Psalm 119a

א Aleph

1 Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,p

who walkq according to the law of the Lord.r

2 Blesseds are those who keep his statutest

and seek himu with all their heart—v

3 they do no wrongw

but follow his ways.x

4 You have laid down preceptsy

that are to be fully obeyed.z

5 Oh, that my ways were steadfast

in obeying your decrees!a

6 Then I would not be put to shameb

when I consider all your commands.c

7 I will praise you with an upright heart

as I learn your righteous laws.d

8 I will obey your decrees;

do not utterly forsake me.e

ב Beth

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

By living according to your word.g

10 I seek you with all my heart;h

do not let me stray from your commands.i

11 I have hidden your word in my heartj

that I might not sink against you.

12 Praise bel to you, Lord;

teach mem your decrees.n

13 With my lips I recount

all the laws that come from your mouth.o

14 I rejoice in following your statutesp

as one rejoices in great riches.

15 I meditate on your preceptsq

and consider your ways.

16 I delightr in your decrees;

I will not neglect your word.

ג Gimel

17 Be good to your servants while I live,

that I may obey your word.t

18 Open my eyes that I may see

wonderful things in your law.

19 I am a stranger on earth;u

do not hide your commands from me.

20 My soul is consumedv with longing

for your lawsw at all times.

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

those who strayz from your commands.

22 Remove from me their scorna and contempt,

for I keep your statutes.b

23 Though rulers sit together and slander me,

your servant will meditate on your decrees.

24 Your statutes are my delight;

they are my counselors.

ד Daleth

25 I am laid low in the dust;c

preserve my lifed according to your word.e

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

teach me your decrees.f

27 Cause me to understand the way of your precepts,

that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds.g

28 My soul is weary with sorrow;h

strengthen mei according to your word.j

29 Keep me from deceitful ways;k

be gracious to mel and teach me your law.

30 I have chosenm the way of faithfulness;n

I have set my hearto on your laws.

31 I hold fastp to your statutes, Lord;

do not let me be put to shame.

32 I run in the path of your commands,

for you have broadened my understanding.

ה He

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

that I may follow it to the end.b

34 Give me understanding,r so that I may keep your laws

and obey it with all my heart.t

35 Direct meu in the path of your commands,v

for there I find delight.w

36 Turn my heartx toward your statutes

and not toward selfish gain.y

37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things;

preserve my lifez according to your word.c a

38 Fulfill your promiseb to your servant,

so that you may be feared.

39 Take away the disgracec I dread,

for your laws are good.

40 How I longd for your precepts!

In your righteousness preserve my life.e

ו Waw

41 May your unfailing lovef come to me, Lord,

your salvation, according to your promise;g

42 then I can answerh anyone who taunts me,i

for I trust in your word.

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

for I have put my hopek in your laws.

44 I will always obey your law,l

for ever and ever.

45 I will walk about in freedom,

for I have sought out your precepts.m

46 I will speak of your statutes before kingsn

and will not be put to shame,o

47 for I delightp in your commands

because I love them.q

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

that I may meditater on your decrees.

ז Zayin

49 Remember your words to your servant,

for you have given me hope.t

50 My comfort in my suffering is this:

Your promise preserves my life.u

51 The arrogant mock mev unmercifully,

but I do not turnw from your law.

52 I remember,x Lord, your ancient laws,

and I find comfort in them.

53 Indignation grips mey because of the wicked,

who have forsaken your law.z

54 Your decrees are the theme of my songa

wherever I lodge.

55 In the night, Lord, I rememberb your name,

that I may keep your law.c

56 This has been my practice:

I obey your precepts.d

ח Heth

57 You are my portion,e Lord;

I have promised to obey your words.f

58 I have soughtg your face with all my heart;

be gracious to meh according to your promise.i

59 I have considered my waysj

and have turned my steps to your statutes.

60 I will hasten and not delay

to obey your commands.k

61 Though the wicked bind me with ropes,

I will not forgetl your law.

