Guide my steps by your word, so I will not be overcome by evil.
Parallel translations
- WEB Establish my footsteps in your word. Don’t let any iniquity have dominion over me.
- KJV Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
- BSB Order my steps in Your word; let no sin rule over me.
- NKJV Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me.
- NASB Establish my footsteps in Your word, And do not let any wrongdoing have power over me.
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 steady his steps by the word and to keep any sin from ruling over him. He seeks both guidance and victory over sin.
Overview
The psalmist prays that God's word would direct his footsteps and that no iniquity would gain mastery over him. He recognizes his need for divine help both to walk rightly and to resist the dominion of sin. This anticipates the gospel promise that sin shall not have dominion over those under grace in Christ (Rom. 6:14; Ps. 19:13).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Ps 17:5My steps have held fast to your paths. My feet have not slipped.
- Ps 19:13Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins. Let them not have dominion over me. Then I will be upright. I will be blameless and innocent of great transgression.
- Ps 119:116Uphold me according to your word, that I may live. Let me not be ashamed of my hope.
- Rom 6:12–14Therefore don’t let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.
- Ps 32:8I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go. I will counsel you with my eye on you.
- Ps 121:3He will not allow your foot to be moved. He who keeps you will not slumber.
- 1 Sam 2:9He will keep the feet of his holy ones, but the wicked shall be put to silence in darkness; for no man shall prevail by strength.
- Rom 7:23–24but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 119:133 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.