< Psalms 119 >
1 ALEPH. Blessed are the perfect in the way, who walk in the law of Jehovah.
Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the Law of the LORD.
2 Blessed are they that observe his testimonies, that seek him with the whole heart;
Blessed are those who keep His testimonies and seek Him with all their heart.
3 Who also do no unrighteousness: they walk in his ways.
They do no iniquity; they walk in His ways.
4 Thou hast enjoined thy precepts, to be kept diligently.
You have ordained Your precepts, that we should keep them diligently.
5 Oh that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
Oh, that my ways were committed to keeping Your statutes!
6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
Then I would not be ashamed when I consider all Your commandments.
7 I will give thee thanks with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.
I will praise You with an upright heart when I learn Your righteous judgments.
8 I will keep thy statutes: forsake me not utterly.
I will keep Your statutes; do not utterly forsake me.
9 BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his path? by taking heed according to thy word.
How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your word.
10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: let me not wander from thy commandments.
With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me stray from Your commandments.
11 Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.
I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.
12 Blessed art thou, Jehovah! teach me thy statutes.
Blessed are You, O LORD; teach me Your statutes.
13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
With my lips I proclaim all the judgments of Your mouth.
14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as [much as] in all wealth.
I rejoice in the way of Your testimonies as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate upon thy precepts, and have respect unto thy paths.
I will meditate on Your precepts and regard Your ways.
16 I delight myself in thy statutes; I will not forget thy word.
I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.
17 GIMEL. Deal bountifully with thy servant [and] I shall live; and I will keep thy word.
Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live and keep Your word.
18 Open mine eyes, and I shall behold wondrous things out of thy law.
Open my eyes that I may see wondrous things from Your law.
19 I am a stranger in the land; hide not thy commandments from me.
I am a stranger on the earth; do not hide Your commandments from me.
20 My soul breaketh for longing after thy judgments at all times.
My soul is consumed with longing for Your judgments at all times.
21 Thou hast rebuked the proud [that are] cursed, who wander from thy commandments.
You rebuke the arrogant— the cursed who stray from Your commandments.
22 Roll off from me reproach and contempt; for I observe thy testimonies.
Remove my scorn and contempt, for I have kept Your testimonies.
23 Princes also did sit [and] talk together against me: thy servant doth meditate in thy statutes.
Though rulers sit and slander me, Your servant meditates on Your statutes.
24 Thy testimonies also are my delight [and] my counsellors.
Your testimonies are indeed my delight; they are my counselors.
25 DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken me according to thy word.
My soul cleaves to the dust; revive me according to Your word.
26 I have declared my ways, and thou hast answered me: teach me thy statutes.
I recounted my ways, and You answered me; teach me Your statutes.
27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts, and I will meditate upon thy wondrous works.
Make clear to me the way of Your precepts; then I will meditate on Your wonders.
28 My soul melteth for sadness: strengthen me according to thy word.
My soul melts with sorrow; strengthen me according to Your word.
29 Remove from me the way of falsehood, and graciously grant me thy law.
Remove me from the path of deceit and graciously grant me Your law.
30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness; thy judgments have I set [before me].
I have chosen the way of truth; I have set Your ordinances before me.
31 I cleave unto thy testimonies; Jehovah, let me not be ashamed.
I cling to Your testimonies, O LORD; let me not be put to shame.
32 I will run the way of thy commandments when thou shalt enlarge my heart.
I run in the path of Your commandments, for You will enlarge my heart.
33 HE. Teach me, O Jehovah, the way of thy statutes, and I will observe it [unto] the end.
Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, and I will keep them to the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I will observe thy law; and I will keep it with [my] whole heart.
Give me understanding that I may obey Your law, and follow it with all my heart.
35 Make me to walk in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
Direct me in the path of Your commandments, for there I find delight.
36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to gain.
Turn my heart to Your testimonies and not to covetous gain.
37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; quicken me in thy way.
Turn my eyes away from worthless things; revive me with Your word.
