1 PSALM 119 Meditations and Prayers Relating to the Law of God. Aleph. How blessedandfavored by God are those whose way is blameless [those with personal integrity, the upright, the guileless],Who walk in the law [and who are guided by the precepts and revealed will] of the L.
2 Blessedandfavored by God are those who keep His testimonies,And who [consistently] seek Himandlong for Him with all their heart.
3 They do no unrighteousness;They walk in His ways.
4 You have ordained Your precepts,That we should follow them with [careful] diligence.
5 Oh, that my ways may be establishedTo observeandkeep Your statutes [obediently accepting and honoring them]!
6 Then I will not be ashamedWhen I look [with respect] to all Your commandments [as my guide].
7 I will give thanks to You with an upright heart,When I learn [through discipline] Your righteous judgments [for my transgressions].
8 I shall keep Your statutes;Do not utterly abandon me [when I fail].
9 Beth. How can a young man keep his way pure?By keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to Your precepts].
10 With all my heart I have sought You, [inquiring of You and longing for You];Do not let me wander from Your commandments [neither through ignorance nor by willful disobedience].
11 Your word I have treasuredandstored in my heart,That I may not sin against You.
12 Blessedandreverently praised are You, O L;Teach me Your statutes.
13 With my lips I have told ofAll the ordinances 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 preceptsAnd [thoughtfully] regard Your ways [the path of life established by Your precepts].
16 I will delight in Your statutes;I will not forget Your word.
17 Gimel. Deal bountifully with Your servant,That I may live and keep Your word [treasuring it and being guided by it day by day].
18 Open my eyes [to spiritual truth] so that I may beholdWonderful things from Your law.
19 I am a stranger on the earth;Do not hide Your commandments from me.
20 My soul is crushed with longingFor Your ordinances at all times.
21 You rebuke the presumptuousandarrogant, the cursedones,Who wander from Your commandments.
22 Take reproach and contempt away from me,For I observe Your testimonies.
23 Even though princes sit and talk to one another against me,Your servant meditates on Your statutes.
24 Your testimonies also are my delightAnd my counselors.
25 Daleth. My earthly life clings to the dust;Reviveandrefresh me according to Your word.
26 I have told of my ways, and You have answered me;Teach me Your statutes.
27 Make me understand the way of Your precepts,So that I will meditate (focus my thoughts) on Your wonderful works.
28 My soul dissolves because of grief;Renewandstrengthen me according to [the promises of] Your word.
29 Remove from me the way of falsehoodandunfaithfulness,And graciously grant me Your law.
30 I have chosen the faithful way;I have placed Your ordinancesbefore me.
31 I cling tightly to Your testimonies;O L, do not put me to shame!
32 I will run the way of Your commandments [with purpose],For You will give me a heart that is willing.
33 He. Teach me, O L, the way of Your statutes,And I will [steadfastly] observe it to the end.
34 Give me understanding [a teachable heart and the ability to learn], that I may keep Your law;And observe it with all my heart.
35 Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,For I delight in it.
36 Incline my heart to Your testimoniesAnd not todishonestgainandenvy.
37 Turn my eyes away from vanity [all those worldly, meaningless things that distract—let Your priorities be mine],And restore me [with renewed energy] in Your ways.
38 Establish Your wordandconfirm Your promise to Your servant,As that which produces [awe-inspired] reverence for You.
39 Turn away my reproach which I dread,For Your ordinances are good.
40 I long for Your precepts;Renew me through Your righteousness.
41 Vav. May Your lovingkindness also come to me, O L,Your salvation according to Your promise;
42 So I will have an answer for the one who taunts me,For I trust [completely] in Your word [and its reliability].
43 And do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,For I wait for Your ordinances.
44 I will keep Your law continually,Forever and ever [writing Your precepts on my heart].
45 And I will walk at liberty,For I seekanddeeply long for Your precepts.
46 I will also speak of Your testimonies before kingsAnd shall not be ashamed.
47 For I shall delight in Your commandments,Which I love.
48 And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments,Which I love;And I will meditate on Your statutes.
49 Zayin. Remember [always] the wordandpromise to Your servant,In which You have made me hope.
50 This is my comfort in my affliction,That Your word has revived meandgiven me life.
51 The arrogant utterly ridicule me,Yet I do not turn away from Your law.
52 I have remembered [carefully] Your ancient ordinances, O L,And I have taken comfort.
53 Burning indignation has seized me because of the wicked,WhoLit forsake.reject Your law.
54 Your statutes are my songsIn the house of my pilgrimage.
55 O L, I remember Your name in the night,And keep Your law.
56 This has become mine [as the gift of Your grace],That I observe Your precepts [accepting them with loving obedience].
57 Heth. The Lis my portion;I have promised to keep Your words.
58 I sought Your favor with all my heart;Be mercifulandgracious to me according to Your promise.
59 I considered my waysAnd turned my feet to [follow and obey] Your testimonies.
60 I hurried and did not delayTo keep Your commandments.
61 The cords of the wicked have encircledandensnared me,But I have not forgotten Your law.
62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks to YouBecause of Your righteous ordinances.
