Psalm 119:136
New International Version
Streams of tears flow from my eyes, for your law is not obeyed.

New Living Translation
Rivers of tears gush from my eyes because people disobey your instructions. Tsadhe

English Standard Version
My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law.

Berean Standard Bible
My eyes shed streams of tears because Your law is not obeyed.

King James Bible
Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.

New King James Version
Rivers of water run down from my eyes, Because men do not keep Your law.

New American Standard Bible
My eyes shed streams of water, Because they do not keep Your Law.

NASB 1995
My eyes shed streams of water, Because they do not keep Your law. Tsadhe.

NASB 1977
My eyes shed streams of water, Because they do not keep Thy law.

Legacy Standard Bible
My eyes shed streams of water, Because they do not keep Your law.

Amplified Bible
My eyes weep streams of water Because people do not keep Your law.

Christian Standard Bible
My eyes pour out streams of tears because people do not follow your instruction.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
My eyes pour out streams of tears because people do not follow Your instruction.

American Standard Version
Streams of water run down mine eyes, Because they observe not thy law.

Contemporary English Version
When anyone disobeys you, my eyes overflow with tears.

English Revised Version
Mine eyes run down with rivers of water, because they observe not thy law.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Streams of tears flow from my eyes because others do not follow your teachings.

Good News Translation
My tears pour down like a river, because people do not obey your law.

International Standard Version
My eyes shed rivers of tears, when others do not obey your instruction.

Majority Standard Bible
My eyes shed streams of tears because Your law is not obeyed.

NET Bible
Tears stream down from my eyes, because people do not keep your law.

New Heart English Bible
Streams of tears run down my eyes, because they do not observe your Law.

Webster's Bible Translation
Rivers of waters run down my eyes, because they keep not thy law.

World English Bible
Streams of tears run down my eyes, because they don’t observe your law.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Streams of waters have come down my eyes, "" Because they have not kept Your law!

Young's Literal Translation
Rivulets of waters have come down mine eyes, Because they have not kept Thy law!

Smith's Literal Translation
Mine eyes will bring down streams of waters because they will not watch thy laws.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
My eyes have sent forth springs of water: because they have not kept thy law.

Catholic Public Domain Version
My eyes have gushed like springs of water, because they have not kept your law.

New American Bible
My eyes shed streams of tears because your law is not observed.

New Revised Standard Version
My eyes shed streams of tears because your law is not kept.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Streams of water ran from my eyes because they do not keep your Law.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Mine eyes run down with rivers of water, Because they observe not Thy law.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Mine eyes have been bathed in streams of water, because I kept not thy law.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Your Word is a Lamp to My Feet
135Make Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes. 136My eyes shed streams of tears because Your law is not obeyed. 137Righteous are You, O LORD, and upright are Your judgments.…

Cross References
Jeremiah 9:1
Oh, that my head were a spring of water, and my eyes a fountain of tears! I would weep day and night over the slain daughter of my people.

Ezekiel 9:4
“Go throughout the city of Jerusalem,” said the LORD, “and put a mark on the foreheads of the men sighing and groaning over all the abominations committed there.”

Lamentations 3:48-49
Streams of tears flow from my eyes over the destruction of the daughter of my people. / My eyes overflow unceasingly, without relief,

Romans 9:2-3
I have deep sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. / For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my own flesh and blood,

Luke 19:41-44
As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it / and said, “If only you had known on this day what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes. / For the days will come upon you when your enemies will barricade you and surround you and hem you in on every side. ...

Matthew 23:37
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!

Jeremiah 13:17
But if you do not listen, I will weep in secret because of your pride. My eyes will overflow with tears, because the LORD’s flock has been taken captive.

2 Peter 2:7-8
and if He rescued Lot, a righteous man distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless / (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—

Philippians 3:18
For as I have often told you before, and now say again even with tears: Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.

Isaiah 22:4
Therefore I said, “Turn away from me, let me weep bitterly! Do not try to console me over the destruction of the daughter of my people.”

