Though princes sit and slander me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.
Parallel translations
- KJV Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.
- BSB Though rulers sit and slander me, Your servant meditates on Your statutes.
- NKJV Princes also sit and speak against me, But Your servant meditates on Your statutes.
- NASB Even though rulers sit and speak against me, Your servant meditates on Your statutes.
- NLT Even princes sit and speak against me, but I will meditate on your decrees.
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
Though rulers slander him, the psalmist as God's servant keeps meditating on God's statutes. It matters because faithful reflection on Scripture sustains believers under powerful opposition.
Overview
Even when princes conspire and speak against him, the psalmist's response is steady meditation on God's word. He anchors himself in Scripture rather than fear of the powerful. This quiet steadfastness under persecution mirrors Christ, who entrusted Himself to God amid hostility and calls His people to do likewise.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Ps 2:1–2Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot a vain thing?
- 1 Sam 22:7–13Saul said to his servants who stood around him, “Hear now, you Benjamites! Will the son of Jesse give everyone of you fields and vineyards? Will he make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds,
- Luke 23:10–11The chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him.
- 1 Sam 20:31For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, you will not be established, nor will your kingdom. Therefore now send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die!”
- Luke 22:66As soon as it was day, the assembly of the elders of the people was gathered together, both chief priests and scribes, and they led him away into their council, saying,
- Luke 23:1–2The whole company of them rose up and brought him before Pilate.
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 119:23 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.