Psalm 119:52 kjv
I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself.
Psalm 119:52 nkjv
I remembered Your judgments of old, O LORD, And have comforted myself.
Psalm 119:52 niv
I remember, LORD, your ancient laws, and I find comfort in them.
Psalm 119:52 esv
When I think of your rules from of old, I take comfort, O LORD.
Psalm 119:52 nlt
I meditate on your age-old regulations;
O LORD, they comfort me.
Psalm 119 52 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 119:50 | This is my comfort in my suffering: Your promise preserves my life. | God's word as a source of comfort in affliction. |
| Ps 119:92 | If Your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. | The law's delight sustains life in distress. |
| Ps 119:152 | Long ago I learned from Your statutes that You established them to last forever. | Acknowledging the eternal nature of God's statutes. |
| Rom 15:4 | For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. | Scriptures offer endurance and hope/comfort. |
| 2 Thes 2:16-17 | May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. | God the Father gives eternal comfort and good hope. |
| Isa 51:3 | The LORD will surely comfort Zion... and make her deserts like Eden. | God's promise to comfort His people. |
| Ps 77:11-12 | I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago... and meditate on all Your mighty deeds. | Remembering God's past actions for reassurance. |
| Ps 105:5 | Remember the wonders He has done, His miracles, and the judgments He pronounced. | A call to remember God's wonders and judgments. |
| Deut 4:9 | Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen... Teach them to your children and to their children after them. | Warning against forgetting God's acts and laws. |
| Prov 3:1 | My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart. | The importance of not forgetting divine instruction. |
| Ps 90:1-2 | Lord, You have been our dwelling place throughout all generations... from everlasting to everlasting You are God. | God's eternal nature is a source of security. |
| Ps 93:2 | Your throne was established long ago; You are from everlasting. | God's reign and nature are eternal. |
| Ps 100:5 | For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations. | The enduring goodness and faithfulness of God. |
| Ps 119:160 | All Your words are true; all Your righteous laws are eternal. | Emphasizes the truth and eternal nature of God's laws. |
| Isa 40:8 | The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever. | The eternal persistence of God's Word. |
| Matt 5:18 | For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. | Christ affirms the eternal validity of God's Law. |
| 1 Pet 1:25 | But the word of the Lord endures forever. | New Testament affirmation of the Word's eternal nature. |
| Ps 33:11 | But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations. | God's eternal purposes provide stability. |
| 2 Cor 1:3-4 | Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles... | God is the ultimate source of comfort in tribulation. |
| Ps 1:2-3 | But whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on His law day and night... whatever they do prospers. | Delighting and meditating on God's law brings blessing. |
| Heb 13:8 | Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. | The unchanging nature of Christ, foundational to the unchanging Word. |
Psalm 119 verses
Psalm 119 52 Meaning
Psalm 119:52 expresses the profound comfort and inner peace the psalmist derives from reflecting upon God's established decrees and timeless principles. In moments of distress, calling to mind the ancient, unchanging wisdom and righteous judgments of the LORD serves as a reliable source of solace and stability. This verse highlights that genuine consolation stems from God's immutable Word, transcending current trials.
Psalm 119 52 Context
Psalm 119 is the longest psalm in the Bible, an elaborate acrostic poem, with each of its 176 verses divided into 22 stanzas of eight lines. Each line within a stanza begins with the same Hebrew letter. Verse 52 falls within the "Zayin" (ז) stanza (verses 49-56). This section generally emphasizes God's faithfulness to His promises (v.49), finding comfort in His word amidst affliction and scorn from the wicked (v.50-51), remembering His ancient judgments, singing His statutes (v.54), remembering His name at night (v.55), and keeping His precepts (v.56).
The broader context of Psalm 119 is the psalmist's deep love, devotion, and absolute dependence on God's Word in every aspect of life, especially in times of difficulty and persecution. Historically, the "judgments of old" (mishpateyka me'olam) would refer to the divine ordinances given to Israel since the time of Moses, emphasizing their foundational and enduring authority. For an Israelite facing adversity, remembering these immutable truths grounded them against the fluctuating challenges of human circumstances or the ephemeral wisdom of surrounding pagan cultures. It was a polemic against reliance on human devices or false gods which offer no lasting solace.
