Psalms 119 · The Lantern

Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet

Happy are those blameless in the way, who walk in the instruction of the LORD.

And as he is Firstborn among brothers and rose from the dead "the firstfruits of them that slept"; so, since it became him "in all things to have the preeminence," therefore he is created "a beginning of ways," that we, walking along it and entering through him who says, "I am the Way" and "the Door" and partaking of the knowledge of the Father, may also hear the words, "Blesse…

And again, in another place, he [David] ascribeth blessedness to the man who feareth God, and he maketh known what good things the fear of God worketh in him that feareth [Him], saying, "Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord", and here the fearer of God is accounted blessed.

Wherefore the Psalm reads: Happy are they whose way is blameless. And: Instruct me, O Lord, in the way of Your statutes, etc. In every verse there is a reference to commands, indicated as law, or witnessing, or declarations, or some other equivalent name.

Happy are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with all the heart,

who also do no injustice; they have walked in his ways.

You yourself have commanded your precepts, to be kept diligently.

Oh that my ways were established to keep your statutes!

Then I would not be ashamed, when I look to all your commandments.

I will give you thanks with uprightness of heart, when I learn the judgments of your righteousness.

Your statutes I will keep; do not forsake me utterly.

By what shall a young man keep his path pure? By guarding it according to your word.

To sum up, David in the Psalms speaks about obedience: "How shall a young person keep his path straight?" The answer comes immediately: "By keeping your Word with his whole heart." Jeremiah says, "These are the Lord's words: do not follow the paths of the Gentiles."

Let us listen, then, to the master of precaution: "I said, I will pay attention to my ways"; that is, "I said to myself: in the silent biddings of my thoughts, I have enjoined on myself, that I should pay attention to my ways." Some ways there are that we ought to follow; others as to which we ought to pay attention.

"Wherewithal shall a young man correct his way? even by keeping Thy words" (ver. 9). He questioneth himself, and answereth himself.

With all my heart I have sought you; do not let me stray from your commandments.

In my heart I have hidden your saying, so that I may not sin against you.

Blessed are you, LORD; teach me your statutes.

With my lips I have recounted all the judgments of your mouth.

In the way of your testimonies I have rejoiced, as over all wealth.

On your precepts I will muse, and I will look to your paths.

In your statutes I will delight; I will not forget your word.

Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word.

Uncover my eyes, that I may look at wonders from your instruction.

Let us therefore, we too, if it is thus necessary, fall into your detractions, provided only that the Church, now turned to Christ the Lord, may know the truth of the Word of God covered under the covering of the letter; for so the Apostle also said, that: "if anyone shall be turned to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away; for where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty…

Hear me, therefore, my fellow servant, my friend, my brother; give ear for a moment that I may tell you how you are to walk in the holy Scriptures. All that we read in the divine books, while glistening and shining without, is yet far sweeter within.

In these twelve mysteries is the whole of Scripture. In each of these there are twelve lights of scriptural interpretation, that is, the allegorical, the anagogical, and the tropological. And twelve times twelve are one hundred and forty-four, and this corresponds to the number of those marked with the sign, and to that of the City.

I am a sojourner in the land; do not hide your commandments from me.

My soul is crushed with longing for your judgments at every time.

You have rebuked the presumptuous, the cursed, who stray from your commandments.

Roll reproach and contempt from upon me, for I have kept your testimonies.

Even princes have sat and spoken against me; your servant muses on your statutes.

Your testimonies also are my delight, the men of my counsel.

My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word.

"My soul cleaveth to the pavement: O quicken Thou me according to Thy word" (ver. 25). What meaneth, "My soul cleaveth to the pavement, O quicken Thou me according to Thy word"? ...If we look upon the whole world as one great house, we see that the heavens represent its vaulting, the earth therefore will be its pavement.

Now the very faithful emperor came boldly within the holy temple but did not pray to his Lord standing, or even on his knees, but lying prone upon the ground he uttered David's cry, "My soul cleaves to the dust; you give me life according to your word."

The sacraments of Scripture, which externally seem arid, are yet alive within. No other Scripture besides this one is able to give life. Hence, in the Psalm: "For the sake of Your promise, give me life."

I have recounted my ways and you answered me; teach me your statutes.

Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will muse on your wonders.

My soul drips away from grief; raise me up according to your word.

I bid you, therefore, be considerate enough to regard in a natural sense our plausible discourse and to weigh our statements in simplicity of mind and with attentive intellect. Do not follow the traditions of philosophy or those who gather the semblance of truth in the "vain deceit" of the arts of persuasion.

