Psalm 119:126
New International Version
It is time for you to act, LORD; your law is being broken.

New Living Translation
LORD, it is time for you to act, for these evil people have violated your instructions.

English Standard Version
It is time for the LORD to act, for your law has been broken.

Berean Standard Bible
It is time for the LORD to act, for they have broken Your law.

Berean Literal Bible
It is time, O YHWH, to act; they have broken Your law!

King James Bible
It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law.

New King James Version
It is time for You to act, O LORD, For they have regarded Your law as void.

New American Standard Bible
It is time for the LORD to act, For they have broken Your Law.

NASB 1995
It is time for the LORD to act, For they have broken Your law.

NASB 1977
It is time for the LORD to act, For they have broken Thy law.

Legacy Standard Bible
It is time for Yahweh to act, For they have broken Your law.

Amplified Bible
It is time for the LORD to act; They have broken Your law.

Berean Annotated Bible
It is time for the LORD {YHWH} to act, for they have broken Your law.

Christian Standard Bible
It is time for the LORD to act, for they have violated your instruction.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
It is time for the LORD to act, for they have violated Your instruction.

American Standard Version
It is time for Jehovah to work; For they have made void thy law.

Contemporary English Version
Do something, LORD! They have broken your Law.

English Revised Version
It is time for the LORD to work; for they have made void thy law.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
It is time for you to act, O LORD. Even though people have abolished your teachings,

Good News Translation
LORD, it is time for you to act, because people are disobeying your law.

International Standard Version
It is time for the LORD to act, since they have violated your instruction.

NET Bible
It is time for the LORD to act--they break your law!

New Heart English Bible
It is time to act, LORD, for they break your Law.

Webster's Bible Translation
It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
It is time for the LORD to act, for they have broken Your law.

World English Bible
It is time to act, Yahweh, for they break your law.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Time for YHWH to work! They have made Your law void.

Berean Literal Bible
It is time, O YHWH, to act; they have broken Your law!

Young's Literal Translation
Time for Jehovah to work! they have made void Thy law.

Smith's Literal Translation
The time to work to Jehovah: they let go thy law.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
It is time, O Lord, to do: they have dissipated thy law.

Catholic Public Domain Version
It is time to act, O Lord. They have dissipated your law.

New American Bible
It is time for the LORD to act; they have disobeyed your law.

New Revised Standard Version
It is time for the LORD to act, for your law has been broken.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
It is time to serve the LORD; for they have nullified thy law.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
It is time to serve LORD JEHOVAH, and now they have canceled your Law.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
It is time for the LORD to work; They have made void Thy law.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
It is time for the Lord to work: they have utterly broken thy law.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Your Word is a Lamp to My Feet
125I am Your servant; give me understanding, that I may know Your testimonies. 126It is time for the LORD to act, for they have broken Your law. 127Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, even the purest gold.…

Cross References
It is time for the LORD to act,

Psalm 102:13
You will rise up and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show her favor—the appointed time has come.

Psalm 74:22-23
Rise up, O God; defend Your cause! Remember how the fool mocks You all day long. / Do not disregard the clamor of Your adversaries, the uproar of Your enemies that ascends continually.

Isaiah 64:1-2
If only You would rend the heavens and come down, so that mountains would quake at Your presence, / as fire kindles the brushwood and causes the water to boil, to make Your name known to Your enemies, so that the nations will tremble at Your presence!
for they have broken Your law.

Daniel 9:11-13
All Israel has transgressed Your law and turned away, refusing to obey Your voice; so the oath and the curse written in the Law of Moses the servant of God has been poured out on us, because we have sinned against You. / You have carried out the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing upon us a great disaster. For under all of heaven, nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem. / Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us, yet we have not sought the favor of the LORD our God by turning from our iniquities and giving attention to Your truth.

Hosea 8:1-2
Put the ram’s horn to your lips! An eagle looms over the house of the LORD, because the people have transgressed My covenant and rebelled against My law. / Israel cries out to Me, “O our God, we know You!”

