Psalm 119

C.M.

C.M. D

ALEPH
1How bless’d are those who keep their way
as blameless and complete;
Who make the law of God the Lord
the path that guides their feet.

2How bless’d are those who do observe
His testimonies sure;
Who seek the Lord with all their heart
3and keep their actions pure.

They do no wrong, but walk within
the ways He has ordained;
4You gave Your precepts so they’d be
obeyed and not disdained.

5Oh, that my ways were steadfastly
aligned with Your decrees!
6Then I would not be put to shame
when Your commands I see.

7I’ll give You thanks with a right heart
when Your right laws I learn.
8I’ll keep Your statutes; O, do not
forsake or from me turn!

BETH
9How can a youth keep his way pure?
Live as Your word demands!
10I’ve sought You wholly; don’t let me
stray from Your pure commands.

11Your word I’ve hidden in my heart,
That I won’t sin ’gainst You.
12Praise be to You, O Lord my God,
Teach me Your statutes true.

13I have recounted with my lips
the laws Your mouth has told.
14I have rejoiced in following
Your statutes more than gold.

15I’ll meditate upon Your ways,
Your precepts I have heard.
16I will delight in Your decrees;
I won’t forget Your word.

GIMEL
17Do good unto Your servant—thus,
I’ll live and keep Your word.
18Open my eyes that I may see
great things Your law has stirred.

19I am a sojourner on earth;
Don’t hide commands from me.
20My soul longs for Your ord’nances,
seeks Your laws constantly.

21The arrogant You do rebuke,
Who stray from Your commands.
22Take scorn from me, for I observe
Your testimonies grand.

23Though rulers sit and slander me,
I treasure Your decrees.
24Your statutes are my pure delight,
like coun-se-lors to me.

DALETH
25My soul clings to the dust—revive
according to Your word.
26I’ve told my ways—You answered me;
Teach me decrees I’ve heard.

27Make me to know Your precepts’ ways;
I’ll ponder wonders heard.
28My soul’s weighed down with grief—give strength,
According to Your word.

29Remove from me deceitful ways;
Your law to me is grace.
30I chose to walk the way of truth:
Your laws before my face.

31I hold fast to Your statutes, Lord;
Let shame not cover me.
32I’ll run the way of Your commands;
My heart has been set free!

HE
33Teach me Your statutes’ way, O Lord,
I’ll keep it to the end.
34Give understanding of Your law;
It’s ever my heart’s friend.

35Make me to walk with pure delight
in Your commandments’ reign;
36Incline my heart to Your decrees
and not to selfish gain.

37Turn my eyes from all worthless things;
Revive me in Your ways.
38Fulfill Your promise, so that You
will be feared with true praise.

39Turn back my dreaded shame, disgrace;
Your laws are good and strong.
40Revive me in Your righteousness;
For Your precepts I long.

VAV
41May Your unfailing love, O Lord,
Come to me in Your word.
42Then I will answer those who taunt,
For I trust in Your Word.

43Don’t take Your word of truth from me;
My hope is in Your laws.
44I’ll keep Your law continually,
Forever without pause.

45I’ll walk about in liberty,
Your precepts I have sought.
46I’ll speak Your statutes before kings
without shame as I ought.

47I’ll take delight in Your commands;
I love them endlessly.
48I lift my hands to Your commands
and ponder Your decrees.

ZAYIN
49Recall Your word, which made me hope
ev’n in the midst of strife.
50This is my comfort in distress:
Your promise gives me life.

51The arrogant deride and scorn;
Your law I won’t forsake.
52Your ordinances, Lord, of old—
In them, I comfort take.

53I am indignant ’gainst all those
who won’t Your law obey.
54Your statutes are my songs within
my pilgrim’s homeward way.

55Lord, I recall Your name at night,
And I will keep Your law.
56This is my practice: I obey
Your precepts one and all.

HETH
57The Lord’s my portion; I have vowed:
Your words I will obey.
58With all my heart, I seek Your face;
Your promise, grace conveys.

