< Psalms 119 >
1 [ALEPH.] How happy the men of blameless life, who walk in the law of Yahweh.
Happy they whose life is blameless, who walk by the law of the Lord.
2 How happy they who observe his testimonies, with a whole heart, they seek him.
Happy they who keep his charges, and seek him with all their hearts;
3 Yea, they have not wrought perversity, In his ways, have they walked.
who have done no wrong, but walk in his ways.
4 Thou, hast commanded thy precepts, that they should be diligently kept.
You yourself have appointed your precepts to be kept with diligence.
5 Oh would that my ways might be settled! that I might keep thy statutes.
O to be steadily guided in the keeping of your statutes!
6 Then, shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
Then unashamed shall I be, when I look towards all your commandments.
7 I will thank thee with uprightness of heart, when I have learned thy righteous regulations.
I will thank you with heart unfeigned, when I learn your righteous judgments.
8 Thy statutes, will I keep, Do not thou forsake me utterly.
I will observe your statutes: O forsake me not utterly.
9 [BETH.] Wherewithal can a young man keep pure his way? By taking heed, according to thy word.
How can a young person keep their life pure? By giving heed to your word.
10 With all my heart, have I sought thee, Suffer me not to be led astray from thy commandments.
With all my heart have I sought you, let me not stray from your commandments.
11 In my heart, have I treasured what thou hast said, to the end I may not sin against thee.
In my heart have I treasured your word, to keep from sinning against you.
12 Blessed art thou, O Yahweh—Teach me thy statutes.
Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes.
13 With my lips, have I recounted All the regulations of thy mouth.
With my lips have I rehearsed all the judgments of your mouth.
14 In the way of thy testimonies, have I rejoiced, Like as over all riches.
I delight in the way of your charges, more than in riches of all sorts.
15 In thy precepts, will I meditate, that I may discern thy paths.
I will muse upon your precepts, and look to your paths.
16 In thy statutes, will I find my dear delight, I will not forget thy word.
In your statutes I delight, I will not forget your word.
17 [GIMEL.] Bestow thy bounties upon thy servant—let me live, That I may observe thy word.
Grant that your servant may live, and I will observe your word.
18 Unveil thou mine eyes, that I may discern Wondrous things out of thy law.
Open my eyes, that I see wondrous things out of your law.
19 A sojourner, am, I, in the earth, Do not hide from me, thy commandments.
But a guest am I on the earth: hide not your commandments from me.
20 My soul is crushed with longing for thy just decisions at all times.
My heart is crushed with longing for your ordinances, at all times.
21 Thou hast rebuked the proud as accursed, who stray from thy commandments.
You rebuke the proud, the accursed, who wander from your commandments.
22 Roll from off me, reproach and contempt, For, thy testimonies, have I observed.
Roll away from me scorn and contempt, for I have observed your charges.
23 Even rulers have taken their seat, against me, have talked, Thy servant, will still meditate in thy statutes.
Though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will muse on your statutes.
24 Yea, thy testimonies, are my dear delight, My counsellors.
Your charges are my delight, they are my counsellors.
25 [DALETH.] My soul, cleaveth to the dust, Give me life, according to thy word.
I lie grovelling in the dust; revive me, as you have promised.
26 My ways, I recounted, and thou didst answer me, Teach me thy statutes.
I told of my ways, you made answer; teach me your statutes.
27 The way of thy precepts, cause thou me to understand, and I will indeed meditate in thy wonders.
Grant me insight into your precepts, and I will muse on your wonders.
28 My soul weepeth itself away, for grief, Confirm thou me, according to thy word.
I am overcome with sorrow; raise me up, as you have promised.
29 The way of falsehood, take thou from me, and, with thy law, O favour me.
Put the way of falsehood from me, and graciously grant me your law.
30 The way of faithfulness, have I chosen, Thy regulations, have I deemed right.
I have chosen the way of fidelity, your ordinances I long for.