38 Establish thy word unto thy servant, who is [devoted] to thy fear.
Establish Your word to Your servant, to produce reverence for You.
39 Turn away my reproach which I fear; for thy judgments are good.
Turn away the disgrace I dread, for Your judgments are good.
40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.
How I long for Your precepts! Revive me in Your righteousness.
41 VAU. And let thy loving-kindness come unto me, O Jehovah, — thy salvation according to thy word.
May Your loving devotion come to me, O LORD, Your salvation, according to Your promise.
42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me; for I confide in thy word.
Then I can answer him who taunts, for I trust in Your word.
43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; because I have hoped in thy judgments.
Never take Your word of truth from my mouth, for I hope in Your judgments.
44 Then will I keep thy law continually, for ever and ever;
I will always obey Your law, forever and ever.
45 And I will walk at liberty, for I have sought thy precepts;
And I will walk in freedom, for I have sought Your precepts.
46 And I will speak of thy testimonies before kings, and will not be ashamed;
I will speak of Your testimonies before kings, and I will not be ashamed.
47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved;
I delight in Your commandments because I love them.
48 And I will lift up my hands unto thy commandments, which I have loved, and I will meditate in thy statutes.
I lift up my hands to Your commandments, which I love, and I meditate on Your statutes.
49 ZAIN. Remember the word for thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.
Remember Your word to Your servant, upon which You have given me hope.
50 This is my comfort in mine affliction; for thy word hath quickened me.
This is my comfort in affliction, that Your promise has given me life.
51 The proud have derided me beyond measure: I have not declined from thy law.
The arrogant utterly deride me, but I do not turn from Your law.
52 I remembered thy judgments of old, O Jehovah, and have comforted myself.
I remember Your judgments of old, O LORD, and in them I find comfort.
53 Burning indignation hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked who forsake thy law.
Rage has taken hold of me because of the wicked who reject Your law.
54 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.
Your statutes are songs to me in the house of my pilgrimage.
55 I have remembered thy name, O Jehovah, in the night, and have kept thy law.
In the night, O LORD, I remember Your name, that I may keep Your law.
56 This I have had, because I have observed thy precepts.
This is my practice, for I obey Your precepts.
57 CHETH. My portion, O Jehovah, I have said, is to keep thy words.
The LORD is my portion; I have promised to keep Your words.
58 I have sought thy favour with [my] whole heart: be gracious unto me according to thy word.
I have sought Your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to Your promise.
59 I have thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
I considered my ways and turned my steps to Your testimonies.
60 I have made haste, and not delayed, to keep thy commandments.
I hurried without hesitating to keep Your commandments.
61 The bands of the wicked have wrapped me round: I have not forgotten thy law.
Though the ropes of the wicked bind me, I do not forget Your law.
62 At midnight I rise up to give thanks unto thee, because of thy righteous judgments.
At midnight I rise to give You thanks for Your righteous judgments.
63 I am the companion of all that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.
I am a friend to all who fear You, and to those who keep Your precepts.
64 The earth, O Jehovah, is full of thy loving-kindness: teach me thy statutes.
The earth is filled with Your loving devotion, O LORD; teach me Your statutes.
65 TETH. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O Jehovah, according to thy word.
You are good to Your servant, O LORD, according to Your word.
66 Teach me good discernment and knowledge; for I have believed in thy commandments.
Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in Your commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep thy word.
Before I was afflicted, I went astray; but now I keep Your word.
68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.
You are good, and You do what is good; teach me Your statutes.
69 The proud have forged falsehood against me: I will observe thy precepts with [my] whole heart.
Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, I keep Your precepts with all my heart.
70 Their heart is as fat as grease: as for me, I delight in thy law.
Their hearts are hard and callous, but I delight in Your law.
71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes.
It was good for me to be afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes.
72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.
The law from Your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.
73 YOD. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandments.
Your hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding to learn Your commandments.
74 They that fear thee will see me, and rejoice; because I have hoped in thy word.
May those who fear You see me and rejoice, for I have hoped in Your word.
