Psalm 119

DELIGHT IN GOD’S WORD

א Aleph

1 HowA happy are those whose way is blameless,b

who walk according to the Lord’s instruction!c

2 Happy are those who keep his decreesd

and seek him with all their heart.e

3 They do nothing wrong;f

they walk in his ways.

4 You have commanded that your preceptsg

be diligently kept.

5 If only my ways were committed

to keeping your statutes!h

6 Then I would not be ashamedi

when I think about all your commands.

7 I will praise you with an upright heartj

when I learn your righteous judgments.

8 I will keep your statutes;

never abandon me.k

ב Beth

9 How can a young man keep his way pure?

By keeping yourB word.l

10 I have sought you with all my heart;m

don’t let me wander from your commands.n

11 I have treasured your word in my hearto

so that I may not sin against you.

12 Lord, may you be blessed;

teach me your statutes.p

13 With my lips I proclaim

all the judgments from your mouth.q

14 I rejoice in the way revealed by your decreesr

as much as in all riches.

15 I will meditate on your preceptss

and think about your ways.t

16 I will delight in your statutes;u

I will not forget your word.

ג Gimel

17 Deal generously with your servantv

so that I might live;

then I will keep your word.

18 Open my eyes so that I may contemplate

wondrous things from your instruction.

19 I am a resident alien on earth;w

do not hide your commands from me.

20 I am continually overcome

with longing for your judgments.x

21 You rebuke the arrogant,

the ones under a curse,y

who wander from your commands.z

22 Take insult and contempt away from me,aa

for I have kept your decrees.

23 Though princes sit together speaking against me,ab

your servant will think about your statutes;ac

24 your decrees are my delight

and my counselors.ad

ד Daleth

25 My life is down in the dust;ae

give me lifeaf through your word.

26 I told you about my life,

and you answered me;

teach me your statutes.ag

27 Help me understand

the meaning of your precepts

so that I can meditate on your wonders.ah

28 I am wearyC from grief;

strengthen me through your word.ai

29 Keep me from the way of deceit

and graciously give me your instruction.

30 I have chosen the way of truth;

I have set your ordinances before me.aj

31 I cling to your decrees;

Lord, do not put me to shame.ak

32 I pursue the way of your commands,

for you broaden my understanding.D,al

ה He

33 Teach me, Lord, the meaningE of your statutes,

and I will always keep them.F,am

34 Help me understand your instruction,an

and I will obey it

and follow it with all my heart.a

35 Help me stay on the path of your commands,b

for I take pleasure in it.c

36 Turn my heart to your decreesd

and not to dishonest profit.e

37 Turn my eyes

from looking at what is worthless;f

give me life in your ways.A,g

38 Confirm what you said to your servant,h

for it produces reverence for you.

39 Turn away the disgrace I dread;i

indeed, your judgments are good.

40 How I long for your precepts!j

Give me life through your righteousness.

ו Waw

41 Let your faithful love come to me, Lord,k

your salvation, as you promised.l

42 Then I can answer the one who taunts me,m

for I trust in your word.

43 Never take the word of truth from my mouth,

for I hope in your judgments.n

44 I will always obey your instruction,

forever and ever.o

45 I will walk freely in an open placep

because I study your precepts.q

46 I will speak of your decrees before kings

and not be ashamed.r

47 I delight in your commands,

which I love.s

48 I will lift up my handst to your commands,

which I love,

and will meditate on your statutes.u

ז Zayin

49 Remember your word to your servant;

you have given me hope through it.

50 This is my comfort in my affliction:v

Your promise has given me life.

51 The arrogant constantly ridicule me,

but I do not turn away from your instruction.w

52 Lord, I remember your judgments from long ago

and find comfort.

53 Fury seizes mex because of the wicked

who reject your instruction.y

54 Your statutes are the theme of my song

during my earthly life.B

55 Lord, I remember your namez in the night,aa

and I obey your instruction.

56 This is my practice:

I obey your precepts.ab

ח Cheth

57 The Lord is my portion;C,ac

I have promised to keep your words.

58 I have sought your favorad with all my heart;

be gracious to meae according to your promise.

59 I thought about my waysaf

and turned my steps back to your decrees.

60 I hurried, not hesitating

to keep your commands.

61 Though the ropes of the wickedag

were wrapped around me,

I did not forget your instruction.ah

62 I rise at midnight to thank youai

for your righteous judgments.aj

63 I am a friend to all who fear you,ak

to those who keep your precepts.

64 Lord, the earth is filled with your faithful love;al

teach me your statutes.am

ט Teth

65 Lord, you have treated your servant well,

just as you promised.

66 Teach me good judgment and discernment,an

for I rely on your commands.

67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,ao

but now I keep your word.

