< Psalms 119 >
1 ALEPH Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the LORD’s law.
ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.
2 Blessed are those who keep his statutes, who seek him with their whole heart.
Blessed are they who search his testimonies: that seek him with their whole heart.
3 Yes, they do nothing wrong. They walk in his ways.
For they that work iniquity, have not walked in his ways.
4 You have commanded your precepts, that we should fully obey them.
Thou hast commanded thy commandments to be kept most diligently.
5 Oh that my ways were steadfast to obey your statutes!
O! that my ways may be directed to keep thy justifications.
6 Then I would not be disappointed, when I consider all of your commandments.
Then shall I not be confounded, when I shall look into all thy commandments.
7 I will give thanks to you with uprightness of heart, when I learn your righteous judgments.
I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned the judgments of thy justice.
8 I will observe your statutes. Do not utterly forsake me.
I will keep thy justifications: O! do not thou utterly forsake me.
9 BETH How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.
BETH. By what doth a young man correct his way? by observing thy words.
10 With my whole heart I have sought you. Do not let me wander from your commandments.
With my whole heart have I sought after thee: let me not stray from thy commandments.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
Thy words have I hidden in my heart, that I may not sin against thee.
12 Blessed are you, LORD. Teach me your statutes.
Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy justifications.
13 With my lips, I have declared all the ordinances of your mouth.
With my lips I have pronounced all the judgments of thy mouth.
14 I have rejoiced in the way of your testimonies, as much as in all riches.
I have been delighted in the way of thy testimonies, as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on your precepts, and consider your ways.
I will meditate on thy commandments: and I will consider thy ways.
16 I will delight myself in your statutes. I will not forget your word.
I will think of thy justifications: I will not forget thy words.
17 GIMEL Do good to your servant. I will live and I will obey your word.
GIMEL. Give bountifully to thy servant, enliven me: and I shall keep thy words.
18 Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things out of your law.
Open thou my eyes: and I will consider the wondrous things of thy law.
19 I am a stranger on the earth. Do not hide your commandments from me.
I am a sojourner on the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.
20 My soul is consumed with longing for your ordinances at all times.
My soul hath coveted to long for thy justifications, at all times.
21 You have rebuked the proud who are cursed, who wander from your commandments.
Thou hast rebuked the proud: they are cursed who decline from thy commandments.
22 Take reproach and contempt away from me, for I have kept your statutes.
Remove from reproach and contempt: because I have sought after thy testimonies.
23 Though princes sit and slander me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.
For princes sat, and spoke against me: but thy servant was employed in thy justifications.
24 Indeed your statutes are my delight, and my counselors.
For thy testimonies are my (meditation) and thy justifications my counsel.
25 DALETH My soul is laid low in the dust. Revive me according to your word!
DALETH. My soul hath cleaved to the pavement: quicken thou me according to thy word.
26 I declared my ways, and you answered me. Teach me your statutes.
I have declared my ways, and thou hast heard me: teach me thy justifications.
27 Let me understand the teaching of your precepts! Then I will meditate on your wondrous works.
Make me to understand the way of thy justifications: and I shall be exercised in thy wondrous works.
28 My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.
My soul hath slumbered through heaviness: strengthen thou me in thy words.
29 Keep me from the way of deceit. Grant me your law graciously!
Remove from me the way of iniquity: and out of thy law have mercy on me.
30 I have chosen the way of truth. I have set your ordinances before me.
I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments I have not forgotten.
31 I cling to your statutes, LORD. Do not let me be disappointed.
I have stuck to thy testimonies, O Lord: put me not to shame.
32 I run in the path of your commandments, for you have set my heart free.
I have run the way of thy commandments, when thou didst enlarge my heart.
33 HE Teach me, LORD, the way of your statutes. I will keep them to the end.
HE. Set before me for a law the way of thy justifications, O Lord: and I will always seek after it.
34 Give me understanding, and I will keep your law. Yes, I will obey it with my whole heart.
Give me understanding, and I will search thy law; and I will keep it with my whole heart.
35 Direct me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in them.
Lead me into the path of thy commandments; for this same I have desired.
36 Turn my heart toward your statutes, not toward selfish gain.
Incline my heart into thy testimonies and not to covetousness.
37 Turn my eyes away from looking at worthless things. Revive me in your ways.
Turn away my eyes that they may not behold vanity: quicken me in thy way.
