Psalms 119:65

Psa 119:65 TETH. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word.

Ver. 65. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant] Men must be no less praiseful than prayerful. Shall we come to the well of life thirsty, and then turn our backs upon the Rock that followeth us?

According to thy word] sc. Of promise; this sweeteth a blessing.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Psa_119:65-67

Thou hast dealt with Thy servant, O Lord.

A good man

I. The testimony of a good man.

1. Concerning God. His kind treatment and faithful promise.

2. Concerning affliction.

II. The prayer Of a good man for the highest instruction.

III. The experience Of a good man. (Homilist.)

Good judgment

I. Davids judgment expressed.

1. God had dealt with him.

2. God had dealt well with him. Adding up all our varied experiences, we can truly say that all things have worked together for our good. What strange compounds many of our lives are! The evening and the morning have made the day from the creation; and we have had darkness and brightness; but, putting the whole together, the result has been more than well.

3. God has dealt well with us as His servants.

(1) He has given us blessed work to do. To serve God is to reign.

(2) He has given us provision.

(3) He has given us encouragement.

(4) He has given us earnests of the pay which we shall receive at the end of our days toil.

4. He has dealt with us according to His word. The print of providence exactly answers to the type of the promise.

II. Good judgment desired (verse 66). David felt that his judgment had been greatly at fault, so that he had made great mistakes with regard to God; and new that he had come to a more correct judgment, he offered this prayer: Teach me good judgment and knowledge. This is what all Christians need,--better judgment--more sound judgment.

1. May God help us, for the future, first, to judge His providence better!

2. Next, judge your sufferings better, and learn to believe that it is good for you that you have been afflicted. May our judgments not be, as they sometimes have been, desponding, dark, dreary l

3. Then we shall be able to have good judgment in matters of doctrine.

4. We also need good judgment concerning our temptations.

5. And as to the many false spirits that are gone forth into the world.

III. Judgment possessed (verse 67). He seems to say, Lord, I am very foolish, yet I have had wit enough given me, by Thy Spirit, to believe that Thy commandments are the best that can be, so I wish to keep them, and to believe that Thy commandments are the best guide to me in life, and therefore I desire to follow them. (C. H. Spurgeon.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Ver. 65. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O Lord, according unto thy word. This is the summary of his life, and assuredly it is the sum of ours. The Psalmist tells the Lord the verdict of his heart; he cannot be silent, he must speak his gratitude in the, presence of Jehovah, his God. From the universal goodness of God in nature, in Ps 119:64, it is an easy and pleasant step to a confession of the Lord's uniform goodness to ourselves personally. It is something that God has dealt at all with such insignificant and under serving beings as we are, and it is far more that he has dealt well with us, and so well, so wondrously well. He hath done all things well: the rule has no exception. In providence and in grace, in giving prosperity and sending adversity, in everything Jehovah hath dealt well with us. It is dealing well on our part to tell the Lord that we feel that he hath dealt well with us; for praise of this kind is specially fitting and comely. This kindness of the Lord is, however, no chance matter: he promised to do so, and he has done it according to his word. It is very precious to see the word of the Lord fulfilled in our happy experience; it endears the Scripture to us, and makes us love the Lord of the Scripture. The book of providence tallies with the book of promise: what we read in the page of inspiration we meet with again in the leaves of our life story. We may not have thought that it would be so, but our unbelief is repented of now that we see the mercy of the Lord to us, and his faithfulness to his word; henceforth we are bound to display a firmer faith both in God and in his promise. He has spoken well, and he has dealt well. He is the best of Masters; for it is to a very unworthy and incapable servant that he has acted thus blessedly: does not this cause us to delight in his service more and more? We cannot say that we have dealt well with our Master; for when we have done all, we are unprofitable servants; but as for our Lord, he has given us light work, large maintenance, loving encouragement, and liberal wages. It is a wonder that he has not long ago discharged us, or at least reduced our allowances, or handled us roughly; yet we have had no hard dealings, all has been ordered with as much consideration as if we had rendered perfect obedience. We have bad bread enough and to spare, our livery has been duly supplied, and his service has ennobled us and made us happy as kings. Complaints we have none. We lose ourselves in adoring thanksgiving, and find ourselves again in careful thanks living.

