Psalm 119

The Law of the

119Happy are those whose lives are faultless,

who live according to the law of the Lord.

²Happy are those who follow his commands,

who obey him with all their heart.

³They never do wrong;

they walk in the Lord’s ways.

⁴Lord, you have given us your laws

and told us to obey them faithfully.

⁵How I hope that I shall be faithful

in keeping your instructions!

⁶If I pay attention to all your commands,

then I will not be put to shame.

⁷As I learn your righteous judgements,

I will praise you with a pure heart.

⁸I will obey your laws;

never abandon me!

Obedience to the Law of the

⁹How can young people keep their lives pure?

By obeying your commands.

¹⁰With all my heart I try to serve you;

keep me from disobeying your commandments.

¹¹I keep your law in my heart,

so that I will not sin against you.

¹²I praise you, O Lord;

teach me your ways.

¹³I will repeat aloud

all the laws you have given.

¹⁴I delight in following your commands

more than in having great wealth.

¹⁵I study your instructions;

I examine your teachings.

¹⁶I take pleasure in your laws;

your commands I will not forget.

Happiness in the Law of the

¹⁷Be good to me, your servant,

so that I may live and obey your teachings.

¹⁸Open my eyes, so that I may see

the wonderful truths in your law.

¹⁹I am here on earth for just a little while;

do not hide your commands from me.

²⁰My heart aches with longing;

I want to know your judgments at all times.

²¹You reprimand the proud;

cursed are those who disobey your commands.

²²Free me from their insults and scorn,

because I have kept your laws.

²³The rulers meet and plot against me,

but I will study your teachings.

²⁴Your instructions give me pleasure;

they are my advisers.

Determination to Obey the Law of the

²⁵I lie defeated in the dust;

revive me, as you have promised.

²⁶I confessed all I have done, and you answered me;

teach me your ways.

²⁷Help me to understand your laws,

and I will meditate on your wonderful teachings.^a

²⁸I am overcome by sorrow;

strengthen me, as you have promised.

²⁹Keep me from going the wrong way,

and in your goodness teach me your law.

³⁰I have chosen to be obedient;

I have paid attention to your judgements.

³¹I have followed your instructions, Lord;

don’t let me be put to shame.

³²I will eagerly obey your commands,

because you will give me more understanding.

A Prayer for Understanding

³³Teach me, Lord, the meaning of your laws,

and I will obey them at all times.

³⁴Explain your law to me, and I will obey it;

I will keep it with all my heart.

³⁵Keep me obedient to your commandments,

because in them I find happiness.

³⁶Give me the desire to obey your laws

rather than to get rich.

³⁷Keep me from paying attention to what is worthless;

be good to me, as you have promised.

³⁸Keep your promise to me, your servant—

the promise you make to those who obey you.

³⁹Save me from the insults I fear;

how wonderful are your judgements!

⁴⁰I want to obey your commands;

give me new life, for you are righteous.

Trusting the Law of the

⁴¹Show me how much you love me, Lord,

and save me according to your promise.

⁴²Then I can answer those who insult me

because I trust in your word.

⁴³Enable me to speak the truth at all times,

because my hope is in your judgements.

⁴⁴I will always obey your law,

for ever and ever.

⁴⁵I will live in perfect freedom,

because I try to obey your teachings.

⁴⁶I will announce your commands to kings

and I will not be ashamed.

⁴⁷I find pleasure in obeying your commands,

because I love them.

⁴⁸I respect and love your commandments;

I will meditate on your instructions.

Confidence in the Law of the

⁴⁹Remember your promise to me, your servant;

it has given me hope.

⁵⁰Even in my suffering I was comforted

because your promise gave me life.

⁵¹The proud are always scornful of me,

but I have not departed from your law.

⁵²I remember your judgements of long ago,

and they bring me comfort, O Lord.

⁵³When I see the wicked breaking your law,

I am filled with anger.

⁵⁴During my brief earthly life

I compose songs about your commands.

⁵⁵In the night I remember you, Lord,

and I think about your law.

⁵⁶I find my happiness

in obeying your commands.

Devotion to the Law of the

⁵⁷You are all I want, O Lord;

I promise to obey your laws.

⁵⁸I ask you with all my heart

to have mercy on me, as you have promised!

⁵⁹I have considered my conduct,

and I promise to follow your instructions.

⁶⁰Without delay I hurry

to obey your commands.

⁶¹The wicked have laid a trap for me,

but I do not forget your law.

⁶²In the middle of the night I wake up

to praise you for your righteous judgements.

⁶³I am a friend

of all who serve you, of all who obey your laws.

⁶⁴Lord, the earth is full of your constant love;

teach me your commandments.

The Value of the Law of the

⁶⁵You have kept your promise, Lord,

and you are good to me, your servant.

⁶⁶Give me wisdom and knowledge,

because I trust in your commands.

⁶⁷Before you punished me, I used to go wrong,

but now I obey your word.

⁶⁸How good you are—how kind!

Teach me your commands.

⁶⁹The proud have told lies about me,

but with all my heart I obey your instructions.