59I searched my ways—turned my steps to
Your testimonies grand;
60I hastened, and did not delay
to keep all Your commands.

61Though cords of wicked ones snare me,
I’ll not forget Your law.
62At midnight I’ll give thanks to You,
Your righteous laws recall.

63To all who fear You, I’m a friend,
Those who Your precepts keep.
64The earth’s full of Your love, O Lord;
Teach me Your statutes deep.

TETH
65Do good unto Your servant, Lord,
according to Your Word.
66Teach me discernment; I believe
in Your commands I’ve heard.

67Before affliction came, I strayed,
but now I keep Your Word.
68For You are good, and do what’s good;
Teach me Your statutes, Lord.

69The arrogant smear me with lies;
Your precepts hold my heart.
70Their hearts are hard, but I delight
in what Your law imparts.

71It’s good that I bore suffering;
I learned from Your decrees.
72The law from Your mouth is more dear
than gold or silver heaps.

YODH
73Your hands made me and fashioned me;
Help me learn Your commands.
74Those who fear You see me with joy;
My hope in Your word stands.

75Your judgments, Lord, I know are right;
You chasten faithfully.
76May Your love comfort me because
Your promise is for me.

77May Your compassion bring me life;
Your law is my delight.
78May arrogant be shamed for lies;
I’ll learn Your precepts right.

79May those who fear You turn to me;
They know Your statutes’ way.
80May my heart hold to Your decrees;
That shame with me won’t stay.

KAPH
81My soul longs for Your salvation;
In Your word hopes fully.
82My eyes fail looking for Your word.
“When will You comfort me?”

83Though I’m like wineskin in the smoke,
Your laws shine o’er my woes.
84 How long must I, Your servant, wait?
When will You judge my foes?

85The arrogant dig pits for me;
They don’t regard Your laws.
86All Your commands are trustworthy;
I’m wronged without a cause.

87Help me! They would destroy my life;
I’ve kept Your precepts’ way.
88Revive me in Your steadfast love;
Your statutes I’ll obey.

LAMEDH
89Eternal is Your word, O Lord;
In heaven firm it stands.
90Your faithfulness lasts for all time;
Like earth formed by Your hands.

91Your laws endure until this day,
For You’re served by all things.
92Had Your law not been my delight,
I’d die from suffering.

93I’ll not forget Your precepts, for
by them my life’s revived.
94Preserve me, I am Yours; for by
Your precepts I’ve survived.

95The wicked wait to kill me, but
Your statutes I’ll hold fast.
96To all perfection, there’s an end,
But Your commands are vast.

MEM
97O, how I love Your law, it is
my meditation sure.
98I’m wiser than my enemies
from Your commandments, Lord.

99I’ve insight more than those who teach;
Your statutes are my way.
100I understand more than the old;
Your precepts I obey.

101I’ve kept my feet from evil ways,
That I may keep Your word.
102I’ve not turned from Your ord’nances;
You’ve taught me, and I’ve heard.

103How sweet Your words are to my taste;
Yes, more than honey sweet.
104Your precepts understanding give;
I hate all wrong I meet.

NUN
105Your word’s a lamp unto my feet,
A light unto my path.
106I’ve sworn to keep Your righteous laws;
Confirmed them as my path.

107I am afflicted—save me, Lord,
According to Your word.
108Accept, O Lord, my willing praise;
Teach me Your laws I’ve heard.

109My life’s in danger constantly;
I won’t forget Your law.
110The wicked laid a snare for me;
Your precepts I’ll recall.

111Your statutes are my heritage,
My heart’s joy and my friend.
112My heart is set on Your decrees,
Forever, to the end.

SAMEKH
113All double-minded ones I hate,
But love Your law I’ve heard.
114You are my hiding place and shield;
My hope is in Your word.

115Depart from me, all evil ones;
I keep my God’s commands.
116Sustain me in Your promises;
My life is in Your hands.

And let me not be put to shame,
Because I hope in Thee.
117Uphold me that I may be saved,
And cherish Your decrees.

