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Psalms 119 is part of “Book V: The Deuteronomy Book” (107–150) in the outline of Psalms.
Psalms 119 summary
This is a psalm by itself, like none of the rest; it excels them all, and shines brightest in this constellation. It is much longer than any of them more than twice as long as any of them. It is not making long prayers that Christ censurers, but making them for a pretence, which intimates that they are in themselves good and commendable. It seems to me to be a collection of David's pious and devout ejaculations, the short and sudden breathings and elevations of his soul to God, which he wrote down as they occurred, and, towards the latter end of his time, gathered out of his day-book where they lay scattered, added to them many like words, and digested them into this psalm, in which there is seldom any coherence between the verses, but, like Solomon's proverbs, it is a chest of gold rings, not a chain of gold links. And we may not only learn, by the psalmist's example, to accustom ourselves to such pious ejaculations, which are an excellent means of maintaining constant communion with God, and keeping the heart in frame for the more solemn exercises of religion, but we must make use of the psalmist's words, both for the exciting and for the expressing of our devout affections; what some have said of this psalm is true, "He that shall read it considerately, it will either warm him or shame him." The composition of it is singular and very exact. It is divided into twenty-two parts, according to the number of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, and 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, without any flaw throughout the whole psalm. Archbishop Tillotson says, It seems to have more of poetical skill and number in it than we at this distance can easily understand. Some have called it the saints' alphabet; and it were to be wished we had it as ready in our memories as the very letters of our alphabet, as ready as our A B C. Perhaps the penman found it of use to himself to observe this method, as it obliged him to seek for thoughts, and search for them, that he might fill up the quota of every part; and the letter he was to begin with might lead him to a word which might suggest a good sentence; and all little enough to raise any thing that is good in the barren soil of our hearts. However, it would be of use to the learners, a help to them both in committing it to memory and in calling it to mind upon occasion; by the letter the first word would be got, and that would bring in the whole verse; thus young people would the more easily learn it by heart and retain it the better even in old age. If any censure it as childish and trifling, because acrostics are now quite out of fashion, let them know that the royal psalmist despises their censure; he is a teacher of babes, and, if this method may be beneficial to them, he can easily stoop to it; if this to be vile, he will be yet more vile.
II. The general scope and design of it is to magnify the law, and make it honourable; to set forth the excellency and usefulness of divine revelation, and to recommend it to us, not only for the entertainment, but for the government, of ourselves, by the psalmist's own example, who speaks by experience of the benefit of it, and of the good impressions made upon him by it, for which he praises God, and earnestly prays, from first to last, for the continuance of God's grace with him, to direct and quicken him in the way of his duty. There are ten different words by which divine revelation is called in this psalm, and they are synonymous, each of them expressive of the whole compass of it (both that which tells us what God expects from us and that which tells us that we may expect from him) and of the system of religion which is founded upon it and guided by it. The things contained in the scripture, and drawn from it, are here called, 1. God's law, because they are enacted by him as our Sovereign. 2. His way, because they are the rule both of his providence and of our obedience. 3. His testimonies, because they are solemnly declared to the world and attested beyond contradiction. 4. His commandments, because given with authority, and (as the word signifies) lodged with us as a trust. 5. His precepts, because prescribed to us and not left indifferent. 6. His word, or saying, because it is the declaration of his mind, and Christ, the essential eternal Word, is all in all in it. 7. His judgments, because framed in infinite wisdom, and because by them we must both judge and be judged. 8. His righteousness, because it is all holy, just, and good, and the rule and standard of righteousness. 9. His statutes, because they are fixed and determined, and of perpetual obligation. His truth, or faithfulness, because the principles upon which the divine law is built are eternal truths. And I think there is but one verse (it is Psa 119:122) in all this long psalm in which there is not one or other of these ten words; only in three or four they are used concerning God's providence or David's practice (as Psa 119:75, Psa 119:84, Psa 119:121), and Psa 119:132 they are called God's name. The great esteem and affection David had for the word of God is the more admirable considering how little he had of it, in comparison with what we have, no more perhaps in writing than the first books of Moses, which were but the dawning of this day, which may shame us who enjoy the full discoveries of divine revelation and yet are so cold towards it. In singing this psalm there is work for all the devout affections of a sanctified soul, so copious, so various, is the matter of it. We here find that in which we must give glory to God both as our ruler and great benefactor, that in which we are to teach and admonish ourselves and one another (so many are the instructions which we here find about a religious life), and that in which we are to comfort and encourage ourselves and one another, so many are the sweet experiences of one that lived such a life. Here is something or other to suit the case of every Christian. Is any afflicted? Is any merry? Each will find that here which is proper for him. And it is so far from being a tedious repetition of the same thing, as may seem to those who look over it cursorily, that, if we duly meditate upon it, we shall find almost every verse has a new thought and something in it very lively. And this, as many other of David's psalms, teaches us to be sententious in our devotions, both alone and when others join with us; for, ordinarily, the affections, especially of weaker Christians, are more likely to be raised and kept by short expressions, the sense of which lies in a little compass, than by long and laboured periods.