75 I know, Jehovah, that thy Judgments are righteousness, and that in faithfulness thou hast afflicted me.
I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are righteous, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.
76 Oh let thy loving-kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.
May Your loving devotion comfort me, I pray, according to Your promise to Your servant.
77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live; for thy law is my delight.
May Your compassion come to me, that I may live, for Your law is my delight.
78 Let the proud be ashamed; for they have acted perversely towards me with falsehood: as for me, I meditate in thy precepts.
May the arrogant be put to shame for subverting me with a lie; I will meditate on Your precepts.
79 Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that know thy testimonies.
May those who fear You turn to me, those who know Your testimonies.
80 Let my heart be perfect in thy statutes, that I be not ashamed.
May my heart be blameless in Your statutes, that I may not be put to shame.
81 CAPH. My soul fainteth for thy salvation; I hope in thy word.
My soul faints for Your salvation; I wait for Your word.
82 Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?
My eyes fail, looking for Your promise; I ask, “When will You comfort me?”
83 For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; I do not forget thy statutes.
Though I am like a wineskin dried up by smoke, I do not forget Your statutes.
84 How many shall be the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?
How many days must Your servant wait? When will You execute judgment on my persecutors?
85 The proud have digged pits for me, which is not according to thy law.
The arrogant have dug pits for me in violation of Your law.
86 All thy commandments are faithfulness. They persecute me wrongfully: help thou me.
All Your commandments are faithful; I am persecuted without cause—help me!
87 They had almost consumed me upon the earth; but as for me, I forsook not thy precepts.
They almost wiped me from the earth, but I have not forsaken Your precepts.
88 Quicken me according to thy loving-kindness, and I will keep the testimony of thy mouth.
Revive me according to Your loving devotion, that I may obey the testimony of Your mouth.
89 LAMED. For ever, O Jehovah, thy word is settled in the heavens.
Your word, O LORD, is everlasting; it is firmly fixed in the heavens.
90 Thy faithfulness is from generation to generation: thou hast established the earth, and it standeth.
Your faithfulness continues through all generations; You established the earth, and it endures.
91 By thine ordinances they stand this day; for all things are thy servants.
Your ordinances stand to this day, for all things are servants to You.
92 Unless thy law had been my delight, I should then have perished in mine affliction.
If Your law had not been my delight, then I would have perished in my affliction.
93 I will never forget thy precepts; for by them thou hast quickened me.
I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have revived me.
94 I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.
I am Yours; save me, for I have sought Your precepts.
95 The wicked have awaited me to destroy me; [but] I attend unto thy testimonies.
The wicked wait to destroy me, but I will ponder Your testimonies.
96 I have seen an end of all perfection: thy commandment is exceeding broad.
I have seen a limit to all perfection, but Your commandment is without limit.
97 MEM. Oh how I love thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
Oh, how I love Your law! All day long it is my (meditation)
98 Thy commandments make me wiser than mine enemies; for they are ever with me.
Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for they are always with me.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers; for thy testimonies are my (meditation)
I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my (meditation)
100 I understand more than the aged, because I have observed thy precepts.
I discern more than the elders, for I obey Your precepts.
101 I have refrained my feet from every evil path, that I might keep thy word.
I have kept my feet from every evil path, that I may keep Your word.
102 I have not departed from thy judgments; for it is thou that hast taught me.
I have not departed from Your ordinances, for You Yourself have taught me.
103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! more than honey to my mouth!
How sweet are Your words to my taste— sweeter than honey in my mouth!
104 From thy precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false path.
I gain understanding from Your precepts; therefore I hate every false way.
105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
106 I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.
I have sworn and confirmed that I will keep Your righteous judgments.
107 I am afflicted very much; O Jehovah, quicken me according to thy word.
I am severely afflicted, O LORD; revive me through Your word.
108 Accept, I beseech thee, Jehovah, the voluntary-offerings of my mouth, and teach me thy judgments.
Accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me Your judgments.
109 My life is continually in my hand; but I do not forget thy law.
I constantly take my life in my hands, yet I do not forget Your law.