Isaiah 24:5-6
The earth is defiled by its people; they have transgressed the laws; they have overstepped the decrees and broken the everlasting covenant. / Therefore a curse has consumed the earth, and its inhabitants must bear the guilt; the earth’s dwellers have been burned, and only a few survive.
Jeremiah 9:13-14
And the LORD answered, “It is because they have forsaken My law, which I set before them; they have not walked in it or obeyed My voice. / Instead, they have followed the stubbornness of their hearts and gone after the Baals, as their fathers taught them.”

Ezekiel 22:26
Her priests do violence to My law and profane My holy things. They make no distinction between the holy and the common, and they fail to distinguish between the clean and the unclean. They disregard My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.

Hosea 4:1-2
Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a case against the people of the land: “There is no truth, no loving devotion, and no knowledge of God in the land! / Cursing and lying, murder and stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another.

Amos 2:4
This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Judah, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they reject the Law of the LORD and fail to keep His statutes; they are led astray by the lies in which their fathers walked.

Malachi 2:8-9
But you have departed from the way, and your instruction has caused many to stumble. You have violated the covenant of Levi,” says the LORD of Hosts. / “So I in turn have made you despised and humiliated before all the people, because you have not kept My ways, but have shown partiality in matters of the law.”

Matthew 15:3-6
Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? / For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ / But you say that if anyone says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever you would have received from me is a gift devoted to God,’ …

Matthew 23:23
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

Mark 7:8-9
You have disregarded the commandment of God to keep the tradition of men.” / He went on to say, “You neatly set aside the command of God to maintain your own tradition.

Luke 11:42
Woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithes of mint, rue, and every herb, but you disregard justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.

John 7:19
Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps it. Why are you trying to kill Me?”


Treasury of Scripture

It is time for you, LORD, to work: for they have made void your law.

time

Psalm 9:19
Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight.

Psalm 102:13
Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.

Genesis 22:10,11,14
And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son…

to work.

Jeremiah 18:23
Yet, LORD, thou knowest all their counsel against me to slay me: forgive not their iniquity, neither blot out their sin from thy sight, but let them be overthrown before thee; deal thus with them in the time of thine anger.

Malachi 3:17
And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

by an ellipsis of the noun.

they

Jeremiah 8:8
How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain.

Habakkuk 1:4
Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.

Malachi 2:8
But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.

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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












It is time for the LORD to act
This phrase reflects a plea for divine intervention. Throughout the Bible, God's timing is often emphasized, as seen in Ecclesiastes 3:1, which speaks of a time for every purpose under heaven. The psalmist recognizes that human efforts have failed, and only God's action can bring justice and restoration. This echoes the cries of the prophets, such as Habakkuk, who questioned why God seemed to delay in addressing the wickedness around him (Habakkuk 1:2-4). The call for God to act is rooted in the belief that He is sovereign and just, and His intervention is both necessary and imminent.

for they have broken Your law
The breaking of God's law refers to the disobedience and rebellion against His commandments. In the context of ancient Israel, the law was central to the covenant relationship between God and His people, as outlined in the Torah. The psalmist's lament highlights the seriousness of this transgression, which is not merely a legal issue but a spiritual one, affecting the community's relationship with God. This breaking of the law can be seen throughout Israel's history, leading to periods of judgment and exile, as recorded in the books of Kings and Chronicles. The law itself is a reflection of God's character and will, and breaking it signifies a rejection of His authority. This phrase also points forward to the New Testament, where Jesus fulfills the law (Matthew 5:17) and offers a new covenant through His sacrifice, addressing the ultimate consequence of sin.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Psalmist
The author of Psalm 119, traditionally believed to be King David, who expresses a deep longing for God's intervention and justice.

2. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant-keeping God of Israel, who is called upon to act in response to the violation of His law.

3. The Law (Torah)
Refers to God's instructions and commandments given to His people, which have been broken by those who oppose His will.
Teaching Points
The Urgency of Divine Intervention
Recognize the times when it is necessary to call upon God to act, especially when His laws are being flagrantly violated.

