Psalms 119:115 (ASV)

Passage

Depart from me, ye evil-doers, That I may keep the commandments of my God.

Nearby Context

Psalms 119:113 I hate them that are of a double mind; But thy law do I love.

Psalms 119:114 Thou art my hiding-place and my shield: I hope in thy word.

Psalms 119:115 Depart from me, ye evil-doers, That I may keep the commandments of my God.

Psalms 119:116 Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live; And let me not be ashamed of my hope.

Psalms 119:117 Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe, And shall have respect unto thy statutes continually.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "depart", "evil-doers", "keep", and "commandments". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "depart" and "evil-doers", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 114's "Thou art my hiding-place and my shield..." into verse 116's "Uphold me according unto thy word that...", so "depart" and "evil-doers" belong inside that flow. In Psalms context, the local focus is worship, trust, the LORD's kingship, and covenant mercy.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "depart" and "evil-doers" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.