Acts 20:31
Therefore be alert and remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

Jeremiah 14:17
You are to speak this word to them: ‘My eyes overflow with tears; day and night they do not cease, for the virgin daughter of my people has been shattered by a crushing blow, a severely grievous wound.

2 Corinthians 2:4
For through many tears I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart, not to grieve you but to let you know how much I love you.

Joel 2:17
Let the priests who minister before the LORD weep between the portico and the altar, saying, “Spare Your people, O LORD, and do not make Your heritage a reproach, an object of scorn among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”

Amos 6:6
You drink wine by the bowlful and anoint yourselves with the finest oils, but you fail to grieve over the ruin of Joseph.


Treasury of Scripture

Rivers of waters run down my eyes, because they keep not your law.

Psalm 119:53,158
Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law…

1 Samuel 15:11
It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.

Jeremiah 9:1,18
Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! …

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Psalm 119
1. This psalm contains various prayers, praises, and professions of obedience.
2. Aleph.
9. Beth
17. Gimel
25. Daleth
33. He
41. Waw
49. Zayin
57. Heth
65. Teth
73. Yodh
81. Kaph
89. Lamedh
97. Mem
105. Nun
113. Samekh
121. Ayin
129. Pe
137. Tsadhe
145. Qoph
153. Resh
161. Sin and Shin
169. Taw














My eyes shed streams of tears
The phrase "My eyes shed streams of tears" conveys a profound emotional response. The Hebrew word for "eyes" is "עֵינַי" (eynay), which often symbolizes perception and understanding. The shedding of "streams of tears" suggests an overwhelming sorrow, akin to a river that cannot be contained. This imagery reflects the psalmist's deep grief and compassion, not just for personal sin, but for the collective disobedience of God's people. Historically, tears have been a sign of lamentation and repentance in Jewish culture, indicating a heart that is tender and responsive to the spiritual state of the community.

because Your law
The term "Your law" refers to "תּוֹרָתֶךָ" (toratecha), which is derived from "Torah," meaning instruction or teaching. In the context of the Old Testament, the Torah encompasses the first five books of the Bible, which contain God's commandments and guidelines for righteous living. The psalmist's reference to "Your law" underscores the divine origin and authority of these teachings. From a historical perspective, the Torah was central to Jewish life and worship, serving as the foundation for moral and ethical conduct. The psalmist's reverence for God's law highlights its role as a source of life and wisdom.

is not obeyed
The phrase "is not obeyed" translates from the Hebrew "לֹא נִשְׁמָרָה" (lo nishmarah), meaning not kept or guarded. This indicates a failure to adhere to God's commandments, which is a recurring theme in the history of Israel. The psalmist's lamentation over the disobedience of God's law reflects a deep understanding of the consequences of such actions. In the biblical narrative, disobedience often led to spiritual and physical exile, as seen in the Babylonian captivity. The psalmist's sorrow is not just for the act of disobedience itself, but for the separation it causes between God and His people. This serves as a reminder of the importance of faithfulness and the blessings that come from living in accordance with God's will.

Verse 136. - Rivers of water s run down mine eyes; literally, mine eyes run down [with] rivers of water (comp. Lamentations 3:48; and see also Jeremiah 9:1; Jeremiah 14:17). Because they keep not thy Law (comp. ver. 53).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
My eyes
עֵינָ֑י (‘ê·nāy)
Noun - cdc | first person common singular
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

shed
יָרְד֣וּ (yā·rə·ḏū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 3381: To come or go down, descend

streams
פַּלְגֵי־ (pal·ḡê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 6388: A channel, canal

of tears
מַ֭יִם (ma·yim)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

because
עַ֝֗ל (‘al)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

Your law
תוֹרָתֶֽךָ׃ (ṯō·w·rā·ṯe·ḵā)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 8451: Direction, instruction, law

is not
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

obeyed.
שָׁמְר֥וּ (šā·mə·rū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to


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OT Poetry: Psalm 119:136 Streams of tears run down my eyes (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 119:135
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