The Importance of God's Law
Understand that God's law is not just a set of rules but a reflection of His character and will for humanity.

The Role of the Believer in a Lawless Society
As believers, we are called to uphold God's standards and be a light in a world that often disregards His commandments.

Trust in God's Timing
While we may desire immediate action, trust that God knows the perfect time to intervene and bring justice.

Intercession for the World
Like the Psalmist, we should intercede for our world, asking God to act and bring people back to His truth.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Psalm 119:126?

2. How can we discern when it is "time for the LORD to act"?

3. What actions violate God's law, as mentioned in Psalm 119:126?

4. How does Psalm 119:126 connect with God's justice in Romans 12:19?

5. How should believers respond when God's laws are disregarded by society?

6. What personal actions can you take when witnessing others "have broken Your law"?

7. What does Psalm 119:126 mean when it says, "It is time for the LORD to act"?

8. How does Psalm 119:126 challenge our understanding of divine timing and human impatience?

9. In what ways does Psalm 119:126 address the issue of human disobedience to God's law?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Psalm 119?

11. How does anthropology show moral evolution rather than fixed divine laws?

12. Is situational ethics supported by the Bible?

13. Why is memorizing Scripture important?

14. Is His Word prioritized over His Name?
What Does Psalm 119:126 Mean
It is time

The psalmist senses an urgent moment, not a casual wish.

• Scripture often marks pivotal moments when decisive action is needed (Ecclesiastes 3:1; Romans 13:11–12).

• Recognizing “the time” springs from discernment shaped by God’s Word (Psalm 119:105).

• The believer refuses complacency; spiritual lethargy cannot coexist with obedience (Ephesians 5:14–16).


for the LORD to act

The plea shifts immediately from human effort to divine intervention.

• The battle belongs to the LORD (1 Samuel 17:47; 2 Chronicles 20:15).

• When evil seems rampant, Scripture models crying out for God’s direct response (Isaiah 64:1; Habakkuk 1:2–5).

• Confidence rests in God’s covenant character: He hears, sees, and moves at the right moment (Exodus 3:7–8; Psalm 34:15–17).

• Waiting does not mean inaction; it means trusting the One whose timing is perfect (Psalm 37:7; Galatians 4:4).


for they have broken Your law

The reason for the cry is clear: willful rebellion against God’s revealed standard.

• Breaking the law is not a minor misstep but open defiance (1 John 3:4).

• The psalmist’s zeal reflects God’s own heart for righteousness (Psalm 119:53; 119:136).

• Throughout history, widespread disobedience precedes divine judgment and deliverance (Judges 2:11–19; 2 Kings 17:13–18).

• Awareness of sin deepens the believer’s longing for God’s corrective and restorative action (Hosea 4:1–3; Romans 1:18–25).


summary

Psalm 119:126 captures a faithful heart that discerns a crucial moment, appeals to God’s sovereign intervention, and names rampant law-breaking as the urgent cause. It teaches believers to be alert to the times, confident in the Lord’s power, and zealous for His law, trusting that He will act decisively to vindicate His truth and uphold righteousness.

(126) They have made void thy law.--Some treat the verse as parenthetical, but is it not that the irreligion of the wicked makes the Law even more dear to the psalmist? What they reject is to him priceless,

"Faithful found;

Among the faithless, faithful only he."

Verse 126. - It is time for thee, Lord, to work; or, "to act;" i.e. to lay aside quiescence, and come forward as the active Ruler of the universe. For they have made void thy Law. The wicked have cast thy Law behind their back, and, so far as lay in their power, "made it void" - repealed it, cancelled it.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
It is time
עֵ֭ת (‘êṯ)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 6256: Time, now, when

for the LORD
לַיהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH

to act,
לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת (la·‘ă·śō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6213: To do, make

[for] they have broken
הֵ֝פֵ֗רוּ (hê·p̄ê·rū)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 6565: To break up, to violate, frustrate

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


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OT Poetry: Psalm 119:126 It is time to act Yahweh (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 119:125
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