Psalm 119:1–176

א Aleph

¹Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,^p

who walk^q according to the law of the Lord.^r

²Blessed^s are those who keep his statutes^t

and seek him^u with all their heart—^v

³they do no wrong^w

but follow his ways.^x

⁴You have laid down precepts^y

that are to be fully obeyed.^z

⁵Oh, that my ways were steadfast

in obeying your decrees!^a

⁶Then I would not be put to shame^b

when I consider all your commands.^c

⁷I will praise you with an upright heart

as I learn your righteous laws.^d

⁸I will obey your decrees;

do not utterly forsake me.^e

ב Beth

⁹How can a young person stay on the path of purity?^f

By living according to your word.^g

¹⁰I seek you with all my heart;^h

do not let me stray from your commands.ⁱ

¹¹I have hidden your word in my heart^j

that I might not sin^k against you.

¹²Praise be^l to you, Lord;

teach me^m your decrees.ⁿ

¹³With my lips I recount

all the laws that come from your mouth.^o

¹⁴I rejoice in following your statutes^p

as one rejoices in great riches.

¹⁵I meditate on your precepts^q

and consider your ways.

¹⁶I delight^r in your decrees;

I will not neglect your word.

ג Gimel

¹⁷Be good to your servant^s while I live,

that I may obey your word.^t

¹⁸Open my eyes that I may see

wonderful things in your law.

¹⁹I am a stranger on earth;^u

do not hide your commands from me.

²⁰My soul is consumed^v with longing

for your laws^w at all times.

²¹You rebuke the arrogant,^x who are accursed,^y

those who stray^z from your commands.

²²Remove from me their scorn^a and contempt,

for I keep your statutes.^b

²³Though rulers sit together and slander me,

your servant will meditate on your decrees.

²⁴Your statutes are my delight;

they are my counselors.

ד Daleth

²⁵I am laid low in the dust;^c

preserve my life^d according to your word.^e

²⁶I gave an account of my ways and you answered me;

teach me your decrees.^f

²⁷Cause me to understand the way of your precepts,

that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds.^g

²⁸My soul is weary with sorrow;^h

strengthen meⁱ according to your word.^j

²⁹Keep me from deceitful ways;^k

be gracious to me^l and teach me your law.

³⁰I have chosen^m the way of faithfulness;ⁿ

I have set my heart^o on your laws.

³¹I hold fast^p to your statutes, Lord;

do not let me be put to shame.

³²I run in the path of your commands,

for you have broadened my understanding.

ה He

³³Teach me,^q Lord, the way of your decrees,

that I may follow it to the end.^b

³⁴Give me understanding,^r so that I may keep your law^s

and obey it with all my heart.^t

³⁵Direct me^u in the path of your commands,^v

for there I find delight.^w

³⁶Turn my heart^x toward your statutes

and not toward selfish gain.^y

³⁷Turn my eyes away from worthless things;

preserve my life^z according to your word.^ca

³⁸Fulfill your promise^b to your servant,

so that you may be feared.

³⁹Take away the disgrace^c I dread,

for your laws are good.

⁴⁰How I long^d for your precepts!

In your righteousness preserve my life.^e

ו Waw

⁴¹May your unfailing love^f come to me, Lord,

your salvation, according to your promise;^g

⁴²then I can answer^h anyone who taunts me,ⁱ

for I trust in your word.

⁴³Never take your word of truth from my mouth,^j

for I have put my hope^k in your laws.

⁴⁴I will always obey your law,^l

for ever and ever.

⁴⁵I will walk about in freedom,

for I have sought out your precepts.^m

⁴⁶I will speak of your statutes before kingsⁿ

and will not be put to shame,^o

⁴⁷for I delight^p in your commands

because I love them.^q

⁴⁸I reach out for your commands, which I love,

that I may meditate^r on your decrees.

ז Zayin

⁴⁹Remember your word^s to your servant,

for you have given me hope.^t

⁵⁰My comfort in my suffering is this:

Your promise preserves my life.^u

⁵¹The arrogant mock me^v unmercifully,

but I do not turn^w from your law.

⁵²I remember,^x Lord, your ancient laws,

and I find comfort in them.

⁵³Indignation grips me^y because of the wicked,

who have forsaken your law.^z

⁵⁴Your decrees are the theme of my song^a

wherever I lodge.

⁵⁵In the night, Lord, I remember^b your name,

that I may keep your law.^c

⁵⁶This has been my practice:

I obey your precepts.^d

ח Heth

⁵⁷You are my portion,^e Lord;

I have promised to obey your words.^f

⁵⁸I have sought^g your face with all my heart;

be gracious to me^h according to your promise.ⁱ

⁵⁹I have considered my ways^j

and have turned my steps to your statutes.

⁶⁰I will hasten and not delay

to obey your commands.^k

⁶¹Though the wicked bind me with ropes,

I will not forget^l your law.

⁶²At midnight^m I rise to give you thanks

for your righteous laws.ⁿ

⁶³I am a friend to all who fear you,^o

to all who follow your precepts.^p

⁶⁴The earth is filled with your love,^q Lord;

teach me your decrees.^r

ט Teth

⁶⁵Do good^s to your servant

according to your word,^t Lord.

⁶⁶Teach me knowledge^u and good judgment,

for I trust your commands.

⁶⁷Before I was afflicted^v I went astray,^w

but now I obey your word.^x

⁶⁸You are good,^y and what you do is good;

teach me your decrees.^z

⁶⁹Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies,^a

I keep your precepts with all my heart.

⁷⁰Their hearts are callous^b and unfeeling,

but I delight in your law.

