Chapter 119

  ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.  

  Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.  

  They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.  

  Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.  

  O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!  

  Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect to all thy commandments.  

  I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.  

  I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.  

  BETH. Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed to it, according to thy word.  

  With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.  

  Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.  

  Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.  

  With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.  

  I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.  

  I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect to thy ways.  

  I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.  

  GIMEL. Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.  

  Open thou my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.  

  I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.  

  My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath to thy judgments at all times.  

  Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, who do err from thy commandments.  

  Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.  

  Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.  

  Thy testimonies also are my delight, and my counselors.  

  DALETH. My soul cleaveth to the dust: revive thou me according to thy word.  

  I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.  

  Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.  

  My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according to thy word.  

  Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.  

  I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.  

  I have adhered to thy testimonies: O LORD, put me not to shame.  

  I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.  

  HE. Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it to the end.  

  Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yes, I shall observe it with my whole heart.  

  Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for in that do I delight.  

  Incline my heart to thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.  

  Turn away my eyes from beholding vanity; and revive thou me in thy way.  

  Establish thy word to thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.  

  Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good.  

  Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: revive me in thy righteousness.  

  VAU. Let thy mercies come also to me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.  

  So shall I have with which to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.  

  And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.  

  So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.  

  And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.  

  I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.  

  And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.  

  My hands also will I lift to thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.  

  ZAIN. Remember the word to thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.  

  This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath revived me.  

  The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet I have not declined from thy law.  

  I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself.  

  Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.  

  Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.  

  I have remembered thy name, O LORD, in the night, and have kept thy law.  

  This I had, because I kept thy precepts.  

  CHETH. Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.  

  I entreated thy favor with my whole heart: be merciful to me according to thy word.  

  I thought on my ways, and turned my feet to thy testimonies.  

  I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.  

  The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.  

  At midnight I will rise to give thanks to thee, because of thy righteous judgments.  

  I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.  

  The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.  

  TETH. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according to thy word.  

  Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.  

  Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.  

  Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.  

  The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.  

  Their heart is as gross as fat; but I delight in thy law.  

  It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.  

  The law of thy mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver.  

  JOD. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.  

  They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.  

  I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.  

  Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word to thy servant.  

  Let thy tender mercies come to me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.  

  Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.  

  Let those that fear thee turn to me, and those that have known thy testimonies.  

  Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I may not be ashamed.  

  CAPH. My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.  

  My eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?  

  For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet I do not forget thy statutes.  

  How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?  

  The proud have digged pits for me, which are not according to thy law.  

  All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.  

  They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.  

  Revive me after thy loving-kindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.  

  LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.  

  Thy faithfulness is to all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.  

  They continue this day according to thy ordinances: for all are thy servants.  

  Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in my affliction.  

  I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast revived me.  

  I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.  

  The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.  

  I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.  

  MEM. O how I love thy law! it is my meditation all the day.  

  Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than my enemies: for they are ever with me.  

  I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.  

  I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.  

  I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.  

  I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.  

  How sweet are thy words to my taste! yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!  

  Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.  

  NUN. Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.  

  I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.  

  I am afflicted very much: revive me, O LORD, according to thy word.  

  Accept, I beseech thee, the free-will-offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.  

  My soul is continually in my hand: yet I do not forget thy law.  

  The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.  

  Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.  

  I have inclined my heart to perform thy statutes always, even to the end.  

  SAMECH. I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.  

  Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.  

  Depart from me, ye evil-doers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.  

  Uphold me according to thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.  

  Support me, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect to thy statutes continually.  

  Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: for their deceit is falsehood.  

  Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies.  

  My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.  

  AIN. I have done judgment and justice; leave me not to my oppressors.  

  Be surety for thy servant for good: let not the proud oppress me.  

  My eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness.  

  Deal with thy servant according to thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes.  

  I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.  

  It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law.  

  Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yes, above fine gold.  

  Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.  

  PE. Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.  

  The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding to the simple.  

  I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.  

  Look thou upon me, and be merciful to me, as thou usest to do to those that love thy name.  

  Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.  

  Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts.  

  Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: and teach me thy statutes.  

  Rivers of waters run down my eyes, because they keep not thy law.  

  TSADDI. Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments.  

  Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.  

  My zeal hath consumed me; because my enemies have forgotten thy words.  

  Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.  

  I am small and despised: yet I do not forget thy precepts.  

  Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.  

  Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.  

  The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.  

  KOPH. I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes.  

  I cried to thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.  

  I came before the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.  

  My eyes anticipated the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.  

  Hear my voice, according to thy loving-kindness: O LORD, revive me according to thy judgment.  

  They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law.  

  Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth.  

  Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.  

  RESH. Consider my affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.  

  Plead my cause, and deliver me: revive me according to thy word.  

  Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.  

  Great are thy tender mercies, O LORD: revive me according to thy judgments.  

  Many are my persecutors and my enemies; yet I do not decline from thy testimonies.  

  I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.  

  Consider how I love thy precepts: revive me, O LORD, according to thy loving-kindness.  

  Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.  

  SCHIN. Princes have persecuted me without a cause; but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.  

  I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.  

  I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.  

  Seven times a day do I praise thee, because of thy righteous judgments.  

  Great peace have they who love thy law: and nothing shall cause them to stumble.  

  LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and performed thy commandments.  

  My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.  

  I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.  

  TAU. Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word.  

  Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word.  

  My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.  

  My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.  

  Let thy hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts.  

  I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight.  

  Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.  

  I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.