38 Fulfill your promise to your servant, that you may be feared.
Establish thy word to thy servant, in thy fear.
39 Take away my disgrace that I dread, for your ordinances are good.
Turn away my reproach, which I have apprehended: for thy judgments are delightful.
40 Behold, I long for your precepts! Revive me in your righteousness.
Behold I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy justice.
41 VAV Let your loving kindness also come to me, LORD, your salvation, according to your word.
VAU. Let thy mercy also come upon me, O Lord: thy salvation according to thy word.
42 So I will have an answer for him who reproaches me, for I trust in your word.
So shall I answer them that reproach me in any thing; that I have trusted in thy words.
43 Do not snatch the word of truth out of my mouth, for I put my hope in your ordinances.
And take not thou the word of truth utterly out of my mouth: for in thy words have I hoped exceedingly.
44 So I will obey your law continually, forever and ever.
So shall I always keep thy law, for ever and ever.
45 I will walk in liberty, for I have sought your precepts.
And I walked at large: because I have sought after thy commandments.
46 I will also speak of your statutes before kings, and will not be disappointed.
And I spoke of thy testimonies before kings: and I was not ashamed.
47 I will delight myself in your commandments, because I love them.
I meditated also on thy commandments, which I loved.
48 I reach out my hands for your commandments, which I love. I will meditate on your statutes.
And I lifted up my hands to thy commandments, which I loved: and I was exercised in thy justifications.
49 ZAYIN Remember your word to your servant, because you gave me hope.
ZAIN. Be thou mindful of thy word to thy servant, in which thou hast given me hope.
50 This is my comfort in my affliction, for your word has revived me.
This hath comforted me in my humiliation: because thy word hath enlivened me.
51 The arrogant mock me excessively, but I do not swerve from your law.
The proud did iniquitously altogether: but I declined not from thy law.
52 I remember your ordinances of old, LORD, and have comforted myself.
I remembered, O Lord, thy judgments of old: and I was comforted.
53 Indignation has taken hold on me, because of the wicked who forsake your law.
A fainting hath taken hold of me, because of the wicked that forsake thy law.
54 Your statutes have been my songs in the house where I live.
Thy justifications were the subject of my song, in the place of my pilgrimage.
55 I have remembered your name, LORD, in the night, and I obey your law.
In the night I have remembered thy name, O Lord: and have kept thy law.
56 This is my way, that I keep your precepts.
This happened to me: because I sought after thy justifications.
57 HETH The LORD is my portion. I promised to obey your words.
HETH. O Lord, my portion, I have said, I would keep the law.
58 I sought your favor with my whole heart. Be merciful to me according to your word.
I entreated thy face with all my heart: have mercy on me according to thy word.
59 I considered my ways, and turned my steps to your statutes.
I have thought on my ways: and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
60 I will hurry, and not delay, to obey your commandments.
I am ready, and am not troubled: that I may keep thy commandments.
61 The ropes of the wicked bind me, but I will not forget your law.
The cords of the wicked have encompassed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.
62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks to you, because of your righteous ordinances.
I rose at midnight to give praise to thee; for the judgments of thy justification.
63 I am a friend of all those who fear you, of those who observe your precepts.
I am a partaker with all them that fear thee, and that keep thy commandments.
64 The earth is full of your loving kindness, LORD. Teach me your statutes.
The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy justifications.
65 TETH You have treated your servant well, according to your word, LORD.
TETH. Thou hast done well with thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word.
66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments.
Teach me goodness and discipline and knowledge; for I have believed thy commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted, I went astray; but now I observe your word.
Before I was humbled I offended; therefore have I kept thy word.
68 You are good, and do good. Teach me your statutes.
Thou art good; and in thy goodness teach me thy justifications.
69 The proud have smeared a lie upon me. With my whole heart, I will keep your precepts.
The iniquity of the proud hath been multiplied over me: but I will seek thy commandments with my whole heart.
70 Their heart is as callous as the fat, but I delight in your law.
Their heart is curdled like milk: but I have meditated on thy law.
71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn your statutes.
It is good for me that thou hast humbled me, that I may learn thy justifications.
72 The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.
The law of thy mouth is good to me, above thousands of gold and silver.
73 YODH Your hands have made me and formed me. Give me understanding, that I may learn your commandments.
JOD. Thy hands have made me and formed me: give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandments.
