Mazmur 119:145-160

ק (Qof)

119:145 I cried out with all my heart, “Answer me, O Lord!

I will observe your statutes.”

119:146 I cried out to you, “Deliver me,

so that I can keep ¹  your rules.”

119:147 I am up before dawn crying for help.

I find hope in your word.

119:148 My eyes anticipate the nighttime hours,

so that I can meditate on your word.

119:149 Listen to me ²  because of ³  your loyal love!

O Lord, revive me, as you typically do! ⁴ 

119:150 Those who are eager to do ⁵  wrong draw near;

they are far from your law.

119:151 You are near, O Lord,

and all your commands are reliable. ⁶ 

119:152 I learned long ago that

you ordained your rules to last. ⁷ 

ר (Resh)

119:153 See my pain and rescue me!

For I do not forget your law.

119:154 Fight for me ⁸  and defend me! ⁹ 

Revive me with your word!

119:155 The wicked have no chance for deliverance, ¹⁰ 

for they do not seek your statutes.

119:156 Your compassion is great, O Lord.

Revive me, as you typically do! ¹¹ 

119:157 The enemies who chase me are numerous. ¹² 

Yet I do not turn aside from your rules.

119:158 I take note of the treacherous and despise them,

because they do not keep your instructions. ¹³ 

119:159 See how I love your precepts!

O Lord, revive me with your loyal love!

119:160 Your instructions are totally reliable;

all your just regulations endure. ¹⁴ 

[119:146]  ¹ tn The cohortative verbal form with vav (ו) conjunctive indicates purpose/result after the preceding imperative.

[119:149]  ² tn Heb “my voice.”

[119:149]  ³ tn Heb “according to.”

[119:149]  ⁴ tn Heb “according to your custom.”

[119:150]  ⁵ tn Heb “those who pursue.”

[119:151]  ⁶ tn Or “truth.”

[119:152]  ⁷ tn Heb “long ago I knew concerning your rules, that forever you established them.” See v. 89 for the same idea. The translation assumes that the preposition מִן (min) prefixed to “your rules” introduces the object of the verb יָדַע (yada’), as in 1 Sam 23:23. Another option is that the preposition indicates source, in which case one might translate, “Long ago I realized from your rules that forever you established them” (cf. NIV, NRSV).

[119:154]  ⁸ tn Or “argue my case.”

[119:154]  ⁹ tn Heb “and redeem me.” The verb “redeem” casts the Lord in the role of a leader who protects members of his extended family in times of need and crisis (see Ps 19:14).

[119:155]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “far from the wicked [is] deliverance.”

[119:156]  ¹¹ tn Heb “according to your customs.”

[119:157]  ¹² tn Heb “many [are] those who chase me and my enemies.”

[119:158]  ¹³ tn Heb “your word.”

[119:160]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “the head of your word is truth, and forever [is] all your just regulation.” The term “head” is used here of the “sum total” of God’s instructions.