Psalms 119:71 (KJV)

Passage

It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

Nearby Context

Psalms 119:69 The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.

Psalms 119:70 Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.

Psalms 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

Psalms 119:72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

Psalms 119:73 Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "good", "been", "afflicted", "might", "learn", and "statutes". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "good" and "been", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 70's "Their heart is as fat as grease..." into verse 72's "The law of thy mouth is better...", so "good" and "been" 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 "good" and "been" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.