I have chosen the way of truth. I have set your ordinances before me.
Parallel translations
- KJV I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.
- BSB I have chosen the way of truth; I have set Your ordinances 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 3:19–21This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil.
- Prov 1:29because they hated knowledge, and didn’t choose the fear of Yahweh.
- Ps 119:29Keep me from the way of deceit. Grant me your law graciously!
- Luke 10:42but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
- 1 Pet 2:2as newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, that with it you may grow,
- Josh 24:15If it seems evil to you to serve Yahweh, choose today whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh.”
- Deut 11:18–20Therefore you shall lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul. You shall bind them for a sign on your hand, and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes.
- Ps 119:111I have taken your testimonies as a heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.
- Ps 119:24Indeed your statutes are my delight, and my counselors. DALED
- 2 Jn 1:4I rejoice greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, even as we have been commanded by the Father.
- John 8:45But because I tell the truth, you don’t believe me.
- Ps 119:173Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.
- Ps 119:52I remember your ordinances of old, Yahweh, and have comforted myself.
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.