⁷¹It was good for me to be afflicted^c

so that I might learn your decrees.

⁷²The law from your mouth is more precious to me

than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.^d

י Yodh

⁷³Your hands made me^e and formed me;

give me understanding to learn your commands.

⁷⁴May those who fear you rejoice^f when they see me,

for I have put my hope in your word.^g

⁷⁵I know, Lord, that your laws are righteous,^h

and that in faithfulnessⁱ you have afflicted me.

⁷⁶May your unfailing love^j be my comfort,

according to your promise^k to your servant.

⁷⁷Let your compassion^l come to me that I may live,

for your law is my delight.^m

⁷⁸May the arrogantⁿ be put to shame for wronging me without cause;^o

but I will meditate on your precepts.

⁷⁹May those who fear you turn to me,

those who understand your statutes.^p

⁸⁰May I wholeheartedly follow^q your decrees,^r

that I may not be put to shame.^s

כ Kaph

⁸¹My soul faints^t with longing for your salvation,^u

but I have put my hope^v in your word.

⁸²My eyes fail,^w looking for your promise;^x

I say, “When will you comfort me?”

⁸³Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke,

I do not forget^y your decrees.

⁸⁴How long^z must your servant wait?

When will you punish my persecutors?^a

⁸⁵The arrogant^b dig pits^c to trap me,

contrary to your law.

⁸⁶All your commands are trustworthy;^d

help me,^e for I am being persecuted^f without cause.^g

⁸⁷They almost wiped me from the earth,

but I have not forsaken^h your precepts.

⁸⁸In your unfailing loveⁱ preserve my life,^j

that I may obey the statutes^k of your mouth.

ל Lamedh

⁸⁹Your word, Lord, is eternal;^l

it stands firm in the heavens.

⁹⁰Your faithfulness^m continues through all generations;ⁿ

you established the earth, and it endures.^o

⁹¹Your laws endure^p to this day,

for all things serve you.^q

⁹²If your law had not been my delight,^r

I would have perished in my affliction.^s

⁹³I will never forget^t your precepts,

for by them you have preserved my life.^u

⁹⁴Save me,^v for I am yours;

I have sought out your precepts.^w

⁹⁵The wicked are waiting to destroy me,^x

but I will ponder your statutes.^y

⁹⁶To all perfection I see a limit,

but your commands are boundless.^z

מ Mem

⁹⁷Oh, how I love your law!^a

I meditate^b on it all day long.

⁹⁸Your commands are always with me

and make me wiser^c than my enemies.

⁹⁹I have more insight than all my teachers,

for I meditate on your statutes.^d

¹⁰⁰I have more understanding than the elders,

for I obey your precepts.^e

¹⁰¹I have kept my feet^f from every evil path

so that I might obey your word.^g

¹⁰²I have not departed from your laws,^h

for you yourself have taughtⁱ me.

¹⁰³How sweet are your words to my taste,

sweeter than honey^j to my mouth!^k

¹⁰⁴I gain understanding^l from your precepts;

therefore I hate every wrong path.^m

נ Nun

¹⁰⁵Your word is a lampⁿ for my feet,

a light^o on my path.

¹⁰⁶I have taken an oath^p and confirmed it,

that I will follow your righteous laws.^q

¹⁰⁷I have suffered much;

preserve my life,^r Lord, according to your word.

¹⁰⁸Accept, Lord, the willing praise of my mouth,^s

and teach me your laws.^t

¹⁰⁹Though I constantly take my life in my hands,^u

I will not forget^v your law.

¹¹⁰The wicked have set a snare^w for me,

but I have not strayed^x from your precepts.

¹¹¹Your statutes are my heritage forever;

they are the joy of my heart.^y

¹¹²My heart is set^z on keeping your decrees

to the very end.^da

ס Samekh

¹¹³I hate double-minded people,^b

but I love your law.^c

¹¹⁴You are my refuge and my shield;^d

I have put my hope^e in your word.

¹¹⁵Away from me,^f you evildoers,

that I may keep the commands of my God!

¹¹⁶Sustain me,^g my God, according to your promise,^h and I will live;

do not let my hopes be dashed.ⁱ

¹¹⁷Uphold me,^j and I will be delivered;^k

I will always have regard for your decrees.^l

¹¹⁸You reject all who stray^m from your decrees,

for their delusions come to nothing.

¹¹⁹All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross;ⁿ

therefore I love your statutes.^o

¹²⁰My flesh trembles^p in fear of you;^q

I stand in awe^r of your laws.

ע Ayin

¹²¹I have done what is righteous and just;^s

do not leave me to my oppressors.

¹²²Ensure your servant’s well-being;^t

do not let the arrogant oppress me.^u

¹²³My eyes fail,^v looking for your salvation,^w

looking for your righteous promise.^x

¹²⁴Deal with your servant according to your love^y

and teach me your decrees.^z

¹²⁵I am your servant;^a give me discernment

that I may understand your statutes.^b

¹²⁶It is time for you to act, Lord;

your law is being broken.^c

¹²⁷Because I love your commands^d

more than gold,^e more than pure gold,^f

¹²⁸and because I consider all your precepts right,^g

I hate every wrong path.^h

פ Pe

¹²⁹Your statutes are wonderful;ⁱ

therefore I obey them.^j

¹³⁰The unfolding of your words gives light;^k

it gives understanding to the simple.^l

¹³¹I open my mouth and pant,^m

longing for your commands.ⁿ

¹³²Turn to me^o and have mercy^p on me,

as you always do to those who love your name.^q

¹³³Direct my footsteps…