Psalm 119:95 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The wicked lie in wait to destroy me, but I consider your testimonies.

NIV: The wicked are waiting to destroy me, but I will ponder your statutes.

NASB: The wicked wait for me to destroy me; I will diligently consider Your testimonies.

CSB: The wicked hope to destroy me, but I contemplate your decrees.

NLT: Though the wicked hide along the way to kill me, I will quietly keep my mind on your laws.

KJV: The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.

NKJV: The wicked wait for me to destroy me, But I will consider Your testimonies.

Psalm 119:89–96 begins each verse with the Hebrew letter lamedh. The permanence of the Lord's Word and His creation give the psalmist reasons to give praise. The writer credits his obedience to God's commands with saving his life. Even when evil people lurk, the psalmist has faith. While everything else is limited in its perfection, the perfection of God's instructions is boundless. Paul also speaks of Scripture's power and inspiration (2 Timothy 3:15–17).

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 11/23/2024 9:09:34 PM