Whence the Psalmist, struggling and wearied with the difficulty of obeying them, says, "My soul has slumbered for very heaviness: O establish Thou me with Your word!" [Psalm 119:28]. What means, has slumbered? save that he has cooled in the hope which he had entertained of being able to reach them.

"And you," it says, "may dwell securely in your land." The wicked person is never secure but is always disturbed and wavering. He is tossed about by every wind of doctrine to deceitful error, by the craftiness of people. However, the just person who observes God's law dwells in security on his land, because he governs his body in fear of God and brings it into subjection.

Remove from me the way of falsehood, and be gracious to me with your instruction.

The way of faithfulness I have chosen; your judgments I have set before me.

I have clung to your testimonies; LORD, do not put me to shame.

The way of your commandments I will run, for you will enlarge my heart.

Teach me, LORD, the way of your statutes, and I will keep it to the end.

Make me understand, and I will keep your instruction and observe it with all my heart.

Lead me in the path of your commandments, for in it I have delighted.

Stretch my heart toward your testimonies, and not toward unjust gain.

Turn my eyes from looking at emptiness; give me life in your ways.

Next you say, "and all his pomp." The pomp of the devil is the craze for the theater, the horse races in the circus, the wildbeast hunts and all such emptiness, from which the saint prays to God to be delivered in the words, "Turn away my eyes that they may not behold worthless things." Avoid an addiction to the theater, with its portrayal of sinful conduct, the lewd and unseem…

The next words in the Psalm which we have undertaken to expound are, "O turn away my eyes, lest they behold vanity: and quicken Thou me in Your way" [Psalm 119:37]. Vanity and truth are directly contrary to one another. The desires of this world are vanity: but Christ, who frees us from the world, is truth.

Again, civil war is the temptation of the world. Indeed, every creature is a trap. Hence the saying: Vanity of vanities! All things are vanity! What profit has man from all the labor which he toils at under the sun? Vain and worthless is anything of which nothing remains to man after death: wherefore all things are vanity.

Confirm to your servant your saying, which is for the fear of you.

Turn away my reproach, which I dread, for your judgments are good.

See, I have longed for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life.

And let your acts of loyal love come to me, LORD, your salvation according to your saying.

And I will answer a word to the one who reproaches me, for I have trusted in your word.

And do not snatch the word of truth utterly from my mouth, for I have waited for your judgment.

And I will keep your instruction continually, forever and ever.

And I will walk about in a broad place, for I have sought your precepts.

And I will speak of your testimonies before kings and will not be ashamed.

And I will delight in your commandments, which I have loved.

And I will lift up my palms to your commandments, which I have loved, and I will muse on your statutes.

Remember the word to your servant, on which you have made me wait.

This is my comfort in my affliction, that your saying has given me life.

The presumptuous have utterly mocked me; from your instruction I have not turned aside.

I have remembered your judgments from of old, LORD, and I have comforted myself.

Burning rage has seized me because of the wicked who forsake your instruction.

Your statutes have been songs to me in the house of my sojournings.

I have remembered your name in the night, LORD, and I have kept your instruction.

This has been mine, that I have kept your precepts.

The LORD is my portion; I have said that I would keep your words.

I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your saying.

I have considered my ways, and I have turned my feet to your testimonies.

I hurried and did not delay to keep your commandments.

The cords of the wicked have surrounded me; your instruction I have not forgotten.

At midnight I rise to give you thanks for the judgments of your righteousness.

In petition one asks for mercy for one's sins, in thanksgiving you give thanks to your Father who is in heaven, while in praise you praise him for his works. At a time when you are in trouble, offer up petition, and when you are well supplied with good things, you should give thanks to the Giver, and when your mind rejoices, offer up praise.

"At midnight," he says, "I rise to give thanks unto You: because of Your righteous judgments" [Psalm 119:62]. This very fact, that the bands of the ungodly surround the righteous, is one of the righteous judgments of God.

Prayer offered up at night possesses a great power, more so than the prayer of the daytime. Therefore all the righteous prayed during the night, while combating the heaviness of the body and the sweetness of sleep and repelling corporeal nature.

I am a companion of all who fear you, and of those who keep your precepts.

The earth is full of your loyal love, LORD; teach me your statutes.

You have done good with your servant, LORD, according to your word.

Teach me good discernment and knowledge, for I have believed in your commandments.

