Psalm 119

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible — 176 verses, an acrostic meditation entirely devoted to the beauty, power and sweetness of God's word. Its famous verse calls Scripture 'a lamp unto my feet.'

The Book of Psalms · Old Testament · chapter 119 of 150.

Where this chapter sits

No heading names an author or occasion, and at 176 verses this is both the longest psalm and the longest chapter in the Bible, built as a double acrostic, twenty-two sections for the Hebrew alphabet, eight verses per section all beginning with the same letter. It has no story to resolve; it is sustained wisdom meditation, pairing with Psalm 1 to bracket the Psalter's opening and closing devotion to instruction rather than event.

Key verses (KJV)

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105 (KJV)

What to notice as you read

Nearly every verse leans on one of eight near-synonyms: law, testimony, precept, statute, commandment, judgment, word, way, so read for which term is doing the work rather than for plot. Verse 105, 'a lamp unto my feet,' sits inside one eight-verse section, a single stanza among twenty-two of equal weight.

Read Psalm 119 on your iPhone

Read the full text of Psalm 119 in Quiethaven — choose your translation, read offline, and pick up where you left off. Pair it with a daily verse and a prayer timer.

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Frequently asked questions

Where does Psalm 119 come in Psalms?

It is chapter 119 of 150 in Psalms, a book of Wisdom in the Old Testament. The other widely-read chapters of Psalms are linked further down this page.

Where can I read Psalm 119?

Read the full text of Psalm 119 — and the whole Bible, offline, in your preferred translation — free in the Quiethaven app for iPhone.