Psalms 119:115-117

119:115 Turn away from me, you evil men,

so that I can observe the commands of my God.

119:116 Sustain me as you promised, so that I will live.

Do not disappoint me!

119:117 Support me, so that I will be delivered.

Then I will focus on your statutes continually.


tn The cohortative verbal form with vav (ו) conjunctive indicates purpose/result after the preceding imperative.

tn The psalmist has already declared that he observes God’s commands despite persecution, so here the idea must be “so that I might observe the commands of my God unhindered by threats.”

tn Heb “according to your word.”

tn The prefixed verbal form with vav (ו) conjunctive indicates purpose/result after the preceding imperative.

tn Heb “do not make me ashamed of my hope.” After the Hebrew verb בּוֹשׁ (bosh, “to be ashamed”) the preposition מִן (min, “from”) often introduces the reason for shame.

tn Or “and that I might focus.” The two cohortatives with vav (ו) conjunctive indicate purpose/result after the imperative at the beginning of the verse.