68 You are good,ap and you do what is good;aq

teach me your statutes.

69 The arrogant have smeared me with lies,ar

but I obey your precepts with all my heart.as

70 Their hearts are hard and insensitive,at

but I delight in your instruction.au

71 It was good for me to be afflictedav

so that I could learn your statutes.

72 Instruction from your lipsaw is better for me

than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

י Yod

73 Your hands made me and formed me;a

give me understanding

so that I can learn your commands.b

74 Those who fear you will see me and rejoice,c

for I put my hope in your word.d

75 I know, Lord, that your judgments are just

and that you have afflicted me fairly.e

76 May your faithful love comfort me

as you promised your servant.

77 May your compassion come to mef

so that I may live,

for your instruction is my delight.g

78 Let the arrogant be put to shameh

for slandering me with lies;

I will meditate on your precepts.

79 Let those who fear you,

those who know your decrees, turn to me.

80 May my heart be blameless regarding your statutesi

so that I will not be put to shame.

כ Kaph

81 I long for your salvation;j

I put my hope in your word.k

82 My eyes grow weary

looking for what you have promised;l

I ask, “When will you comfort me?”

83 Though I have become like a wineskin dried by smoke,

I do not forget your statutes.

84 How many days must your servant wait?

When will you execute judgment on my persecutors?m

85 The arrogant have dug pits for me;n

they violate your instruction.

86 All your commands are true;

people persecute me with lies—help me!o

87 They almost ended my life on earth,

but I did not abandon your precepts.

88 Give me life in accordance with your faithful love,

and I will obey the decree you have spoken.

ל Lamed

89 Lord, your word is forever;p

it is firmly fixed in heaven.

90 Your faithfulness is for all generations;q

you established the earth, and it stands firm.r

91 Your judgments stand firm today,s

for all things are your servants.t

92 If your instruction had not been my delight,

I would have died in my affliction.u

93 I will never forget your precepts,

for you have given me life through them.v

94 I am yours; save me,w

for I have studied your precepts.x

95 The wicked hope to destroy me,y

but I contemplate your decrees.

96 I have seen a limit to all perfection,

but your command is without limit.

מ Mem

97 How I love your instruction!z

It is my meditation all day long.aa

98 Your command makes me wiser than my enemies,ab

for it is always with me.

99 I have more insight than all my teachers

because your decrees are my meditation.ac

100 I understand more than the eldersad

because I obey your precepts.ae

101 I have kept my feet from every evil pathaf

to follow your word.

102 I have not turned from your judgments,ag

for you yourself have instructed me.

103 How sweet your word isah to my taste—

sweeter than honey in my mouth.

104 I gain understanding from your precepts;ai

therefore I hate every false way.aj

נ Nun

105 Your word is a lamp for my feetak

and a light on my path.

106 I have solemnly swornal

to keep your righteous judgments.

107 I am severely afflicted;

Lord, give me life according to your word.am

108 Lord, please accept my freewill offerings of praise,an

and teach me your judgments.ao

109 My life is constantly in danger,A

yet I do not forget your instruction.a

110 The wicked have set a trap for me,b

but I have not wandered from your precepts.c

111 I have your decrees as a heritage forever;

indeed, they are the joy of my heart.d

112 I am resolved to obey your statutes

to the very end.B,e

ס Samek

113 I hate those who are double-minded,f

but I love your instruction.g

114 You are my shelter and my shield;h

I put my hope in your word.i

115 Depart from me,j you evil ones,

so that I may obey my God’s commands.k

116 Sustain me as you promised,l and I will live;

do not let me be ashamed of my hope.m

117 Sustain me so that I can be safen

and always be concerned about your statutes.o

118 You reject all who stray from your statutes,p

for their deceit is a lie.

119 You remove all the wicked on earth

as if they wereC dross from metal;q

therefore, I love your decrees.r

120 I trembleD in awe of you;s

I fear your judgments.

ע Ayin

121 I have done what is just and right;t

do not leave me to my oppressors.

122 Guarantee your servant’s well-being;u

do not let the arrogant oppress me.

123 My eyes grow wearyv looking for your salvation

and for your righteous promise.

124 Deal with your servant based on your faithful love;w

teach me your statutes.

125 I am your servant;x give me understandingy

so that I may know your decrees.

126 It is time for the Lord to act,z

for they have violated your instruction.

127 Since I love your commandsaa

more than gold, even the purest gold,

128 I carefully follow all your preceptsab

and hate every false way.ac

פ Pe

129 Your decrees are wondrous;ad

therefore I obey them.ae

130 The revelation of your wordsaf brings light

and gives understanding to the inexperienced.ag

131 I open my mouth and pantah

because I long for your commands.

132 …