Psalm 119:61
New International Version
Though the wicked bind me with ropes, I will not forget your law.

New Living Translation
Evil people try to drag me into sin, but I am firmly anchored to your instructions.

English Standard Version
Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law.

Berean Standard Bible
Though the ropes of the wicked bind me, I do not forget Your law.

King James Bible
The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.

New King James Version
The cords of the wicked have bound me, But I have not forgotten Your law.

New American Standard Bible
The snares of the wicked have surrounded me, But I have not forgotten Your Law.

NASB 1995
The cords of the wicked have encircled me, But I have not forgotten Your law.

NASB 1977
The cords of the wicked have encircled me, But I have not forgotten Thy law.

Legacy Standard Bible
The cords of the wicked have encircled me, But I have not forgotten Your law.

Amplified Bible
The cords of the wicked have encircled and ensnared me, But I have not forgotten Your law.

Christian Standard Bible
Though the ropes of the wicked were wrapped around me, I did not forget your instruction.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Though the ropes of the wicked were wrapped around me, I did not forget Your instruction.

American Standard Version
The cords of the wicked have wrapped me round; But I have not forgotten thy law.

Contemporary English Version
Evil people may set a trap, but I obey your Law.

English Revised Version
The cords of the wicked have wrapped me round; but I have not forgotten thy law.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
[Though] the ropes of wicked people are tied around me, I never forget your teachings.

Good News Translation
The wicked have laid a trap for me, but I do not forget your law.

International Standard Version
Though the ropes of the wicked have ensnared me, I have not forgotten your instruction.

Majority Standard Bible
Though the ropes of the wicked bind me, I do not forget Your law.

NET Bible
The ropes of the wicked tighten around me, but I do not forget your law.

New Heart English Bible
The ropes of the wicked bind me, but I won't forget your Law.

Webster's Bible Translation
The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.

World English Bible
The ropes of the wicked bind me, but I won’t forget your law.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Cords of the wicked have surrounded me, "" I have not forgotten Your law.

Young's Literal Translation
Cords of the wicked have surrounded me, Thy law I have not forgotten.

Smith's Literal Translation
The cords of the unjust passed over me: I forget not thy law.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The cords of the wicked have encompassed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The ropes of the impious have encircled me, and I have not forgotten your law.

New American Bible
Though the snares of the wicked surround me, your law I do not forget.

New Revised Standard Version
Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The bands of the wicked have beset me; but I have not strayed from thy law.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The cords of the evil entangled me and I have not turned aside from your Law.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The bands of the wicked have enclosed me; But I have not forgotten Thy law.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The snares of sinners entangled me: but I forgot not thy law.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Your Word is a Lamp to My Feet
60I hurried without hesitating to keep Your commandments. 61Though the ropes of the wicked bind me, I do not forget Your law. 62At midnight I rise to give You thanks for Your righteous judgments.…

Cross References
Proverbs 1:10-15
My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them. / If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause, / let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit. ...

Matthew 5:10-12
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. / Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. / Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.

1 Peter 4:12-14
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you. / But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory. / If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

John 15:18-20
If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. / If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. / Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well.

2 Timothy 3:12
Indeed, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

Romans 8:35-37
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? / As it is written: “For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” / No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

1 John 3:13
So do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you.

Acts 5:40-42
At this, they yielded to Gamaliel. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them. / The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. / Every day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:8-10
We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; / persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. / We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

Hebrews 10:32-34
Remember the early days that you were in the light. In those days, you endured a great conflict in the face of suffering. / Sometimes you were publicly exposed to ridicule and persecution; at other times you were partners with those who were so treated. / You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, knowing that you yourselves had a better and permanent possession.

Genesis 39:7-12
and after some time his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph and said, “Sleep with me.” / But he refused. “Look,” he said to his master’s wife, “with me here, my master does not concern himself with anything in his house, and he has entrusted everything he owns to my care. / No one in this house is greater than I am. He has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. So how could I do such a great evil and sin against God?” ...

Daniel 6:4-5
Thus the administrators and satraps sought a charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they could find no charge or corruption, because he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him. / Finally these men said, “We will never find any charge against this Daniel unless we find something against him concerning the law of his God.”

Jeremiah 20:10-11
For I have heard the whispering of many: “Terror is on every side! Report him; let us report him!” All my trusted friends watch for my fall: “Perhaps he will be deceived so that we may prevail against him and take our vengeance upon him.” / But the LORD is with me like a fearsome warrior. Therefore, my persecutors will stumble and will not prevail. Since they have not succeeded, they will be utterly put to shame, with an everlasting disgrace that will never be forgotten.

