Those who follow after wickedness approach; they are far from Your Law. Psalm 119:150 NASB Approach – The NIV probably renders this verse with less ambiguity: “Those who devise wicked schemes are near, but they are far from your law.” The verb is qārab, “to come near, to approach, to enter into.” The idea is proximity. …
Hearken to my voice according to Your kindness; O Lord, according to Your custom sustain me. Psalm 119:149 Chabad Custom – This translation might lead us to believe that the psalmist anticipates a typical response from God. He enlists the protocol of ḥesed, establishing the required connection. He asks God to listen, using a verb…
My eyes preceded the watches to speak of Your word. Psalm 119:148 Chabad Watches – Unless you knew something about palaces in ancient times, this verse would probably be unintelligible. And even if you knew about night watches in the 10th Century B.C.E., the verse still might not make any sense. The only way to…
I arose early, when it was still night, and I cried out; I hoped for Your word. Psalm 119:147 Chabad For Your word – Compare these three Hebrew renditions of this verse: קדמתי בנשף ואשועה לדבריך יחלתי קִדַּ֣מְתִּי בַ֖נֶּשֶׁף וָֽאֲשַׁוֵּ֑עָה לִדְבָֽרְךָ֥ (כתיב לִדְבָֽרְיךָ֥) יִחָֽלְתִּי קִדַּ֣מְתִּי בַ֭נֶּשֶׁף וָאֲשַׁוֵּ֑עָה (לדבריך) [לִדְבָרְךָ֥] יִחָֽלְתִּי Aside from the fact that the first version…
I called to You; save me and I shall keep Your testimonies. Psalm 119:146 Chabad Called – We know that Hebrew often repeats words in order to add emphasis. That’s what you do in a language that doesn’t have punctuation. But the repetition of the verb qārāʾ in this second sentence might be a bit…
I called with all my heart; answer me, O Lord; I shall keep Your statutes. Psalm 119:145 Chabad I cried out with all my heart; answer me, Lord! I will comply with Your statutes. NASB קָרָ֣אתִי בְכָל־לֵ֖ב עֲנֵ֥נִי יְהֹוָ֗ה חֻקֶּ֥יךָ אֶצֹּֽרָה I cried out with all my heart; answer me, Lord! I will comply with Your statutes. קְרָאתִ֥יךָ…
Your testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding that I may live. Psalm 119:144 Understanding – “Your testimonies.” We’ve seen this before. A lot. ʿēdewōtê, the continuing story of God’s involvement with His chosen. The poet proclaims that the events and circumstances of this story are ṣedeq leʿôlām, and as you will recall, that’s like saying…
Trouble and anguish have come upon me, yet Your commandments are my delight. Psalm 119:143 NASB Trouble and anguish – Sometimes English has difficulty capturing the full range of Hebrew even if multiple words are used. ḥesed is an example. But sometimes that fact that Hebrew uses one word when English requires more than one is just as…
Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your Law is truth. Psalm 119:142 NASB Everlasting – How long is everlasting? Wait, don’t give me a naïve answer, “Well, forever, of course.” Think deeper. The word is ʿôlām. Macrae makes the following remark about this Hebrew word: Probably derived from ʿālam I, “to hide,” thus pointing to what…
I am small and despised, yet I do not forget Your precepts. Psalm 119:141 NASB Yet – The translators have added this adverb. The text just says, “small I and despised Your precepts not do I forget.” While the NASB treats ṣāʿîr as “small,” Chabad renders is as “young.” I am young and despised; I have not forgotten…
