Psalm - 119:143



143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold of me. Your commandments are my delight.

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Psalm 119:143.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.
Trouble and anguish have found me: thy commandments are my meditation.
Adversity and distress have found me, Thy commands are my delights.
Pain and trouble have overcome me: but your teachings are my delight.
Trouble and anguish have overtaken me; yet Thy commandments are my delight.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

Trouble and anguish - The word rendered "trouble" means affliction of any kind; the word rendered "anguish" would probably express that which results from being pressed, compressed, straitened. It properly refers to a situation where there is no room to move, and where we are pent up in a narrow place. The two words denote deep affliction.
Have taken hold on me - Margin, as in Hebrew, "found me." That is, they were in pursuit of me, and have at last apprehended me. Trouble, anguish, death, are in pursuit of us all our lives, and are never very far in the rear of us. Often, when we least expect them, they come suddenly up to us, and make us their victims.
Yet thy commandments are my delights - Notwithstanding this trouble, and in this trouble - no matter what comes - I have the same unfailing source of comfort, the truth of God; and notwithstanding what may occur, I still make God and his law the source of my happiness. See the notes at Psalm 119:24.

Trouble and anguish - I am exercised with various trials from men and devils.
Have taken hold on me - But still I cleave to my God, and am delighted with his law.

Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me,.... Or, "found me" (a). Outward troubles and inward distress; troubles arising from his enemies, the men of the world, that hated and persecuted him; and from a body of sin and death, from the temptations of Satan, and divine desertions; some from without, and others from within; troubles both of body and mind, which is what all good men are liable to;
yet thy commandments are my delights; so far from being grievous, that they were a pleasure to him; yea, exceedingly delighted him, and cheered and refreshed his spirits amidst all his troubles.
(a) "invenerunt me", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Musculus, Gejerus, Michaelis.

Trouble - Outward troubles and anguish of spirit.

*More commentary available at chapter level.


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