Teth
65 You have dealt well with your servant,
O Lord, according to your word.
66 Teach me good judgement and knowledge,
for I believe in your commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I keep your word.
68 You are good and do good;
teach me your statutes.
69 The insolent smear me with lies,
but with my whole heart I keep your precepts;
70 their heart is unfeeling like fat,
but I delight in your law.
71 It is good for me that I was afflicted,
that I might learn your statutes.
72 The law of your mouth is better to me
than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
Yodh
73 Your hands have made and fashioned me;
give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
74 Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice,
because I have hoped in your word.
75 I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous,
and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
76 Let your steadfast love comfort me
according to your promise to your servant.
77 Let your mercy come to me, that I may live;
for your law is my delight.
78 Let the insolent be put to shame,
because they have wronged me with falsehood;
as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.
79 Let those who fear you turn to me,
that they may know your testimonies.
80 May my heart be blameless in your statutes,
that I may not be put to shame!
Kaph
81 My soul longs for your salvation;
I hope in your word.
82 My eyes long for your promise;
I ask, “When will you comfort me?”
83 For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,
yet I have not forgotten your statutes.
84 How long must your servant endure?
When will you judge those who persecute me?
85 The insolent have dug pitfalls for me;
they do not live according to your law.
86 All your commandments are sure;
they persecute me with falsehood; help me!
87 They have almost made an end of me on earth,
but I have not forsaken your precepts.
88 In your steadfast love give me life,
that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.
Lamedh
89 For ever, O Lord, your word
is firmly fixed in the heavens.
90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations;
you have established the earth, and it stands fast.
91 By your appointment they stand this day,
for all things are your servants.
92 If your law had not been my delight,
I would have perished in my affliction.
93 I will never forget your precepts,
for by them you have given me life.
94 I am yours; save me,
for I have sought your precepts.
95 The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,
but I consider your testimonies.
96 I have seen a limit to all perfection,
but your commandment is exceedingly broad.
Affliction lies at the heart of 73-80 also but with a particular emphasis, that of comfort (76, 77), both for the Psalmist himself, and also for those who see and understand his experience. 'When God delivers His servant who has kept His Word, such deliverance will mightily comfort others of God's servants' (Leopold). The section begins (73) with an interesting and suggestive comment on the purpose of creation, as having understanding breathed into life so as to enable men to learn the Word of God. Physical creation finds its true meaning only when spiritual understanding is given by Him. In 74 there is a prayer that the Psalmist may be a witness that hope in God's Word is never vain, and so that his deliverances may be occasions of widespread gladness. 'Judgments' in 75 seem to refer to the providences of God, much on the lines of Romans 8:28. It is in this context that we best understand the prayer in 76 for the divine comfort. The fact is, even when we know that trials are from God and for our good, they are still sore; and we need comfort and quickening in the midst of them. The Psalmist is no stoic, and there is nothing in his words to suggest that even feeling the soreness is a mark of failure or that believers should be 'above' this. In 78-80 a threefold petition is unfolded, first with regard to the proud, then to the devout and godly, and finally to himself. The Psalmist prays that the ungodly will be baulked and set at naught; in 79 the prayer of 74 is repeated, namely that the godly may, from contemplating the Psalmist's security, come to know the worth of God's testimonies (Kirkpatrick translates, 'Let my experience of Thy mercy show the godly the blessedness of keeping Thy testimonies'); for himself, he prays that his heart may be sound in the Word (80, cf Ephesians 3:17; Colossians 2:7; 3:16). It is something, is it not, to get through to this, by being in the crucible of affliction!