Psalms 63:8
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
My soul follows hard after you: your right hand upholds me.
American King James Version (AKJV)
My soul follows hard after you: your right hand upholds me.
American Standard Version (ASV)
My soul followeth hard after thee: Thy right hand upholdeth me.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
My soul keeps ever near you: your right hand is my support.
Webster's Revision
My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.
World English Bible
My soul stays close to you. Your right hand holds me up.
English Revised Version (ERV)
My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.
Clarke's Psalms 63:8 Bible Commentary
My soul followeth hard after thee - דבקה נפשי אחריך dabekah naphshi achareycha, "My soul cleaves (or) is glued after thee." This phrase not only shows the diligence of the pursuit, and the nearness of the attainment, but also the fast hold he had got of the mercy of his God.
Barnes's Psalms 63:8 Bible Commentary
My soul followeth hard after thee - The word used here - דבק dâbaq - means properly to cleave to; to adhere; to be glued to; to stick fast. Then it means to attach oneself to anything; and then, to pursue or follow after. The idea here is that of adhering to, or cleaving to; and the meaning is, that the psalmist adhered firmly to God, as pieces of wood glued together adhere to each other; that he, as it were, stuck fast to him; that he would not leave him or be separated from him. The language represents the feelings of true piety in adhering firmly and constantly to God, whatever there may be that tends to separate us from him. The adhesion of bodies by glue is a striking but not an adequate representation of the firmness with which the soul adheres to God. Portions of matter held together by glue may be separated; the soul of the true believer never can be separated from God.
Thy right hand upholdeth me - The right hand is that by which we accomplish anything; and, by constant use, is stronger than the left hand. Hence, the expression is equivalent to saying that God upheld him with all his strength. The meaning is, that God sustained him in life; defended him in danger; kept him from the power of his enemies.