Psalm 119:1-176
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Appreciation for God’s precious word
א [Aleph]
119 Happy are those who are blameless* in their way,Who walk in the law of Jehovah.+
2 Happy are those who observe his reminders,+Who search for him with all their heart.+
3 They practice no unrighteousness;They walk in his ways.+
4 You have commandedThat your orders be carefully kept.+
5 If only I could remain steadfast*+So as to observe your regulations!
6 Then I would not be put to shame+When I consider all your commandments.
7 I will praise you with an upright heartWhen I learn your righteous judgments.
8 I will observe your regulations.
May you never utterly forsake me.
ב [Beth]
9 How can a young man keep his path clean?
By keeping on guard according to your word.+
10 With my whole heart I seek you.
Do not let me stray from your commandments.+
11 In my heart I treasure up your saying+So that I may not sin against you.+
12 May you be praised, O Jehovah;Teach me your regulations.
13 With my lips I declareAll the judgments that you have spoken.
14 I rejoice over your reminders+More than over all other valuable things.+
15 I will ponder over* your orders+And keep my eyes on your paths.+
16 I am fond of your statutes.
I will not forget your word.+
ג [Gimel]
17 Deal kindly with your servant,So that I may live and observe your word.+
18 Open my eyes so that I may see clearlyThe wonderful things from your law.
19 I am but a foreigner in the land.+
Do not hide your commandments from me.
20 I am* consumed with longingFor your judgments at all times.
21 You rebuke the presumptuous,The cursed ones who stray from your commandments.+
22 Remove from me* scorn and contempt,For I have observed your reminders.
23 Even when princes sit together and speak against me,Your servant ponders over* your regulations.
24 I am fond of your reminders;+They are my advisers.+
ד [Daleth]
25 I lie* prostrate in the dust.+
Preserve me alive according to your word.+
26 I told you of my ways, and you answered me;Teach me your regulations.+
27 Make me understand the meaning* of your orders,So that I may ponder over* your wonderful works.+
28 I have* been sleepless from grief.
Strengthen me according to your word.
29 Remove from me the way of deception,+And favor me with your law.
30 The way of faithfulness I have chosen.+
I recognize that your judgments are right.
31 I cling to your reminders.+
O Jehovah, do not let me be disappointed.*+
32 I will eagerly pursue* the way of your commandmentsBecause you make room for it in my heart.*
ה [He]
33 Teach me, O Jehovah,+ the way of your regulations,And I will follow it to the end.+
34 Give me understanding,So that I may observe your lawAnd keep it with my whole heart.
35 Guide me* in the pathway of your commandments,+For in it I take delight.
36 Incline my heart to your reminders,Not to selfish gain.*+
37 Turn my eyes away from looking at what is worthless;+Preserve me alive in your way.
38 Fulfill your promise* to your servant,So that you may be feared.*
39 Remove the disgrace that I dread,For your judgments are good.+
40 See how I long for your orders.
Preserve me alive in your righteousness.
ו [Waw]
41 May I experience your loyal love, O Jehovah,+Your salvation in harmony with your promise;*+
42 Then I will reply to the one taunting me,For I put my trust in your word.
43 Do not utterly remove the word of truth from my mouth,For I have hoped in* your judgment.
44 I will keep your law constantly,Forever and ever.+
45 And I will walk about in a place of safety,*+For I search for your orders.
46 I will speak about your reminders in front of kings,And I will not be ashamed.+
47 I am fond of your commandments,Yes, I love them.+
48 I will raise my hands to your commandments, which I love,+And I will ponder over* your regulations.+
ז [Zayin]
49 Remember your word* to your servant,Through which you give me hope.*
50 This is my comfort in my affliction,+For your saying has preserved me alive.
51 The presumptuous utterly scorn me,But I do not deviate from your law.+
52 I remember your judgments from of old,+ O Jehovah,And I find comfort in them.+
53 I am seized with burning rage because of the wicked,Who forsake your law.+
54 Your regulations are songs to meWherever I dwell.*
55 During the night I remember your name, O Jehovah,+So that I may keep your law.
56 This has been my practiceBecause I have observed your orders.
ח [Heth]
57 Jehovah is my portion;+I have promised to keep your words.+
58 I appeal to you* with all my heart;+Show me favor+ according to your promise.*
59 I have examined my ways,In order to turn my feet back to your reminders.+
60 I hurry and do not delayTo keep your commandments.+
61 The ropes of the wicked surround me,But your law I do not forget.+
62 At midnight I get up to give you thanks+For your righteous judgments.
63 I am a friend of all who fear youAnd of those who keep your orders.+
64 Your loyal love, O Jehovah, fills the earth;+Teach me your regulations.
ט [Teth]
65 You have dealt well with your servant,O Jehovah, according to your word.
66 Teach me good sense and knowledge,+For I have put my trust in your commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted, I used to go astray,*But now I keep your saying.+
