Psalm 119:37
New International Version
Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.

New Living Translation
Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.

English Standard Version
Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.

Berean Standard Bible
Turn my eyes away from worthless things; revive me with Your word.

King James Bible
Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.

New King James Version
Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, And revive me in Your way.

New American Standard Bible
Turn my eyes away from looking at what is worthless, And revive me in Your ways.

NASB 1995
Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, And revive me in Your ways.

NASB 1977
Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, And revive me in Thy ways.

Legacy Standard Bible
Cause my eyes to turn away from looking at worthlessness, And revive me in Your ways.

Amplified Bible
Turn my eyes away from vanity [all those worldly, meaningless things that distract—let Your priorities be mine], And restore me [with renewed energy] in Your ways.

Christian Standard Bible
Turn my eyes from looking at what is worthless; give me life in your ways.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Turn my eyes from looking at what is worthless; give me life in Your ways.

American Standard Version
Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, And quicken me in thy ways.

Contemporary English Version
Take away my foolish desires, and let me find life by walking with you.

English Revised Version
Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, and quicken me in thy ways.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Turn my eyes away from worthless things. Give me a new life in your ways.

Good News Translation
Keep me from paying attention to what is worthless; be good to me, as you have promised.

International Standard Version
Turn my eyes away from gazing at worthless things, and revive me by your ways.

Majority Standard Bible
Turn my eyes away from worthless things; revive me with Your word.

NET Bible
Turn my eyes away from what is worthless! Revive me with your word!

New Heart English Bible
Turn my eyes away from looking at worthless things. Revive me in your ways.

Webster's Bible Translation
Turn away my eyes from beholding vanity; and revive thou me in thy way.

World English Bible
Turn my eyes away from looking at worthless things. Revive me in your ways.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Remove my eyes from seeing vanity, "" Quicken me in Your way.

Young's Literal Translation
Remove mine eyes from seeing vanity, In Thy way quicken Thou me.

Smith's Literal Translation
Cause mine eyes to pass from seeing vanity; make me live in thy way.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Turn away my eyes that they may not behold vanity: quicken me in thy way.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Turn my eyes away, lest they see what is vain. Revive me in your way.

New American Bible
Avert my eyes from what is worthless; by your way give me life.

New Revised Standard Version
Turn my eyes from looking at vanities; give me life in your ways.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Turn away mine eyes that they may not behold falsehood; and quicken thou me in thy way.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Turn away my eyes that they will not see falsehood and give me life in your way.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, And quicken me in Thy ways.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Turn away mine eyes that I may not behold vanity: quicken thou me in thy way.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Your Word is a Lamp to My Feet
36Turn my heart to Your testimonies and not to covetous gain. 37Turn my eyes away from worthless things; revive me with Your word. 38Establish Your word to Your servant, to produce reverence for You.…

Cross References
Matthew 6:22-23
The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. / But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

Proverbs 4:25-27
Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead. / Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure. / Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.

2 Corinthians 4:18
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Colossians 3:2
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Hebrews 12:2
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. / For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. / The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.

James 1:14-15
But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. / Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

1 Peter 2:11
Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.

Isaiah 33:15
He who walks righteously and speaks with sincerity, who refuses gain from extortion, whose hand never takes a bribe, who stops his ears against murderous plots and shuts his eyes tightly against evil—

Job 31:1
“I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I gaze with desire at a virgin?

Proverbs 23:5
When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.

Ecclesiastes 11:9-10
Rejoice, O young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment. / So banish sorrow from your heart, and cast off pain from your body, for youth and vigor are fleeting.

2 Timothy 2:22
Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.


Treasury of Scripture

Turn away my eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken you me in your way.

turn.

Numbers 15:39
And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:

Joshua 7:21
When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.

2 Samuel 11:2
And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.

quicken

Psalm 119:25,40
DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word…

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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














Turn my eyes
The phrase "Turn my eyes" is a plea for divine intervention in the psalmist's focus and attention. The Hebrew word for "turn" is "עָבַר" (abar), which implies a crossing over or a transition. This suggests a deliberate and conscious shift in perspective, indicating that the psalmist recognizes the need for God's help to redirect his gaze. In a spiritual sense, this reflects the Christian understanding of repentance and the turning away from sin towards God. Historically, the eyes are often seen as the windows to the soul, and in biblical times, what one looked upon was believed to influence one's heart and actions. Thus, the psalmist's request is deeply rooted in the desire for purity and holiness.

away from worthless things
The term "worthless things" translates from the Hebrew "שָׁוְא" (shav), which means vanity, emptiness, or falsehood. This reflects the biblical theme of distinguishing between what is of eternal value and what is fleeting or deceptive. In the ancient Near Eastern context, idolatry and materialism were prevalent, and the psalmist's plea is a rejection of these distractions. For the conservative Christian, this is a call to focus on the eternal truths of God's Word rather than the temporary allurements of the world. It is a reminder of Jesus' teaching in the New Testament about storing up treasures in heaven rather than on earth.

give me life
The phrase "give me life" is a request for spiritual vitality and renewal. The Hebrew word "חָיָה" (chayah) means to live, to revive, or to restore. This is not merely a request for physical life but for a life that is abundant and full in the spiritual sense. In the biblical narrative, life is often associated with God's presence and blessing. The psalmist's plea is for a life that is aligned with God's will and purpose, echoing the Christian belief in the transformative power of God's grace.

in Your ways
"In Your ways" refers to the paths or directions ordained by God. The Hebrew word "דֶּרֶךְ" (derek) signifies a road, journey, or manner of life. This phrase underscores the importance of walking in accordance with God's commandments and teachings. In the historical context of the psalm, the "ways" of God were revealed through the Law given to Moses, which provided guidance for righteous living. For the conservative Christian, this is a call to live according to the teachings of Scripture, following the example of Christ, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. It is an invitation to a life of obedience and faithfulness, trusting in God's direction and provision.

(37) From beholding vanity.--Perhaps from looking on idols.

Verse 37. - Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity. Let me not be distracted from thy service by the "vanities" of the world - wealth, honor, power, glory, and the like; rather, quicken thou me in thy way. Give me increased life, strength, and vigor, to walk continually in the way of thy commandments.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Turn
הַעֲבֵ֣ר (ha·‘ă·ḇêr)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

my eyes
עֵ֭ינַי (‘ê·nay)
Noun - cdc | first person common singular
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

[away]
מֵרְא֣וֹת (mê·rə·’ō·wṯ)
Preposition-m | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7200: To see

from worthless things;
שָׁ֑וְא (šāw)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7723: Evil, idolatry, uselessness

revive me
חַיֵּֽנִי׃ (ḥay·yê·nî)
Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 2421: To live, to revive

with Your word.
בִּדְרָכֶ֥ךָ (biḏ·rā·ḵe·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action


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OT Poetry: Psalm 119:37 Turn my eyes away from looking at (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 119:36
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