Psalms 119:176 (ASV)

Passage

I have gone astray like a lost sheep; Seek thy servant; For I do not forget thy commandments. Psalm 120 A Song of Ascents.

Nearby Context

Psalms 119:174 I have longed for thy salvation, O Jehovah; And thy law is my delight.

Psalms 119:175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; And let thine ordinances help me.

Psalms 119:176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; Seek thy servant; For I do not forget thy commandments. Psalm 120 A Song of Ascents.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "sheep", "gone astray", "like", "lost", "seek", "servant", and "forget". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "sheep" and "gone astray", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The prior verse says "Let my soul live and it shall...", giving immediate footing for "sheep" and "gone astray". 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 "sheep" and "gone astray" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.