let no sin rule over me.
This part of the verse highlights the struggle against sin and the desire for spiritual purity. The psalmist seeks protection from the dominion of sin, recognizing its power to enslave and corrupt. This echoes the New Testament teaching in Romans 6:14, where believers are assured that sin shall not have dominion over them because they are under grace. The phrase implies a battle between the flesh and the spirit, a common theme throughout scripture. It also reflects the cultural understanding of sin as a force that can dominate one's life, leading to separation from God. The plea for liberation from sin's rule is a call for sanctification, a process of becoming more like Christ, who is the ultimate example of a life free from sin's control.

The plea begins with a longing for God to direct every movement. It is personal—“my steps”—and it seeks precision, not a vague nudge. Scripture often shows that when God orders a life, He does so deliberately:

• Psalm 37:23 reminds us, “The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way.”

• Proverbs 3:5-6 echoes the same dependence: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart… and He will make your paths straight.”

• Jeremiah 10:23 confesses, “I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not his own; it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.”

The psalmist is surrendering the right to self-direction, asking God to plot each course correction, each forward move, every pause.

The compass for those ordered steps is clearly identified: God’s written revelation. Rather than impressions or cultural trends, the standard is Scripture itself.

• Psalm 119:105 assures, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path,” painting the Word as both illumination and boundary.

• 2 Timothy 3:16-17 declares that “All Scripture is God-breathed… so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work,” underscoring sufficiency.

• Joshua 1:8 shows the practical method: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night… then you will make your way prosperous and successful.”

To ask God to order steps “in Your word” is to commit to reading it, meditating on it, and obeying it, allowing its truths to set every agenda item.

The second petition recognizes a rival power: sin. The psalmist knows that if sin gains dominion, ordered steps are impossible. He does not ask for sin to be managed; he asks for its reign to be broken.

• Romans 6:12-14 commands, “Do not let sin reign in your mortal body… For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law but under grace.”

• Psalm 19:13 cries, “Keep Your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me.”

• Galatians 5:16 offers the Spirit-enabled alternative: “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

The verse teaches that avoidance of sin’s mastery is inseparable from a life saturated with, and steered by, God’s Word. When Scripture orders the steps, sin is dethroned.

Psalm 119:133 is a two-fold request: that God Himself set every footfall according to His Word, and that no competing authority—especially sin—be allowed to take charge. A life directed by Scripture and guarded against sin’s rule is a life that reflects the character and purposes of the Lord.