Psalms 119:131

I opened my mouth wide and panted, for I longed for your commandments.

World English Bible
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Other translations

WEBBE

I opened my mouth wide and panted, for I longed for your commandments.

BSB

I open my mouth and pant, longing for Your commandments.

KJV

I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.

ASV

I opened wide my mouth, and panted; For I longed for thy commandments.

BBE

My mouth was open wide, waiting with great desire for your teachings.

Original Hebrew

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The early church

This is confessed by this little one; "I opened my mouth," he says, "and drew in the spirit: for I longed for Your commandments" [Psalm 119:131]. What did he long for, save to obey the divine commandments? But there was no possibility of the weak doing hard things, the little one great things: he opened his mouth, confessing that he could not do them of himself: and drew in power to do them: he opened his mouth, by seeking, asking, knocking: [Matthew 7:7] and thirsty drank in the good Spirit, which enabled him to do what he could not do by himself, "the commandment holy and just and good." [Romans 7:12] Not that they themselves who "are led by the Spirit of God," [Romans 8:14] do nothing; but that they may not do nothing good, they are moved to act by the good Spirit. For so much the more is every man made a good son, in proportion as the good Spirit is given unto Him by the Father in a greater measure.
Augustine of Hippo · d. 430Expositions on the Psalms

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 129–136

The wonders of redeeming love will fix the heart in adoration of them. The Scriptures show us what we were, what we are, and what we shall be. They show us the mercy and the justice of the Lord, the joys of heaven, and the pains of hell. Thus they give to the simple, in a few days, understanding of those matters, which philosophers for ages sought in vain. The believer, wearied with the cares of life and his conflicts with sin, pants for the consolations conveyed to him by means of the sacred word. And every one may pray, Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name. We must beg that the Holy Spirit would order our steps. The dominion of sin is to be dreaded and prayed against by every one. The oppression of men is often more than flesh and blood can bear; and He who knoweth our frame, will not refuse to remove it in answer to the prayers of his people. Whatever obscurity may appear as to the faith of the Old Testament believers, their confidence at the throne of grace can only be explained by their having obtained more distinct views of gospel privileges, through the sacrifices and services of their law, than is generally imagined. Go to the same place, plead the name and merits of Jesus, and you will not, you cannot plead in vain. Commonly, where there is a gracious heart, there is a weeping eye. Accept, O Lord, the tears our blessed Redeemer shed in the days of his flesh, for us who should weep for our brethren or ourselves.

Read Matthew Henry on Psalm 119 →

Cross-references

11

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.