TETH. In the original each stanza begins with 'T', and in our own version it is so in all but Ps 119:67, 70, which can easily be made to do so by reading, "Till I was afflicted, "and "It is good for me that I have been afflicted." C.H.S.

Ver. 65. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, Lord.

1. The party dealing is God himself: all good is to be referred to God as the author of it.

2. The benefit received is generally expressed, "Thou hast dealt well." Some translate it out of the Hebrew, "Bonum feeisti", thou hast done good with thy servant; the Septuagint, krhststhta epoihsav meta ton doulou sou, thou hast made goodness to or with thy servant; out of them, the Vulgate, "Bonitatern fecisti". Some take this clause generally, "Whatever thou dost for thy servants is good": they count it so, though it be never so contrary to the interest of the flesh: sickness is good, loss of friends is good; and so are poverty and loss of goods, to an humble and thankful mind. But surely David speaketh here of some supply and deliverance wherein God had made good some promise to him. The Jewish rabbis understand it of his return to the kingdom; but most Christian writers understand it of some spiritual benefit; that good which God had done to him. If anything may be collected from the subsequent verses, it was certainly some spiritual good. The Septuagint repeat krhstothta twice in this and the following verse, as if he acknowledged the benefit of that good judgment and knowledge of which there he begs an increase. It was in part given him already, and that learned by afflictions, as we see, in the third verse of this portion: "Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now have I kept thy word." His prayer is Now, then, go on to increase this work, this goodness which thou hast shown to thy servant.

3. The object, "thy servant": it is an honourable, comfortable style; David delighted in it. God is a bountiful and a gracious master, ready to do good to his servants, rewarding them with grace here, and crowning that grace with glory hereafter: "He that cometh to God, must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Heb 11:6). Thomas Manton.

Ver. 65. Thou hast dealt well. If the children of God did but know what was best for them, they would perceive that God did that which was best for them. John Mason.

Ver. 65. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant. He knew that God's gifts are without repentance, and that he is not weary of well doing, but will finish the thing he hath begun; and therefore he pleads past favours. Nothing is more forcible to obtain mercy than to lay God's former mercies before him. Here are two grounds, First. If he dealt well with him when he was not regenerate, how much more will he now? and Secondly, all the gifts of God shall be perfectly finished, therefore he will go on to deal well with his servant. Here is a difference between faith and an accusing conscience: the accusing conscience is afraid to ask more, because it hath abused the former mercies: but faith, assuring us that all God's benefits are tokens of his love bestowed on us according to his word, is bold to ask for more. Richard Greenham.

Ver. 65. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant. "No doubt, " said the late Rev. J. Brown, of Haddington, Scotland. "I have met with trials as well as others; yet so kind has God been to me, that I think if he were to give me as many years as I have already lived in the world, I should not desire one single circumstance in my lot changed, except that I wish I had less sin. It might be written on my coffin, `Here lies one of the cares of Providence, who early wanted both father and mother, and yet never missed them.'" Arvine's Anecdotes.

Ver. 65. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O Lord, according unto thy word. The expression, "according to thy word, "is so often repeated in this psalm, that we are apt to overlook it, or to give it only the general meaning of "because of thy promise." But in reality it implies much more. Had God dealt "well" with David according to man's idea? If so, what mean such expressions as these "O forsake me not utterly, "(Ps 119:8) "I am a stranger in the earth, "(Ps 119:19) "My soul cleaveth unto the dust, "(Ps 119:25) "My soul melteth for heaviness, " (Ps 119:28) "Turn away my reproach which I fear, " (Ps 119:39) "The proud have had me greatly in derision, " (Ps 119:51) "Horror hath taken hold upon me" (Ps 119:53)?

In view of such passages as these, can it be said that God "dealt well" with David, according to man's idea? David's experience was one of very great and very varied trial. There is not a phase of our feelings in sorrow which does not find ample expression in his psalms. And yet he says, "Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, according to thy word."