Psalm 119 52 Word analysis
- I remembered (זָכַרְתִּי - zakarti): This is a verb in the Qal perfect, first person common singular, meaning "I have remembered" or "I did remember." It denotes an active, deliberate recollection, bringing to mind, or calling attention to something. It's not a passive fading memory but a purposeful act of turning the mind back to foundational truths. The psalmist consciously engages his mind with God's word.
- thy judgments (מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ - mishpateyka): Plural of mishpat (מִשְׁפָּט). While often translated as "judgments" in a legal sense, mishpat in the biblical context encompasses more than mere court decisions. It refers to God's just decrees, ordinances, regulations, and the principles of righteous governance and moral order established by Him. It reflects God's character as the just and wise Ruler whose ways are right.
- of old (מֵעוֹלָם - me'olam): A compound phrase: me- (from) + olam (ע֫וֹלָם), which signifies "long duration," "antiquity," or "forever," "everlasting." This emphasizes the timelessness, immutability, and enduring nature of God's regulations. They are not recent inventions or temporary rules, but principles established from time immemorial, predating any present trouble, providing stable anchors across generations.
- O LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH/Yahweh): The covenant name of God, revealing Him as the personal, faithful, self-existent God who fulfills His promises. Direct address to Yahweh highlights the relational aspect – these judgments are His judgments, rooted in His divine character and sustained by His presence. It confirms the divine source and authority of the "judgments."
- and I find comfort in them (וָאֶתְנֶחָם - va'etnacheim): From the verb nacham (נָחַם) "to comfort," "console," or "to repent/be sorry." The Hithpael stem used here indicates a reflexive action ("comfort myself") or passive-reflexive meaning ("I allowed myself to be comforted"). It describes the psalmist actively deriving or finding comfort for himself from remembering these ancient decrees. The comfort is a deep internal solace, directly resulting from engaging with God's Word.
- "I remembered your judgments of old, O LORD": This phrase highlights a conscious, personal act of recalling and meditating on the immutable, divine principles established by the eternal covenant-keeping God. It’s an exercise of spiritual discipline where the psalmist purposefully aligns his thoughts with timeless truth rather than present fleeting circumstances. The emphasis is on the ancient wisdom and unchanging nature of God's decrees, which contrasts with the instability of human affairs.
- "and I find comfort in them": This segment connects the act of remembering directly to the resultant experience of comfort. The comfort is not external or circumstantial but internal and derived from the enduring stability of God’s character as revealed in His "judgments." The solace gained is substantial because its source is eternal truth, effective against the pressures and sorrows of life.
Psalm 119 52 Bonus section
The "Hithpael" grammatical form for "comforted myself" suggests a deliberate and active engagement on the part of the psalmist in finding solace. It’s not comfort passively received, but actively drawn forth by remembering God’s Word. This underscores the believer's role in seeking and applying divine truth for spiritual well-being. This remembrance points to the efficacy of the Scriptures across all generations. The comfort from these "ancient regulations" (judgments) serves as an enduring antidote to the ever-shifting tribulations of life and the fleeting wisdom of humanity. This theme resonates deeply with the Christian understanding that God's truth, embodied in Christ, is the ultimate source of enduring peace and stability.
Psalm 119 52 Commentary
Psalm 119:52 succinctly encapsulates a foundational principle for finding peace amidst life's trials: turn to God's unchanging Word. In times of distress, the psalmist actively chooses to recall and meditate on God’s ancient regulations. These aren't just historical facts but living principles that govern justice and life. The depth of their age ("of old") testifies to their immutability, contrasting sharply with the transient nature of human suffering or wisdom. The comfort derived is profound and personal because it originates from the covenant-keeping God Himself, through His steadfast decrees. This verse teaches us to anchor ourselves in the eternal reliability of God's character and Word when circumstances are turbulent, providing an unwavering inner solace.
- Practical usage example: When faced with injustice, instead of despairing, remember God’s perfect justice demonstrated throughout biblical history and His promise to set all things right. This remembering can soothe an anxious heart.
- Practical usage example: During personal or national uncertainty, reflect on God’s sovereign plan and promises of old. His established ways provide stability in unpredictable times.