Mazmur 119:121-128

ע (Ayin)

119:121 I do what is fair and right. ¹ 

Do not abandon me to my oppressors!

119:122 Guarantee the welfare of your servant! ² 

Do not let the arrogant oppress me!

119:123 My eyes grow tired as I wait for your deliverance, ³ 

for your reliable promise to be fulfilled. ⁴ 

119:124 Show your servant your loyal love! ⁵ 

Teach me your statutes!

119:125 I am your servant. Give me insight,

so that I can understand ⁶  your rules.

119:126 It is time for the Lord to act –

they break your law!

119:127 For this reason ⁷  I love your commands

more than gold, even purest gold.

119:128 For this reason I carefully follow all your precepts. ⁸ 

I hate all deceitful actions. ⁹ 

[119:121]  ¹ tn Heb “do justice and righteousness.”

[119:122]  ² tn Heb “be surety for your servant for good.”

[119:123]  ³ tn Heb “my eyes fail for your deliverance.” The psalmist has intently kept his eyes open, looking for God to intervene, but now his eyes are watery and bloodshot, impairing his vision. See the similar phrase in v. 82.

[119:123]  ⁴ tn Heb “and for the word of your faithfulness.”

[119:124]  ⁵ tn Heb “do with your servant according to your loyal love.”

[119:125]  ⁶ tn or “know.” The cohortative verbal form with vav (ו) conjunctive indicates purpose/result after the preceding imperative.

[119:127]  ⁷ tn “For this reason” connects logically with the statement made in v. 126. Because the judgment the psalmist fears (see vv. 119-120) is imminent, he remains loyal to God’s law.

[119:128]  ⁸ tn Heb “for this reason all the precepts of everything I regard as right.” The phrase “precepts of everything” is odd. It is preferable to take the kaf (כ) on כֹּל (kol, “everything) with the preceding form as a pronominal suffix, “your precepts,” and the lamed (ל) with the following verb as an emphatic particle. See L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 138.

[119:128]  ⁹ tn Heb “every false path.”