How, then, are we to interpret the expression, so often repeated here, in accordance with the facts of David's spiritual life?

God dealt well with him "according to his word, "in the sense of dealing with him according to what his word explained was the true good not delivering him from all trial, but sending him such trial as he specially required. He felt truly that God had dealt well with him when he could say (Ps 119:67), "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now have I kept thy word." Again, (Ps 119:71), "It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes." Such dealing was hard for flesh and blood to bear, but it was indeed "well, "in the sense of accomplishing most blessed results.

It was "according to his word" too, in the sense of being in accordance with his revealed manner of dealing with his people, who are chastened for their profit.

Again, God had "dealt well" with David according to his word or covenant; the present fulfilment (even if in itself bitter) being a sure earnest of his final perfecting of his work, and glorifying himself in the entire fulfilment of his word, in the completed salvation of his servant.

According to thy word, O Lord, thou hast dealt well with thy servant. Thy word is the light and lamp that shows things in their true aspect, and teaches us to know that all things work together for good to thy people; that thou doest all things well. "Open thou mine eyes, O Lord, that I may see wondrous things out of thy law." What can be more wonderful than such views to our eyes?

According to thy word: not only "because of thy promise, "but in such a manner and measure as thy word declares. See how such an understanding of the expression opens out the idea of "Be merciful to me according to thy word" (Ps 119:58). All the sweet promises and declarations of God's infinite mercy rise before us, and make it a vast request. Again, "Quicken thou me, "and "strengthen thou me according to thy word" up to the full measure of what thou hast promised and provided for thy people. See the fulness in this view, of Ps 119:76, "Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word." Again, Ps 119:169, "Give me understanding according to thy word"; Ps 119:170, "Deliver me according to thy word." In each of these we are led to feel that the request includes the thought of all that the word teaches on the subject.

Let our prayer then for mercy, and strength, and comfort, and understanding, and deliverance, ever be a prayer for these, in the full measure in which they are revealed and promised in the word of God. Mary B.M. Duncan (1825-1865), in "Under the Shadow."

Outlines Upon Keywords of the Psalm, By Pastor C. A. Davis.

Verse 65-72. The Lord's dealings. Gratefully acknowledged (Ps 119:65), and their instructiveness still desired (Ps 119:66), even affliction from him is "good" (Ps 119:67-68), and with its beneficial result is preferred to the prosperity of the wicked (Ps 119:69-72).

Ver. 65. The servant giving his master a character; or, tallying with Scripture: two fruitful themes.

Verse 65.

1. Experience confirmed by the word.

2. The word by experience. G.R.

Ver. 65. A servant's story.

1. Although he knew my faults he engaged me.

2. Although I am so far beneath him, yet he familiarly teaches me.

3. Although I am always ailing, he is very kind to me in my afflictions.

4. Although I am one of the meanest of his servants, he permits me to feast his own table.

5. Although I do little work, he will pay me good

6. Although I am to have such great wages, I have very many perquisites.

7. Although my Master is all this to me (can you believe it?) I murmur and repine at him if he crosses me in anything. Application:

(a) Does the word: servant "sound like a misnomer?" "not

servants...but I have called you friends."

(b) Though he calls me "friend, "I shall never cease

to call him "Master." Richard Andrew Griffin, in "Stems and Twigs."

Psalms 119:66*

Charles H. Spurgeon's The Treasury of David (1869–1885) — public domain. Psalms only. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

