Psalm 119:143 kjv
Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.
Psalm 119:143 nkjv
Trouble and anguish have overtaken me, Yet Your commandments are my delights.
Psalm 119:143 niv
Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands give me delight.
Psalm 119:143 esv
Trouble and anguish have found me out, but your commandments are my delight.
Psalm 119:143 nlt
As pressure and stress bear down on me,
I find joy in your commands.
Psalm 119 143 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 25:17 | The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses. | Plea for relief from amplified heart troubles. |
| Ps 34:19 | Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. | Acknowledgment of many afflictions, divine deliverance. |
| Job 5:7 | For man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward. | Inherent nature of human suffering. |
| Isa 53:3-4 | He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief... surely he has borne our griefs. | Foreshadowing Christ's suffering and empathy. |
| Rom 5:3-4 | Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance... | Spiritual benefit derived from enduring suffering. |
| 2 Cor 4:8-9 | We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair... | Resilience in affliction, not despair. |
| 2 Cor 6:10 | as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. | Paradoxical Christian joy amidst adversity. |
| John 16:33 | In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. | Christ's warning and comfort regarding worldly tribulation. |
| Ps 1:2 | but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. | The righteous person's joy and focus on God's law. |
| Ps 19:7-10 | The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul... More to be desired are they than gold... sweeter also than honey. | Desirability and life-giving power of God's law. |
| Ps 40:8 | I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart. | Internalized delight in obeying God's will. |
| Ps 119:24 | Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors. | God's word as a source of joy and guidance. |
| Ps 119:77 | Let your compassion come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight. | Dependence on God's mercy, with law as delight. |
| Ps 119:92 | If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. | God's law as a lifesaver in affliction. |
| Jer 15:16 | Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart. | The prophetic experience of joy from God's word. |
| Rom 7:22 | For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being. | The inner desire for God's law, even amidst struggle. |
| Phil 4:11-13 | Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content... I can do all things through him who strengthens me. | Finding contentment and strength in Christ regardless of circumstances. |
| James 1:2-4 | Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds... for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. | Transforming trials into joy through faith's testing. |
| Heb 12:2-3 | looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross... | Jesus' endurance of suffering for a greater joy. |
| 1 Pet 4:12-13 | Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings... | Rejoicing in sharing Christ's sufferings. |
| Acts 5:41 | Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. | Apostles' joy in suffering for Christ. |
Psalm 119 verses
Psalm 119 143 Meaning
Psalm 119:143 expresses a profound paradox of the believer's life: intense external and internal distress can coexist with deep inner joy derived from God's divine instructions. Despite being overwhelmed by "trouble and anguish," the psalmist declares that God's commandments remain their supreme source of delight, pleasure, and comfort. It illustrates that true joy in the believer is not dependent on circumstances, but on their relationship with and adherence to God's unchanging truth.
Psalm 119 143 Context
Psalm 119 is an extended acrostic poem, the longest chapter in the Bible, entirely devoted to praising the instruction, statutes, precepts, and commandments of God, often collectively referred to as His "Law" or "Torah." The psalmist, likely an individual undergoing personal struggles and facing opposition, expresses an unparalleled devotion to God's Word, seeing it as the source of truth, wisdom, life, comfort, and deliverance.
Verse 143 belongs to the "Tsadhe" (צ) section of Psalm 119 (verses 137-144). In this section, the psalmist emphasizes God's righteousness and the purity of His word (v. 137-140). He acknowledges his own humble and despised state (v. 141) and reiterates that God's law is everlasting truth (v. 142). Within this context, verse 143 serves as a poignant expression of steadfast devotion: despite feeling utterly overwhelmed by distress, the enduring reality of God's precepts remains the unchanging anchor of the psalmist's delight, underscoring the spiritual resilience fostered by God's truth.
Psalm 119 143 Word analysis
- Trouble (Hebrew: צַר, tsar): This term signifies distress, narrowness, or extreme difficulty. It evokes the feeling of being in a cramped or confined space, illustrating the suffocating nature of adversity.
