Psalms 119:78 (ASV)

Passage

Let the proud be put to shame; For they have overthrown me wrongfully: [But] I will meditate on thy precepts.

Nearby Context

Psalms 119:76 Let, I pray thee, thy lovingkindness be for my comfort, According to thy word unto thy servant.

Psalms 119:77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live; For thy law is my delight.

Psalms 119:78 Let the proud be put to shame; For they have overthrown me wrongfully: [But] I will meditate on thy precepts.

Psalms 119:79 Let those that fear thee turn unto me; And they shall know thy testimonies.

Psalms 119:80 Let my heart be perfect in thy statutes, That I be not put to shame. KAPH.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "proud", "shame", "overthrown", "wrongfully", "meditate", and "precepts". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "proud" and "shame", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 77's "Let thy tender mercies come unto me..." into verse 79's "Let those that fear thee turn unto...", so "proud" and "shame" 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 "proud" and "shame" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.