My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me your statutes.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse isn't just about thanking God after we learn something new; it suggests that the very process of learning God's statutes should evoke a constant, overflowing praise. The imagery of lips "pouring forth" implies a continuous, abundant outflow, not a one-time announcement.
My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me your statutes.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist, having prayed for understanding and deliverance, now expresses his deep desire to offer joyful praise to God. He sees learning God's statutes not as a burden but as the direct cause for overflowing gratitude, a sentiment that continues into the following verses as he resolves to speak of God's word and embrace His commandments.
Why does learning God's ways naturally lead to singing His praises? What's the connection between instruction and exultation?
The Psalmist declares, 'My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me your statutes.' This isn't just about receiving information; it's about transformation. The act of being taught God's statutes isn't passive. It implies an active impartation of wisdom, a revelation that reshapes understanding and perspective. When God's truth enters the heart, it doesn't just sit there. It bubbles up, like water from a spring, finding expression through our words. This 'pouring forth' is a picture of abundant, uncontainable joy and thankfulness that naturally flows from experiencing God's guidance and wisdom.
Is praise a response to past teaching, or does it happen as we learn? What does this verse tell us about the ongoing nature of our relationship with God's Word?
The verse suggests a dynamic, ongoing relationship between learning and praising. It's not simply that after I've learned everything, I will praise. Instead, the praise pours forth as God teaches. Each new statute learned, each deeper understanding gained, becomes a fresh reason for praise. The more we grasp of God's character and will, the more we discover about His faithfulness, His justice, and His love. This ever-increasing knowledge fuels an ever-increasing song of adoration. It's a continuous cycle: God teaches, we praise; our praise opens us to more teaching, which leads to more praise.
Understand the original words
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tehillah · Hebrew Noun
A spoken or written expression of honor, adoration, and thanksgiving directed toward God for His nature, works, and word. It is a central duty of the redeemed and reflects the internal state of a heart overwhelmed by God's character.
choq · Hebrew Noun
Decrees, ordinances, or fixed requirements set forth by God, often emphasizing His sovereign authority and the unchanging nature of His expectations for His people. They serve as a guide for ethical conduct and a demonstration of God's wisdom.
This passage echoes the idea of teaching God's statutes, emphasizing that these teachings are to be spoken, meditated upon, and integrated into daily life, directly linking instruction to outward expression, much like the psalmist's lips pouring forth praise.
Psalm 71:8This verse expresses a similar desire to praise God constantly due to His teaching and salvation, mirroring the psalmist's sentiment that divine instruction is the direct cause for abundant praise.
Isaiah 55:10-11This passage highlights the powerful, effective nature of God's word, explaining that His word, like rain, accomplishes His purpose and will not return void, which can be seen as the source from which the psalmist receives his statutes and, consequently, his praise.
John 14:26Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will teach believers all things and bring to their remembrance what He has said, showing the divine source of God's teaching that enables believers to live and praise Him according to His will.
cambridgePsalms 119:171: "My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes."
171, 172 . Let my lips pour forth praise, Because thou teachest me thy statutes. Let my tongue sing of thy word, For all thy commandments are righteousness. The optative form of the verb in Psalm 119:172 is in favour of a similar rendering in Psalm 119:171 . He prays for a spirit of joyous, exuberant thankfulness for God’s continuous teaching, and for the character of the law which is the substance of that teac…
poolePsalms 119:171: "My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes."
Ver. 171. No text from Poole on this verse.
This verse isn't just about thanking God after we learn something new; it suggests that the very process of learning God's statutes should evoke a constant, overflowing praise. The imagery of lips "pouring forth" implies a continuous, abundant outflow, not a one-time announcement.
The psalmist, having prayed for understanding and deliverance, now expresses his deep desire to offer joyful praise to God. He sees learning God's statutes not as a burden but as the direct cause for overflowing gratitude, a sentiment that continues into the following verses as he resolves to speak of God's word and embrace His commandments.
The psalmist, having prayed for understanding and deliverance, now expresses his deep desire to offer joyful praise to God. He sees learning God's statutes not as a burden but as the direct cause for overflowing gratitude, a sentiment that continues into the following verses as he resolves to speak of God's word and embrace His commandments.
"My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me your statutes." — This verse isn't just about thanking God after we learn something new; it suggests that the very process of learning God's statutes should evoke a constant, overflowing praise. The imagery of lip…
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Last reviewed October 2026