- and Anguish (Hebrew: מָצוֹק, matsôq): This word deepens the previous term, meaning "strait, tribulation, tight place, distress." The pairing of "trouble and anguish" emphasizes an intense and comprehensive experience of suffering, a profound inner and outer pressure.
- have taken hold on me (Hebrew: מְצָאוּנִי, metsa'uni): From the verb matsa, "to find, discover, happen upon, seize." It indicates that these difficulties have found or overtaken the psalmist, not that they were sought or expected. It implies being grasped, overwhelmed, or come upon unexpectedly by intense suffering.
- yet (implied conjunction): While not a standalone Hebrew word here, the connective structure (the waw conjunction, or contextually) creates a strong adversative "yet" or "but." It marks a sharp contrast, presenting a direct opposition between the overwhelming reality of distress and the persistent, counterbalancing reality of delight in God's law.
- thy commandments (Hebrew: מִצְוֺתֶיךָ, mits'wotheyka): This refers specifically to God's divine precepts, instructions, and rules. It emphasizes God's revealed will and His authoritative declarations for human life. The focus is on God's active commands, not merely general wisdom.
- are my delights (Hebrew: שַׁעֲשֻׁעַי, sha'ashu'ay): From sha'ashua, meaning "delight, pleasure, amusement, fondness." It denotes a deep-seated and abiding source of joy, enjoyment, and solace. The commandments are not merely duties, but rather profound sources of inner satisfaction, counteracting the effects of trouble.
- "Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me": This phrase graphically portrays a state of overwhelming, suffocating distress, as if one is physically grasped by external pressures and internal torment.
- "yet thy commandments are my delights": This powerful contrast highlights the incredible capacity of God's Word to bring joy and consolation, even when worldly circumstances are at their bleakest. It is a testimony to the spiritual wellspring that is independent of physical comfort or peace.
Psalm 119 143 Bonus section
This verse embodies a crucial aspect of Christian maturity: the ability to hold paradox. It's not about denying the reality of suffering, but recognizing a greater spiritual reality that can coexist with and even overcome it. The delight in God's commandments acts as a divine anchor, keeping the soul steadfast and buoyant when tossed by the waves of affliction. The very precepts that might seem restrictive to the unregenerate heart are revealed as the pathway to true freedom and inner joy for the one who loves God. This delight often intensifies precisely because it offers truth and purpose when all else feels chaotic and meaningless, reflecting the words of Jeremiah, "Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart." The enduring nature of God's word stands in stark contrast to the fleeting and often overwhelming nature of human trouble, thereby confirming its supreme value and eternal comfort.
Psalm 119 143 Commentary
Psalm 119:143 unveils a profound spiritual truth: authentic joy for the believer is not circumstantial but theological. The psalmist openly acknowledges a deep and overwhelming experience of "trouble and anguish," signifying profound distress, both external affliction and internal torment. This is not a superficial discomfort but a seizure, an overtaking by hardship. Yet, this dire reality does not extinguish, but rather highlights, the psalmist's unwavering delight in God's commandments. This indicates that God's word is not a fleeting pleasure or a burdensome requirement, but a fundamental source of comfort, stability, and joy that transcends suffering. In the face of overwhelming despair, the divine law becomes an enduring refuge, a cherished solace that sustains the soul. It implies that true obedience to God's precepts inherently contains a life-giving essence, empowering one to rejoice even amidst the storm, because the stability and truth of God's word far outweigh any transient tribulation. This is a powerful demonstration of finding abundant life and joy not from what the world offers or withholds, but from intimate communion with God through His revealed will.
- Practical Usage: When facing overwhelming life difficulties, instead of retreating into despair, actively engage with Scripture; memorize verses, pray the psalms, or mediate on God's promises, allowing His words to be the source of comfort and strength. Find solace and joy not in escape from trials, but in drawing closer to God's truth.