Mazmur 119:18-20

119:18 Open ¹  my eyes so I can truly see ² 

the marvelous things in your law!

119:19 I am like a foreigner in this land. ³ 

Do not hide your commands from me!

119:20 I desperately long to know ⁴ 

your regulations at all times.

[119:18]  ¹ tn Heb “uncover.” The verb form גַּל (gal) is an apocopated Piel imperative from גָּלָה (galah, see GKC 214 §75.cc).

[119:18]  ² tn The cohortative with vav (ו) conjunctive indicates purpose/result after the preceding imperative.

[119:19]  ³ tn Heb “I am a resident alien in the land.” Resident aliens were especially vulnerable and in need of help. They needed to know the social and legal customs of the land to avoid getting into trouble. The translation (note the addition of “like”) assumes the psalmist is speaking metaphorically, not literally.

[119:20]  ⁴ tn Heb “my soul languishes for longing for.”