Psalms 119

1 Aleph — Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the Lord’s law.

2 Blessed are those who search out his witnesses; they seek him with their whole heart.

3 Those who practice lawlessness have not walked in his ways.

4 You commanded that your commands be kept diligently.

5 May my ways be directed toward keeping your rules!

6 Then I will not be put to shame when I look closely at all your commands.

7 I will give thanks to you, Lord, with an upright heart when I learn the judgments of your righteousness.

8 I will keep your rules; do not abandon me completely.

9 Beth — How will a young man make his way straight? By keeping your words.

10 I sought you diligently with my whole heart; do not push me away from your commands.

11 I hid your sayings in my heart so I would not sin against you.

12 Blessed are you, Lord; teach me your rules.

13 With my lips I declared all the judgments of your mouth.

14 I delighted in the way of your witnesses as much as in every kind of wealth.

15 I will ponder your commands and consider your ways.

16 I will meditate on your rules; I will not forget your words.

17 Gimel — Repay your servant, and I will live and keep your words.

18 Uncover my eyes, and I will perceive wonders from your law.

19 I am a stranger on the earth; do not hide your commands from me.

20 My soul longed intensely for your judgments at every moment.

21 You rebuked the arrogant. Cursed are those who turn away from your commands.

22 Remove insult and contempt from me, because I searched out your witnesses.

23 Even rulers sat and spoke against me, but your servant pondered your rules.

24 Your witnesses are my meditation, and your rules are my counselors.

25 Daleth — My soul clung to the ground; give me life according to your word.

26 I declared my ways, and you heard me; teach me your rules.

27 Help me understand the way of your rules, and I will ponder your wonders.

28 My soul melted away from despondency; strengthen me with your words.

29 Remove the way of injustice from me, and show me mercy through your law.

30 I chose the way of truth and did not forget your judgments.

31 I clung to your witnesses, Lord; do not put me to shame.

32 I ran on the way of your commands when you widened my heart.

33 He — Teach me the way of your rules, Lord, and I will search it out continually.

34 Give me understanding, and I will search out your law and keep it with my whole heart.

35 Guide me in the path of your commands, because I desired it.

36 Incline my heart toward your witnesses and not toward greed.

37 Turn my eyes away from looking at futility; give me life in your way.

38 Confirm your saying to your servant so he may revere you.

39 Remove the insult I feared, because your judgments are kind.

40 Look, I longed for your commands; give me life in your righteousness.

41 Vau — Let your mercy come upon me, Lord—your rescue according to your saying.

42 Then I will answer those who insult me, because I trusted your words.

43 Do not take the word of truth entirely from my mouth, because I hoped in your judgments.

44 So I will keep your law continually, forever and ever.

45 I walked in a wide place, because I searched out your commands.

46 I spoke about your witnesses before kings and was not put to shame.

47 I meditated on your commands, which I loved intensely.

48 I lifted my hands toward your commands, which I loved, and I pondered your rules.

49 Zain — Remember your word to your servant, through which you gave me hope.

50 This comforted me in my affliction, because your saying gave me life.

51 The arrogant acted lawlessly beyond measure, but I did not turn aside from your law.

52 I remembered your judgments from long ago, Lord, and was comforted.

53 Despair seized me because of sinners who abandon your law.

54 Your rules became my songs in the place where I live as a stranger.

55 I remembered your name in the night, Lord, and kept your law.

56 This became mine because I diligently searched out your rules.

57 Heth — You are my portion, Lord. I said I would keep your law.

58 I pleaded before you with my whole heart; have mercy on me according to your saying.

59 I considered your ways and turned my feet toward your witnesses.

60 I prepared myself and was not troubled, so I could keep your commands.

61 The ropes of sinners entangled me, but I did not forget your law.

62 At midnight I rose to give thanks to you for the judgments of your righteousness.

63 I am a companion of everyone who reveres you and keeps your commands.

64 The earth is full of your mercy, Lord; teach me your rules.

65 Teth — You treated your servant kindly, Lord, according to your word.

66 Teach me kindness, instruction, and knowledge, because I trusted your commands.

67 Before I was humbled, I acted wrongly; therefore I kept your saying.

68 You are kind, Lord; in your kindness teach me your rules.

69 The injustice of the arrogant multiplied against me, but I will search out your commands with my whole heart.

70 Their heart curdled like milk, but I meditated on your law.

71 It was good for me that you humbled me, so I might learn your rules.

72 The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.

73 Jod — Your hands made and fashioned me; give me understanding so I may learn your commands.

74 Those who revere you will see me and rejoice, because I hoped in your words.

75 I know, Lord, that your judgments are righteous and that you humbled me in truth.

76 Please let your mercy comfort me, according to your saying to your servant.

77 Let your compassion come to me so I may live, because your law is my meditation.

78 Let the arrogant be put to shame, because they acted unjustly against me, but I will ponder your commands.

79 Let those who revere you and know your witnesses turn to me.

80 May my heart be blameless in your rules so I will not be put to shame.

81 Chaph — My soul faints for your rescue; I hoped in your word.

82 My eyes failed while waiting for your saying, asking, “When will you comfort me?”

83 I became like a wineskin in the frost, but I did not forget your rules.

84 How many are the days of your servant? When will you bring judgment on those who persecute me?

85 Lawbreakers told me idle tales, but those tales were not like your law, Lord.

86 All your commands are truth. They persecuted me unjustly; help me.

87 They nearly brought me to an end on the earth, but I did not abandon your commands.

88 Give me life according to your mercy, and I will keep the witnesses of your mouth.

89 Lamed — Your word, Lord, remains in heaven forever.

90 Your truth lasts through every generation. You founded the earth, and it remains.

