Psalms 119

Meditations and prayers relating to the law of God.

Blessed are they that keep his testimonies,

Yea, they do no unrighteousness;

Thou hast commanded us thy precepts,

Oh that my ways were established

Then shall I not be put to shame,

I will give thanks unto thee with uprightness of heart,

I will observe thy statutes:

ב Beth.

With my whole heart have I sought thee:

Thy word have I laid up in my heart,

Blessed art thou, O Jehovah:

With my lips have I declared

I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies,

I will meditate on thy precepts,

I will delight myself in thy statutes:

ג Gimel.

Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold

I am a sojourner in the earth:

My soul breaketh for the longing

Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed,

Take away from me reproach and contempt;

Princes also sat and talked against me;

Thy testimonies also are my delight

ד Daleth.

I declared my ways, and thou answeredst me:

Make me to understand the way of thy precepts:

My soul melteth for heaviness:

Remove from me the way of falsehood;

I have chosen the way of faithfulness:

I cleave unto thy testimonies:

I will run the way of thy commandments,

ה He.

Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law;

Make me to go in the path of thy commandments;

Incline my heart unto thy testimonies,

Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity,

Confirm unto thy servant thy word,

Turn away my reproach whereof I am afraid;

Behold, I have longed after thy precepts:

ו Vav.

So shall I have an answer for him that reproacheth me;

And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth;

So shall I observe thy law continually

And I shall walk at liberty;

I will also speak of thy testimonies before kings,

And I will delight myself in thy commandments,

I will lift up my hands also unto thy commandments, which I have loved;

ז Zayin.

This is my comfort in my affliction;

The proud have had me greatly in derision:

I have remembered thine ordinances of old, O Jehovah,

Hot indignation hath taken hold upon me,

Thy statutes have been my songs

I have remembered thy name, O Jehovah, in the night,

This I have had,

ח Hheth.

I entreated thy favor with my whole heart:

I thought on my ways,

I made haste, and delayed not,

The cords of the wicked have wrapped me round;

At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee

I am a companion of all them that fear thee,

The earth, O Jehovah, is full of thy lovingkindness:

ט Teth.

Teach me good judgment and knowledge;

Before I was afflicted I went astray;

Thou art good, and doest good;

The proud have forged a lie against me:

Their heart is as fat as grease;

It is good for me that I have been afflicted;

The law of thy mouth is better unto me

י Yodh.

They that fear thee shall see me and be glad,

I know, O Jehovah, that thy judgments are righteous,

Let, I pray thee, thy lovingkindness be for my comfort,

Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live;

Let the proud be put to shame;

Let those that fear thee turn unto me;

Let my heart be perfect in thy statutes,

כ Kaph.

Mine eyes fail for thy word,

For I am become like a wine-skin in the smoke;

How many are the days of thy servant?

The proud have digged pits for me,

All thy commandments are faithful:

They had almost consumed me upon earth;

Quicken me after thy lovingkindness;

ל Lamedh.

Thy faithfulness is unto all generations:

They abide this day according to thine ordinances;

Unless thy law had been my delight,

I will never forget thy precepts;

I am thine, save me;

The wicked have waited for me, to destroy me;

I have seen an end of all perfection;

מ Mem.

Thy commandments make me wiser than mine enemies;

I have more understanding than all my teachers;

I understand more than the aged,

I have refrained my feet from every evil way,

I have not turned aside from thine ordinances;

How sweet are thy words unto my taste!

Through thy precepts I get understanding:

נ Nun.

I have sworn, and have confirmed it,

I am afflicted very much:

Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill-offerings of my mouth, O Jehovah,

My soul is continually in my hand;

The wicked have laid a snare for me;

Thy testimonies have I taken as a heritage for ever;

I have inclined my heart to perform thy statutes

ס Samekh.

Thou art my hiding-place and my shield:

Depart from me, ye evil-doers,

Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live;

Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe,

Thou hast set at nought all them that err from thy statutes;

Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross:

My flesh trembleth for fear of thee;

ע Ayin.

Be surety for thy servant for good:

Mine eyes fail for thy salvation,

Deal with thy servant according unto thy lovingkindness,

I am thy servant; give me understanding,

It is time for Jehovah to work;

Therefore I love thy commandments

Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right;

פ Pe.

The opening of thy words giveth light;

I opened wide my mouth, and panted;

Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me,

Establish my footsteps in thy word;

Redeem me from the oppression of man:

Make thy face to shine upon thy servant;

Streams of water run down mine eyes,

צ Tsadhe.

Thou hast commanded thy testimonies in righteousness

My zeal hath consumed me,

Thy word is very pure;

I am small and despised;

Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,

Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me;

Thy testimonies are righteous for ever:

ק Qoph.

I have called unto thee; save me,

I anticipated the dawning of the morning, and cried:

Mine eyes anticipated the night-watches,

Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness:

They draw nigh that follow after wickedness;

Thou art nigh, O Jehovah;

Of old have I known from thy testimonies,

ר Resh.

Plead thou my cause, and redeem me:

Salvation is far from the wicked;

Great are thy tender mercies, O Jehovah:

Many are my persecutors and mine adversaries;

I beheld the treacherous, and was grieved,

Consider how I love thy precepts:

The sum of thy word is truth;

ש Shin.

I rejoice at thy word,

I hate and abhor falsehood;

Seven times a day do I praise thee,

Great peace have they that love thy law;

I have hoped for thy salvation, O Jehovah,

My soul hath observed thy testimonies;

I have observed thy precepts and thy testimonies;

ת Tav.

Let my supplication come before thee:

Let my lips utter praise;

Let my tongue sing of thy word;

Let thy hand be ready to help me;

I have longed for thy salvation, O Jehovah;

Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee;

I have gone astray like a lost sheep;