What does Psalm 119:31 mean?
ESV: I cling to your testimonies, O Lord; let me not be put to shame!
NIV: I hold fast to your statutes, Lord; do not let me be put to shame.
NASB: I cling to Your testimonies; Lord, do not put me to shame!
CSB: I cling to your decrees; Lord, do not put me to shame.
NLT: I cling to your laws. Lord, don’t let me be put to shame!
KJV: I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O Lord, put me not to shame.
NKJV: I cling to Your testimonies; O Lord, do not put me to shame!
Verse Commentary:
Verse Context:
Psalm 119:25–32 begins each verse with the Hebrew letter daleth. In this stanza, the psalmist appears to struggle with feelings of defeat or oppression. He counters these feelings by approaching the Lord in prayer and asking for His guidance. For this writer, hardship inspires ever deeper dependence on God. In a similar way, James 1:2–8 encourages believers to face trials by turning to God for wisdom.
Chapter Summary:
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.
Chapter Context:
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.
Book Summary:
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.
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