Daily Bible Nugget #253, Psalm 119:82

The Nugget:

Psalm 119:82 Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?

My Comment:

Saints long after the Scriptures (The New Topical Textbook, subtopic under the main topic, “The Scriptures,” found on page 240 of this marvelous Bible study resource). Saints are not extraordinary people so few and far between that the Roman Catholic Church must officially canonize them for them to be recognized as such! In Bible terminology, all genuinely saved, born again Bible-believing Christians are called “saints,” or “holy ones.” Anyone who is truly saved should be able to be characterized or described as a person who longs after, or greatly desires the Scriptures. This little verse at Psalm 119:82 makes for a most interesting Bible study just by comparing and considering how different Bible translations render it:

Psa 119:82 My eyes long for your promise; I ask, “When will you comfort me?” (ESV, the English Standard Version)

God’s Word is brim-full of encouraging Bible promises. I have several books that are devoted in their entirety to the promises in the Bible. The first book I obtained on that subject was an older work by Clark called Precious Bible Promises. I have placed this whole book in the Topic Number Index of my book, The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. As for answering the question, “When will you comfort me?” today all one needs to do is to look up the encouraging cross references given for Romans 15:4. Without question, the Psalmist found God’s Word to be of great comfort.

Psa 119:82 My eyes are full of weariness with searching for your word, saying, When will you give me comfort? (The Bible in Basic English)

It is hard to be certain just what the Psalmist is expressing when he states “My eyes are full of weariness with searching for your word.” Do you suppose he was experiencing a bit of eye-strain from working so hard to search the Scriptures? Or is he brimming with tears because the word of comfort he so much desired was not found yet? Certainly the Psalmist knew to turn to God’s written word in the Bible to find whatever comfort he might need.

Psa 119:82 I am worn out from waiting for you to keep your word. When will you have mercy? (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

Well, you can tell the Psalmist is very human, and sometimes driven to impatience, just like us. But he knew that God is most merciful and gracious, and says so many times elsewhere in the Psalm.

Psa 119:82 My eyes grow tired as I wait for your promise to be fulfilled. I say, “When will you comfort me?” (NET Bible)

Taken in the context of the preceding verse, Psalm 119:81, “I desperately long for your deliverance. I find hope in your word” (NET Bible), we see the Psalmist is not expressing any doubt in God’s word. Perhaps he just wishes God would hurry up a bit and fulfill the promises He has given so that the Psalmist may be comforted. I am sure we all have days like that too.

So, which translation is correct? Sometimes, as in this instance, that is the wrong question to ask. Only the original language of the Bible is divinely inspired; translations are not. Yet the original language is so rich in meaning, no one translation into English (or any other language) can capture the full meaning. Translators work hard to present the meaning they see and appreciate in the original text they are translating. Each translation can give us additional insight into the riches of the original text.

Again the Psalmist is a model for us to follow in his longing for the Word of God. As we read God’s word in the Bible, we too will grow in our longing to get ever more out of His word in the Bible. Don’t miss the wonderful opportunity given us in this brief time we have to search and enjoy God’s love letter to us.

For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 630 for Psalm 119:82.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 675 or in Logos 5 Bible software for Psalm 119:82.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:

Psalm 119:82. Mine eyes. T#1084. ver. *Ps 119:123. +*Ps 69:3. 123:2. *Dt 28:32. Jb 31:16. Pr 13:12. *Is 38:14. La 4:17. fail. FS155A, +Ge 31:35. ver. Ps 119:123. Ps 73:26. Jb 31:16. Is 38:14. La 2:11. Ro 8:26. for thy word. ver. Ps 119:41, 97, 123. When wilt. Ps 13:1. +*Ps 37:7. +**Ps 40:17. 51:8. 69:3. *Ps 86:17. +*Ps 89:46. 90:13-15. 94:3. 101:2. Is 8:17. Hab 1:2. Jn 11:6, 21. Ja 5:7. 2 P 3:9. comfort. T#1454. ver. +*Ps 119:50, 76. Ps 27:5. 30:5. +**Ps 34:4. 42:5. 71:21. *Ps 86:17. 103:13. 138:7. Jb 5:19. 11:16. Is 12:1. 46:4. 51:3. 61:3. 63:9. +*Mt 5:4. **Jn 14:1. Ro 8:28. +**Ro 15:4. +*2 Cor 1:3. 1 Th 3:7. 4:13-18. 2 Th 2:16, 17.