⁷⁰They have no understanding,

but I find pleasure in your law.

⁷¹My punishment was good for me,

because it made me learn your commands.

⁷²The law that you gave means more to me

than all the money in the world.

The Justice of the Law of the

⁷³You created me, and you keep me safe;

give me understanding, so that I may learn your laws.

⁷⁴Those who honour you will be glad when they see me,

because I trust in your promise.

⁷⁵I know that your judgements are righteous, Lord,

and that you punished me because you are faithful.

⁷⁶Let your constant love comfort me,

as you have promised me, your servant.

⁷⁷Have mercy on me, and I will live

because I take pleasure in your law.

⁷⁸May the proud be ashamed for falsely accusing me;

as for me, I will meditate on your instructions.

⁷⁹May those who honour you come to me—

all those who know your commands.

⁸⁰May I perfectly obey your commandments

and be spared the shame of defeat.

A Prayer for Deliverance

⁸¹I am worn out, Lord, waiting for you to save me;

I place my trust in your word.

⁸²My eyes are tired from watching for what you promised,

while I ask, “When will you help me?”

⁸³I am as useless as a discarded wineskin;

yet I have not forgotten your commands.

⁸⁴How much longer must I wait?

When will you punish those who persecute me?

⁸⁵The proud, who do not obey your law,

have dug pits to trap me.

⁸⁶Your commandments are all trustworthy;

people persecute me with lies—help me!

⁸⁷They have almost succeeded in killing me,

but I have not neglected your commands.

⁸⁸Because of your constant love be good to me,

so that I may obey your laws.

Faith in the Law of the

⁸⁹Your word, O Lord, will last for ever;

it is eternal in heaven.

⁹⁰Your faithfulness endures through all the ages;

you have set the earth in place, and it remains.

⁹¹All things remain to this day because of your command,

because they are all your servants.

⁹²If your law had not been the source of my joy,

I would have died from my sufferings.

⁹³I will never neglect your instructions,

because by them you have kept me alive.

⁹⁴I am yours—save me!

I have tried to obey your commands.

⁹⁵The wicked are waiting to kill me,

but I will meditate on your laws.

⁹⁶I have learnt that everything has limits;

but your commandment is perfect.

Love for the Law of the

⁹⁷How I love your law!

I think about it all day long.

⁹⁸Your commandment is with me all the time

and makes me wiser than my enemies.

⁹⁹I understand more than all my teachers,

because I meditate on your instructions.

¹⁰⁰I have greater wisdom than those who are old,

because I obey your commands.

¹⁰¹I have avoided all evil conduct,

because I want to obey your word.

¹⁰²I have not neglected your instructions,

for you yourself are my teacher.

¹⁰³How sweet is the taste of your instructions—

sweeter even than honey!

¹⁰⁴I gain wisdom from your laws,

and so I hate all bad conduct.

Light from the Law of the

¹⁰⁵Your word is a lamp to guide me

and a light for my path.

¹⁰⁶I will keep my solemn promise

to obey your just instructions.

¹⁰⁷My sufferings, Lord, are terrible indeed;

keep me alive, as you have promised.

¹⁰⁸Accept my prayer of thanks, O Lord,

and teach me your commands.

¹⁰⁹I am always ready to risk my life;

I^b have not forgotten your law.

¹¹⁰The wicked lay a trap for me,

but I have not disobeyed your commands.

¹¹¹Your commandments are my eternal possession;

they are the joy of my heart.

¹¹²I have decided to obey your laws

until the day I die.

Safety in the Law of the

¹¹³I hate those who are not completely loyal to you,

but I love your law.

¹¹⁴You are my defender and protector;

I put my hope in your promise.

¹¹⁵Go away from me, you sinful people.

I will obey the commands of my God.

¹¹⁶Give me strength, as you promised, and I shall live;

don’t let me be disappointed in my hope!

¹¹⁷Hold me, and I will be safe,

and I will always pay attention to your commands.

¹¹⁸You reject everyone who disobeys your laws;

their deceitful schemes are useless.

¹¹⁹You treat all the wicked like rubbish,

and so I love your instructions.

¹²⁰Because of you I am afraid;

I am filled with fear because of your judgements.

Obedience to the Law of the

¹²¹I have done what is right and good;

don’t abandon me to my enemies!

¹²²Promise that you will help your servant;

don’t let the arrogant oppress me!

¹²³My eyes are tired from watching for your saving help,

for the deliverance you promised.

¹²⁴Treat me according to your constant love,

and teach me your commands.

¹²⁵I am your servant; give me understanding,

so that I may know your teachings.

¹²⁶Lord, it is time for you to act,

because people are disobeying your law.

¹²⁷I love your commands

more than gold, more than the finest gold.

¹²⁸And so I follow all your instructions;^c

I hate all wrong ways.

Desire to Obey the Law of the

¹²⁹Your teachings are wonderful;

I obey them with all my heart.

¹³⁰The explanation of your teachings gives light

and brings wisdom to the ignorant.

¹³¹In my desire for…