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
1 ALEPH. Blessed are those that are vpright in their way, and walke in the Lawe of the Lord.
2 Blessed are they that keepe his testimonies, and seeke him with their whole heart.
3 Surely they woorke none iniquitie, but walke in his waies.
4 Thou hast commanded to keepe thy precepts diligently.
5 Oh that my waies were directed to keepe thy statutes!
6 Then should I not be confounded, when I haue respect vnto all thy commandements.
7 I will praise thee with an vpright heart, when I shall learne the iudgements of thy righteousnesse.
8 I will keepe thy statutes: forsake mee not ouerlong.
9 BETH. Wherewith shall a yong man redresse his waie? in taking heede thereto according to thy woorde.
10 With my whole heart haue I sought thee: let me not wander from thy commandements.
11 I haue hid thy promise in mine heart, that I might not sinne against thee.
12 Blessed art thou, O Lord: teache mee thy statutes.
13 With my lippes haue I declared all the iudgements of thy mouth.
14 I haue had as great delight in the way of thy testimonies, as in all riches.
15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and consider thy waies.
16 I will delite in thy statutes, and I will not forget thy worde.
17 GIMEL. Be beneficiall vnto thy seruant, that I may liue and keepe thy woorde.
18 Open mine eies, that I may see the wonders of thy Lawe.
19 I am a stranger vpon earth: hide not thy commandements from me.
20 Mine heart breaketh for the desire to thy iudgements alway.
21 Thou hast destroied the proud: cursed are they that doe erre from thy commandements.
22 Remoue from mee shame and contempt: for I haue kept thy testimonies.
23 Princes also did sit, and speake against me: but thy seruant did meditate in thy statutes.
24 Also thy testimonies are my delite, and my counsellers.
25 DALETH. My soule cleaueth to the dust: quicken me according to thy worde.
26 I haue declared my waies, and thou heardest me: teache me thy statutes.
27 Make me to vnderstand ye way of thy precepts, and I will meditate in thy wondrous workes.
28 My soule melteth for heauinesse: raise mee vp according vnto thy worde.
29 Take from mee the way of lying, and graunt me graciously thy Lawe.
30 I haue chosen the way of trueth, and thy iudgements haue I laied before me.
31 I haue cleaued to thy testimonies, O Lord: confound me not.
32 I will runne the way of thy commandements, when thou shalt enlarge mine heart.
33 HE. Teach mee, O Lord, the way of thy statutes, and I will keepe it vnto the ende.
34 Giue mee vnderstanding, and I will keepe thy Law: yea, I wil keepe it with my whole heart.
35 Direct mee in the path of thy commandements: for therein is my delite.
36 Incline mine heart vnto thy testimonies, and not to couetousnesse.
37 Turne away mine eies from regarding vanitie, and quicken me in thy way.
38 Stablish thy promise to thy seruaunt, because he feareth thee.
39 Take away my rebuke that I feare: for thy iudgements are good.
40 Beholde, I desire thy commandements: quicken me in thy righteousnesse,
41 VAV. And let thy louing kindnesse come vnto me, O Lord, and thy saluation according to thy promise.
42 So shall I make answere vnto my blasphemers: for I trust in thy woorde.
43 And take not the woorde of trueth vtterly out of my mouth: for I waite for thy iudgements.
44 So shall I alway keepe thy Lawe for euer and euer.
45 And I will walke at libertie: for I seeke thy precepts.
46 I will speake also of thy testimonies before Kings, and will not be ashamed.
47 And my delite shalbe in thy commandements, which I haue loued.
48 Mine handes also will I lift vp vnto thy commandements, which I haue loued, and I will meditate in thy statutes.
49 ZAIN. Remember the promise made to thy seruant, wherein thou hast caused me to trust.
50 It is my comfort in my trouble: for thy promise hath quickened me.
51 The proude haue had me exceedingly in derision: yet haue I not declined from thy Lawe.
52 I remembred thy iudgements of olde, O Lord, and haue bene comforted.
53 Feare is come vpon mee for the wicked, that forsake thy Lawe.
54 Thy statutes haue beene my songes in the house of my pilgrimage.
55 I haue remembred thy Name, O Lord, in the night, and haue kept thy Lawe.
56 This I had because I kept thy precepts.
57 CHETH. O Lord, that art my portion, I haue determined to keepe thy wordes.
58 I made my supplication in thy presence with my whole heart: be mercifull vnto me according to thy promise.
59 I haue considered my waies, and turned my feete into thy testimonies.
60 I made haste and delaied not to keepe thy commandements.
61 The bandes of the wicked haue robbed me: but I haue not forgotten thy Lawe.
62 At midnight will I rise to giue thanks vnto thee, because of thy righteous iudgements.
63 I am companion of all them that feare thee, and keepe thy precepts.
64 The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercie: teache me thy statutes.
65 TETH. O Lord, thou hast delt graciously with thy seruant according vnto thy woorde.
66 Teach me good iudgement and knowledge: for I haue beleeued thy commandements.
67 Before I was afflicted, I went astray: but nowe I keepe thy woorde.
68 Thou art good and gracious: teach me thy statutes.
69 The proud haue imagined a lie against me: but I wil keepe thy precepts with my whole heart.
70 Their heart is fatte as grease: but my delite is in thy Lawe.
71 It is good for me that I haue beene afflicted, that I may learne thy statutes.
72 The Lawe of thy mouth is better vnto me, then thousands of golde and siluer.
73 IOD. Thine hands haue made me and fashioned me: giue mee vnderstanding therefore, that I may learne thy commandements.