62 At midnightm I rise to give you thanks

for your righteous laws.n

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

to all who follow your precepts.p

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

teach me your decrees.r

ט Teth

65 Do goods to your servant

according to your word,t Lord.

66 Teach me knowledgeu and good judgment,

for I trust your commands.

67 Before I was afflictedv I went astray,w

but now I obey your word.x

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

teach me your decrees.z

69 Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies,a

I keep your precepts with all my heart.

70 Their hearts are callousb and unfeeling,

but I delight in your law.

71 It was good for me to be afflictedc

so that I might learn your decrees.

72 The law from your mouth is more precious to me

than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.d

י Yodh

73 Your hands made mee and formed me;

give me understanding to learn your commands.

74 May those who fear you rejoicef when they see me,

for I have put my hope in your word.g

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

and that in faithfulnessi you have afflicted me.

76 May your unfailing lovej be my comfort,

according to your promisek to your servant.

77 Let your compassionl come to me that I may live,

for your law is my delight.m

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

but I will meditate on your precepts.

79 May those who fear you turn to me,

those who understand your statutes.p

80 May I wholeheartedly followq your decrees,r

that I may not be put to shame.s

כ Kaph

81 My soul faintst with longing for your salvation,u

but I have put my hopev in your word.

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

I say, “When will you comfort me?”

83 Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke,

I do not forgety your decrees.

84 How longz must your servant wait?

When will you punish my persecutors?a

85 The arrogantb dig pitsc to trap me,

contrary to your law.

86 All your commands are trustworthy;d

help me,e for I am being persecutedf without cause.g

87 They almost wiped me from the earth,

but I have not forsakenh your precepts.

88 In your unfailing lovei preserve my life,j

that I may obey the statutesk of your mouth.

ל Lamedh

89 Your word, Lord, is eternal;l

it stands firm in the heavens.

90 Your faithfulnessm continues through all generations;n

you established the earth, and it endures.o

91 Your laws endurep to this day,

for all things serve you.q

92 If your law had not been my delight,r

I would have perished in my affliction.s

93 I will never forgett your precepts,

for by them you have preserved my life.u

94 Save me,v for I am yours;

I have sought out your precepts.w

95 The wicked are waiting to destroy me,x

but I will ponder your statutes.y

96 To all perfection I see a limit,

but your commands are boundless.z

מ Mem

97 Oh, how I love your law!a

I meditateb on it all day long.

98 Your commands are always with me

and make me wiserc than my enemies.

99 I have more insight than all my teachers,

for I meditate on your statutes.d

100 I have more understanding than the elders,

for I obey your precepts.e

101 I have kept my feetf from every evil path

so that I might obey your word.g

102 I have not departed from your laws,h

for you yourself have taughti me.

103 How sweet are your words to my taste,

sweeter than honeyj to my mouth!k

104 I gain understandingl from your precepts;

therefore I hate every wrong path.m

נ Nun

105 Your word is a lampn for my feet,

a lighto on my path.

106 I have taken an oathp and confirmed it,

that I will follow your righteous laws.q

107 I have suffered much;

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

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

and teach me your laws.t

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

I will not forgetv your law.

110 The wicked have set a snarew for me,

but I have not strayedx from your precepts.

111 Your statutes are my heritage forever;

they are the joy of my heart.y

112 My heart is setz on keeping your decrees

to the very end.d a

ס Samekh

113 I hate double-minded people,b

but I love your law.c

114 You are my refuge and my shield;d

I have put my hopee in your word.

115 Away from me,f you evildoers,

that I may keep the commands of my God!

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

do not let my hopes be dashed.i

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

I will always have regard for your decrees.l

118 You reject all who straym from your decrees,

for their delusions come to nothing.

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

therefore I love your statutes.o

120 My flesh tremblesp in fear of you;q

I stand in awer of your laws.

ע Ayin

121 I have done what is righteous and just;s

do not leave me to my oppressors.