68 You are good+ and your works are good.
Teach me your regulations.+
69 The presumptuous smear me with lies,But I observe your orders with all my heart.
70 Their heart is insensitive,*+But I am fond of your law.+
71 It is good that I have been afflicted,+So that I may learn your regulations.
72 The law that you have proclaimed is good for me,+More so than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.+
י [Yod]
73 Your hands made me and formed me.
Give me understanding,So that I may learn your commandments.+
74 Those who fear you see me and rejoice,For your word is my hope.*+
75 I know, O Jehovah, that your judgments are righteous+And that you have afflicted me in your faithfulness.+
76 May your loyal love+ please comfort me,According to the promise* you made to your servant.
77 Show me mercy, so that I may keep living,+For I am fond of your law.+
78 May the presumptuous be put to shame,For they wrong me without cause.*
But I will ponder over* your orders.+
79 Let those who fear you return to me,Those who know your reminders.
80 May my heart be blameless in following your regulations,+So that I may not be put to shame.+
כ [Kaph]
81 I long for* your salvation,+For your word is my hope.*
82 My eyes long for your saying+While I say: “When will you comfort me?”+
83 For I am like a skin bottle dried up in the smoke,But your regulations I do not forget.+
84 How many days must your servant wait?
When will you bring judgment against those persecuting me?+
85 The presumptuous dig pits for me,Those who defy your law.
86 All your commandments are trustworthy.
Men persecute me without cause; help me!+
87 They almost exterminated me from the earth,But I did not abandon your orders.
88 Preserve me alive because of your loyal love,So that I may keep the reminders you have spoken.
ל [Lamed]
89 Forever, O Jehovah,Your word will remain in the heavens.+
90 Your faithfulness is through all generations.+
You have firmly established the earth, so that it continues to stand.+
91 By your judgments they* remain until today,For they are all your servants.
92 If I had not been fond of your law,I would have perished in my affliction.+
93 I will never forget your orders,Because by them you have preserved me alive.+
94 I belong to you; save me,+Because I have searched for your orders.+
95 The wicked wait to destroy me,But I give close attention to your reminders.
96 I have seen a limit to all perfection,But your commandment has no limit.*
מ [Mem]
97 How I do love your law!+
I ponder over* it all day long.+
98 Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,+Because it is with me forever.
99 I have more insight than all my teachers,+Because I ponder over* your reminders.
100 I act with more understanding than older men,Because I observe your orders.
101 I refuse to walk on any evil path,+So that I may keep your word.
102 I do not turn aside from your judgments,For you have instructed me.
103 How sweet your sayings are to my palate,More so than honey to my mouth!+
104 By your orders I act with understanding.+
That is why I hate every false path.+
נ [Nun]
105 Your word is a lamp to my foot,And a light for my path.+
106 I have sworn an oath, and I will carry it out,To observe your righteous judgments.
107 I have been greatly afflicted.+
O Jehovah, preserve me alive according to your word.+
108 Please take pleasure in my voluntary offerings of praise,*+ O Jehovah,And teach me your judgments.+
109 My life is in constant danger,*But I have not forgotten your law.+
110 The wicked have set a trap for me,But I have not strayed from your orders.+
111 I take your reminders as my permanent possession,*For they are the joy of my heart.+
112 I have resolved* to obey your regulationsAt all times, down to the last.
ס [Samekh]
113 I hate the halfhearted ones,*+But I love your law.+
114 You are my shelter and my shield,+For your word is my hope.*+
115 Stay away from me, you evil men,+So that I may observe the commandments of my God.
116 Support me as you promised,*+So that I may keep living;Do not let my hope turn into disappointment.*+
117 Support me that I may be saved;+Then I will always concentrate on your regulations.+
118 You reject all those who stray from your regulations,+For they are false and deceitful.
119 You discard all the wicked of the earth as if they were worthless dross.+
That is why I love your reminders.
120 The dread of you makes my body* tremble;I am in fear of your judgments.
ע [Ayin]
121 I have done what is just and righteous.
Do not abandon me to my oppressors!
122 Guarantee the welfare of your servant;May the presumptuous not oppress me.
123 My eyes have grown weary waiting for your salvation+And for your righteous promise.*+
124 Show your loyal love to your servant,+And teach me your regulations.+
125 I am your servant; give me understanding,+So that I may know your reminders.
126 The time has come for Jehovah to act,+For they have broken your law.
127 That is why I love your commandmentsMore than gold, even fine* gold.+
128 Therefore, I consider every instruction* from you to be right;+I hate every false path.+
פ [Pe]
129 Your reminders are wonderful.
That is why I observe* them.
130 The disclosure of your words brings light,+Giving understanding to the inexperienced.+
131 I open my mouth wide and sigh,*Because I long for your commandments.+
132 Turn to me and show me favor,+In keeping with your judgment toward those loving your name.+
133 Guide my steps safely* by your saying;May nothing wicked dominate me.+
134 Rescue* me from oppressive men,And I will keep your orders.
135 Make your face shine* upon your servant,+And teach me your regulations.
136 Tears stream down from my eyesBecause people do not keep your law.+
צ [Tsade]
137 You are righteous, O Jehovah,+And your judgments are fair.+
138 The reminders you give are righteousAnd completely reliable.
139 My zeal consumes me,+Because my adversaries have forgotten your words.
140 Your saying is thoroughly refined,+And your servant loves it.+
141 I am insignificant and despised;+Yet, I have not forgotten your orders.
142 Your righteousness is an eternal righteousness,+And your law is truth.+
143 Though distress and difficulty come upon me,I remain fond of your commandments.
144 The righteousness of your reminders is eternal.
Give me understanding,+ so that I may keep living.
