Psa 119:9-16 | NET2full | STEP | How can a young person maintain a pure life ? By guarding it according to your instructions .

Psalms 119:9-16

ב (Bet)

9 How can a young person ^{▼▼tn Heb “young man.” Hebrew wisdom literature often assumes and reflects the male-oriented perspective of ancient Israelite society. The principle of the psalm is certainly applicable to all people, regardless of their gender or age. To facilitate modern application, the gender specific “young man” has been translated with the more neutral “young person.”} maintain a pure life? ^{▼▼tn Heb “purify his path.”}
By guarding it according to your instructions. ^{▼▼tn Heb “by keeping according to your word.” Many medieval Hebrew mss as well as the LXX read the plural, “your words.”}
10 With all my heart I seek you.
Do not allow me to stray from your commands.
11 In my heart I store up ^{▼▼tn Or “hide.”} your words, ^{▼▼tn Heb “your word.” Some medieval Hebrew mss as well as the LXX read the plural, “your words.”}
so I might not sin against you.
12 You deserve praise, ^{▼▼tn Heb “[are] blessed.”} O Lord.
Teach me your statutes.
13 With my lips I proclaim
all the regulations you have revealed. ^{▼▼tn Heb “of your mouth.”}
14 I rejoice in the lifestyle prescribed by your rules ^{▼▼tn Heb “in the way of your rules.”}
as if ^{▼▼tn Heb “as upon,” meaning “as if” (see 2 Chr 32:19).} they were riches of all kinds. ^{▼▼tn Heb “all wealth.” The phrase refers to all kinds of wealth and riches. See Prov 1:13; 6:31; 24:4; Ezek 27:12, 18.}
15 I will meditate on ^{▼▼tn The cohortative verbal forms in this verse express the psalmist’s resolve.} your precepts
and focus on ^{▼▼tn Heb “gaze [at].”} your behavior. ^{▼▼tn Heb “ways” (referring figuratively to God’s behavior here).}
16 I find delight ^{▼▼tn The imperfects in this verse emphasize the attitude the psalmist maintains toward God’s law. Another option is to translate with the future tense, “I will find delight…I will not forget.”} in your statutes;
I do not forget your instructions. ^{▼▼tn Heb “your word.” Many medieval Hebrew mss as well as the LXX read the plural here.}