Psalms 119:34 (DBY)

Passage

Give me understanding, and I will observe thy law; and I will keep it with [my] whole heart.

Nearby Context

Psalms 119:32 I will run the way of thy commandments when thou shalt enlarge my heart.

Psalms 119:33 HE. Teach me, O Jehovah, the way of thy statutes, and I will observe it [unto] the end.

Psalms 119:34 Give me understanding, and I will observe thy law; and I will keep it with [my] whole heart.

Psalms 119:35 Make me to walk in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.

Psalms 119:36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to gain.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "give", "understanding", "observe", "keep", "whole", and "heart". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "give" and "understanding", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 33's "HE Teach me O Jehovah the way..." into verse 35's "Make me to walk in the path...", so "give" and "understanding" 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 "give" and "understanding" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.