Mazmur 119:9-11

ב (Bet)

119:9 How can a young person ¹  maintain a pure life? ² 

By guarding it according to your instructions! ³ 

119:10 With all my heart I seek you.

Do not allow me to stray from your commands!

119:11 In my heart I store up ⁴  your words, ⁵ 

so I might not sin against you.

Mazmur 119:14

119:14 I rejoice in the lifestyle prescribed by your rules ⁶ 

as if ⁷  they were riches of all kinds. ⁸ 

Mazmur 119:16

119:16 I find delight ⁹  in your statutes;

I do not forget your instructions. ¹⁰ 

Mazmur 119:18

119:18 Open ¹¹  my eyes so I can truly see ¹² 

the marvelous things in your law!

[119:9]  ¹ tn Heb “young man.” Hebrew wisdom literature often assumes and reflects the male-oriented perspective of ancient Israelite society. The principle of the psalm is certainly applicable to all people, regardless of their gender or age. To facilitate modern application, the gender specific “young man” has been translated with the more neutral “young person.”

[119:9]  ² tn Heb “purify his path.”

[119:9]  ³ tn Heb “by keeping according to your word.” Many medieval Hebrew mss as well as the LXX read the plural, “your words.”

[119:11]  ⁴ tn Or “hide.”

[119:11]  ⁵ tn Heb “your word.” Some medieval Hebrew mss as well as the LXX read the plural, “your words.”

[119:14]  ⁶ tn Heb “in the way of your rules.”

[119:14]  ⁷ tn Heb “as upon,” meaning “as if” (see 2 Chr 32:19).

[119:14]  ⁸ tn Heb “all wealth.” The phrase refers to all kinds of wealth and riches. See Prov 1:13; 6:31; 24:4; Ezek 27:12, 18.

[119:16]  ⁹ tn The imperfects in this verse emphasize the attitude the psalmist maintains toward God’s law. Another option is to translate with the future tense, “I will find delight…I will not forget.”

[119:16]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “your word.” Many medieval Hebrew mss as well as the LXX read the plural here.

[119:18]  ¹¹ tn Heb “uncover.” The verb form גַּל (gal) is an apocopated Piel imperative from גָּלָה (galah, see GKC 214 §75.cc).

[119:18]  ¹² tn The cohortative with vav (ו) conjunctive indicates purpose/result after the preceding imperative.