Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.
Parallel translations
- WEB Uphold me according to your word, that I may live. Let me not be ashamed of my hope.
- BSB Sustain me as You promised, that I may live; let me not be ashamed of my hope.
- NKJV Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live; And do not let me be ashamed of my hope.
- NASB Sustain me according to Your word, that I may live; And do not let me be ashamed of my hope.
- NLT Lord, sustain me as you promised, that I may live! Do not let my hope be crushed.
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 asks God to uphold him by His word so he may live and not be ashamed of his hope. He depends on God to sustain the very hope God gave.
Overview
The psalmist prays for God's sustaining support according to His promise, that he might live and never be put to shame for trusting. His confidence is that God will not abandon those who hope in Him. This assurance is fulfilled in the gospel, where hope in Christ does not disappoint because God's love is poured into our hearts (Rom. 5:5; Rom. 10:11).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Rom 5:5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
- Ps 25:2O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.
- 1 Pet 2:6Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
- Isa 41:10Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
- Ps 37:24Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
- Rom 10:11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
- Ps 37:17For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.
- Ps 54:4Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.
- Ps 63:8My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.
- Ps 94:18When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.
- Isa 42:1Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
- Isa 45:17But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.
- Ps 41:12And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.
- Rom 9:32–33Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
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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 119:116 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
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