74 Those who fear you will see me and be glad, because I have put my hope in your word.
They that fear thee shall see me, and shall be glad: because I have greatly hoped in thy words.
75 LORD, I know that your judgments are righteous, that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are equity: and in thy truth thou hast humbled me.
76 Please let your loving kindness be for my comfort, according to your word to your servant.
O! let thy mercy be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.
77 Let your tender mercies come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight.
Let thy tender mercies come unto me, and I shall live: for thy law is my (meditation)
78 Let the proud be disappointed, for they have overthrown me wrongfully. I will meditate on your precepts.
Let the proud be ashamed, because they have done unjustly towards me: but I will be employed in thy commandments.
79 Let those who fear you turn to me. They will know your statutes.
Let them that fear thee turn to me and they that know thy testimonies.
80 Let my heart be blameless toward your decrees, that I may not be disappointed.
Let my heart be undefiled in thy justifications, that I may not be confounded.
81 KAPF My soul faints for your salvation. I hope in your word.
CAPH. My soul hath fainted after thy salvation: and in thy word I have very much hoped.
82 My eyes fail for your word. I say, “When will you comfort me?”
My eyes have failed for thy word, saying: When wilt thou comfort me?
83 For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke. I do not forget your statutes.
For I am become like a bottle in the frost: I have not forgotten thy justifications.
84 How many are the days of your servant? When will you execute judgment on those who persecute me?
How many are the days of thy servant: when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?
85 The proud have dug pits for me, contrary to your law.
The wicked have told me fables: but not as thy law.
86 All of your commandments are faithful. They persecute me wrongfully. Help me!
All thy statutes are truth: they have persecuted me unjustly, do thou help me.
87 They had almost wiped me from the earth, but I did not forsake your precepts.
They had almost made an end of me upon earth: but I have not forsaken thy commandments.
88 Preserve my life according to your loving kindness, so I will obey the statutes of your mouth.
Quicken thou me according to thy mercy: and I shall keep the testimonies of thy mouth.
89 LAMEDH LORD, your word is settled in heaven forever.
LAMED. For ever, O Lord, thy word standeth firm in heaven.
90 Your faithfulness is to all generations. You have established the earth, and it remains.
Thy truth unto all generations: thou hast founded the earth, and it continueth.
91 Your laws remain to this day, for all things serve you.
By thy ordinance the day goeth on: for all things serve thee.
92 Unless your law had been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.
Unless thy law had been my (meditation) I had then perhaps perished in my abjection.
93 I will never forget your precepts, for with them, you have revived me.
Thy justifications I will never forget: for by them thou hast given me life.
94 I am yours. Save me, for I have sought your precepts.
I am thine, save thou me: for I have sought thy justifications.
95 The wicked have waited for me, to destroy me. I will consider your statutes.
The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I have understood thy testimonies.
96 I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commands are boundless.
I have seen an end to all persecution: thy commandment is exceeding broad.
97 MEM How I love your law! It is my meditation all day.
MEM. O how have I loved thy law, O Lord! it is my meditation all the day.
98 Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for your commandments are always with me.
Through thy commandment, thou hast made me wiser than my enemies: for it is ever with me.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my (meditation)
I have understood more than all my teachers: because thy testimonies are my (meditation)
100 I understand more than the aged, because I have kept your precepts.
I have had understanding above ancients: because I have sought thy commandments.
101 I have kept my feet from every evil way, that I might observe your word.
I have restrained my feet from every evil way: that I may keep thy words.
102 I have not turned away from your ordinances, for you have taught me.
I have not declined from thy judgments, because thou hast set me a law.
103 How sweet are your promises to my taste, more than honey to my mouth!
How sweet are thy words to my palate! more than honey to my mouth.
104 Through your precepts, I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.
By thy commandments I have had understanding: therefore have I hated every way of iniquity.
105 NUN Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path.
NUN. Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my paths.
106 I have sworn, and have confirmed it, that I will obey your righteous ordinances.
I have sworn and am determined to keep the judgments of thy justice.
107 I am afflicted very much. Revive me, LORD, according to your word.
I have been humbled, O Lord, exceedingly: quicken thou me according to thy word.
108 Accept, I beg you, the willing offerings of my mouth. LORD, teach me your ordinances.
The free offerings of my mouth make acceptable, O Lord: and teach me thy judgments.
