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Psalm 119:21
You have rebuked the proud who are cursed, who wander from your commandments.
19I am a stranger on the earth. Don’t hide your commandments from me.
20My soul is consumed with longing for your ordinances at all times.
21You have rebuked the proud who are cursed, who wander from your commandments.
22Take reproach and contempt away from me, for I have kept your statutes.
23Though princes sit and slander me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.
Notice
The word “cursed” makes this a grave warning: pride and wandering from God's commandments are met with his rebuke.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
How does the word “cursed” affect the way you read God's rebuke here?
Write on thisHow does the contrast between longing for commandments and wandering from them speak to your own choices?
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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 119:10With my whole heart I have sought you. Don’t let me wander from your commandments.Both verses name wandering from God's commandments: one asks for help against it, while the other declares God's rebuke.
1 Peter 5:5Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with humility and subject yourselves to one another; for “God resists …Both passages declare God's opposition to the proud; Peter also urges humility toward one another.
Psalm 119:118You reject all those who stray from your statutes, for their deceit is in vain.Both verses describe God's judgment against those who depart from his commands, using the related words wander and stray.
Psalm 37:22For such as are blessed by him shall inherit the land. Those who are cursed by him shall be cut off.Both verses speak of people under God's curse, with Psalm 37 stating that they will be cut off.
Luke 18:14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will …Both passages speak against pride: the psalm declares God's rebuke, and Jesus says those who exalt themselves will be humbled.
Psalm 119:78Let the proud be disappointed, for they have overthrown me wrongfully. I will meditate on your precepts.Both verses speak to God about the proud; verse 78 asks for their disappointment after they have wronged the speaker.
Exodus 18:11Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods because of the way that they treated people arrogantly.”Both passages place human pride under God's greater authority, with Exodus naming his supremacy over all gods.
Deuteronomy 27:26‘Cursed is he who doesn’t uphold the words of this law by doing them.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’”Both passages connect a curse with departure from God's commands; Deuteronomy stresses upholding the law by doing it.
Deuteronomy 30:19I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Therefore choose life, that you may …Both passages speak of a curse; Deuteronomy sets blessing and curse before the people and urges them to choose life.
Jeremiah 44:28–29Those who escape the sword will return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah few in number. All the remnant of Judah, who have gone into the land of …Both texts confront human resistance to God's authority; Jeremiah focuses on whose word will stand after judgment in Egypt.
Malachi 4:1“For behold, the day comes, burning like a furnace, when all the proud and all who work wickedness will be stubble. The day that comes will burn them up,” says …Both passages declare judgment on the proud; Malachi describes a coming day when they will burn like stubble.
Luke 14:11For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”Both passages challenge pride: the psalm names God's rebuke, while Jesus declares that self-exaltation leads to being humbled.
Where this verse fits
Temptation. guilt and confession. sermon or Bible study notes.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
The rebuke belongs to God. In the surrounding lines, the servant asks for God's commandments and keeps meditating on them while princes slander him.
Now put it in your words.
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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).