110 The wicked have laid a snare for me; but I have not wandered from thy precepts.
The wicked have set a snare for me, but I have not strayed from Your precepts.
111 Thy testimonies have I taken as a heritage for ever; for they are the rejoicing of my heart.
Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.
112 I have inclined my heart to perform thy statutes for ever, unto the end.
I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes, even to the very end.
113 SAMECH. The double-minded have I hated; but thy law do I love.
The double-minded I despise, but Your law I love.
114 Thou art my hiding-place and my shield: I hope in thy word.
You are my hiding place and my shield; I put my hope in Your word.
115 Depart from me, ye evil-doers; and I will observe the commandments of my God.
Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may obey the commandments of my God.
116 Uphold me according to thy word, that I may live; and let me not be ashamed of my hope.
Sustain me as You promised, that I may live; let me not be ashamed of my hope.
117 Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe; and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.
Uphold me, and I will be saved, that I may always regard Your statutes.
118 Thou hast set at nought all them that wander from thy statutes; for their deceit is falsehood.
You reject all who stray from Your statutes, for their deceitfulness is in vain.
119 Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth [like] dross; therefore I love thy testimonies.
All the wicked on earth You discard like dross; therefore I love Your testimonies.
120 My flesh shuddereth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.
My flesh trembles in awe of You; I stand in fear of Your judgments.
121 AIN. I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressors.
I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my oppressors.
122 Be surety for thy servant for good; let not the proud oppress me.
Ensure Your servant’s well-being; do not let the arrogant oppress me.
123 Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness.
My eyes fail, looking for Your salvation, and for Your righteous promise.
124 Deal with thy servant according to thy loving-kindness, and teach me thy statutes.
Deal with Your servant according to Your loving devotion, and teach me Your statutes.
125 I am thy servant; give me understanding that I may know thy testimonies.
I am Your servant; give me understanding, that I may know Your testimonies.
126 It is time for Jehovah to work: they have made void thy law.
It is time for the LORD to act, for they have broken Your law.
127 Therefore I love thy commandments above gold, yea, above fine gold.
Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, even the purest gold.
128 Therefore I regard all [thy] precepts concerning all things to be right: I hate every false path.
Therefore I admire all Your precepts and hate every false way.
129 PE. Thy testimonies are wonderful; therefore doth my soul observe them.
Wonderful are Your testimonies; therefore I obey them.
130 The entrance of thy words giveth light, giving understanding unto the simple.
The unfolding of Your words gives light; it informs the simple.
131 I opened my mouth wide and panted; for I longed for thy commandments.
I open my mouth and pant, longing for Your commandments.
132 Turn unto me, and be gracious unto me, as thou art wont to do unto those that love thy name.
Turn to me and show me mercy, as You do to those who love Your name.
133 Establish my steps in thy word; and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
Order my steps in Your word; let no sin rule over me.
134 Deliver me from the oppression of man; and I will keep thy precepts.
Redeem me from the oppression of man, that I may keep Your precepts.
135 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant, and teach me thy statutes.
Make Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes.
136 Mine eyes run down with streams of water, because they keep not thy law.
My eyes shed streams of tears because Your law is not obeyed.
137 TZADE. Righteous art thou, Jehovah, and upright are thy judgments.
Righteous are You, O LORD, and upright are Your judgments.
138 Thou hast commanded thy testimonies in righteousness and exceeding faithfulness.
The testimonies You have laid down are righteous and altogether faithful.
139 My zeal destroyeth me, because mine oppressors have forgotten thy words.
My zeal has consumed me because my foes forget Your words.
140 Thy word is exceeding pure, and thy servant loveth it.
Your promise is completely pure; therefore Your servant loves it.
141 I am little and despised: thy precepts have I not forgotten.
I am lowly and despised, but I do not forget Your precepts.
142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is truth.
Your righteousness is everlasting and Your law is true.
143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold upon me: thy commandments are my delights.
Trouble and distress have found me, but Your commandments are my delight.
144 The righteousness of thy testimonies is for ever: give me understanding, and I shall live.
Your testimonies are righteous forever. Give me understanding, that I may live.