74 So they that feare thee, seeing mee shall reioyce, because I haue trusted in thy worde.
75 I knowe, O Lord, that thy iudgements are right, and that thou hast afflicted me iustly.
76 I pray thee that thy mercie may comfort me according to thy promise vnto thy seruant.
77 Let thy tender mercies come vnto me, that I may liue: for thy Lawe is my delite.
78 Let the proude be ashamed: for they haue dealt wickedly and falsely with me: but I meditate in thy precepts.
79 Let such as feare thee turne vnto me, and they that knowe thy testimonies.
80 Let mine heart bee vpright in thy statutes, that I be not ashamed.
81 CAPH. My soule fainteth for thy saluation: yet I waite for thy worde.
82 Mine eyes faile for thy promise, saying, when wilt thou comfort me?
83 For I am like a bottell in the smoke: yet doe I not forget thy statutes.
84 Howe many are the dayes of thy seruant? When wilt thou execute iudgement on them that persecute me?
85 The proude haue digged pittes for mee, which is not after thy Lawe.
86 All thy commandements are true: they persecute me falsely: helpe me.
87 They had almost consumed me vpon the earth: but I forsooke not thy precepts.
88 Quicken me according to thy louing kindnes: so shall I keepe the testimony of thy mouth.
89 LAMED. O Lord, thy worde endureth for euer in heauen.
90 Thy trueth is from generation to generation: thou hast layed the foundation of the earth, and it abideth.
91 They continue euen to this day by thine ordinances: for all are thy seruants.
92 Except thy Lawe had bene my delite, I should now haue perished in mine affliction.
93 I wil neuer forget thy precepts: for by them thou hast quickened me.
94 I am thine, saue me: for I haue sought thy precepts.
95 The wicked haue waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.
96 I haue seene an ende of all perfection: but thy commandement is exceeding large.
97 MEM. Oh howe loue I thy Lawe! it is my meditation continually.
98 By thy commandements thou hast made mee wiser then mine enemies: for they are euer with mee.
99 I haue had more vnderstading then all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
100 I vnderstoode more then the ancient, because I kept thy precepts.
101 I haue refrained my feete from euery euil way, that I might keepe thy word.
102 I haue not declined from thy iudgements: for thou didest teach me.
103 Howe sweete are thy promises vnto my mouth! yea, more then hony vnto my mouth.
104 By thy precepts I haue gotten vnderstanding: therefore I hate all the wayes of falshoode.
105 NUN. Thy worde is a lanterne vnto my feete, and a light vnto my path.
106 I haue sworne and will performe it, that I will keepe thy righteous iudgements.
107 I am very sore afflicted: O Lord, quicken me according to thy word.
108 O Lord, I beseeche thee accept the free offerings of my mouth, and teach mee thy iudgements.
109 My soule is continually in mine hande: yet doe I not forget thy Lawe.
110 The wicked haue layed a snare for mee: but I swarued not from thy precepts.
111 Thy testimonies haue I taken as an heritage for euer: for they are the ioy of mine heart.
112 I haue applied mine heart to fulfill thy statutes alway, euen vnto the ende.
113 SAMECH. I hate vaine inuentions: but thy Lawe doe I loue.
114 Thou art my refuge and shield, and I trust in thy worde.
115 Away from mee, yee wicked: for I will keepe the commandements of my God.
116 Stablish me according to thy promise, that I may liue, and disappoint me not of mine hope.
117 Stay thou mee, and I shall be safe, and I will delite continually in thy statutes.
118 Thou hast troden downe all them that depart from thy statutes: for their deceit is vaine.
119 Thou hast taken away all ye wicked of the earth like drosse: therefore I loue thy testimonies.
120 My flesh trembleth for feare of thee, and I am afraide of thy iudgements.
121 AIN. I haue executed iudgement and iustice: leaue me not to mine oppressours.
122 Answere for thy seruant in that, which is good, and let not the proude oppresse me.
123 Mine eyes haue failed in waiting for thy saluation, and for thy iust promise.
124 Deale with thy seruant according to thy mercie, and teache me thy statutes.
