Bible Strands
Psalms 119:80
May my heart be blameless in Your statutes, that I may not be put to shame.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses God, situated between a petition for those who fear Him to turn toward him (verse 79) and a statement of his soul’s exhaustion while awaiting salvation (verse 81).
The words — תָמִים (ta.Mim) means blameless and אֵבֽוֹשׁ (e.Vo.osh) means I will be ashamed, anchoring the request for internal integrity before God’s decrees.
The thread — The link between a heart fixed on divine commands and the avoidance of disgrace appears in Deuteronomy 26:16, which orders careful observance of statutes, 1 John 2:28, which ties remaining in Christ to appearing unashamed, and 2 Chronicles 12:14, which records the failure of a heart not set on seeking the Lord.
Why it lands — The verse requires a reader to prioritize internal alignment with divine instructions over outward performance, directly conditioning personal standing on sustained obedience rather than momentary devotion.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 26:16 The LORD your God commands you this day to follow these statutes and ordinances. You must be careful to follow them with all your heart and with all your soul.
- 1 John 2:28 And now, little children, remain in Christ, so that when He appears, we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.
- 2 Chronicles 12:14 And Rehoboam did evil because he did not set his heart to seek the LORD.
- Psalms 119:6 Then I would not be ashamed when I consider all Your commandments.
- John 1:47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, He said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit.”
- 2 Corinthians 1:12 For this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God—not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God.
- Psalms 32:2 Blessed is the man whose iniquity the LORD does not count against him, in whose spirit there is no deceit.
- Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.
- 2 Chronicles 15:17 The high places were not removed from Israel, but Asa’s heart was fully devoted all his days.
- 2 Chronicles 25:2 And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not wholeheartedly.