallels
- Ps.119.62 (verbal): Same theme and near-verbal wording: praising God on account of his 'righteous judgments/ordinances' (both link praise explicitly to God's righteous decrees).
- Ps.119.12 (thematic): Links blessing/praise of the LORD with the request to be taught his statutes—both verses connect praise/blessing to learning God's laws.
- Ps.119.33 (thematic): Expresses the request to be taught God's ways/statutes and the resulting obedience—parallels the idea that learning God's righteous judgments leads to right-hearted response.
- Ps.19.7 (thematic): Affirms the perfection and benefit of the LORD's law (it restores and makes wise), providing the theological basis for praising God when one learns his righteous judgments.
- Ps.119.2 (thematic): Speaks of those who keep God's testimonies and seek him with a whole/upright heart—connects the upright heart motive in Ps.119:7 with devotion to God's law.
Alternative generated candidates
- I will praise you with an upright heart when I learn your righteous judgments.
- I will give you thanks with an upright heart when I learn your righteous judgments.
Psa.119.8 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- את: PRT,acc
- חקיך: NOUN,m,pl,poss2ms
- אשמר: VERB,qal,impf,1,?,sg
- אל: NEG
- תעזבני: VERB,qal,impf,2,ms,obj1,sg
- עד: PREP
- מאד: ADV
Parallels
- Psalm 27:9 (verbal): Contains the same plea 'do not forsake me' (אַל־תַּעַזְבֵנִי) — a direct, verbal appeal for God not to abandon the psalmist.
- Psalm 119:117 (verbal): Reverses the elements of Ps 119:8: the psalmist asks to be upheld so that he may keep God's statutes — linking preservation with obedience to the law.
- Psalm 119:10 (thematic): Expresses the same resolve and request: wholehearted pursuit of God and a prayer that the speaker not be allowed to stray from God's commandments.
- Psalm 119:94 (thematic): Declares personal belonging to God ('I am yours') and petitions for salvation because of seeking God's precepts — connecting faithful commitment to a plea for God's continued presence/protection.
Alternative generated candidates
- I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me.
- I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me.
Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD.
Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart.
They do no wrong; they walk in his ways.
You have commanded that your precepts be kept diligently.
May my ways be steadfast to keep your statutes.
Then I will not be put to shame when I consider all your commandments.
I will praise you with an upright heart when I learn your righteous judgments.
I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me.