The eightfold Teth. The good word of the gracious God is the fountain of all good; and it is learned in the way of lowliness. He reviews his life, and sees in everything that has befallen him the good and well-meaning appointment of the God of salvation in accordance with the plan and order of salvation of His word. The form עבדּך, which is the form out of pause, is retained in Psa 119:65 beside Athnach, although not preceded by Olewejored (cf. Psa 35:19; Psa 48:11; Pro 30:21). Clinging believingly to the commandments of God, he is able confidently to pray that He would teach him "good discernment" and "knowledge." טעם is ethically the capacity of distinguishing between good and evil, and of discovering the latter as it were by touch; טוּב טעם, good discernment, is a coupling of words like טוּב לב, a happy disposition, cheerfulness. God has brought him into this relationship to His word by humbling him, and thus setting him right out of his having gone astray. אמרה in Psa 119:67, as in Psa 119:11, is not God's utterance conveying a promise, but imposing a duty. God is called טּוב as He who is graciously disposed towards man, and מתיב as He who acts out this disposition; this loving and gracious God he implores to become his Teacher. In his fidelity to God's word he does not allow himself to be led astray by any of the lies which the proud try to impose upon him (Bttcher), or better absolutely (cf. Job 13:4): to patch together over him, making the true nature unrecognisable as it were by means of false plaster or whitewash (טפל, to smear over, bedaub, as the Targumic, Talmudic, and Syriac show). If the heart of these men, who by slander make him into a caricature of himself, is covered as it were with thick fat (a figure of insensibility and obduracy, Psa 17:10; Psa 73:7; Isa 6:10, lxx ἐτυρώθη, Aquila ἐλιπάνθη, Symmachus ἐμυαλώθη) against all the impressions of the word of God, he, on the other hand, has his delight in the law of God (שׁעשׁע with an accusative of the object, not of that which is delighted, Psa 94:19, but of that which delights). How beneficial has the school of affliction through which he has attained to this, been to him! The word proceeding from the mouth of God is now more precious to him than the greatest earthly riches.

Keil & Delitzsch — Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (1861–1891) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API. (Old Testament only.)

65. (Psa 119:65) Good hast thou done to thy servant, 0 Jehovah, according to thy word. The common version of the first clause (thou hast dealt well with thy servant) is equally correct, and has the advantage of retaining the preposition with, which may be used in English after deal, but not after do. The sense expressed by both translations is the same, to wit, thou hast treated him graciously or kindly. According to thy word, i.e. the promise annexed to thy commandments, as in Psa 119:25; Psa 119:28 (compare Psa 119:41; Psa 119:58). This verse is equally appropriate as a personal thanksgiving, and an acknowledgment of national deliverances, such as that from Babylon.

Joseph Addison Alexander, The Psalms Translated and Explained (1850) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

119:65-72 Teth (ט): The psalmist describes himself as a penitent sinner who gratefully accepts the Lord’s discipline.

119:65-68 Good judgment and knowledge come from wisdom (111:10). • The psalmist admits that he used to wander off like a stray sheep (119:176). • you disciplined me: See 119:25-29. • You are good and do only good: God’s character is perfect (97:2; Jas 1:17; 1 Jn 1:5).

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Having proved by experience that God was true in his promise, he desireth that he would increase in him knowledge and judgment.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Here, 1. David makes a thankful acknowledgment of God's gracious dealings with him all along: Thou hast dealt well with thy servant. However God has dealt with us, we must own he has dealt well with us, better than we deserve, and all in love and with design to work for our good. In many instances God has done well for us beyond our expectations. He has done well for all his servants; never any of them complained that he had used them hardly. Thou hast dealt well with me, not only according to thy mercy, but according to thy word. God's favours look best when they are compared with the promise and are seen flowing from that fountain. 2. Upon these experiences he grounds a petition for divine instruction: "Teach me good judgment and knowledge, that, by thy grace, I may render again, in some measure, according to the benefit done unto me." Teach me a good taste (so the word signifies), a good relish, to discern things that differ, to distinguish between truth and falsehood, good and evil; for the ear tries words, as the mouth tastes meat. We should pray to God for a sound mind, that we may have spiritual senses exercised, Heb 5:14. Many have knowledge who have little judgment; those who have both are well fortified against the snares of Satan and well furnished for the service of God and their generation. 3. This petition is backed with a plea: "For I have believed thy commandments, received them, and consented to them that they are good, and submitted to their government; therefore, Lord, teach me." Where God has given a good heart a good head too many in faith be prayed for.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

LETTER ט TETH. - Ninth Division

Verse 65. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant] Whatsoever thy word has promised, thou hast fulfilled. Every servant of God can testify that God has done him nothing but good, and therefore he can speak good of his name.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

