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Psalms 119:1

KJV

Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

Read it in context Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet
Start reading at Psalms 119:1 (Psalms 119:1 to Psalms 119:8). An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.

This opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. The final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.

  1. 119:1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
  2. 119:2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
  3. 119:3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.
  4. 119:4 Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.
  5. 119:5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
  6. 119:6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
  7. 119:7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.
  8. 119:8 I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.

Who

What

When

Where

How

Cited: Psalms 119:1, Psalms 119:8, Luke 24:44, Acts 2:25, Acts 2:30, Acts 2:31

Who wrote it, and how we know

David and others, including Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, and Moses Named in Scripture
What Scripture saysThe superscriptions name their writers: David most often, and also Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, and Moses. The New Testament quotes psalms as David's words. Psalm 3:1Psalm 90:1Acts 2:25Acts 4:25
Early traditionJewish and Christian tradition preserves the superscriptions as ancient.
What is debatedSome scholars regard certain superscriptions as later additions. The collection was assembled over centuries.

Related passages

Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).

Macro-Structure

See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.

Macro-Structure of Psalms 119

Psalms is a collection of prayers and songs with multiple attributed writers and many unspecified occasions. Read each psalm as a poetic unit and distinguish a speaker's lament, petition, vow, and praise. The five-book arrangement does not make all psalms one continuous speech. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement. A quoted heading uses the opening KJV words of that stanza; the speaker and the psalm as a whole still govern its meaning.

Psalms 1:1 Psalms 41:13 Psalms 150:6

Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet
Psalms 119:1–8 You are here · 119:1

FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise

Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. The final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
interpretation
“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by…”
Psalms 119:9–16

FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise

Connection to the wholeThe final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
interpretation
“Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live,…”
Psalms 119:17–24

FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise

Connection to the wholeThe final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
interpretation
“My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me…”
Psalms 119:25–32

FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise

Connection to the wholeThe final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
interpretation
“Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes;…”
Psalms 119:33–40

FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise

Connection to the wholeThe final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
interpretation
“Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD,…”
Psalms 119:41–48

FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise

Connection to the wholeThe final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
interpretation
“Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou…”
Psalms 119:49–56

FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise

Connection to the wholeThe final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
interpretation
“Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said…”
Psalms 119:57–64

FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise

Connection to the wholeThe final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
interpretation
“Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD,…”
Psalms 119:65–72

FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise

Connection to the wholeThe final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
interpretation
“Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give…”
Psalms 119:73–80

FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise

Connection to the wholeThe final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
interpretation
“My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope…”
Psalms 119:81–88

FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise

Connection to the wholeThe final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
interpretation
“For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in…”
Psalms 119:89–96

FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise

Connection to the wholeThe final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
interpretation
“O how love I thy law! it is my…”
Psalms 119:97–104

FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise

Connection to the wholeThe final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
interpretation
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and…”
Psalms 119:105–112

FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise

Connection to the wholeThe final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
interpretation
“I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I…”
Psalms 119:113–120

FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise

Connection to the wholeThe final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
interpretation
“I have done judgment and justice: leave me not…”
Psalms 119:121–128

FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise

Connection to the wholeThe final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
interpretation
“Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep…”
Psalms 119:129–136

FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise

Connection to the wholeThe final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
interpretation
“Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy…”
Psalms 119:137–144

FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise

Connection to the wholeThe final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
interpretation
“I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O…”
Psalms 119:145–152

FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise

Connection to the wholeThe final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
interpretation
“Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do…”
Psalms 119:153–160

FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise

Connection to the wholeThe final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
interpretation
“Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my…”
Psalms 119:161–168

FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise

Connection to the wholeThe final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
interpretation
“Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD:…”
Psalms 119:169–176

FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise

Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. The final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
interpretation

Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.

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