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Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.
Psalms 119:111 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB I have taken your testimonies as a heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.
  • BSB Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.
  • NKJV Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, For they are the rejoicing of my heart.
  • NASB I have inherited Your testimonies forever, For they are the joy of my heart.
  • NLT Your laws are my treasure; they are my heart’s delight.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

He has taken God's testimonies as his permanent heritage, the joy of his heart. The word is his treasured, lasting inheritance.

Overview

The psalmist regards God's testimonies as an everlasting inheritance, more prized than land or wealth, and the very joy of his heart. He has made a deliberate, lasting claim on the word as his portion. This anticipates the believer's imperishable inheritance kept in heaven, secured in Christ who is our true and lasting treasure (1 Pet. 1:4; Matt. 13:44).

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 16

  • Jer 15:16Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
  • Ps 16:5The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.
  • Ps 119:174I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight.
  • Ps 119:92Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.
  • 1 Pet 1:4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
  • Deut 33:4Moses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob.
  • Ps 119:74They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.
  • Ps 19:8The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
  • Ps 119:127Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.
  • Heb 9:15And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
  • Ps 119:14I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
  • Isa 54:17No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
  • 1 Pet 1:8Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
  • Ps 119:162I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.
  • Acts 26:18To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
  • Col 1:12Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (1)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Psalms videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Psalms 119:111YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on PsalmsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.

How Psalms 119:111 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.