109 My soul is continually in my hand, yet I will not forget your law.
My soul is continually in my hands: and I have not forgotten thy law.
110 The wicked have laid a snare for me, yet I have not gone astray from your precepts.
Sinners have laid a snare for me: but I have not erred from thy precepts.
111 I have taken your testimonies as a heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.
I have purchased thy testimonies for an inheritance for ever: because they are a joy to my heart.
112 I have set my heart to perform your statutes forever, even to the end.
I have inclined my heart to do thy justifications for ever, for the reward.
113 SAMEKH I hate double-minded men, but I love your law.
SAMECH. I have hated the unjust: and have loved thy law.
114 You are my hiding place and my shield. I hope in your word.
Thou art my helper and my protector: and in thy word I have greatly hoped.
115 Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God.
Depart from me, ye malignant: and I will search the commandments of my God.
116 Uphold me according to your word, that I may live. Let me not be ashamed of my hope.
Uphold me according to thy word, and I shall live: and let me not be confounded in my expectation.
117 Hold me up, and I will be safe, and will have respect for your statutes continually.
Help me, and I shall be saved: and I will meditate always on thy justifications.
118 You reject all those who stray from your statutes, for their deceit is in vain.
Thou hast despised all them that fall off from thy judgments; for their thought is unjust.
119 You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross. Therefore I love your testimonies.
I have accounted all the sinners of the earth prevaricators: therefore have I loved thy testimonies.
120 My flesh trembles for fear of you. I am afraid of your judgments.
Pierce thou my flesh with thy fear: for I am afraid of thy judgments.
121 AYIN I have done what is just and righteous. Do not leave me to my oppressors.
AIN. I have done judgment and justice: give me not up to them that slander me.
122 Ensure your servant’s well-being. Do not let the proud oppress me.
Uphold thy servant unto good: let not the proud calumniate me.
123 My eyes fail looking for your salvation, for your righteous word.
My eyes have fainted after thy salvation: and for the word of thy justice.
124 Deal with your servant according to your loving kindness. Teach me your statutes.
Deal with thy servant according to thy mercy: and teach me thy justifications.
125 I am your servant. Give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies.
I am thy servant: give me understanding that I may know thy testimonies.
126 It is time to act, LORD, for they break your law.
It is time, O Lord, to do: they have dissipated thy law.
127 Therefore I love your commandments more than gold, yes, more than pure gold.
Therefore have I loved thy commandments above gold and the topaz.
128 Therefore I consider all of your precepts to be right. I hate every false way.
Therefore was I directed to all thy commandments: I have hated all wicked ways.
129 PE Your testimonies are wonderful, therefore my soul keeps them.
PHE. Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore my soul hath sought them.
130 The entrance of your words gives light. It gives understanding to the simple.
The declaration of thy words giveth light: and giveth understanding to little ones.
131 I opened my mouth wide and panted, for I longed for your commandments.
I opened my mouth and panted: because I longed for thy commandments.
132 Turn to me, and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name.
Look thou upon me, and have mercy on me, according to the judgment of them that love thy name.
133 Establish my footsteps in your word. Do not let any iniquity have dominion over me.
Direct my steps according to thy word: and let no iniquity have dominion over me.
134 Redeem me from the oppression of man, so I will observe your precepts.
Redeem me from the calumnies of men: that I may keep thy commandments.
135 Make your face shine on your servant. Teach me your statutes.
Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: and teach me thy justifications.
136 Streams of tears run down my eyes, because they do not observe your law.
My eyes have sent forth springs of water: because they have not kept thy law.
137 TZADHE You are righteous, LORD. Your judgments are upright.
SADE. Thou art just, O Lord: and thy judgment is right.
138 You have commanded your statutes in righteousness. They are fully trustworthy.
Thou hast commanded justice thy testimonies: and thy truth exceedingly.
139 My zeal wears me out, because my enemies ignore your words.
My zeal hath made me pine away: because my enemies forgot thy words.
140 Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them.
Thy word is exceedingly refined: and thy servant hath loved it.
141 I am small and despised. I do not forget your precepts.
I am very young and despised; but I forgot not thy justifications.
142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness. Your law is truth.
Thy justice is justice for ever: and thy law is the truth.
143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold of me. Your commandments are my delight.
