Psalm 119

Delight in God’s Word

Aleph

1   How I happy are those whose way is blameless, w

who walk according to the LORDS instruction! x

2   Happy are those who keep his decrees y

and seek him with all their heart. z

3   They do nothing wrong; a

they walk in his ways.

4   You have commanded that your precepts b

be diligently kept.

5   If only my ways were committed

to keeping your statutes! c

6   Then I would not be ashamed d

when I think about all your commands.

7   I will praise you with an upright heart e

when I learn your righteous judgments.

8   I will keep your statutes;

never abandon me. f

ב Beth

9   How can a young man keep his way pure?

By keeping your J word. g

10   I have sought you with all my heart; h

don’t let me wander from your commands. i

11   I have treasured your word in my heart j

so that I may not sin against you.

12   LORD, may you be blessed;

teach me your statutes. k

13   With my lips I proclaim

all the judgments from your mouth. l

14   I rejoice in the way revealed by your decrees m

as much as in all riches.

15   I will meditate on your precepts n

and think about your ways. o

16   I will delight in your statutes; p

I will not forget your word.

ג Gimel

17   Deal generously with your servant q

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; r

do not hide your commands from me.

20   I am continually overcome

with longing for your judgments. s

21   You rebuke the arrogant,

the ones under a curse, t

who wander from your commands. u

22   Take insult and contempt away from me, v

for I have kept your decrees.

23   Though princes sit together speaking against me, w

your servant will think about your statutes; x

24   your decrees are my delight

and my counselors. y

ד Daleth

25   My life is down in the dust; z

give me life a through your word.

26   I told you about my life,

and you answered me;

teach me your statutes. b

27   Help me understand

the meaning of your precepts

so that I can meditate on your wonders. c

28   I am weary K from grief;

strengthen me through your word. d

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. e

31   I cling to your decrees;

LORD, do not put me to shame. f

32   I pursue the way of your commands,

for you broaden my understanding. L,g

ה He

33   Teach me, LORD, the meaning M of your statutes,

and I will always keep them. N,h

34   Help me understand your instruction, i

and I will obey it

and follow it with all my heart. j

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

for I take pleasure in it. l

36   Turn my heart to your decrees m

and not to dishonest profit. n

37   Turn my eyes

from looking at what is worthless; o

give me life in your ways. O,p

38   Confirm what you said to your servant, q

for it produces reverence for you.

39   Turn away the disgrace I dread; r

indeed, your judgments are good.

40   How I long for your precepts! s

Give me life through your righteousness.

ו Waw

41   Let your faithful love come to me, LORD, t

your salvation, as you promised. u

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

for I trust in your word.

43   Never take the word of truth from my mouth,

for I hope in your judgments. w

44   I will always obey your instruction,

forever and ever. x

45   I will walk freely in an open place y

because I study your precepts. z

46   I will speak of your decrees before kings

and not be ashamed. a

47   I delight in your commands,

which I love. b

48   I will lift up my hands c to your commands,

which I love,

and will meditate on your statutes. d

ז Zayin

49   Remember your word to your servant;

you have given me hope through it.

50   This is my comfort in my affliction: e

Your promise has given me life.

51   The arrogant constantly ridicule me,

but I do not turn away from your instruction. f

52   LORD, I remember your judgments from long ago

and find comfort.

53   Rage seizes me g because of the wicked

who reject your instruction. h

54   Your statutes are the theme of my song

during my earthly life. P

55   LORD, I remember your name i in the night, j

and I obey your instruction.

56   This is my practice:

I obey your precepts. k

ח Cheth

57   The LORD is my portion; Q,l

I have promised to keep your words.

58   I have sought your favor m with all my heart;

be gracious to me n according to your promise.

59   I thought about my ways o

and turned my steps back to your decrees.

60   I hurried, not hesitating

to keep your commands.

61   Though the ropes of the wicked p

were wrapped around me,

I did not forget your instruction. q

62   I rise at midnight to thank you r

for your righteous judgments. s

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

to those who keep your precepts.

64   LORD, the earth is filled with your faithful love; u

teach me your statutes. v

ט Teth

65   LORD, you have treated your servant well,

just as you promised.

66   Teach me good judgment and discernment, w

for I rely on your commands.

67   Before I was afflicted I went astray, x

but now I keep your word.

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

teach me your statutes.

69   The arrogant have smeared me with lies, a

but I obey your precepts with all my heart. b

70   Their hearts are hard and insensitive, c

but I delight in your instruction. d

71   It was good for me to be afflicted e

so that I could learn your statutes.

72   Instruction from your lips f is better for me

than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

י Yod

73   Your hands made me and formed me; g

give me understanding

so that I can learn your commands. h

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

for I put my hope in your word. j

75   I know, LORD, that your judgments are just

and that you have afflicted me fairly. k

76   May your faithful love comfort me

as you promised your servant.

77   May your compassion come to me l

so that I may live,

for your instruction is my delight. m

78   Let the arrogant be put to shame n

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 statutes o

so that I will not be put to shame.

כ Kaph

81   I long for your salvation; p

I put my hope in your word. q

82   My eyes grow weary

looking for what you have promised; r

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? s

85   The arrogant have dug pits for me; t

they violate your instruction.

86   All your commands are true;

people persecute me with lies—help me! u

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; v

it is firmly fixed in heaven.

90   Your faithfulness is for all generations; w

you established the earth, and it stands firm. x

91   Your judgments stand firm today, y

for all things are your servants. z

92   If your instruction had not been my delight,

I would have died in my affliction. a

93   I will never forget your precepts,

for you have given me life through them. b

94   I am yours; save me, c

for I have studied your precepts. d

95   The wicked hope to destroy me, e

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! f

It is my meditation all day long. g

98   Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, h

for they are always with me.