125 I am thy seruant: graunt mee therefore vnderstanding, that I may knowe thy testimonies.
126 It is time for thee Lord to worke: for they haue destroyed thy Lawe.
127 Therefore loue I thy commandements aboue golde, yea, aboue most fine golde.
128 Therefore I esteeme all thy precepts most iust, and hate all false wayes.
129 PE. Thy testimonies are wonderfull: therefore doeth my soule keepe them.
130 The entrance into thy wordes sheweth light, and giueth vnderstanding to the simple.
131 I opened my mouth and panted, because I loued thy commandements.
132 Looke vpon mee and bee mercifull vnto me, as thou vsest to doe vnto those that loue thy Name.
133 Direct my steppes in thy worde, and let none iniquitie haue dominion ouer me.
134 Deliuer mee from the oppression of men, and I will keepe thy precepts.
135 Shew the light of thy countenance vpon thy seruant, and teache me thy statutes.
136 Mine eyes gush out with riuers of water, because they keepe not thy Lawe.
137 TSADDI. Righteous art thou, O Lord, and iust are thy iudgements.
138 Thou hast commanded iustice by thy testimonies and trueth especially.
139 My zeale hath euen consumed mee, because mine enemies haue forgotten thy wordes.
140 Thy word is prooued most pure, and thy seruant loueth it.
141 I am small and despised: yet do I not forget thy precepts.
142 Thy righteousnesse is an euerlasting righteousnes, and thy Lawe is trueth.
143 Trouble and anguish are come vpon me: yet are thy commandements my delite.
144 The righteousnes of thy testimonies is euerlasting: graunt me vnderstanding, and I shall liue.
145 KOPH. I haue cried with my whole heart: heare me, O Lord, and I will keepe thy statutes.
146 I called vpon thee: saue mee, and I will keepe thy testimonies.
147 I preuented the morning light, and cried: for I waited on thy word.
148 Mine eyes preuent the night watches to meditate in thy word.
149 Heare my voyce according to thy louing kindenesse: O Lord, quicken me according to thy iudgement.
150 They drawe neere, that follow after malice, and are farre from thy Lawe.
151 Thou art neere, O Lord: for all thy commandements are true.
152 I haue knowen long since by thy testimonies, that thou hast established them for euer.
153 RESH. Beholde mine affliction, and deliuer mee: for I haue not forgotten thy Lawe.
154 Pleade my cause, and deliuer me: quicken me according vnto thy word.
155 Saluation is farre from the wicked, because they seeke not thy statutes.
156 Great are thy tender mercies, O Lord: quicken me according to thy iudgements.
157 My persecutours and mine oppressours are many: yet doe I not swarue from thy testimonies.
158 I saw the transgressours and was grieued, because they kept not thy worde.
159 Consider, O Lord, how I loue thy preceptes: quicken mee according to thy louing kindenesse.
160 The beginning of thy worde is trueth, and all the iudgements of thy righteousnesse endure for euer.
161 SCHIN. Princes haue persecuted mee without cause, but mine heart stood in awe of thy wordes.
162 I reioyce at thy worde, as one that findeth a great spoyle.
163 I hate falshoode and abhorre it, but thy Lawe doe I loue.
164 Seuen times a day doe I praise thee, because of thy righteous iudgements.
165 They that loue thy Law, shall haue great prosperitie, and they shall haue none hurt.
166 Lord, I haue trusted in thy saluation, and haue done thy commandements.
167 My soule hath kept thy testimonies: for I loue them exceedingly.
168 I haue kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my wayes are before thee.
169 TAV. Let my complaint come before thee, O Lord, and giue me vnderstanding, according vnto thy worde.
170 Let my supplication come before thee, and deliuer me according to thy promise.
171 My lippes shall speake praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.
172 My tongue shall intreate of thy word: for all thy commandements are righteous.
173 Let thine hand helpe me: for I haue chosen thy precepts.
174 I haue longed for thy saluation, O Lord, and thy Lawe is my delite.
175 Let my soule liue, and it shall praise thee, and thy iudgements shall helpe me.
176 I haue gone astraye like a lost sheepe: seeke thy seruant, for I doe not forget thy commandements.