Psalms 119:36 (DBY)

Passage

Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to gain.

Nearby Context

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.

Psalms 119:37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; quicken me in thy way.

Psalms 119:38 Establish thy word unto thy servant, who is [devoted] to thy fear.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "incline", "heart", "testimonies", and "gain". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "incline" and "heart", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 35's "Make me to walk in the path..." into verse 37's "Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity...", so "incline" and "heart" 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 "incline" and "heart" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.