63 I am a companion of all who [reverently] fear You,And of those who keepandhonor Your precepts.
64 The earth, O L, is full of Your lovingkindnessandgoodness;Teach me Your statutes.
65 Teth. You have dealt well with Your servant,O L, according to Your promise.
66 Teach me good judgment (discernment) and knowledge,For I have believedandtrustedandrelied on Your commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,But now I keepandhonor Your word [with loving obedience].
68 You are good and do good;Teach me Your statutes.
69 The arrogant have forged a lie against me,But I will keep Your precepts with all my heart.
70 Their heart is insensitive like fat [their minds are dull and brutal],But I delight in Your law.
71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted,That I may learn Your statutes.
72 The law from Your mouth is better to meThan thousands of gold and silverpieces.
73 Yodh. Your hands have made me and established me;Give me understandinganda teachable heart, that I may learn Your commandments.
74 May those who [reverently] fear You see me and be glad,Because I wait for Your word.
75 I know, O L, that Your judgments are fair,And that in faithfulness You have disciplined me.
76 O may Your lovingkindnessandgraciousness comfort me,According to Your word (promise) to Your servant.
77 Let Your compassion come to me that I may live,For Your law is my delight.
78 Let the arrogant be ashamedandhumiliated, for they sabotage me with a lie;But I will meditate on Your precepts.
79 May those who fear You [with submissive wonder] turn to me,Even those who have known Your testimonies.
80 May my heart be blameless in Your statutes,So that I will not be ashamed.
81 Kaph. My soul languishesandgrows weak for Your salvation;I wait for Your word.
82 My eyes fail [with longing, watching] for [the fulfillment of] Your promise,Saying, “When will You comfort me?”
83 For I have become like a wineskin [blackened and shriveled] in the smoke [in which it hangs],Yet I do not forget Your statutes.
84 How many are the days of Your servant [which he must endure]?When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me?
85 The arrogant (godless) have dug pits for me,Men who do not conform to Your law.
86 All Your commandments are faithfulandtrustworthy.They have persecuted me with a lie; help me [L]!
87 They had almost destroyed me on earth,But as for me, I did notLit forsake.turn away from Your precepts.
88 According to Your steadfast love refresh meandgive me life,So that I may keepandobey the testimony of Your mouth.
89 Lamedh. Forever, O L,Your word is settled in heaven [standing firm and unchangeable].
90 Your faithfulnesscontinuesfrom generation to generation;You have established the earth, and it stands [securely].
91 They continue this day according to Your ordinances,For all things [all parts of the universe] are Your servants.
92 If Your law had not been my delight,Then I would have perished in my time of trouble.
93 I will never forget Your precepts,For by them You have revived meandgiven me life.
94 I am Yours, save me [as Your own];For I have [diligently] sought Your preceptsandrequired them [as my greatest need].
95 The wicked wait for me to destroy me,But I will consider Your testimonies.
96 I have seen that all [human] perfection has its limits [no matter how grand and perfect and noble];Your commandment is exceedingly broadandextends without limits [into eternity].
97 Mem. Oh, how I love Your law!It is my meditation all the day.
98 Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies,For Your words are always with me.
99 I have better understandinganddeeper insight than all my teachers [because of Your word],For Your testimonies are my meditation.
100 I understand more than the aged [who have not observed Your precepts],Because I have observedandkept Your precepts.
101 I have restrained my feet from every evil way,That I may keep Your word.
102 I have not turned aside from Your ordinances,For You Yourself have taught me.
103 How sweet are Your words to my taste,Sweeterthan honey to my mouth!
104 From Your precepts I get understanding;Therefore I hate every false way.
105 Nun. Your word is a lamp to my feetAnd a light to my path.
106 I have sworn [an oath] and have confirmed it,That I will keep Your righteous ordinances.
107 I am greatly afflicted;Renewandrevive me [giving me life], O L, according to Your word.
108 Acceptandtake pleasure in the freewill offerings of my mouth, O L,And teach me Your ordinances.
109 My life is continuallyI.e. in danger.in my hand,Yet I do not forget Your law.
110 The wicked have laid a snare for me,Yet I do not wander from Your precepts.
111 I have taken Your testimonies as a heritage forever,For they are the joy of my heart.
112 I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutesForever, even to the end.
113 Samekh. I hate those who are double-minded,But I loveandtreasure Your law.
114 You are my hiding place and my shield;I wait for Your word.
115 Leave me, you evildoers,That I may keep the commandments of my God [honoring and obeying them].
116 Uphold me according to Your word [of promise], so that I may live;And do not let me be ashamed of my hope [in Your great goodness].
