Psalms 128:1

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns ASV (1901)

What does Psalms 128:1 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Blessed is every one that feareth Jehovah, That walketh in his ways.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Blessed is every one that feareth Jehovah, That walketh in his ways.
Psalms 128:1 — American Standard Version

Context — Psalms 128

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1Blessed is every one that feareth Jehovah, That walketh in his ways.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Blessed [is] everyone that feareth the Lord, etc.] Be he who he will; of whatsoever nation, Jew or Gentile; of whatsoever sex, age, or condition, high or low, rich or poor, (<441035>Acts 10:35); such an one is blessed now, and will be hereafter; (see Gill on “<19B201>Psalm 112:1”); that walketh in his ways: which God has prescribed and directed his people to walk in, his ordinances and commands; which, to walk in, is both pleasant and profitable: it supposes life, requires strength and wisdom; and is expressive of progression, or going on and continuance in them: and where the true fear of God is, which includes every grace, and the whole of religious worship, there will be a conscientious…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The penitent sinner's hope is in God's mercy only. (Psa 130:1-8) depths--for great distress (Psa 40:2; Psa 69:3).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord - That honors God; that is truly pious. See the notes at Psalms 1:1; Psalms 112:1. What that blessedness is, is indicated in the following verses. That walketh in his ways - The ways which God commands or directs. On the word “walketh,” see the notes at Psalms 1:1. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“Ps 128 The godly, who fear the Lord, will know true happiness (128:1-2). The Lord is with them (see 127:1-2), building their home life (128:3-4) and blessing them across the generations (128:5-6). 128:1-2 Enjoying the fruit of one’s labor means gaining benefit from whatever work one does.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“every one: Psa 103:1, Psa 103:13, Psa 103:17, Psa 112:1, Psa 115:13, Psa 147:11; Luk 1:50 walketh: Psa 1:1-3, Psa 81:13, Psa 119:1; Luk 1:6; Act 9:31; Th1 4:1 Psalms 128:2”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“The כּי in Psa 128:2 signifies neither "for" (Aquila, κόπον τῶν ταρσῶν σου ὅτι φάγεσαι), nor "when" (Symmachus, κόπον χειρῶν σου ἐωθίων); it is the directly affirmative כּי, which is sometimes thus placed after other words in a clause ( Psa 118:10-12, Gen 18:20; Gen 41:32). The proof in favour of this asseverating כּי is the very usual כּי עתּה in the apodoses of hypothetical protases, or even כּי־אז in Job 11:15, or also only כּי in Isa 7:9, Sa1 14:39; "surely then;" the transition from the confirmative to the affirmative signification is evident from Psa 128:4 of the Psalm before us. To support one's self by one's own labour is a duty which even a Paul did not wish to avoid ( Act…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification