Psalm 119:34
New International Version
Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart.

New Living Translation
Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions; I will put them into practice with all my heart.

English Standard Version
Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.

Berean Standard Bible
Give me understanding that I may obey Your law, and follow it with all my heart.

King James Bible
Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

New King James Version
Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

New American Standard Bible
Give me understanding, so that I may comply with Your Law And keep it with all my heart.

NASB 1995
Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law And keep it with all my heart.

NASB 1977
Give me understanding, that I may observe Thy law, And keep it with all my heart.

Legacy Standard Bible
Cause me to understand, that I may observe Your law And keep it with all my heart.

Amplified Bible
Give me understanding [a teachable heart and the ability to learn], that I may keep Your law; And observe it with all my heart.

Christian Standard Bible
Help me understand your instruction, and I will obey it and follow it with all my heart.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Help me understand Your instruction, and I will obey it and follow it with all my heart.

American Standard Version
Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; Yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

Contemporary English Version
Help me to understand your Law; I promise to obey it with all my heart.

English Revised Version
Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Help me understand so that I can follow your teachings. I will guard them with all my heart.

Good News Translation
Explain your law to me, and I will obey it; I will keep it with all my heart.

International Standard Version
Give me understanding and I will observe your instruction. I will keep it with all of my heart.

Majority Standard Bible
Give me understanding that I may obey Your law, and follow it with all my heart.

NET Bible
Give me understanding so that I might observe your law, and keep it with all my heart.

New Heart English Bible
Give me understanding, and I will keep your Law. Yes, I will obey it with my whole heart.

Webster's Bible Translation
Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yes, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

World English Bible
Give me understanding, and I will keep your law. Yes, I will obey it with my whole heart.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Cause me to understand, and I keep Your law, "" And observe it with the whole heart.

Young's Literal Translation
Cause me to understand, and I keep Thy law, And observe it with the whole heart.

Smith's Literal Translation
Cause me to understand and I will guard thy instructions; and I will watch it with all the heart.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Give me understanding, and I will search thy law ; and I will keep it with my whole heart.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Give me understanding, and I will examine your law. And I will keep it with my whole heart.

New American Bible
Give me understanding to keep your law, to observe it with all my heart.

New Revised Standard Version
Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Give me understanding and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Give me understanding that I would keep your Law and I shall keep it with my whole heart.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Give me understanding, that I keep Thy law And observe it with my whole heart.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Instruct me, and I will search out thy law, and will keep it with my whole heart.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Your Word is a Lamp to My Feet
33Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, and I will keep them to the end. 34Give me understanding that I may obey Your law, and follow it with all my heart. 35Direct me in the path of Your commandments, for there I find delight.…

Cross References
James 1:5
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Proverbs 2:6
For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Matthew 7:7-8
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

John 14:26
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you.

1 Corinthians 2:12-14
We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. / And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. / The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; / in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Colossians 1:9-10
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, / so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

Ephesians 1:17-18
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him. / I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints,

2 Timothy 2:7
Consider what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all things.

Luke 24:45
Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

Jeremiah 31:33
“But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people.

Ezekiel 36:26-27
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. / And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.

Deuteronomy 30:14
But the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may obey it.

Joshua 1:8
This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in all you do.


Treasury of Scripture

Give me understanding, and I shall keep your law; yes, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

give me

Psalm 119:73
JOD. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.

Psalm 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Job 28:28
And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

I shall

Deuteronomy 4:6
Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.

Matthew 5:19
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 7:24
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

observe

Psalm 119:10,58,69
With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments…

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Psalm 119
1. This psalm contains various prayers, praises, and professions of obedience.
2. Aleph.
9. Beth
17. Gimel
25. Daleth
33. He
41. Waw
49. Zayin
57. Heth
65. Teth
73. Yodh
81. Kaph
89. Lamedh
97. Mem
105. Nun
113. Samekh
121. Ayin
129. Pe
137. Tsadhe
145. Qoph
153. Resh
161. Sin and Shin
169. Taw














Give me understanding
The psalmist begins with a heartfelt plea for divine insight. The Hebrew word for "understanding" is "biyn," which implies discernment, insight, and the ability to distinguish between right and wrong. This request acknowledges human limitations and the need for God's wisdom to truly comprehend His laws. In a historical context, this reflects the ancient Jewish tradition of seeking wisdom as a divine gift, as seen in Solomon's request for wisdom in 1 Kings 3:9. The psalmist's desire for understanding underscores a deep yearning for a relationship with God that goes beyond mere knowledge to a profound, spiritual insight.

that I may observe Your law
The phrase emphasizes the purpose of the understanding sought: to "observe" or "keep" God's law. The Hebrew word "shamar" means to guard, protect, or give heed to. This suggests a vigilant and active engagement with God's commandments, not just passive acknowledgment. The psalmist's intent is to live in accordance with God's will, reflecting a commitment to obedience. Historically, the law was central to Jewish life, guiding moral, social, and religious conduct. The psalmist's dedication to observing the law highlights the importance of aligning one's life with divine principles as a testament to faithfulness.

and follow it with all my heart
The concluding phrase reveals the depth of the psalmist's devotion. "Follow" translates from the Hebrew "natsar," meaning to guard or keep watch over. This indicates a continuous, diligent effort to adhere to God's commandments. The phrase "with all my heart" signifies total commitment and sincerity. In Hebrew thought, the heart ("lev") is the center of intellect and emotion, representing the whole being. The psalmist's vow to follow God's law wholeheartedly reflects a comprehensive dedication, echoing the Shema in Deuteronomy 6:5, which calls for loving God with all one's heart, soul, and strength. This complete devotion is a model for believers, emphasizing that true obedience stems from a heart fully surrendered to God.

Verse 34. - Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy Law; i.e. make me fully to understand thy Law, and then I shall assuredly keep it. If I fail now, it is from lack of wisdom, not of will. Yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart (comp. ver. 69).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Give me understanding
הֲ֭בִינֵנִי (hă·ḇî·nê·nî)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 995: To separate mentally, understand

that I may observe
וְאֶצְּרָ֥ה (wə·’eṣ·ṣə·rāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular
Strong's 5341: To watch, guard, keep

Your law,
תֽוֹרָתֶ֗ךָ (ṯō·w·rā·ṯe·ḵā)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 8451: Direction, instruction, law

and follow it
וְאֶשְׁמְרֶ֥נָּה (wə·’eš·mə·ren·nāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to

with all
בְכָל־ (ḇə·ḵāl-)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

my heart.
לֵֽב׃ (lêḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre


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OT Poetry: Psalm 119:34 Give me understanding and I will keep (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 119:33
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