


Psalms 119:143
Bible Versions
¶ Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: [yet] thy commandments [are] my delights.
Trouble and distress have overtaken me, but your mitzvot are my delight.
Trouble and distress have found me, but Your commandments are my delight.
Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me; Yet thy commandments are my delight.
Study Tools
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Job 23:12
Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary [food]. -
Psalms 119:107
¶ I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word. -
Psalms 119:47
And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved. -
Psalms 18:4
The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. -
Psalms 18:5
The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. -
Psalms 119:16
I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. -
Psalms 119:77
Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law [is] my delight.
Psalms 119:143 (KJV): "Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: [yet] thy commandments [are] my delights."
Context
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, an elaborate acrostic poem dedicated entirely to the excellence and necessity of God's law, statutes, precepts, testimonies, and commandments. Each section (of which there are 22, corresponding to the letters of the Hebrew alphabet) consists of eight verses, all beginning with the same Hebrew letter. This particular verse, Psalm 119:143, falls within the 'Tsade' (צ) section. Throughout the psalm, the author, often presumed to be King David, expresses profound devotion to God's Word, frequently lamenting his personal struggles and the opposition he faces, yet consistently affirming the comfort and guidance he finds in divine instruction. This verse perfectly encapsulates the psalmist's experience: deep personal suffering contrasted with unwavering joy in God's perfect law.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
Practical Application
Psalms 119:143 offers a timeless model for navigating personal suffering. When life's difficulties "take hold," our natural inclination might be to despair or seek worldly escape. However, the psalmist points us to a higher path: finding refuge and joy in God's commandments. This verse encourages believers to: