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.

47 And I will delight myself in Your commandments,

Which I love.

48 My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments,

Which I love,

And I will meditate on Your statutes.

ז Zayin

49 Remember the word to Your servant,

Upon which You have caused me to hope.

50 This is my acomfort in my affliction,

For Your word has given me life.

51 The proud have me in great derision,

Yet I do not turn aside from Your law.

52 I remembered Your judgments of old, O Lord,

And have comforted myself.

53 bIndignation has taken hold of me

Because of the wicked, who forsake Your law.

54 Your statutes have been my songs

In the house of my pilgrimage.

55 cI remember Your name in the night, O Lord,

And I keep Your law.

56 This has become mine,

Because I kept Your precepts.

ח Heth

57 dYou are my portion, O Lord;

I have said that I would keep Your words.

58 I entreated Your favor with my whole heart;

Be merciful to me according to Your word.

59 I ethought about my ways,

And turned my feet to Your testimonies.

60 I made haste, and did not delay

To keep Your commandments.

61 The cords of the wicked have bound me,

But I have not forgotten Your law.

62 fAt midnight I will rise to give thanks to You,

Because of Your righteous judgments.

63 I am a companion of all who fear You,

And of those who keep Your precepts.

64 gThe earth, O Lord, is full of Your mercy;

Teach me Your statutes.

ט Teth

65 You have dealt well with Your servant,

O Lord, according to Your word.

66 Teach me good judgment and hknowledge,

For I believe Your commandments.

67 Before I was iafflicted I went astray,

But now I keep Your word.

68 You are jgood, and do good;

Teach me Your statutes.

69 The proud have kforged 2a lie against me,

But I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart.

70 lTheir heart is 3as fat as grease,

But I delight in Your law.

71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted,

That I may learn Your statutes.

72 mThe law of Your mouth is better to me

Than thousands of coins of gold and silver.