Psalms 119:43

Never take Your word of truth from my mouth, for I hope in Your judgments.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The psalmist addresses God directly, requesting that divine power not remove his confession of faith while facing external taunts. This plea occurs mid-psalm as a bridge between trusting God's word and committing to perpetual obedience.

The words — The verb תַּצֵּ֬ל (ta.Tzel, "you take away") paired with מִ/פִּ֣/י (mi./P/i, "from my mouth") frames the core request, while דְבַר־אֱמֶת (de.var-'e.Met, "word of faithfulness") specifies the protected content.

The thread — The concept of God upholding a believer's standing appears in Psalms 9:4, Ephesians 1:13, and 1 Peter 2:23. These texts collectively trace how divine preservation sustains faithful witness across the canon.

Why it lands — The text explicitly commands reliance on God's judgments as the basis for public confession rather than personal eloquence. It requires a reader to actively submit verbal witness to divine authority instead of self-generated defense.

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The Hebrew words

וְֽאַל־ve./'al-and/ may not תַּצֵּ֬לta.Tzelyou take away מִפִּ֣יmi./P/ifrom/ mouth/ my דְבַר־de.var-a word of אֱמֶ֣ת'e.Metfaithfulness עַד־'ad-up to מְאֹ֑דme.'Odmuchness כִּ֖יkifor לְמִשְׁפָּטֶ֣ךָle./mish.pa.Te./khafor/ judgments/ your יִחָֽלְתִּי׃yi.Chal.tiI hope

King James Version

And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.

Cross-references

Psalms 9:4 For You have upheld my just cause; You sit on Your throne judging righteously.
Ephesians 1:13 And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
1 Peter 2:23 When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.
Psalms 71:17 O God, You have taught me from my youth, and to this day I proclaim Your marvelous deeds.
Psalms 119:13 With my lips I proclaim all the judgments of Your mouth.
Psalms 119:175 Let me live to praise You; may Your judgments sustain me.
Psalms 50:16 To the wicked, however, God says, “What right have you to recite My statutes and to bear My covenant on your lips?
Psalms 119:52 I remember Your judgments of old, O LORD, and in them I find comfort.
James 1:18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation.
Psalms 7:6 Arise, O LORD, in Your anger; rise up against the fury of my enemies. Awake, my God, and ordain judgment.