99   I have more insight than all my teachers

because your decrees are my meditation. i

100   I understand more than the elders j

because I obey your precepts. k

101   I have kept my feet from every evil path l

to follow your word.

102   I have not turned from your judgments, m

for you yourself have instructed me.

103   How sweet your word is n to my taste—

sweeter than honey in my mouth.

104   I gain understanding from your precepts; o

therefore I hate every false way. p

נ Nun

105   Your word is a lamp for my feet q

and a light on my path.

106   I have solemnly sworn r

to keep your righteous judgments.

107   I am severely afflicted;

LORD, give me life according to your word. s

108   LORD, please accept my freewill offerings of praise, t

and teach me your judgments. u

109   My life is constantly in danger, R

yet I do not forget your instruction. v

110   The wicked have set a trap for me, w

but I have not wandered from your precepts. x

111   I have your decrees as a heritage forever;

indeed, they are the joy of my heart. y

112   I am resolved to obey your statutes

to the very end. S,z

ס Samek

113   I hate those who are double-minded, a

but I love your instruction. b

114   You are my shelter and my shield; c

I put my hope in your word. d

115   Depart from me, e you evil ones,

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

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

do not let me be ashamed of my hope. h

117   Sustain me so that I can be safe i

and always be concerned about your statutes. j

118   You reject all who stray from your statutes, k

for their deceit is a lie.

119   You remove all the wicked on earth

as if they were T dross from metal; l

therefore, I love your decrees. m

120   I tremble U in awe of you; n

I fear your judgments.

ע Ayin

121   I have done what is just and right; o

do not leave me to my oppressors.

122   Guarantee your servant’s well-being; p

do not let the arrogant oppress me.

123   My eyes grow weary q looking for your salvation

and for your righteous promise.

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

teach me your statutes.

125   I am your servant; s give me understanding t

so that I may know your decrees.

126   It is time for the LORD to act, u

for they have violated your instruction.

127   Since I love your commands v

more than gold, even the purest gold,

128   I carefully follow all your precepts w

and hate every false way. x

פ Pe

129   Your decrees are wondrous; y

therefore I obey them. z

130   The revelation of your words a brings light

and gives understanding to the inexperienced. b

131   I open my mouth and pant c

because I long for your commands.

132   Turn to me and be gracious to me, d

as is your practice toward those who love your name.

133   Make my steps steady through your promise; e

don’t let any sin dominate me. f

134   Redeem me from human oppression, g

and I will keep your precepts.

135   Make your face shine on your servant, h

and teach me your statutes. i

136   My eyes pour out streams of tears j

because people do not follow your instruction.

צ Tsade

137   You are righteous, LORD, k

and your judgments are just.

138   The decrees you issue are righteous

and altogether trustworthy. l

139   My anger overwhelms me

because my foes forget your words. m

140   Your word is completely pure, n

and your servant loves it. o

141   I am insignificant and despised, p

but I do not forget your precepts. q

142   Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,

and your instruction is true. r

143   Trouble and distress have overtaken me,

but your commands are my delight. s

144   Your decrees are righteous forever. t

Give me understanding, and I will live.

ק Qoph

145   I call with all my heart; answer me, LORD.

I will obey your statutes. u

146   I call to you; save me,

and I will keep your decrees. v

147   I rise before dawn and cry out for help; w

I put my hope in your word.

148   I am awake through each watch of the night

to meditate on your promise. x

149   In keeping with your faithful love, hear my voice.

LORD, give me life in keeping with your justice. y

150   Those who pursue evil plans V,z come near;

they are far from your instruction.

151   You are near, LORD, a

and all your commands are true. b

152   Long ago I learned from your decrees

that you have established them forever. c

ר Resh

153   Consider my affliction and rescue me, d

for I have not forgotten your instruction. e

154   Champion my cause and redeem me; f

give me life as you promised.

155   Salvation is far from the wicked

because they do not study your statutes. g

156   Your compassions are many, LORD; h

give me life according to your judgments.

157   My persecutors and foes are many. i

I have not turned from your decrees. j

158   I have seen the disloyal k and feel disgust l

because they do not keep your word.

159   Consider how I love your precepts;

LORD, give me life according to your faithful love. m

160   The entirety of your word is truth,

each of your righteous judgments endures forever. n

Sin / Shin

161   Princes have persecuted me without cause,

but my heart fears only your word. o

162   I rejoice over your promise p

like one who finds vast treasure.

163   I hate and abhor falsehood, q

but I love your instruction. r

164   I praise you seven times a day

for your righteous judgments. s

165   Abundant peace belongs to those t

who love your instruction;

nothing makes them stumble. u

166   LORD, I hope for your salvation v

and carry out your commands.

167   I obey your decrees

and love them greatly. w

168   I obey your precepts and decrees,

for all my ways are before you. x

ת Taw

169   Let my cry reach you, LORD; y

give me understanding according to your word. z

170   Let my plea reach you; a

rescue me according to your promise. b

171   My lips pour out praise, c

for you teach me your statutes. d

172   My tongue sings about your promise, e

for all your commands are righteous. f

173   May your hand be ready to help me, g

for I have chosen your precepts. h

174   I long for your salvation, LORD,

and your instruction is my delight. i

175   Let me live, and I will praise you; j

may your judgments help me.

176   I wander like a lost sheep; k

seek your servant, l

for I do not forget your commands. m