122 Ensure your servant’s well-being;t

do not let the arrogant oppress me.u

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

looking for your righteous promise.x

124 Deal with your servant according to your lovey

and teach me your decrees.z

125 I am your servant;a give me discernment

that I may understand your statutes.b

126 It is time for you to act, Lord;

your law is being broken.c

127 Because I love your commandsd

more than gold,e more than pure gold,f

128 and because I consider all your precepts right,g

I hate every wrong path.h

פ Pe

129 Your statutes are wonderful;i

therefore I obey them.j

130 The unfolding of your words gives light;k

it gives understanding to the simple.l

131 I open my mouth and pant,m

longing for your commands.n

132 Turn to meo and have mercyp on me,

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

133 Direct my footsteps according to your word;r

let no sin rules over me.

134 Redeem me from human oppression,t

that I may obey your precepts.u

135 Make your face shinev on your servant

and teach me your decrees.w

136 Streams of tearsx flow from my eyes,

for your law is not obeyed.y

צ Tsadhe

137 You are righteous,z Lord,

and your laws are right.a

138 The statutes you have laid down are righteous;b

they are fully trustworthy.c

139 My zeal wears me out,d

for my enemies ignore your words.

140 Your promisese have been thoroughly tested,f

and your servant loves them.g

141 Though I am lowly and despised,h

I do not forget your precepts.i

142 Your righteousness is everlasting

and your law is true.j

143 Trouble and distress have come upon me,

but your commands give me delight.k

144 Your statutes are always righteous;

give me understandingl that I may live.

ק Qoph

145 I call with all my heart;m answer me, Lord,

and I will obey your decrees.n

146 I call out to you; save meo

and I will keep your statutes.

147 I rise before dawnp and cry for help;

I have put my hope in your word.

148 My eyes stay open through the watches of the night,q

that I may meditate on your promises.

149 Hear my voicer in accordance with your love;s

preserve my life,t Lord, according to your laws.

150 Those who devise wicked schemesu are near,

but they are far from your law.

151 Yet you are near,v Lord,

and all your commands are true.w

152 Long ago I learned from your statutesx

that you established them to last forever.y

ר Resh

153 Look on my sufferingz and deliver me,a

for I have not forgottenb your law.

154 Defend my causec and redeem me;d

preserve my lifee according to your promise.f

155 Salvation is far from the wicked,

for they do not seek outg your decrees.

156 Your compassion, Lord, is great;h

preserve my lifei according to your laws.j

157 Many are the foes who persecute me,k

but I have not turnedl from your statutes.

158 I look on the faithless with loathing,m

for they do not obey your word.n

159 See how I love your precepts;

preserve my life,o Lord, in accordance with your love.

160 All your words are true;

all your righteous laws are eternal.p

ש Sin and Shin

161 Rulers persecute meq without cause,

but my heart tremblesr at your word.

162 I rejoices in your promise

like one who finds great spoil.t

163 I hate and detestu falsehood

but I love your law.v

164 Seven times a day I praise you

for your righteous laws.w

165 Great peacex have those who love your law,

and nothing can make them stumble.y

166 I wait for your salvation,z Lord,

and I follow your commands.

167 I obey your statutes,

for I love thema greatly.

168 I obey your preceptsb and your statutes,c

for all my ways are knownd to you.

ת Taw

169 May my cry comee before you, Lord;

give me understandingf according to your word.g

170 May my supplication comeh before you;

deliver mei according to your promise.j

171 May my lips overflow with praise,k

for you teach mel your decrees.

172 May my tongue singm of your word,

for all your commands are righteous.n

173 May your hand be ready to helpo me,

for I have chosenp your precepts.

174 I long for your salvation,q Lord,

and your law gives me delight.r

175 Let me lives that I may praise you,

and may your laws sustain me.

176 I have strayed like a lost sheep.t

Seek your servant,

for I have not forgottenu your commands.