Trouble and anguish have found me: thy commandments are my (meditation)
144 Your testimonies are righteous forever. Give me understanding, that I may live.
Thy testimonies are justice for ever: give me understanding, and I shall live.
145 QOPH I have called with my whole heart. Answer me, LORD! I will keep your statutes.
COPH. I cried with my whole heart, hear me, O Lord: I will seek thy justifications.
146 I have called to you. Save me! I will obey your statutes.
I cried unto thee, save me: that I may keep thy commandments.
147 I rise before dawn and cry for help. I put my hope in your words.
I prevented the dawning of the day, and cried: because in thy words I very much hoped.
148 My eyes stay open through the night watches, that I might meditate on your word.
My eyes to thee have prevented the morning: that I might meditate on thy words.
149 Hear my voice according to your loving kindness. Revive me, LORD, according to your ordinances.
Hear thou my voice, O Lord, according to thy mercy: and quicken me according to thy mercy.
150 They draw near who follow after wickedness. They are far from your law.
They that persecute me have drawn nigh to iniquity; but they are gone far off from the law.
151 You are near, LORD. All your commandments are truth.
Thou art near, O Lord: and all thy ways are truth.
152 Of old I have known from your testimonies, that you have founded them forever.
I have known from the beginning concerning thy testimonies: that thou hast founded them for ever.
153 RESH Consider my affliction, and deliver me, for I do not forget your law.
RES. See my humiliation and deliver me: for I have not forgotten the law.
154 Plead my cause, and redeem me! Revive me according to your promise.
Judge my judgment and redeem me: quicken thou me for thy word’s sake.
155 Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek your statutes.
Salvation is far from sinners; because they have not sought thy justifications.
156 Great are your tender mercies, LORD. Revive me according to your ordinances.
Many, O Lord, are thy mercies: quicken me according to thy judgment.
157 Many are my persecutors and my adversaries. I have not swerved from your testimonies.
Many are they that persecute me, and afflict me; but I have not declined from thy testimonies.
158 I look at the faithless with loathing, because they do not observe your word.
I beheld the transgressors, and I pined away; because they kept not thy word.
159 Consider how I love your precepts. Revive me, LORD, according to your loving kindness.
Behold I have loved thy commandments, O Lord; quicken me thou in thy mercy.
160 All of your words are truth. Every one of your righteous ordinances endures forever.
The beginning of thy words is truth: all the judgments of thy justice are for ever.
161 SIN AND SHIN Princes have persecuted me without a cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words.
SIN. Princes have persecuted me without cause: and my heart hath been in awe of thy words.
162 I rejoice at your word, as one who finds great plunder.
I will rejoice at thy words, as one that hath found great spoil.
163 I hate and abhor falsehood. I love your law.
I have hated and abhorred iniquity; but I have loved thy law.
164 Seven times a day, I praise you, because of your righteous ordinances.
Seven times a day I have given praise to thee, for the judgments of thy justice.
165 Those who love your law have great peace. Nothing causes them to stumble.
Much peace have they that love thy law, and to them there is no stumbling block.
166 I have hoped for your salvation, LORD. I have done your commandments.
I looked to thy salvation, O Lord: and I loved thy commandments.
167 My soul has observed your testimonies. I love them exceedingly.
My soul hath kept thy testimonies: and hath loved them exceedingly.
168 I have obeyed your precepts and your testimonies, for all my ways are before you.
I have kept thy commandments and thy testimonies: because all my ways are in thy sight.
169 TAV Let my cry come before you, LORD. Give me understanding according to your word.
TAU. Let my supplication, O Lord, come near in thy sight: give me understanding according to thy word.
170 Let my supplication come before you. Deliver me according to your word.
Let my request come in before thee; deliver thou me according to thy word.
171 Let my lips utter praise, for you teach me your statutes.
My lips shall utter a hymn, when thou shalt teach me thy justifications.
172 Let my tongue sing of your word, for all your commandments are righteousness.
My tongue shall pronounce thy word: because all thy commandments are justice.
173 Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.
Let thy hand be with me to save me; for I have chosen thy precepts.
174 I have longed for your salvation, LORD. Your law is my delight.
I have longed for thy salvation, O Lord; and thy law is my (meditation)
175 Let my soul live, that I may praise you. Let your ordinances help me.
My soul shall live and shall praise thee: and thy judgments shall help me.
176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.
I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost: seek thy servant, because I have not forgotten thy commandments.