Before I was afflicted I was straying, but now I have kept your saying.

You are good and you do good; teach me your statutes.

The presumptuous have smeared me with falsehood; I with all my heart will keep your precepts.

Their heart is gross like fat; I have delighted in your instruction.

It is good for me that I was afflicted, so that I might learn your statutes.

The instruction of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver.

Your hands made me and established me; make me understand, and I will learn your commandments.

But though we were to allow some prerogative to the Protoplast as having been deemed worthy of the hand of God, still it must be one of honor, not of nature. For he came from the earth, as other people, and the hand that then fashioned Adam is also both now and ever fashioning and giving entire consistency [same human nature] to those who come after him.

Futile is the act of the father and mother, unless the Creator's work and will also touch the offspring. "Your hands have made me and formed me." And elsewhere it is written, "You have formed me and have laid your hand on me." Therefore, we do not owe our birth and life to ourselves, but we owe them entirely to our Creator.

On that verse of the Psalm, *Your hands have made me and formed me; give me understanding,* the Gloss says: "God alone gives understanding: for God through himself, who *is light,* illuminates devout minds."

Those who fear you will see me and be glad, for I have waited for your word.

I know, LORD, that your judgments are righteous, and in faithfulness you have afflicted me.

Let your loyal love be for my comfort, according to your saying to your servant.

Let your compassions come to me, that I may live, for your instruction is my delight.

Let the presumptuous be ashamed, for with falsehood they have twisted my case; I will muse on your precepts.

Let those who fear you turn to me, and those who know your testimonies.

Let my heart be blameless in your statutes, so that I may not be ashamed.

My soul has failed for your salvation; I have waited for your word.

My eyes have failed for your saying, saying, “When will you comfort me?”

For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke; your statutes I have not forgotten.

How many are the days of your servant? When will you do judgment on those who pursue me?

The presumptuous have dug pits for me, which is not according to your instruction.

All your commandments are faithfulness; with falsehood they have pursued me — help me!

They almost finished me on the earth, but I did not forsake your precepts.

According to your loyal love give me life, and I will keep the testimony of your mouth.

Forever, LORD, your word stands firm in the heavens.

To generation and generation is your faithfulness; you established the earth, and it stands.

But that the providence and ordering power of the Word also, over all and toward all, is attested by all inspired Scripture, this passage suffices to confirm our argument, where people who speak of God say, "You have laid the foundation of the earth, and it abides. The day continues according to your ordinance."

But the next verse, after heaven, pertaineth consequently to earth. For this is one verse of the eight which relate to this letter. For eight verses are appended to each of these Hebrew letters, until this long Psalm be ended. "Thy truth also remaineth from one generation to the other: Thou hast laid the foundation of the earth, and it abideth" (ver. 90).

Scriptures, explaining the mystery of the heavenly and sub-heavenly hierarchies, say: Your word, O Lord, endures forever; it is firm as the heavens; that is, the word of the Trinity. Through all generations your truth endures; You have established the earth and it stands firm. The Church, represented by the name "earth," was founded upon this Word.

By your judgments they stand this day, for all things are your servants.

If your instruction had not been my delight, then I would have perished in my affliction.

I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life.

I am yours; save me, for I have sought your precepts.

The wicked have waited for me to destroy me; I will consider your testimonies.

To every perfection I have seen an end, but your commandment is exceedingly broad.

How I have loved your instruction! All the day it is my musing.

Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for it is mine forever.

I have acted more wisely than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my musing.

I understand more than the elders, for I have kept your precepts.

From every evil path I have restrained my feet, so that I may keep your word.

From your judgments I have not turned aside, for you yourself have taught me.

How sweet is your saying to my palate — more than honey to my mouth!

The soul presses forward for a glimpse of hidden mysteries, to the very abode of the Word, to the very dwelling place of that highest Good, and his light and brightness. In that bosom and secret dwelling place of the Father the soul hastens to hear his words, and having heard them, it finds them sweeter than all things.

I say that in this mystical number the children of Israel came to Marah, where they were not able to draw water because of its bitterness—for the spring had water but no sweetness; it was delightful in appearance, but not sound for tasting—but when Moses threw in a piece of wood they drank the water made sweet in its smoothness, for the mystery of the cross took away the harshn…

Note that an animal that does not ruminate is impure. Now, rumination consists in this, that an animal has two stomachs. It brings food to its mouth, then ruminates it, then makes it pass into the second stomach. The Psalm reads: "How sweet to my palate are your promises, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" Do not love the harlot and dismiss your wife.