118You cast away the wand’ring ones
who from Your statutes stray.
For their deceitfulness is vain,
And useless is their way.

119You discard wicked ones like dross,
Therefore, I love Your law.
120My flesh trembles for fear of You,
Your judgments create awe.

AYIN
121I’ve done what’s just and right, don’t leave
me to oppressors’ sway.
122Ensure Your servant’s life, let not
the proud ones have their way.

123My eyes for Your salvation long,
Your righteous word to view.
124Deal with Your servant in Your love;
Teach me Your statutes true.

125I am Your servant; give insight
to know Your statutes all.
126It’s time for You to act, O Lord;
they’ve broken all Your law.

127Because I love all Your commands,
they make pure gold seem loss;
128Because I hold Your precepts right,
I hate each way that’s false.

PE
129Your testimonies wondrous are;
My soul loves to obey.
130Your words, unfolding, give great light;
The simple grasp their way.

131I open wide my mouth and pant,
And long for Your commands.
132Turn to me, and have mercy on
those who in Your name stand.

133Direct my footsteps in Your word;
let sin not rule o’er me.
134Redeem me from oppression, that
I may Your precepts keep.

135Make Your face on Your servant shine,
And teach me Your decrees.
136My eyes flow streams of tears because
Your law they do not keep.

TSADHE
137You only, Lord, are righteous, and
Your judgments all are right.
138Your testimonies faithful are
in righteousness and light.

139Zeal has consumed me for Your words,
Ignored by ev’ry foe.
140Your promises are tested pure;
Your servant loves them so.

141Though I’m despised, I don’t forget
Your precepts giv’n to me.
142Your righteousness is for all time;
Your law is true indeed.

143Though great distress has come on me,
I joy in Your commands.
144Your statutes, righteous evermore,
give wisdom, so I stand.

QOPH
145My heart cries out: O answer, Lord!
Your statutes I’ll obey.
146I cry to You: Save me! I’ll keep
Your testimonies’ way.

147Before dawn I cry out for help,
I put hope in Your word.
148My eyes stay open through the night,
To contemplate Your word.

149In lovingkindness, hear my voice,
revive my life, O Lord;
According to Your ord’nances,
preserve my life, O Lord.

150All those who follow wickedness
are always drawing near;
But they are far away from You,
And from Your law so dear.

151Yet You are near me, O my Lord,
And Your commands are true.
152Of old, I’ve known Your statutes are
established firm by You.

RESH
153Look on my suff’ring—rescue me!
Your law I don’t forget.
154Defend my cause, redeem my life;
Your Word revives me yet.

155Salvation’s far from wicked ones;
They don’t seek Your decrees.
156Great are Your mercies, Lord, revive
me as Your law grants me.

157The foes who persecute are great;
Still, I Your statutes keep.
158I loathe the faithless, treach’rous ones—
Your word they will not keep.

159See how I love Your precepts, Lord;
Revive me in Your love.
160Your word is truth; Your righteous laws
forever stand above.

SIN/SHIN
161 The rulers hate me without cause;
I hold Your word in awe.
162I find joy in Your promises,
Like treasure is Your law.

163I hate false ways—despise them all—
But how I love Your law!
164I praise You seven times each day,
For all Your righteous laws.

165Great peace have those who love Your law;
When stumbling comes, they stand.
166I hope in Your salvation, Lord,
And follow Your commands.

167Your testimonies I obey,
And love them earnestly.
168Your statutes, precepts, I do keep;
My ways are known to Thee.

TAV
169Let my cry come before You, Lord,
Give insight by Your word.
170My supplication comes to You;
Deliver by Your word.

171May my lips overflow with praise;
You teach me Your decrees.
172May my tongue sing, for Your commands
are righteousness indeed.

173May Your hand help me, for I chose
Your precepts, good and right.
174I long for Your salvation, Lord;
Your law is my delight.

175O may I live to praise You, Lord,
May Your laws help me stand.
176I’ve strayed like a lost sheep – seek me!
I’ve not lost Your commands.