Psalms 119:25

STROPHE 4

PRAYER FOR STRENGTHENING AND FOR DELIVERANCE FROM HUMILIATION

Daleth

"My soul cleaveth unto the dust:

Quicken thou me according to thy word.

I declared my ways, and thou answeredst me:

Teach me thy statutes.

Make me to understand the way of thy precepts:

So shall I meditate on thy wondrous works.

My soul melteth for heaviness:

Strengthen thou me according unto thy word.

Remove from me the way of falsehood;

And grant me thy law graciously.

I have chosen the way of faithfulness:

Thine ordinances have I set before me.

I cleave unto thy testimonies:

O Jehovah, put me not to shame.

I will run the way of thy commandments,

When thou shalt enlarge my heart."

A constant feature of this psalm is the repetition. For example, Psalms 119:26b is exactly the same as Psalms 119:12b. Also, there are many other instances of the same thought appearing in different terminology. "Put me not to shame" (Psalms 119:31) is exactly the same thought as that of Psalms 119:22a. There are literally dozens of similar examples. As Professor Cheyne is reported to have said, "It is a sweetly monotonous meditation."[23]

"Quicken thou me" (Psalms 119:25). This expression, rendered, "Give me life" in the RSV is repeated a number of times throughout the psalm.