31 I have kept close to thy testimonies, O Yahweh! do not put me to shame.
I hold fast to your charges: O put me not, Lord, to shame.
32 The way of thy commandments, will I run, for thou wilt enlarge my heart.
I will run in the way of your commandments, for you give me room of heart.
33 [HE.] Point out to me, O Yahweh, the way of thy statutes, that I may observe it unto the end.
Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes, and I will keep it to the end,
34 Give me understanding, that I may observe thy law, that I may keep it with a whole heart.
instruct me to keep your law, and I will observe it with all my heart.
35 Guide me in the path of thy commandments, for, therein, do I find pleasure.
Guide me in the path of your commandments, for therein do I delight.
36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not unto unjust gain.
Incline my heart to your charges, and not to greed of gain.
37 Turn away mine eyes, from beholding vanity, In thy way, give me life.
Turn away my eyes from vain sights, revive me by your word.
38 Establish, unto thy servant, thy word, which pertaineth to the reverence of thee.
Confirm to your servant the promise which is given to those who fear you.
39 Cause to pass away my reproach, that I have feared, for, thy regulations, are good.
Remove the reproach which I dread, because your judgments are good.
40 Lo! I have longed for thy precepts, In thy righteousness, give me life.
Behold, I long for your precepts. Quicken me in your righteousness.
41 [WAW.] And let thy lovingkindness reach me, O Yahweh, thy salvation, according to thy word.
Visit me, Lord, with your love and salvation, as you have promised.
42 So shall I have something to answer him that reproacheth me, That I have trusted in thy word.
So shall I answer my slanderers, for my trust is in your word.
43 And do not snatch away from my mouth the word of truth in any wise, because, for thy regulation, have I waited.
Snatch not from my mouth the word of truth, for in your judgments I hope.
44 That I may keep thy law continually, to times age-abiding and beyond.
I will keep your law continually, for ever and evermore.
45 That I may walk to and fro in a large place, because, thy precepts, have I sought.
So shall I walk in wide spaces, for I give my mind to your precepts.
46 That I may speak of thy testimonies before kings, and not be ashamed.
I will speak of your charge before kings, and will not be ashamed thereof.
47 That I may find dear delight in thy commandments, which I have loved.
Your commandments are my delight, I love them exceedingly.
48 That I may lift up my hands unto thy commandments, which I have loved, and may meditate in thy statutes.
I will lift up my hands to your commandments, and muse upon your statutes.
49 [ZAYIN.] Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.
Remember your word to your servant, on which you have made me to hope.
50 This, is my comfort in mine affliction, that, thy word, hath given me life.
This is my comfort in trouble, that your word gives life to me.
51 Insolent men, have derided me exceedingly, From thy law, have I not swerved.
The arrogant utterly scorn me, but I have not declined from your law.
52 I have remembered thy regulations, [which have come down] from age-past times, O Yahweh, and have consoled myself.
When I think of your judgments of old, O Lord, I take to me comfort.
53 A raging heat, hath seized me, by reason of the lawless, who forsake thy law.
I am seized with glowing anger at the wicked who forsake your law.
54 Songs, have thy statutes become to me, in my house of sojourn.
Your statutes have been to me songs in the house of my pilgrimage.
55 I have remembered, in the night, thy Name, O Yahweh, and have kept thy law.
I remember your name in the night, O Lord and observe your law.
56 This, have I had, because, thy precepts, have I observed.
My lot has been this, that I have kept your precepts.
57 [HETH.] My portion, is Yahweh, I have promised that I would keep thy words.
My portion are you, O Lord: I have promised to keep your words.
58 I have sought the smile of thy face with all my heart, Show me favour, according to thy word.
I entreat you with all my heart; grant me your promised favor.
59 I have thought upon my ways, and have turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
I have thought upon my ways, and turned my feet to your charges.
60 I have hastened, and not delayed, to keep thy commandments.
I hasted and tarried not to give heed to your commandments.
61 The meshes of the lawless, have surrounded me, Thy law, have I not forgotten.
Though the godless have wound their cords round me, I have not forgotten your law.
62 At midnight, I arise to give thanks unto thee, For thy righteous regulations.
At midnight I rise to praise you because of your righteous judgments.
63 Companion, am I, to all who revere thee, and to them who keep thy precepts.
With all those who fear you I company, aid with those who observe your precepts.
64 Of thy lovingkindness, O Yahweh, the earth, is full, Thy statutes, teach thou me.
The earth, Lord, is full of your kindness; teach me your Statutes.
65 [TETH.] Well, hast thou dealt with thy servant, O Yahweh, according to thy word.
Well have you dealt with your servant, as you have promised, O Lord.
66 Good judgment and knowledge, teach thou me, For, in thy commandments, have I trusted.
Teach me discretion and knowledge, for I have believed your commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted, I myself was going astray, but, now, thy word, have I kept.
Till trouble came I was a wanderer, but now I observe your word.
68 Good, thou art, and doing good, Teach me thy statutes.
You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.
69 Insolent men have plastered falsehood over me, I, with a whole heart, will observe thy precepts.
The proud have forged lies against me, but I keep your precepts with all my heart.
70 Gross, like fat, is their heart, I, in thy law, have found dear delight.
Their heart is gross like fat, but I delight in your law.
71 It is, well for me, that I was afflicted, That I might learn thy statutes.
It was good for me to be humbled, that I should learn your statutes.
72 Better to me, is the law of thy mouth, than thousands of gold and silver.
The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.
73 [YODH.] Thine own hands, have made me, and formed me. Give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.
Your hands have made me and fashioned me; make me wise to learn your commandments.
74 They who revere thee, shall see me and rejoice, that, for thy word, I waited.
Those who fear you shall see me with joy, for in your word have I hoped.
75 I know, O Yahweh, that righteous are thy regulations, and, in faithfulness, didst thou afflict me.
I know, O Lord, that your judgments are right, and in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
76 Let thy lovingkindness, I beseech thee, serve to comfort me, according to thy word to thy servant.
Let your love be a comfort to me, for so have you promised your servant.
77 Let thy compassions reach me, that I may live, for, thy law, is my dear delight.
Visit me with your quickening pity, for your law is my delight.
78 Let insolent men, be ashamed, because, by means of falsehood, they have dealt with me perversely, I, will meditate in thy precepts.
Put the proud to shame, who have wronged me falsely: I will muse on your precepts.
79 Let them who revere thee, turn unto me, even they who know thy testimonies.
Let those turn to me who fear you, that they may learn your charges.
80 Let my heart be thorough in thy statutes, that I may not be ashamed.
Let my heart be sound in your statutes, that I may not be put to shame.
81 [KAPH.] My soul, hath languished for thy salvation, For thy word, have I hoped.
My long for you to rescue me, I put my hope in your word.
82 Mine eyes have failed for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?
My eyes pine away for your promise: saying, “When will you comfort me?”
83 Though I have been like a wine-skin in the smoke, thy statutes, have I not forgotten.
Though shrivelled like wine-skin in smoke, your statutes I have not forgotten.
84 How few are the days of thy servant! When wilt thou execute sentence on my persecutors?
How few are the days of your servant! When will you judge those who harass me?
85 Insolent men digged for me pits, men who are not according to thy law.
Proud people have dug for me pits people who do not conform to your law.
86 All thy commandments, are faithful, With falsehood, have they persecuted me, O help me!
All your commandments are trusty. With falsehood they harass me: help me.
87 A little more, and they had consumed me in the earth, but, I, forsake not thy precepts.
They had nearly made an end of me, yet I did not forget your precepts.
88 According to thy lovingkindness, give thou me life, so will I keep the testimonies of thy mouth.
Spare me in your kindness, and I will observe the charge of your mouth.
89 [LAMED.] Age-abidingly, O Yahweh, hath thy word been set up in the heavens.
Forever, O Lord, is your word fixed firmly in the heavens.
90 To generation after generation, is thy faithfulness, Thou hast established the earth, and it standeth.
Your truth endures age after age; it is established on earth, and it stands.
91 By thy regulations, do they stand to-day, for, all, are thy servants.
By your appointment they stand this day, for all are your servants.
92 Had not thy law been my dear delight, then, had I perished in mine affliction.
Had not your law been my joy, in my misery then had I perished.
93 Unto times age-abiding, will I not forget thy precepts, For, by them, hast thou given me life.
I will never forget your precepts, for through them you have put life in me.
94 Thine, am I, —oh save me! For, thy precepts, have I sought.
I am yours, O save me, for I give my mind to your precepts.
95 For me, have the lawless waited, to destroy me, Thy testimonies, will I diligently consider.
The wicked lay wait to destroy me, but I give heed to your charge.
96 To all perfection, have I seen an end, Broad is thy commandment, exceedingly.
I have seen a limit to all things: but your commandment is spacious exceedingly.
97 [MEM.] Oh how I love thy law! All the day, is it my (meditation)
O how I love your law! All the day long I muse on it.
98 Beyond mine enemies, will thy commandment make me wise, for, age-abidingly, shall it be mine.
Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies: for it is mine forever.
99 Beyond all my teachers, have I shown discretion, for, thy testimonies, are my (meditation)
I am prudent above all my teachers, for your charges are my (meditation)
100 Beyond the elders, will I show understanding, for, thy precepts, have I observed.
I have insight more than the aged, because I observe your precepts.
101 From every way of wickedness, have I withheld my feet, that I might keep thy word.
I refrain my foot from all wicked ways, that I may keep your word.
102 From thy regulations, have I not turned aside, for, thou, hast directed me.
I turn not aside from your judgments, for you yourself are my teacher.
103 How smooth to my palate is thy speech, More than honey, to my mouth.
How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 Out of thy precepts, will I get understanding, For this cause, do I hate every false way.
Insight I win through your precepts, therefore every false way I hate.
105 [NUN.] A lamp to my feet, is thy word, and a light to my path.
Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.
106 I sware, and have fulfilled, To keep thy righteous regulations.
I have sworn an oath, and will keep it, to observe your righteous judgments.
107 I have been afflicted exceedingly, —O Yahweh, give me life according to thy word.
I am afflicted sorely: revive me, O Lord, as you said.
108 The freewill offerings of my mouth, accept, I pray thee, O Yahweh, And, thy regulations, teach thou me.
Accept, Lord, my willing praise, and teach me your judgments.
109 My life, is in my hand continually, Yet, thy law, have I not forgotten.
My life is in ceaseless peril; but I do not forget your law.
110 The lawless have set a snare for me, Yet, from thy precepts, have I not strayed.
The wicked set traps for me, yet I do not stray from your precepts.
111 As an inheritance have I taken thy testimonies unto times age-abiding, for, the joy of my heart, they are.
In your charges are my everlasting inheritance, they are the joy of my heart.
112 I have inclined my heart to perform thy statutes, Age-abidingly, to the end.
I am resolved to perform your statutes forever, to the utmost.
113 [SAMECH.] Half-hearted ones, do I hate, but, thy law, do I love.
I hate people of divided heart, but your law do I love.
114 My hiding-place and my buckler, thou art, For thy word, have I waited.
You are my shelter and shield: in your word do I hope.
115 Depart from me, ye evil-doers, —that I may observe the commandments of my God.
Begone, you wicked people, I will keep the commands of my God.
116 Uphold me according to thy word, that I may live, and do not shame me out of my hope!
Uphold me and spare me, as you have promised: O disappoint me not.
117 Sustain me, that I may be saved, and may find dear delight in thy statutes continually.
Hold me up, and I shall be saved: and your statutes shall be my unceasing delight.
118 Thou hast made light of all who stray from thy statutes, for their fraud is, falsehood.
All who swerve from your statutes you spurn: their cunning is in vain.
119 Dross, have I accounted all the lawless of the earth, therefore do I love thy testimonies.
All the wicked of earth you count as dross, therefore I love your charges.
120 My flesh, bristled up from dread of thee, and, of thy regulations, stand I in fear.
My flesh, for fear of you, shudders, and I stand in awe of your judgments.
121 [AYIN.] I have done justice and righteousness, —Do not leave me to mine oppressors.
Justice and right have I practised, do not leave me to my oppressors.
122 Be thou surety for thy servant for good, Let not insolent men oppress me.
Be your servant’s surety for good, let not the proud oppress me.
123 Mine eyes, have become dim for thy salvation, and for thy righteous word.
My eyes pine for your salvation, and for your righteous promise.
124 Deal with thy servant according to thy lovingkindness, and, thy statutes, teach thou me.
Deal in your love with your servant, and teach me your statutes.
125 Thy servant, I am—give me understanding, so shall I get to know thy testimonies.
Your servant am I; instruct me, that I may know your charges.
126 It is time that Yahweh should work, They have frustrated thy law!
It is time for the Lord to act: they have violated your law.
127 For this cause, do I love thy commandments, More than gold, yea than fine gold!
Therefore I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold.
128 For this cause, all thy precepts concerning all things, I deem right, Every way of falsehood, I hate.
So by all your precepts I guide me, and every false way I hate.
129 [PE.] Wonderful are thy testimonies, For this cause, hath my soul observed them.
Your decrees are wonderful, gladly I keep them.
130 The opening of thy words, sheddeth light, Giving understanding to the simple.
When your word is unfolded, light breaks; it imparts to the simple wisdom.
131 My mouth, have I opened wide, and panted, because, for thy commandments, have I longed.
With open mouth I pant with longing for your commandments.
132 Turn thyself unto me, and show me favour, —As is befitting, to the lovers of thy Name.
Turn to me with your favor, as is just to those who love you.
133 My steps, direct thou by thy word, and let no iniquity, have dominion over me.
Steady my steps by your word, so that sin have no power over me.
134 Set me free from the oppression of man, so will I keep thy precepts.
Set me free from those who oppress me, and I shall observe your precepts.
135 Thy face, light thou up on thy servant, and teach me thy statutes.
Shine with your face on your servant, and teach me your statutes.
136 Streams of water, have run down mine eyes, because men have not kept thy law.
My eyes run down with rills of water, because your law is not kept.
137 [ZADHE.] Righteous art thou, O Yahweh, —and, equitable, are thy regulations.
Righteous are you, O Lord, and right are your ordinances.
138 Thou hast righteously commanded thy testimonies, yea in great faithfulness.
The laws you has ordered are just, and trusty exceedingly.
139 My zeal, hath put an end to me, for mine adversaries have forgotten thy words.
My jealousy has undone me, that my foes have forgotten your words.
140 Refined is thy word, to the uttermost, and, thy servant loveth it.
Your word has been tested well; and your servant loves it.
141 Small, am I, and despised, Thy precepts, have I not forgotten.
I am little and held in contempt, but your precepts I have not forgotten.
142 Thy righteousness, is righteous to times age-abiding, and, thy law, is truth.
Just is your justice forever, and trusty is your law.
143 Straitness and distress, have befallen me, Thy commandments, are my dear delights.
Stress and strain are upon me, but your commandments are my delight.
144 Righteous are thy testimonies, unto times age-abiding, Give me understanding, that I may live.
Right are your charges forever, instruct me that I may live.
145 [KOPH.] I have cried out with all my heart, answer me, O Yahweh; Thy statutes, will I observe.
With my whole heart I cry; O answer me. I would keep your statutes, O Lord.
146 I have cried out unto thee, oh save me, That I may keep thy testimonies.
I cry to you: O save me, and I will observe your charges.
147 I forestalled the twilight, and cried for help, For thy word, I waited.
Ere the dawn I cry for your help: in your word do I hope.
148 Mine eyes forestalled the night-watches, To meditate in thy word.
Awake I meet the night-watches, to muse upon your sayings.
149 My voice, O hear, according to thy lovingkindness, O Yahweh! according to thy wont, give me life.
Hear my voice in your kindness: O Lord, by your judgments revive me.
150 They have drawn near, who pursue villainy, From thy law, have they gone far away.
Near me are wicked tormentors, who are far from thoughts of your law;
151 Near art thou, O Yahweh, and, all thy commandments, are truth.
but near, too, are you, O Lord, and all your commandments are trusty.
152 Long, have I known, from thy testimonies, That, to times age-abiding, thou didst establish them.
Long have I known from your charges that you have founded them for all time.
153 [RESH.] Behold mine affliction, and rescue me, For, thy law, have I not forgotten.
Look on my misery, and rescue me; for I do not forget your law.
154 Plead my cause, and redeem me, By thy word, give me life
Defend my cause and redeem me: revive me, as you have promised.
155 Far from the lawless, is salvation, For, thy statutes, have they not sought.
Salvation is far from the wicked, for their mind is not in your statutes.
156 Thy compassions, are great, O Yahweh, According to thy regulations, give me life.
Great is your pity, O Lord: Revive me, as you have ordained.
157 Many, are my persecutors and mine adversaries, From thy testimonies, have I not swerved.
My foes and tormentors are many, but I have not declined from your charges.
158 I have seen traitors, and felt loathing, Because, thy word, they kept not.
I behold the traitors with loathing, for they do not observe your word.
159 See thou that, thy precepts, I have loved, O Yahweh, according to thy lovingkindness, give me life.
Behold how I love your precepts: revive me, O Lord!, in your kindness.
160 The sum of thy word, is truth, and, age-abiding, is every one of thy righteous regulations.
The sum of your word is truth, all your laws are just and eternal.
161 [SHIN.] Rulers, have persecuted me, without cause, But, of thy word, hath my heart stood in awe.
Princes have harassed me wantonly: but my heart stands in awe of your word.
162 Joyful am I over thy word, Like the finder of spoil in abundance.
Over your word I rejoice as one who finds great spoil.
163 Falsehood, I hate and abhor, Thy law, do I love.
Falsehood I hate and abhor, but your law do I love.
164 Seven times in the day, have I praised thee, For thy righteous regulations.
Seven times a day do I praise you because of your righteous judgments.
165 Blessing in abundance, have the lovers of thy law, and nothing to make them stumble.
Right well do they fare who love your law: they go on their way without stumbling.
166 I have looked for thy salvation, O Yahweh, and, thy commandments, have I done.
I hope for your salvation; O Lord I do your commandments.
167 My soul hath kept thy testimonies, yea I have loved them greatly.
I observe your charges: I love them greatly.
168 I have kept thy precepts, and thy testimonies, For, all my ways, are before thee.
I observe your precepts and charges: all my ways are before you.
169 [TAU] Let my shouting come near before thee, O Yahweh, According to thy word, give me understanding.
Let my cry come before you, O Lord: give me insight, as you have promised.
170 Let my supplication come in before thee, According to thy word, deliver me.
Let my prayer enter into your presence: deliver me, as you have said.
171 My lips, shall pour out, praise, When thou shalt teach me thy statutes.
My lips shall be fountains of praise, that you teach me your statutes.
172 My tongue, shall respond, with thy word, For, all thy commandments, are righteous.
My tongue shall sing of your word, for all your commandments are right.
173 Be thy hand ready to help me, For, thy statutes, have I chosen.
Let your hand be ready to help me, for your precepts have been my choice.
174 I have longed for thy salvation, O Yahweh, and, thy law, is my dear delight.
I long, Lord, for your salvation, and your law is my delight.
175 Let my soul live, that it may praise thee, So shall thy regulation help me.
Revive me that I may praise you, and let your precepts help me.
176 I have strayed like a wandering sheep, O seek thy servant, For, thy commandments, have I not forgotten.
I have strayed like a wandering sheep seek your servant, because I do not forget your commandments.