ק [Qoph]
145 I call with my whole heart. Answer me, O Jehovah.
Your regulations I will observe.
146 I call on you; save me!
I will keep your reminders.
147 I have been awake before dawn* to cry for help,+For your words are my hope.*
148 My eyes open before the night watches,So that I can ponder over* your saying.+
149 Do listen to my voice because of your loyal love.+
O Jehovah, preserve me alive according to your justice.
150 Those who engage in shameful conduct* come near;They are far away from your law.
151 You are near, O Jehovah,+And all your commandments are truth.+
152 Long ago I learned about your reminders,That you have established them to last forever.+
ר [Resh]
153 Look on my affliction and rescue me,+For I have not forgotten your law.
154 Defend me* and rescue me;+Preserve me alive in harmony with your promise.*
155 Salvation is far away from the wicked,For they have not searched for your regulations.+
156 Your mercy is great, O Jehovah.+
Preserve me alive in harmony with your justice.
157 My persecutors and my adversaries are many;+But I have not deviated from your reminders.
158 I look on the treacherous with loathing,Because they do not keep your saying.+
159 See how I love your orders!
O Jehovah, preserve me alive because of your loyal love.+
160 The very essence of your word is truth,+And all your righteous judgments endure forever.
ש [Sin] or [Shin]
161 Princes persecute me+ for no cause,But my heart stands in awe of your words.+
162 I rejoice over your saying+Like someone who finds great spoil.
163 I hate falsehood—I detest it+—I love your law.+
164 Seven times a day I praise youBecause of your righteous judgments.
165 Abundant peace belongs to those who love your law;+Nothing can make them stumble.*
166 I hope for your acts of salvation, O Jehovah,And I observe your commandments.
167 I keep* your reminders,And I love them dearly.+
168 I observe your orders and your reminders,For you are aware of all that I do.+
ת [Taw]
169 May my cry for help reach you, O Jehovah.+
According to your word, make me understand.+
170 May my request for favor come before you.
Save me, as you have promised.*
171 May my lips overflow with praise,+For you teach me your regulations.
172 May my tongue sing about your saying,+For all your commandments are righteous.
173 May your hand be ready to help me,+Because I choose to obey your orders.+
174 I long for your salvation, O Jehovah,And I am fond of your law.+
175 Let me* live so that I may praise you;+May your judgments be my help.
176 I have strayed like a lost sheep.+ Search for your servant,For I have not forgotten your commandments.+
Footnotes
^ Or “who keep integrity.”
^ Lit., “O that my ways were firmly established.”
^ Or “study.”
^ Or “My soul is.”
^ Lit., “Roll away from upon me.”
^ Or “studies.”
^ Or “My soul lies.”
^ Lit., “way.”
^ Or “study.”
^ Or “My soul has.”
^ Or “be put to shame.”
^ Lit., “will run.”
^ Or possibly, “you make my heart have the confidence.”
^ Or “Make me walk.”
^ Or “to profits.”
^ Or “saying.”
^ Or possibly, “Which is made to those who fear you.”
^ Or “saying.”
^ Or “I wait for.”
^ Or “a roomy place.”
^ Or “study.”
^ Or “promise.”
^ Or “For which you made me wait.”
^ Or “In the house where I dwell as a foreigner.”
^ Or “I soften (seek the smile of) your face.”
^ Or “saying.”
^ Or “I was sinning by mistake.”
^ Lit., “unfeeling, like fat.”
^ Or “I wait for your word.”
^ Or “saying.”
^ Or possibly, “with lies.”
^ Or “study.”
^ Or “My soul pines for.”
^ Or “I wait for your word.”
^ That is, all his creative works.
^ Lit., “is very broad.”
^ Or “study.”
^ Or “study.”
^ Lit., “the voluntary offerings of my mouth.”
^ Or “My soul is in my hand constantly.”
^ Or “my eternal heritage.”
^ Lit., “have inclined my heart.”
^ Or “men of divided heart.”
^ Or “I wait for your word.”
^ Or “according to your saying.”
^ Or “be put to shame.”
^ Lit., “flesh.”
^ Or “saying.”
^ Or “refined.”
^ Or “order.”
^ Or “my soul observes.”
^ Lit., “pant.”
^ Or “Make my steps steady.”
^ Lit., “Redeem.”
^ Or “smile.”
^ Or “in the morning twilight.”
^ Or “I wait for your words.”
^ Or “study.”
^ Or “in obscene conduct.”
^ Or “Conduct my legal case.”
^ Or “saying.”
^ Or “For them there is no stumbling block.”
^ Or “My soul keeps.”
^ Or “according to your saying.”
^ Or “my soul.”