65. O Jehovah! thou hast done good to thy servant. Some understand this generally, as if the prophet protested that, in whatever way God dealt with him, he took it in good part, convinced that it would ultimately issue in his welfare; but as express mention is made of the Divine word or promise, the prophet, I have no doubt, celebrates the faithfulness of God in performing the grace which he had promised. I have really experienced (as if he had said) that Thou art true, and dost not delude thy servants with empty words. Special reference is therefore here made to God’s promises, because thence all his benefits flow to us, not, indeed, as from the original fountain-head, but, as it were, by conduit pipes. Although his free goodness is the only cause which induces him to deal bountifully with us, yet we can hope for nothing at his hand until he first bring himself under obligation to us by his word.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

65. according unto thy word] i.e. thy promise. Cp. Deu_6:24; Deu_10:13; Deu_30:9; Deu_30:15.

65–72. Tçth. Jehovah’s goodness toward His servant manifested in all His dealings, even in the discipline of affliction.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Thou art good, and doest good,.... Essentially, originally, and only good, and the fountain of all goodness to his creatures; who does good to all men in a providential way, and especially to his own people; to whom he is good in a way of special grace and mercy, in and through his Son Jesus Christ; and even he is good to them, and does good to them, when he afflicts them; he makes their afflictions work for their good, either temporal, spiritual, or eternal;

teach me thy statutes; as a fresh instance of goodness; this had been often desired, being what lay much on his mind, and was of moment and importance; see Psa 119:12.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Thou hast dealt well with thy servant - This begins a new division of the psalm, indicated by the Hebrew letter Teth (ת t), corresponding to our “t.” The use of this letter, however, does nothing to mark the sense. The literal meaning of the phrase here is, “Good hast thou done with thy servant;” and the idea is, that God had been good, and had done good to him. In the review of his own life he sees good, and good alone. Even in afflictions and trials this is all that he sees.

According unto thy word - According to thy promises; or, according to the principles of thy word. That is, the whole effect of the revealed truth of God upon him had been good. It was designed for his good; it had produced good only. Truth and law do nothing but good, and the welfare of individuals, and of a community, is promoted just in proportion as truth and law prevail.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

שׂ, Teth.

65-72. Thou hast dealt well—This declaration clearly refers to deliverance; and this goodness, which the insensible proud, with hearts as fat as grease, never appreciate, leads the grateful mind to long for ability to render a more intelligent service.

Before I was afflicted—Providential afflictions are ofttimes “blessings in disguise,” leading the straying ones to the “Shepherd and Bishop of their souls.” Night is a great teacher, and shows us things invisible by day: so affliction also teaches that some plausible doctrines are lies, and the hopes forged from them are vain, but it brings out the priceless worth of the law of thy mouth. It is not good for a rebel like Pharaoh to be afflicted. The blessing is for those who mourn “after a godly sort,” with humble, self-abasing temper.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

fTETH.

Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O Lord. Notwithstanding all that he has suffered from the "persecution" of princes (ver. 161) and the "contempt" (ver. 22) and "derision" of the wicked generally (ver. 51), the psalmist feels that God"s dealings with him have, on the whole, been good and gracious. According unto thy Word. As thou hast promised in thy Word to deal with thy servants (comp. vers. 41, 58, 170).

Vers. 65-72. The blessed effects of affliction.

I THEY ARE CONFESSED. (Ver. 65) Did not the following verses tell us, we should hesitate to say that the frank confession, "Thou hast dealt well with thy servant," referred to afflictions that he had suffered. But such is the reference. Many a child of God has made the confession here on earth; all will make it in heaven.

