I have chosen the way of truth; I have set Your ordinances before me.
Parallel translations
- WEB I have chosen the way of truth. I have set your ordinances before me.
- KJV I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.
- NKJV I have chosen the way of truth; Your judgments I have laid before me.
- NASB I have chosen the faithful way; I have placed Your judgments before me.
- NLT I have chosen to be faithful; I have determined to live by your regulations.
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
The psalmist has deliberately chosen the way of faithfulness and set God's judgments before him. It matters because godliness involves a conscious commitment to follow God's truth.
Overview
Choosing the way of truth, the psalmist keeps God's ordinances continually in view as his standard. His obedience is a settled decision, not mere drift. This deliberate alignment with God's word reflects the response of faith to the gospel, in which believers choose Christ and order their lives by His truth.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- John 3:19–21And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.
- Prov 1:29For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD.
- Ps 119:29Remove me from the path of deceit and graciously grant me Your law.
- Luke 10:42But only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, and it will not be taken away from her.”
- 1 Pet 2:2Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
- Josh 24:15But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!”
- Deut 11:18–20Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as reminders on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
- Ps 119:111Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.
- Ps 119:24Your testimonies are indeed my delight; they are my counselors.
- 2 Jn 1:4I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father has commanded us.
- John 8:45But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me!
- Ps 119:173May Your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen Your precepts.
- Ps 119:52I remember Your judgments of old, O LORD, and in them I find comfort.
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 119:30 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.