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Psalm 119:115

Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God.

113I hate double-minded men, but I love your law.
114You are my hiding place and my shield. I hope in your word.
115Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God.
116Uphold me according to your word, that I may live. Let me not be ashamed of my hope.
117Hold me up, and I will be safe, and will have respect for your statutes continually.
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Notice

“Depart from me” is a firm refusal of company, with a stated purpose: keeping God’s commandments when others stand in the way.

Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.

Where does pressure from others make keeping God’s commandments harder for you?

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How does the phrase “my God” help explain the speaker’s firm refusal?

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What changes when you read this refusal alongside the next verse’s plea for God’s help?

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Connect

Where else Scripture says this

12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.

This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Psalm 1:1Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand on the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers;Both passages describe distance from wicked company, with Psalm 119 stating the purpose of keeping God’s commandments.
Daniel 1:8But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank. Therefore he requested of the …Both speakers express a firm resolve: the psalmist to keep God’s commandments, Daniel to avoid defilement from the king’s food.
Psalm 6:8Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity, for the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping.Both command evildoers to depart; Psalm 119 names obedience as the purpose, while Psalm 6 names God’s hearing of weeping.
1 Corinthians 15:33Don’t be deceived! “Evil companionships corrupt good morals.”Both connect the company a person keeps with moral conduct, giving reason to resist the influence of evildoers.
Matthew 7:23Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.’Both contain a command for evildoers to depart, though Matthew records Jesus’ rejection and the psalm expresses a resolve to obey.
Matthew 26:41Watch and pray, that you don’t enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”Both concern resisting wrongdoing: the psalmist seeks distance from evildoers, while Jesus tells his hearers to watch and pray against temptation.
Psalm 139:19If only you, God, would kill the wicked. Get away from me, you bloodthirsty men!Both tell wicked people to go away; Psalm 139 also includes a plea for God to kill the wicked.
Luke 13:27He will say, ‘I tell you, I don’t know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity.’Both use a command to depart addressed to evildoers, though Luke’s rejection differs from the psalmist’s effort to keep God’s commandments.
Psalm 26:4Both speakers refuse association with people described as doing wrong, whether evildoers or deceitful men and hypocrites.
Proverbs 24:19Don’t fret yourself because of evildoers, neither be envious of the wicked;Both address a response to evildoers: the psalm rejects their company, while Proverbs warns against fretting over or envying them.
Matthew 25:41Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels;Both contain a command to depart, but Matthew speaks of eternal punishment while the psalmist seeks freedom to obey God.
Joshua 24:15If it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose today whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods …Both speakers declare allegiance to God through a firm choice: keeping his commandments in the psalm and serving him in Joshua.
Where this verse fits

Temptation. work conflict.

What the Bible says about temptation →
One step

Something small to carry out of this verse

Ask a trusted friend for help resisting pressure

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Encouragement

Firm resolve and a plea for help belong in the same prayer. The speaker tells evildoers to depart, then asks God to uphold him according to his word.

Now put it in your words.

Start an entry on Psalm 119:115. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.

Keep goingPsalm 119 · the whole chapter with its connection mapPsalms · every chapterBuild a reading plan through Psalms

Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).