From your precepts I gain understanding; therefore I have hated every path of falsehood.

Your word is a lamp to my foot and a light to my path.

Yet I remember that some time ago, when we were expounding that verse of the hundred and eighteenth psalm in which it is written: "your law is a lamp to my feet, O Lord, and a light to my paths", we showed, according to our ability, the difference between the "lamp" and the "light".

"Your word is a lantern unto my feet, and a light unto my paths" [Psalm 119:105]. The word "lantern" appears in the word "light;" "my feet" are also repeated in "my paths." What then means "Your Word"? [John 1:1] Is it He who was in the beginning God with God, that is, the Word by whom all things were made? It is not thus. For that Word is a light, but is not a lantern.

If we notice carefully, we will realize that what our Lord said to the blessed apostles also refers to us: "You are the light of the world," he says, "and no one lights a lamp and puts it under a bushel but on the lampstand, so as to give light to all in the house." Now, if the head's bodily eyes refuse to show the way to the rest of the members, the whole body walks in darknes…

I have sworn, and I have confirmed it, to keep the judgments of your righteousness.

I have been utterly afflicted; LORD, give me life according to your word.

Be pleased with the freewill offerings of my mouth, LORD, and teach me your judgments.

My life is in my palm continually, but your instruction I have not forgotten.

The wicked have set a snare for me, but from your precepts I have not strayed.

I have inherited your testimonies forever, for they are the joy of my heart.

I have stretched my heart to do your statutes forever, to the end.

The divided of heart I have hated, but your instruction I have loved.

You are my hiding place and my shield; I have waited for your word.

Turn from me, evildoers, and I will keep the commandments of my God.

Uphold me according to your saying, that I may live, and do not shame me in my hope.

Sustain me and I will be saved, and I will gaze on your statutes continually.

You have rejected all who stray from your statutes, for their deceit is falsehood.

You have put an end to all the wicked of the earth like dross; therefore I have loved your testimonies.

My flesh bristles from dread of you, and I fear your judgments.

O the divine mystery of that cross, on which weakness hangs, might is free, vices are nailed and triumphal trophies raised. So that a certain saint said, "Pierce my flesh with nails for fear of you"; he says not with nails of iron but of fear and faith. For the bonds of virtue are stronger than those of punishment.

The grace of God, then, being known, which alone freeth from transgression, which is committed through knowledge of the law, he saith, in prayer, "Fix with nails my flesh in Thy fear" (ver. 120). For this some Latin interpreters have literally rendered the Greek καθήλωσον, which that language has expressed in one word.

The third origin of the fear of the Lord is from the consideration of the severity of divine vengeance, because the judgments of God are many. Whence the Psalm: "Pierce my flesh with your fear, for I have feared your judgments." For there are seven judgments of God: six are in the present life, and the seventh is at death, and that one shall be doubled.

I have done judgment and righteousness; do not leave me to those who oppress me.

Stand surety for your servant for good; do not let the presumptuous oppress me.

My eyes have failed for your salvation, and for the saying of your righteousness.

Deal with your servant according to your loyal love, and teach me your statutes.

I am your servant; make me understand, and I will know your testimonies.

There has to be a distinction between the law and grace. The law knows how to command; grace, how to help. The law would not command if there were no free will, nor would grace help if the will were sufficient.

The blessed David asks the Lord for that very understanding by which he can recognize God's commands, which he well knew were written in the book of the law, when he says "I am your servant: O give me understanding that I may learn your commandments." Certainly he was in possession of understanding, which had been granted to him by nature, and also had at his fingers' ends a kn…

"I am thy servant: give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies." Gratuitous knowledge teaches to know and the manner of knowing.

It is time for the LORD to act; they have broken your instruction.

Therefore I have loved your commandments more than gold, more than fine gold.

"Therefore," he says, "I love Your commandments above gold and topaz" [Psalm 119:127]. Grace has this object, that the commandments, which could not be fulfilled by fear, may be fulfilled by love...Therefore, they are above gold and topaz stones. For this is read in another Psalm also, "Above gold and exceeding precious stones." For topaz is a stone considered very precious.

The Prophet David shows for what reason we ought to speak of the commandments of God, and this he shows through a threefold reason. The first is that we may be inflamed to the love of the divine commandments; for nothing is so necessary as to love the law of God and his commandments. And on account of this he said: "Therefore I have loved thy commandments above gold and topaz."

