Psalm 119:87
New International Version
They almost wiped me from the earth, but I have not forsaken your precepts.

New Living Translation
They almost finished me off, but I refused to abandon your commandments.

English Standard Version
They have almost made an end of me on earth, but I have not forsaken your precepts.

Berean Standard Bible
They almost wiped me from the earth, but I have not forsaken Your precepts.

King James Bible
They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.

New King James Version
They almost made an end of me on earth, But I did not forsake Your precepts.

New American Standard Bible
They almost destroyed me on earth, But as for me, I did not abandon Your precepts.

NASB 1995
They almost destroyed me on earth, But as for me, I did not forsake Your precepts.

NASB 1977
They almost destroyed me on earth, But as for me, I did not forsake Thy precepts.

Legacy Standard Bible
They almost made an end of me on the earth, But as for me, I did not forsake Your precepts.

Amplified Bible
They had almost destroyed me on earth, But as for me, I did not turn away from Your precepts.

Christian Standard Bible
They almost ended my life on earth, but I did not abandon your precepts.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They almost ended my life on earth, but I did not abandon Your precepts.

American Standard Version
They had almost consumed me upon earth; But I forsook not thy precepts.

Contemporary English Version
They have almost killed me, but I have been faithful to your teachings.

English Revised Version
They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They almost wiped me off [the face of] the earth. But I did not abandon your guiding principles.

Good News Translation
They have almost succeeded in killing me, but I have not neglected your commands.

International Standard Version
Though the arrogant nearly destroyed me on earth, I did not abandon your precepts.

Majority Standard Bible
They almost wiped me from the earth, but I have not forsaken Your precepts.

NET Bible
They have almost destroyed me here on the earth, but I do not reject your precepts.

New Heart English Bible
They had almost wiped me from the earth, but I did not forsake your precepts.

Webster's Bible Translation
They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.

World English Bible
They had almost wiped me from the earth, but I didn’t forsake your precepts.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
They have almost consumed me on earth, "" And I have not forsaken Your precepts.

Young's Literal Translation
Almost consumed me on earth have they, And I -- I have not forsaken Thy precepts.

Smith's Literal Translation
They almost finished me upon earth, and I forsook not thy charges.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
They had almost made an end of me upon earth: but I have not forsaken thy commandments.

Catholic Public Domain Version
They have nearly consumed me on earth. Yet I have not forsaken your commandments.

New American Bible
They have almost put an end to me on earth, but I do not forsake your precepts.

New Revised Standard Version
They have almost made an end of me on earth; but I have not forsaken your precepts.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
They had almost destroyed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy commandments.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
In a bit they would have destroyed me in the earth, and I have not forsaken your commandments.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
They had almost consumed me upon earth; But as for me, I forsook not Thy precepts.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
They nearly made an end of me in the earth; but I forsook not thy commandments.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Your Word is a Lamp to My Feet
86All Your commandments are faithful; I am persecuted without cause—help me! 87They almost wiped me from the earth, but I have not forsaken Your precepts. 88Revive me according to Your loving devotion, that I may obey the testimony of Your mouth.…

Cross References
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.

Romans 8:36-37
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.

2 Timothy 3:12
Indeed, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

John 15:18-20
If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. / If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. / Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well.

Matthew 5:10-12
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. / Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. / Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.

1 Peter 4:12-14
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you. / But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory. / If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

Acts 14:22
strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

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.

James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, / because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. / Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Revelation 2:10
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Jeremiah 20:11
But the LORD is with me like a fearsome warrior. Therefore, my persecutors will stumble and will not prevail. Since they have not succeeded, they will be utterly put to shame, with an everlasting disgrace that will never be forgotten.

Lamentations 3:52-54
Without cause my enemies hunted me like a bird. / They dropped me alive into a pit and cast stones upon me. / The waters flowed over my head, and I thought I was going to die.

Job 19:25-27
But I know that my Redeemer lives, and in the end He will stand upon the earth. / Even after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God. / I will see Him for myself; my eyes will behold Him, and not as a stranger. How my heart yearns within me!

Daniel 3:16-18
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. / If the God whom we serve exists, then He is able to deliver us from the blazing fiery furnace and from your hand, O king. / But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.”


Treasury of Scripture

They had almost consumed me on earth; but I forsook not your precepts.

almost

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.

1 Samuel 23:26,27
And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them…

2 Samuel 17:16
Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.

but I feared

Psalm 119:51,61
The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law…

1 Samuel 24:6,7
And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD…

1 Samuel 26:9,24
And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD'S anointed, and be guiltless? …

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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














They almost wiped me from the earth
This phrase captures the psalmist's dire situation, reflecting a moment of extreme vulnerability and persecution. The Hebrew root for "almost" (כִּמְעַט, kim'at) suggests a narrow escape, indicating that the psalmist was on the brink of destruction. Historically, this can be seen as a reflection of the many times Israel faced annihilation from surrounding nations, yet God preserved them. The phrase "wiped me from the earth" uses the Hebrew word שָׁפָה (shaphah), which means to sweep away or destroy completely. This evokes imagery of being erased or obliterated, emphasizing the severity of the threat faced by the psalmist. In a broader scriptural context, this echoes the trials faced by many biblical figures, such as David, who often found himself pursued by enemies but was delivered by God's hand.

but I have not forsaken Your precepts
In contrast to the peril described earlier, this phrase highlights the psalmist's steadfastness and commitment to God's commandments. The Hebrew word for "forsaken" (עָזַב, azav) implies abandonment or neglect. Despite the intense pressure and threat of being "wiped from the earth," the psalmist remains faithful to God's "precepts" (פִּקּוּדִים, piqqudim), which are divine instructions or mandates. This steadfast adherence to God's law is a recurring theme in Psalm 119, underscoring the belief that obedience to God's word is a source of strength and resilience. Historically, this reflects the Jewish people's dedication to the Torah, even in the face of persecution. From a conservative Christian perspective, this commitment serves as an inspiration to remain faithful to God's teachings, trusting in His protection and deliverance, regardless of external circumstances.

(87) Upon earth.--Rather, on the land. (Comp. Psalm 58:2.)

Verse 87. - They had almost consumed me upon earth; or, "made an end of me," "destroyed me." But I forsook not thy precepts (comp. vers. 69, 78, 83). Persecution made the psalmist cling the more to God's Law.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
They almost
כִּ֭מְעַט (kim·‘aṭ)
Preposition-k | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 4592: A little, fewness, a few

wiped me
כִּלּ֣וּנִי (kil·lū·nî)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural | first person common singular
Strong's 3615: To be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent

from the earth,
בָאָ֑רֶץ (ḇā·’ā·reṣ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

but I
וַ֝אֲנִ֗י (wa·’ă·nî)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

have not
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

forsaken
עָזַ֥בְתִּי (‘ā·zaḇ·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5800: To loosen, relinquish, permit

Your precepts.
פִקֻּודֶֽיךָ׃‪‬ (p̄iq·qu·w·ḏe·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6490: Appointed, a mandate


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OT Poetry: Psalm 119:87 They had almost wiped me (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 119:86
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