91 The day continues by your arrangement, because all things are your servants.

92 If your law had not been my meditation, I would have perished in my affliction.

93 I will never forget your rules, because through them you gave me life, Lord.

94 I am yours; save me, because I searched out your rules.

95 Sinners waited to destroy me, but I understood your witnesses.

96 I saw an end to every completion, but your command is exceedingly broad.

97 Mem — How I loved your law, Lord! It is my meditation all day long.

98 Through your command you made me wiser than my enemies, because it is mine forever.

99 I understood more than all my teachers, because your witnesses are my meditation.

100 I understood more than the elders, because I searched out your commands.

101 I held my feet back from every evil way so I could keep your words.

102 I did not turn aside from your judgments, because you instructed me.

103 How sweet your sayings are to my throat—sweeter than honey and honeycomb to my mouth!

104 Through your commands I gained understanding, so I hated every way of injustice, [because you instructed me].

105 Nun — Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my paths.

106 I swore and resolved to keep the judgments of your righteousness.

107 I was afflicted beyond measure; Lord, give me life according to your word.

108 Please accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, Lord, and teach me your judgments.

109 My soul is continually in my hands, but I did not forget your law.

110 Sinners set a trap for me, but I did not wander from your commands.

111 I inherited your witnesses forever, because they are my heart’s joy.

112 I inclined my heart to carry out your rules forever, in return.

113 Samech — I hated lawbreakers, but I loved your law.

114 You are my helper and my supporter; I hoped in your word.

115 Depart from me, evildoers, and I will search out my God’s commands.

116 Support me according to your saying and give me life; do not put me to shame in my expectation.

117 Help me, and I will be saved, and I will meditate on your rules continually.

118 You brought to nothing everyone who departs from your rules, because their inward thought is unjust.

119 I regarded all the sinners of the earth as transgressors, so I loved your witnesses continually.

120 Pierce my flesh with reverence for you, because I am afraid of your judgments.

121 Ain — I practiced judgment and righteousness; do not hand me over to those who wrong me.

122 Receive your servant for good; do not let the arrogant accuse me falsely.

123 My eyes failed while waiting for your rescue and for the saying of your righteousness.

124 Deal with your servant according to your mercy, and teach me your rules.

125 I am your servant; give me understanding, and I will know your witnesses.

126 It is time for the Lord to act, because they scattered your law.

127 Therefore I loved your commands more than gold and topaz.

128 Therefore I directed myself by all your commands; I hated every unjust way.

129 Phe — Your witnesses are wonderful, so my soul searched them out.

130 The revelation of your words gives light and understanding to infants.

131 I opened my mouth and drew breath, because I longed intensely for your commands.

132 Look upon me and have mercy on me, according to your judgment for those who love your name.

133 Direct my steps according to your saying, and do not let any lawlessness rule over me.

134 Ransom me from human false accusation, and I will keep your commands.

135 Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your rules.

136 Streams of water flowed from my eyes because they did not keep your law.

137 Tsade — You are righteous, Lord, and your judgments are upright.

138 You commanded your witnesses as righteousness and complete truth.

139 Zeal for your house consumed me because my enemies forgot your words.

140 Your saying has been thoroughly refined by fire, and your servant loves it.

141 I am young and despised, but I did not forget your rules.

142 Your righteousness is righteousness forever, and your law is truth.

143 Afflictions and distress found me, but your commands were my meditation.

144 Your witnesses are righteousness forever; give me understanding, and I will live.

145 Koph — I cried out with my whole heart; hear me, Lord. I will search out your rules.

146 I cried out to you; save me, and I will keep your witnesses.

147 I rose before dawn and cried out; I hoped in your words.

148 My eyes opened before dawn so I could meditate on your sayings.

149 Hear my voice according to your mercy, Lord; give me life according to your judgment.

150 Those who persecute me unlawfully drew near; they are far from your law.

151 You are near, Lord, and all your commands are truth.

152 I knew long ago from your witnesses that you founded them forever.

153 Resh — Look upon my affliction and rescue me, because I did not forget your law.

154 Plead my case and ransom me; give me life because of your word.

155 Rescue is far from sinners, because they did not search out your rules.

156 Your mercies are many, Lord; give me life according to your judgment.

157 Many persecute and afflict me, but I did not turn aside from your witnesses.

158 I saw people breaking faith and wasted away, because they did not keep your sayings.

159 Look, I loved your commands, Lord; give me life in your mercy.

160 The beginning of your words is truth, and all the judgments of your righteousness last forever.

161 Sin — Rulers persecuted me without cause, but my heart feared your words.

162 I will rejoice in your sayings like someone who finds abundant plunder.

163 I hated and detested injustice, but I loved your law.

164 Seven times a day I praised you because of the judgments of your righteousness.

165 Those who love your law have great peace, and nothing makes them stumble.

166 I waited for your rescue, Lord, and loved your commands.

167 My soul kept your witnesses and loved them intensely.

168 I kept your commands and your witnesses, because all my ways are before you, Lord.

169 Thau — Let my plea come near before you, Lord; give me understanding according to your saying.

170 Let my request come before you, Lord; rescue me according to your saying.

171 Let my lips pour out a hymn when you teach me your rules.

172 Let my tongue speak your saying, because all your commands are righteous.

173 Let your hand be ready to save me, because I chose your commands.

174 I longed for your rescue, Lord, and your law is my meditation.

175 My soul will live and praise you, and your judgments will help me.

176 I wandered like a lost sheep. Search for your servant, because I did not forget your commands.