Therefore all your precepts concerning all things I hold right; every path of falsehood I have hated.

Your testimonies are wonders; therefore my soul has kept them.

The opening of your words gives light, making the simple understand.

I have opened my mouth wide and panted, for I have longed for your commandments.

Turn to me and be gracious to me, according to the judgment for those who love your name.

Establish my steps in your saying, and do not let any iniquity rule over me.

Redeem me from the oppression of man, and I will keep your precepts.

Make your face shine on your servant, and teach me your statutes.

Streams of water have run down my eyes, because they have not kept your instruction.

You are righteous, LORD, and your judgments are upright.

You have commanded your testimonies in righteousness and in great faithfulness.

My zeal has destroyed me, for my foes have forgotten your words.

Your saying is very refined, and your servant has loved it.

I am small and despised; your precepts I have not forgotten.

Your righteousness is righteousness forever, and your instruction is truth.

Distress and straits have found me; your commandments are my delight.

For this is the divine promise: "The Lord shall fight for you." Henceforth, although afflictions and trials from without overtake them, yet, being fashioned after the apostolic words and "being steadfast in tribulations and persevering in prayers" and in meditation on the law, they stand against those things that befall them, are well-pleasing to God and give utterance to the w…

On account of this law the younger suffered persecution from the elder, so that the younger says what follows: "Trouble and hardship have taken hold upon me: yet is my meditation in Your commandments" [Psalm 119:143]. Let them rage, let them persecute; as long as the commandments of God be not abandoned, and, after those commandments, let even those who rage be loved.

The righteousness of your testimonies is forever; make me understand, and I will live.

I have called with all my heart; answer me, LORD; I will keep your statutes.

I have called to you; save me, and I will keep your testimonies.

I have risen early in the twilight and cried for help; I have waited for your word.

My eyes have anticipated the night watches, to muse on your saying.

Hear my voice according to your loyal love; LORD, according to your judgment give me life.

Those who pursue a scheme have drawn near; from your instruction they are far.

You are near, LORD, and all your commandments are truth.

Of old I have known from your testimonies that you founded them forever.

See my affliction and deliver me, for your instruction I have not forgotten.

Contend my case and redeem me; according to your saying give me life.

Salvation is far from the wicked, for they have not sought your statutes.

Your compassions are many, LORD; according to your judgments give me life.

Many are those who pursue me and my foes; from your testimonies I have not turned aside.

I have seen the treacherous and been grieved, because they have not kept your saying.

See that I have loved your precepts; LORD, according to your loyal love give me life.

The sum of your word is truth, and every judgment of your righteousness is forever.

Princes have pursued me without cause, but my heart has dreaded your word.

I rejoice over your saying, like one who finds great spoil.

Falsehood I have hated and abhorred; your instruction I have loved.

Seven times in the day I have praised you for the judgments of your righteousness.

Frequent prayer also commends us to God. For if the prophet says, "Seven times a day have I praised you," though he was busy with the affairs of a kingdom, what ought we to do, who read, "Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation"?

Bishop Epiphanius of Cyprus, of holy memory, was told this by the abbot of his monastery in Palestine. 'By your prayers we have kept our rule; we carefully observe the offices of terce, sext, none and vespers.' But Epiphanius rebuked him and said, 'Then you are failing to pray at other times. The true monk ought to pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17).

On account of which it should be noted that sacred Scripture sets before us a sevenfold septenary for consideration, namely of the capital vices, of the Sacraments, of the virtues, of the gifts, of the beatitudes, of the petitions, and of the glorious endowments, three spiritual and four corporal: the septenary of vices as the first, from which we ought to withdraw; the septena…

Great peace belongs to those who love your instruction, and there is no stumbling for them.

I have hoped for your salvation, LORD, and I have done your commandments.

My soul has kept your testimonies, and I have loved them greatly.

I have kept your precepts and your testimonies, for all my ways are before you.

Let my ringing cry come near before you, LORD; according to your word make me understand.

Let my plea for grace come before you; according to your saying rescue me.

Let my lips pour out praise, for you teach me your statutes.

Let my tongue answer your saying, for all your commandments are righteousness.

Let your hand be for my help, for I have chosen your precepts.

I have longed for your salvation, LORD, and your instruction is my delight.

Let my soul live, and it will praise you, and let your judgments help me.

I have strayed like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for your commandments I have not forgotten.

Psalms119

Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet