Meditations on the Excellencies of the Word of God

א Aleph

1 Blessed are the 1undefiled in the way,

aWho walk in the law of the Lord!

2 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies,

Who seek Him with the bwhole heart!

3 cThey also do no iniquity;

They walk in His ways.

4 You have commanded us

To keep Your precepts diligently.

5 Oh, that my ways were directed

To keep Your statutes!

6 dThen I would not be ashamed,

When I look into all Your commandments.

7 I will praise You with uprightness of heart,

When I learn Your righteous judgments.

8 I will keep Your statutes;

Oh, do not forsake me utterly!

ב Beth

9 How can a young man cleanse his way?

By taking heed according to Your word.

10 With my whole heart I have esought You;

Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!

11 fYour word I have hidden in my heart,

That I might not sin against You.

12 Blessed are You, O Lord!

Teach me Your statutes.

13 With my lips I have gdeclared

All the judgments of Your mouth.

14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,

As much as in all riches.

15 I will meditate on Your precepts,

And 2contemplate Your ways.

16 I will hdelight myself in Your statutes;

I will not forget Your word.

ג Gimel

17 iDeal bountifully with Your servant,

That I may live and keep Your word.

18 Open my eyes, that I may see

Wondrous things from Your law.

19 jI am a stranger in the earth;

Do not hide Your commandments from me.

20 kMy soul 3breaks with longing

For Your judgments at all times.

21 You rebuke the proud—the cursed,

Who stray from Your commandments.

22 lRemove from me reproach and contempt,

For I have kept Your testimonies.

23 Princes also sit and speak against me,

But Your servant meditates on Your statutes.

24 Your testimonies also are my delight

And my counselors.

ד Daleth

25 mMy soul clings to the dust;

nRevive me according to Your word.

26 I have declared my ways, and You answered me;

oTeach me Your statutes.

27 Make me understand the way of Your precepts;

So pshall I meditate on Your wonderful works.

28 qMy soul 4melts from 5heaviness;

Strengthen me according to Your word.

29 Remove from me the way of lying,

And grant me Your law graciously.

30 I have chosen the way of truth;

Your judgments I have laid before me.

31 I cling to Your testimonies;

O Lord, do not put me to shame!

32 I will run the course of Your commandments,

For You shall renlarge my heart.

ה He

33 sTeach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes,

And I shall keep it to the end.

34 tGive me understanding, and I shall keep Your law;

Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

35 Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,

For I delight in it.

36 6Incline my heart to Your testimonies,

And not to ucovetousness.

37 vTurn 7away my eyes from wlooking at worthless things,

And revive me in 8Your way.

38 xEstablish Your word to Your servant,

Who is devoted to fearing You.

39 Turn away my reproach which I dread,

For Your judgments are good.

40 Behold, I long for Your precepts;

Revive me in Your righteousness.

ו Waw

41 Let Your mercies come also to me, O Lord—

Your salvation according to Your word.

42 So shall I have an answer for him who 9reproaches me,

For I trust in Your word.

43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,

For I have hoped in Your ordinances.

44 So shall I keep Your law continually,

Forever and ever.

45 And I will walk 1at yliberty,

For I seek Your precepts.

46 zI will speak of Your testimonies also before kings,

And will not be ashamed.