Mazmur 1:2

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

he meditates on ³  his commands ⁴  day and night.

Mazmur 119:14

119:14 I rejoice in the lifestyle prescribed by your rules ⁵ 

as if ⁶  they were riches of all kinds. ⁷ 

Mazmur 119:16

119:16 I find delight ⁸  in your statutes;

I do not forget your instructions. ⁹ 

Mazmur 119:47

119:47 I will find delight in your commands,

which I love.

Mazmur 119:92

119:92 If I had not found encouragement in your law, ¹⁰ 

I would have died in my sorrow. ¹¹ 

[1:2]  ¹ 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]  ² 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]  ³ 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]  ⁴ tn Or “his law.”

[119:14]  ⁵ tn Heb “in the way of your rules.”

[119:14]  ⁶ tn Heb “as upon,” meaning “as if” (see 2 Chr 32:19).

[119:14]  ⁷ 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]  ⁸ 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]  ⁹ tn Heb “your word.” Many medieval Hebrew mss as well as the LXX read the plural here.

[119:92]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “if your law had not been my delight.”

[119:92]  ¹¹ tn Or “my suffering.”