Psalm 119:150 - Printer Friendly

ESV: They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose; they are far from your law.

NIV: Those who devise wicked schemes are near, but they are far from your law.

NASB: Those who follow after wickedness approach; They are far from Your Law.

CSB: Those who pursue evil plans come near; they are far from your instruction.

NLT: Lawless people are coming to attack me; they live far from your instructions.

KJV: They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law.

NKJV: They draw near who follow after wickedness; They are far from Your law.

Psalm 119:145–152 begins each verse with the Hebrew letter qoph. Here, the psalmist cries out for rescue. This might have been a physical danger, or a form of social or legal persecution. The psalmist declares his loyalty to the Lord and the Lord's Word. Even though danger threatens, the psalmist feels the presence of God. The writer is reassured by Scripture.

This song is composed of twenty-two stanzas, each corresponding to a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Each line in the stanza is an individual verse and each begins with the corresponding letter. The psalmist emphasizes study of God's Word in a variety of circumstances, including persecution, sadness, and rescue. Benefits of taking in the Word include a moral life, joy, wisdom, hope, peace, strength, and freedom. Those who interact with the Word of the Lord should respond with delight, careful study, and obedience.

This is the largest psalm in the book of Psalms. At 176 verses, Psalm 119 is longer than many books of the Old Testament and most books of the New Testament. The psalmist focuses on a proper relationship with God's Word and how those who follow the Lord face persecution. Ideas parallel those found in Psalm 1, 2 Timothy 3:14–17, Proverbs 3:5–8, Hebrews 12:6–11, and more. The psalm is arranged in twenty-two stanzas of eight lines each. Every stanza is associated with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet; each line in that stanza begins with that letter.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

Accessed 11/21/2024 11:37:05 AM