Mazmur 119:62

119:62 In the middle of the night I arise ¹  to thank you

for your just regulations.

Mazmur 119:72

119:72 The law you have revealed is more important to me

than thousands of pieces of gold and silver. ² 

Mazmur 1:2

1:2 Instead ³  he finds pleasure in obeying the Lord’s commands; ⁴ 

he meditates on ⁵  his commands ⁶  day and night.

[119:62]  ¹ tn The psalmist uses an imperfect verbal form to emphasize that this is his continuing practice.

[119:72]  ² tn Heb “better to me [is] the law of your mouth than thousands of gold and silver.”

[1:2]  ³ tn Here the Hebrew expression כִּי־אִם (ki-’im, “instead”) introduces a contrast between the sinful behavior depicted in v. 1 and the godly lifestyle described in v. 2.

[1:2]  ⁴ tn Heb “his delight [is] in the law of the Lord.” In light of the following line, which focuses on studying the Lord’s law, one might translate, “he finds pleasure in studying the Lord’s commands.” However, even if one translates the line this way, it is important to recognize that mere study and intellectual awareness are not ultimately what bring divine favor. Study of the law is metonymic here for the correct attitudes and behavior that should result from an awareness of and commitment to God’s moral will; thus “obeying” has been used in the translation rather than “studying.”

[1:2]  ⁵ tn The Hebrew imperfect verbal form draws attention to the characteristic behavior described here and lends support to the hyperbolic adverbial phrase “day and night.” The verb הָגָה (hagag) means “to recite quietly; to meditate” and refers metonymically to intense study and reflection.

[1:2]  ⁶ tn Or “his law.”