117 Uphold me that I may be safe,That I may have regard for Your statutes continually.
118 You have turned Your back on all those who wander from Your statutes,For their deceitfulness is useless.
119 You have removed all the wicked of the earth like dross [for they have no value];Therefore I love Your testimonies.
120 My flesh trembles in [reverent] fear of You,And I am afraidandin awe of Your judgments.
121 Ayin. I have done justice and righteousness;Do not leave me to those who oppress me.
122 Be the guarantee for Your servant for good [as Judah was the guarantee for Benjamin];Do not let the arrogant oppress me.
123 My eyes fail [with longing, watching] for [the fulfillment of] Your salvation,And for [the fulfillment of] Your righteous word.
124 Deal with Your servant according to Your [gracious] lovingkindness,And teach me Your statutes.
125 I am Your servant; give me understanding [the ability to learn and a teachable heart]That I may know Your testimonies.
126 It is time for the Lto act;They have broken Your law.
127 Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold,Yes, more than refined gold.
128 Therefore I esteem as right all Your precepts concerning everything;I hate every false way.
129 Pe. Your testimonies are wonderful;Therefore my soul keeps them.
130 The unfolding of Your [glorious] words give light;Their unfolding gives understanding to the simple (childlike).
131 I opened my mouth and panted [with anticipation],Because I longed for Your commandments.
132 Turn to me and be gracious to meandshow me favor,As is Your way to those who love Your name.
133 Establish my footsteps in [the way of] Your word;Do not let any human weakness have power over me [causing me to be separated from You].
134 Redeem me from the oppression of man;That I may keep Your precepts.
135 Make Your face shine [with pleasure] upon Your servant,And teach me Your statutes.
136 My eyes weep streams of waterBecause people do not keep Your law.
137 Tsadhe. Righteous are You, O L,And upright are Your judgments.
138 You have commanded Your testimonies in righteousnessAnd in great faithfulness.
139 My zeal has [completely] consumed me,Because my enemies have forgotten Your words.
140 Your word is very pure (refined);Therefore Your servant loves it.
141 I am small and despised,But I do not forget Your precepts.
142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,And Your law is truth.
143 Trouble and anguish have found me,Yet Your commandments are my delightandmy joy.
144 Your righteous testimonies are everlasting;Give me understanding [the ability to learn and a teachable heart] that I may live.
145 Qoph. I cried with all my heart; answer me, O L!I will observe Your statutes.
146 I cried to You; save meAnd I will keep Your testimonies.
147 I rise before dawn and cry [in prayer] for help;I wait for Your word.
148 My eyes anticipate the night watchesandI awake before the call of the watchman,That I may meditate on Your word.
149 Hear my voice according to Your [steadfast] lovingkindness;O L, renewandrefresh me according to Your ordinances.
150 Those who follow after wickedness approach;They are far from Your law.
151 You are near, O L,And all Your commandments are truth.
152 Of old I have known from Your testimoniesThat You have founded them forever.
153 Resh. Look upon my agony and rescue me,For I do not forget Your law.
154 Plead my cause and redeem me;Revive meandgive me life according to [the promise of] Your word.
155 Salvation is far from the wicked,For they do not seek Your statutes.
156 Great are Your tender merciesandsteadfast love, O L;Revive meandgive me life according to Your ordinances.
157 Many are my persecutors and my adversaries,Yet I do not turn away from Your testimonies.
158 I see the treacherous and loathe them,Because they do not respect Your law.
159 Consider how I love Your precepts;Revive meandgive me life, O L, according to Your lovingkindness.
160 The sum of Your word is truth [the full meaning of all Your precepts],And every one of Your righteous ordinances endures forever.
161 Shin. Princes persecute me without cause,But my heart stands in [reverent] awe of Your words [so I can expect You to help me].
162 I rejoice at Your word,As one who finds great treasure.
163 I hate and detest falsehood,But I love Your law.
164 The number seven sometimes represents a continuing action or a sufficiently high number of actions (cf Matt 18:21).Seven times a day I praise You,Because of Your righteous ordinances.
165 Those who love Your law have great peace;Nothing makes them stumble.
166 I hopeandwait [with complete confidence] for Your salvation, O L,And I do Your commandments.
167 My soul keeps Your testimonies [hearing and accepting and obeying them];I love them greatly.
168 I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies,For all my ways are [fully known] before You.
169 Tav. Let my [mournful] cry come before You, O L;Give me understanding [the ability to learn and a teachable heart] according to Your word [of promise].
170 Let my supplication come before You;Deliver me according to Your word.
171 Let my lips speak praise [with thanksgiving],For You teach me Your statutes.
172 Let my tongue sing [praise for the fulfillment] of Your word,For all Your commandments are righteous.
173 Let Your hand be ready to help me,For I have chosen Your precepts.
174 I long for Your salvation, O L,And Your law is my delight.
175 Let my soul live that it may praise You,And let Your ordinances help me.
176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep;Seek Your servant, for I do not forget Your commandments.