II WE NEED THE TEACHING OF GOD ERE WE SEE THEM. (Ver. 66) This is what is implied; it is as if he had said, "Unless thou dost teach me, I shall never be able to see that it is good for me that I have been afflicted." He would have the teaching, that he may yet more clearly see how well God hath dealt with him. But it is so; for

III AFFLICTION OFTEN RESTORES AND RESTRAINS THE SOUL. (Vers. 67, 71. See history of Manasseh, 2Ch 33) The burnt child dreads the fire. "Lord, with what care thou hast begirt us round!" If the way of transgressors was not hard, we should all go that way. The meaning and intent of affliction is to keep us near and to draw us nearer to God. Happy are they who, when the storm of life beats heavily, hide the more closely within the sure shelter of the love of God! And this is what God would have us do. And what a holy restraint the memory of past affliction exercises upon us! The sin which before was very attractive has now, because branded with the dread marks of God"s displeasure, lost most, if not all, of its attraction. And this is another end God designs.

IV RIGHTLY READ, IT PROVES THE GOODNESS OF GOD. (Ver. 68) It is because it is so often wrongly read that unbelief, pessimism, and atheism so largely prevail. But submission, prayer, trust, will ever lead to the right reading.

V THEY RENDER THE PRACTICES OF THE PROUD POWERLESS TO DO US HARM. (Vers. 69, 70) They would shrink from no falsehood to injure the godly, but they cannot separate him from the God in whom he trusts and delights.

VI THEY MAKE GOD AND HIS WORD VERY PRECIOUS. (Ver. 72) We say, "A friend in need is a friend indeed." But if when in deep affliction God came to our help, and sustained us under it, and sanctified us through it, and comforted us continually, must not that God be precious to our soul? Assuredly yes! S.C.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Teth. The Realization that God’s Humiliation of Man is Salutary. —

v. 65. Thou hast dealt well with Thy servant, O Lord, according unto Thy Word, not with the intention of harming His servant, but of impressing upon him the fact that the believer’s path is one of crosses and sorrows, as the Word of God so frequently states. A course in the school of suffering always works benefits to the children of God.

v. 66. Teach me good judgment and knowledge, enabling him to distinguish carefully between good and evil; for I have believed Thy commandments, for it is only by following the path of God’s Word with the greatest exactness that one is kept out of the mazes of error and sin.

v. 67. Before I was afflicted, before God chose to lay the burden of suffering upon him, I went astray; but now have I kept Thy Word. It was the tribulation laid upon him which caused the psalmist to realize the hollow mockery of everything which this world offers, as well as the emptiness of his own righteousness.

v. 68. Thou art good and doest good, even when God lays upon His children the burden of suffering, since His purpose is always one of kindness and mercy, teach me Thy statutes for tribulation drives the believer into the Word. This appreciation of the Word is increased, moreover, on account of the lies which the godless are pleased to spread concerning the believers.

v. 69. The proud have forged a lie against me, smearing falsehoods all at once over him, making the true nature of things hazy by daubing them over with false colors or pasting on deceit; but I will keep Thy precepts with my whole heart, in spite of all the falsehoods which are circulated about him and which cause men to look askance at him.

v. 70. Their heart is as fat as grease, altogether without sensitiveness; it is impossible to make an impression upon the majority of the godless, to convince them of the wrong of their mockery; but I delight in Thy Law, his pleasure in studying the Word of God growing with every new attempt of the enemies to discredit him.

v. 71. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, he now gratefully acknowledges the benefit which he has received from the afflictions laid upon him, that I might learn Thy statutes, for he might never have learned this important lesson if God had not taken him into the school of suffering. Therefore he concludes this section with a shout of triumph,

v. 72. The Law of Thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver; for he has now learned that all the wealth of the world cannot compare with the precious content of the Word, which is the true treasure of all Christians.

Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

TETH

This is the name of the ninth letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In the Hebrew language, each line of verses 65-72 begins with this letter.

to your servant

The writer refers to himself as "your servant." AT: "to me, your servant" or "to me" (See: First, Second, or Third Person)

by means of your word

This is an idiom. "Your word" refers to the promises Yahweh has made to the writer. AT: "as you have promised" (See: Idiom)

Teach me proper discernment and understanding, for I have believed in your commandments

Some languages may require change in logical progression. AT: "Since I have believed in your commandments, teach me proper discernment and understanding" (See: Sentence Structure and Types of Writing)

translationWords

good

servant

Yahweh

word of God

discern

believe

command

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.