Psalm 119:109
New International Version
Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I will not forget your law.

New Living Translation
My life constantly hangs in the balance, but I will not stop obeying your instructions.

English Standard Version
I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law.

Berean Standard Bible
I constantly take my life in my hands, yet I do not forget Your law.

King James Bible
My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.

New King James Version
My life is continually in my hand, Yet I do not forget Your law.

New American Standard Bible
My life is continually in my hand, Yet I do not forget Your Law.

NASB 1995
My life is continually in my hand, Yet I do not forget Your law.

NASB 1977
My life is continually in my hand, Yet I do not forget Thy law.

Legacy Standard Bible
My soul is continually in my hand, Yet I do not forget Your law.

Amplified Bible
My life is continually in my hand, Yet I do not forget Your law.

Christian Standard Bible
My life is constantly in danger, yet I do not forget your instruction.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
My life is constantly in danger, yet I do not forget Your instruction.

American Standard Version
My soul is continually in my hand; Yet do I not forget thy law.

Contemporary English Version
I never forget your teachings, although my life is always in danger.

English Revised Version
My soul is continually in my hand; yet do I not forget thy law.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I always take my life into my own hands, but I never forget your teachings.

Good News Translation
I am always ready to risk my life; I have not forgotten your law.

International Standard Version
Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I do not forget your instruction.

Majority Standard Bible
I constantly take my life in my hands, yet I do not forget Your law.

NET Bible
My life is in continual danger, but I do not forget your law.

New Heart English Bible
My soul is continually in my hand, yet I won't forget your Law.

Webster's Bible Translation
My soul is continually in my hand: yet I do not forget thy law.

World English Bible
My soul is continually in my hand, yet I won’t forget your law.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
My soul [is] in my hand continually, "" And I have not forgotten Your law.

Young's Literal Translation
My soul is in my hand continually, And Thy law I have not forgotten.

Smith's Literal Translation
My soul is in my hand always, and I, forgot not thy law.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
My soul is continually in my hands: and I have not forgotten thy law.

Catholic Public Domain Version
My soul is always in my hands, and I have not forgotten your law.

New American Bible
My life is always at risk, but I do not forget your law.

New Revised Standard Version
I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
My soul is continually in thy hands; I do not forget thy law.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
My soul is in your hands always and I have not forgotten your Law.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
My soul is continually in my hand; Yet have I not forgotten Thy law.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
My soul is continually in thine hands; and I have not forgotten thy law.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Your Word is a Lamp to My Feet
108Accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me Your judgments. 109I constantly take my life in my hands, yet I do not forget Your law. 110The wicked have set a snare for me, but I have not strayed from Your precepts.…

Cross References
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; / in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Matthew 10:28
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9
We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; / persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.

Job 13:14
Why do I put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands?

Luke 12:4-5
I tell you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. / But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after you have been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!

2 Timothy 1:12
For this reason, even though I suffer as I do, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day.

Romans 8:35-39
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? / As it is written: “For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” / No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. ...

1 Peter 4:19
So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should entrust their souls to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Hebrews 10:32-34
Remember the early days that you were in the light. In those days, you endured a great conflict in the face of suffering. / Sometimes you were publicly exposed to ridicule and persecution; at other times you were partners with those who were so treated. / You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, knowing that you yourselves had a better and permanent possession.

Acts 20:24
But I consider my life of no value to me, if only I may finish my course and complete the ministry I have received from the Lord Jesus—the ministry of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

Philippians 1:20-21
I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. / For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

2 Corinthians 1:8-10
We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the hardships we encountered in the province of Asia. We were under a burden far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. / Indeed, we felt we were under the sentence of death, in order that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead. / He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. In Him we have placed our hope that He will yet again deliver us,

1 Samuel 19:5
He took his life in his hands when he struck down the Philistine, and the LORD worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced, so why would you sin against innocent blood by killing David for no reason?”

Job 27:6
I will cling to my righteousness and never let go. As long as I live, my conscience will not accuse me.

Jeremiah 26:14
As for me, here I am in your hands; do to me what you think is good and right.


Treasury of Scripture

My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget your law.

my soul.

Judges 12:3
And when I saw that ye delivered me not, I put my life in my hands, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and the LORD delivered them into my hand: wherefore then are ye come up unto me this day, to fight against me?

1 Samuel 19:5
For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?

1 Samuel 20:3
And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.

yet do I not

Psalm 119:83,117,152
For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes…

Jump to Previous
Constantly Continually Danger Forget Forgotten Hand Hands Hold Law Memory Soul Won't
Jump to Next
Constantly Continually Danger Forget Forgotten Hand Hands Hold Law Memory Soul Won't
Psalm 119
1. This psalm contains various prayers, praises, and professions of obedience.
2. Aleph.
9. Beth
17. Gimel
25. Daleth
33. He
41. Waw
49. Zayin
57. Heth
65. Teth
73. Yodh
81. Kaph
89. Lamedh
97. Mem
105. Nun
113. Samekh
121. Ayin
129. Pe
137. Tsadhe
145. Qoph
153. Resh
161. Sin and Shin
169. Taw














I constantly take my life in my hands
This phrase reflects a deep sense of vulnerability and the precariousness of life. The Hebrew root for "take my life" is "נָפֶשׁ" (nephesh), which often refers to the soul or life essence. In the ancient Near Eastern context, life was frequently at risk due to external threats such as warfare, disease, or persecution. The psalmist acknowledges this reality, expressing a willingness to face danger for the sake of faithfulness to God. This phrase can inspire believers today to recognize the fragility of life and the courage required to live out one's faith amidst trials.

yet I do not forget Your law
The commitment to "not forget" God's law underscores the psalmist's dedication to divine instruction despite life's uncertainties. The Hebrew word for "law" is "תּוֹרָה" (torah), which encompasses teaching, guidance, and instruction. Historically, the Torah was central to Jewish life, serving as a moral and spiritual compass. The psalmist's resolve to remember God's law highlights the importance of Scripture as a source of stability and wisdom. For contemporary believers, this phrase serves as a reminder to prioritize God's Word, allowing it to guide and sustain them through life's challenges.

(109) My soul.--For this figure of peril see Judges 12:3; 1Samuel 19:5, &c.

Verse 109. - My soul is continually in my hand; i.e. my life is in constant jeopardy (comp. Judges 12:3; 1 Samuel 19:5; 1 Samuel 28:21). Yet do I not forget thy Law (comp. vers. 16, 83, 93, etc.).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
I constantly [take]
תָמִ֑יד (ṯā·mîḏ)
Adverb
Strong's 8548: Continuance, constant, ellipt, the regular, sacrifice

my life
נַפְשִׁ֣י (nap̄·šî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

in my hands,
בְכַפִּ֣י (ḇə·ḵap·pî)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3709: Hollow or flat of the hand, palm, sole (of the foot), a pan

yet I do not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

forget
שָׁכָֽחְתִּי׃ (šā·ḵā·ḥə·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7911: To mislay, to be oblivious of, from want of memory, attention

Your law.
וְ֝תֽוֹרָתְךָ֗ (wə·ṯō·w·rā·ṯə·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 8451: Direction, instruction, law


Links
Psalm 119:109 NIV
Psalm 119:109 NLT
Psalm 119:109 ESV
Psalm 119:109 NASB
Psalm 119:109 KJV

Psalm 119:109 BibleApps.com
Psalm 119:109 Biblia Paralela
Psalm 119:109 Chinese Bible
Psalm 119:109 French Bible
Psalm 119:109 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Psalm 119:109 My soul is continually in my hand (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 119:108
Top of Page
Top of Page