145 KOPH. I have called with [my] whole heart; answer me, O Jehovah: I will observe thy statutes.
I call with all my heart; answer me, O LORD! I will obey Your statutes.
146 I call upon thee; save me, and I will keep thy testimonies.
I call to You; save me, that I may keep Your testimonies.
147 I anticipate the morning-dawn and I cry: I hope in thy word.
I rise before dawn and cry for help; in Your word I have put my hope.
148 Mine eyes anticipate the night-watches, that I may meditate in thy word.
My eyes anticipate the watches of night, that I may meditate on Your word.
149 Hear my voice according to thy loving-kindness: O Jehovah, quicken me according to thy judgment.
Hear my voice, O LORD, according to Your loving devotion; give me life according to Your justice.
150 They have drawn nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law.
Those who follow after wickedness draw near; they are far from Your law.
151 Thou, Jehovah, art near, and all thy commandments are truth.
You are near, O LORD, and all Your commandments are true.
152 From thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.
Long ago I learned from Your testimonies that You have established them forever.
153 RESH. See mine affliction, and deliver me; for I have not forgotten thy law.
Look upon my affliction and rescue me, for I have not forgotten Your law.
154 Plead my cause, and redeem me: quicken me according to thy word.
Defend my cause and redeem me; revive me according to Your word.
155 Salvation is far from the wicked; for they seek not thy statutes.
Salvation is far from the wicked because they do not seek Your statutes.
156 Many are thy tender mercies, O Jehovah; quicken me according to thy judgments.
Great are Your mercies, O LORD; revive me according to Your ordinances.
157 Many are my persecutors and mine oppressors; I have not declined from thy testimonies.
Though my persecutors and foes are many, I have not turned from Your testimonies.
158 I beheld them that deal treacherously, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.
I look on the faithless with loathing because they do not keep Your word.
159 See how I have loved thy precepts: quicken me, O Jehovah, according to thy loving-kindness.
Consider how I love Your precepts, O LORD; give me life according to Your loving devotion.
160 The sum of thy word is truth, and every righteous judgment of thine is for ever.
The entirety of Your word is truth, and all Your righteous judgments endure forever.
161 SHIN. Princes have persecuted me without a cause; but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.
Rulers persecute me without cause, but my heart fears only Your word.
162 I have joy in thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.
I rejoice in Your promise like one who finds great spoil.
163 I hate and abhor falsehood; thy law do I love.
I hate and abhor falsehood, but Your law I love.
164 Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.
Seven times a day I praise You for Your righteous judgments.
165 Great peace have they that love thy law, and nothing doth stumble them.
Abundant peace belongs to those who love Your instruction; nothing can make them stumble.
166 I have hoped for thy salvation, O Jehovah, and have done thy commandments.
I wait for Your salvation, O LORD, and I carry out Your commandments.
167 My soul hath kept thy testimonies, and I love them exceedingly.
I obey Your testimonies and love them greatly.
168 I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies; for all my ways are before thee.
I obey Your precepts and Your testimonies, for all my ways are before You.
169 TAU. Let my cry come near before thee, Jehovah: give me understanding according to thy word.
May my cry come before You, O LORD; give me understanding according to Your word.
170 Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word.
May my plea come before You; rescue me according to Your promise.
171 My lips shall pour forth praise when thou hast taught me thy statutes.
My lips pour forth praise, for You teach me Your statutes.
172 My tongue shall speak aloud of thy word; for all thy commandments are righteousness.
My tongue sings of Your word, for all Your commandments are righteous.
173 Let thy hand be for my help; for I have chosen thy precepts.
May Your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen Your precepts.
174 I have longed for thy salvation, O Jehovah, and thy law is my delight.
I long for Your salvation, O LORD, and Your law is my delight.
175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.
Let me live to praise You; may Your judgments sustain me.
176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep: seek thy servant; for I have not forgotten thy commandments.
I have strayed like a lost sheep; seek Your servant, for I have not forgotten Your commandments.