Nehemiah 4:7-9
When Sanballat and Tobiah, together with the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites, heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed, they were furious, / and all of them conspired to come and fight against Jerusalem and create a hindrance. / So we prayed to our God and posted a guard against them day and night.

Isaiah 51:7-8
Listen to Me, you who know what is right, you people with My law in your hearts: Do not fear the scorn of men; do not be broken by their insults. / For the moth will devour them like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool. But My righteousness will last forever, My salvation through all generations.”


Treasury of Scripture

The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten your law.

the bands.

Psalm 119:95
The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.

Psalm 3:1
A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.

1 Samuel 30:3-5
So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives…

but I

Psalm 119:176
I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.

1 Samuel 24:9-11
And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt? …

1 Samuel 26:9-11
And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD'S anointed, and be guiltless? …

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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














Though the ropes of the wicked bind me
This phrase reflects the psalmist's experience of persecution and oppression by those who oppose God's ways. The "ropes" symbolize the constraints and pressures imposed by the wicked, possibly referring to literal imprisonment or metaphorical entrapment. In biblical times, binding with ropes was a common method of restraining prisoners, indicating a loss of freedom and autonomy. This imagery is consistent with other biblical accounts where God's people face persecution, such as Joseph's imprisonment (Genesis 39:20) and Paul's numerous imprisonments (Acts 16:24). The wicked often represent those who reject God's commandments and seek to harm the righteous, as seen throughout the Psalms and Proverbs.

I do not forget Your law
Despite the adversity faced, the psalmist remains steadfast in remembering and adhering to God's law. This commitment highlights the importance of God's Word as a source of strength and guidance in times of trouble. The law, or Torah, encompasses God's teachings and commandments, which were central to the life and faith of the Israelites. The psalmist's resolve to remember the law echoes the exhortation in Deuteronomy 6:6-9 to keep God's commandments at the forefront of one's life. This dedication to God's law is a recurring theme in Psalm 119, emphasizing the transformative power of Scripture. The psalmist's unwavering focus on God's law amidst trials can be seen as a type of Christ, who perfectly fulfilled the law and remained obedient to the Father even unto death (Philippians 2:8).

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Psalmist
The author of Psalm 119, traditionally believed to be King David, who expresses a deep love and commitment to God's law despite facing adversity.

2. The Wicked
Those who oppose the psalmist, representing forces of evil or ungodly individuals who seek to ensnare or oppress the righteous.

3. God's Law
The divine instructions and commandments given by God, which the psalmist holds in high regard and remains committed to despite challenges.
Teaching Points
Commitment to God's Word
Despite external pressures and challenges, the psalmist remains steadfast in his commitment to God's law. This teaches us the importance of prioritizing God's Word in our lives, even when faced with opposition.

Endurance in Trials
The imagery of being bound by the wicked suggests severe trials. Yet, the psalmist's focus on God's law demonstrates the power of Scripture to sustain us through difficult times.

Spiritual Warfare
The "ropes of the wicked" symbolize spiritual attacks. Believers must be aware of the spiritual battle and equip themselves with the Word of God as their defense.

Memory and Meditation
The psalmist's ability to recall God's law under duress highlights the importance of memorizing and meditating on Scripture, so it becomes a source of strength and guidance.(61) The bands . . .--Rather, cords of the wicked surrounded me. (See Psalm 18:5-6.) So all ancient versions except the Targum.

Verse 61. - The bands of the wicked have robbed me; rather, the snares of wicked men entangled me (comp. vers. 23, 157, 161). But I have not forgotten (or, I did not forget) thy Law.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Though the ropes
חֶבְלֵ֣י (ḥeḇ·lê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 2256: A rope, a measuring line, a district, inheritance, a noose, a company, a throe, ruin

of the wicked
רְשָׁעִ֣ים (rə·šā·‘îm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7563: Wrong, an, bad person

bind me,
עִוְּדֻ֑נִי (‘iw·wə·ḏu·nî)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural | first person common singular
Strong's 5749: To duplicate, repeat, to protest, testify, to encompass, restore

I do not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

forget
שָׁכָֽחְתִּי׃ (šā·ḵā·ḥə·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7911: To mislay, to be oblivious of, from want of memory, attention

Your law.
תּֽ֝וֹרָתְךָ֗ (tō·w·rā·ṯə·ḵā)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 8451: Direction, instruction, law


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OT Poetry: Psalm 119:61 The ropes of the wicked bind me (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 119:60
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