PSALM 119

א [Aleph.]

1 א Blessed are those who are upright in their way, Walking in the law of Jehovah.

2 א Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, Who with their whole heart seek him.

3 א, Surely they do not work iniquity, Who in his ways do walk.

4 א Thou hast commanded That thy statutes be kept carefully.

5 א O that my ways may be directed To the keeping of thy statutes!

6 א Then shall I not be ashamed, When I shall have been attentive to all thy commandments.

7 א I will celebrate thee with uprightness of heart, When I shall have learned the judgments of thy righteousness.

8 א, Thy statutes I will keep: Do not thou forsake me very far.

ב [Beth.]

9 ב By what [means] shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to thy word.

10 ב With my whole heart have I sought thee; Let me not go astray from thy commandments.

11 ב In my heart I have hidden thy word, That I might not sin against thee.

12 ב Blessed art thou, O Jehovah! Teach me thy statutes.

13 ב With my lips have I declared All the judgments of thy mouth.

14 ב In the way of thy testimonies I have taken delight, As much as in all riches.

15 ב Upon thy statutes will I meditate, And I will consider thy paths.

16 ב In thy commandments will I delight myself; I will not forget thy words.

ג [Gimel.]

17 ג Do good to thy servant, And I shall live and keep thy word.

18 ג Open mine eyes, And I shall behold the wonders of thy law.

19 ג I am a stranger on the earth: Hide not from me thy commandments.

20 ג Broken is my soul with the desire it hath To thy judgments at all times.

21 ג Thou hast destroyed the proud ones; Cursed are those who decline from thy commandments.

22 ג Remove from me reproach and contempt; For thy testimonies I have kept.

23 ג Princes also have sat, against me they have spoken: Thy servant meditated upon thy statutes.

24 ג Also thy testimonies are my delights, The men of my counsel.

ד [Daleth.]

25 ד Cleave to the dust doth my soul: Quicken me according to thy word.

26 ד I have declared my ways, and thou hast answered me: Teach me thy statutes.

27 ד The way of thy commandments make me to understand, And I will meditate upon thy wonders.

28 ד Drop away doth my soul for grief: Raise me up according to thy word.

29 ד The way of falsehood remove from me, And thy law grant me graciously.

30 ד The way of truth I have chosen; Thy judgments I have set before me.

31 ד I have cleaved to thy testimonies, O Jehovah Let me not be put to shame.

32 ד The way of thy statutes I will run, When thou shalt have enlarged my heart.

ה [He.]

33 ה Teach me, O Jehovah! the way of thy statutes, And I will keep it unto the end.

34 ה Make me to understand, and I will observe thy law, And keep it with my whole heart.

35 ה Direct me in the way of thy statutes; For in it is my delight.

36 ה Incline my heart to thy testimonies, And not to covetousness.

37 ה Turn away my eyes from seeing vanity; In thy way quicken me.

38 ה Confirm to thy servant thy word, Who to thy fear is devoted

39 ה Remove my reproach which I have dreaded, For thy judgments are good.

40 ה Behold! I have longed after thy commandments: In thy righteousness quicken me.

ו [Vau.]

41 ו And let come to me thy mercies, O Jehovah! Thy salvation according to thy word.

42 ו And I will answer a word to him who reproacheth me; For I have trusted in thy word.

43 ו And take not from my mouth the word of truth utterly: Because for thy judgments I wait.

44 ו And I will keep thy law continually, For ever and ever.

45 ו And I will walk at large; For thy statutes I have sought.

46 ו And I will speak of thy testimonies before kings, And will not be ashamed.

47 ו And I will delight myself in thy commandments Which I have loved.

48 ו And I will lift up my hands to thy commandments Which I have loved; And I will meditate upon thy statutes.

ז [Zain.]

49 ז Remember thy word to thy servant, Upon which thou hast caused me to hope.

50 ז This is my consolation in my affliction; For thy word revives me.

51 ז The proud ones have derided me exceedingly: From thy law I have not declined.

52 ז I remembered thy judgments of old, O Jehovah! And comforted myself.

53 ז Terror hath seized upon me, Because of the ungodly who forsake thy law.

54 ז Thy statutes have been songs to me In the house of my pilgrimage.

55 ז I remembered in the night thy name, O Jehovah! And I will keep thy law.

56 ז This is done to me, Because thy statutes I have observed.

ח [Cheth.]

57 ח Thou art my portion, O Jehovah! I have said that I will keep thy words. ³⁸⁹³⁸⁹     Here the reading in the Latin text is ambiguous. The above is the reading in the French version; and as determined by Calvin in the Commentary.

58 ח I have sought thy face with my whole heart; Have mercy upon me according to thy word.

59 ח I thought upon my ways, And turned my feet to thy testimonies.

60 ח I made haste and delayed not To keep thy commandments.

61 ח The cords of the ungodly have caught hold of me; Thy law I have not forgotten.

62 ח At midnight I will rise to praise thee, Because of the judgments of thy righteousness.

63 ח A companion am I to all who fear thee, And who keep thy statutes.

64 ח Of thy mercy, O Jehovah! the earth is full: Thy statutes teach thou me.

ת [Teth.]

65 ת Kindly hast thou dealt with thy servant, O Jehovah! According to thy word.

66 ת Goodness of taste and knowledge teach me; For thy commandments I have believed.

67 ת Before I was brought low I went astray; But now thy word I keep.

68 ת Good art thou, and beneficent: Teach me thy statutes.

69 ת Weaved a lie ³⁹⁰³⁹⁰     In the French version it is, “have forged lies.” against me have the proud ones; But as for me I with my whole heart will keep statutes.

70 ת Fat as grease is their heart; But as for me I in thy law do delight.

71 ת It hath been good for me that I have been afflicted, That I might learn thy statutes.

72 ת Better to me is the law of thy mouth Than thousands of gold and silver.

י [Yod.]

73 י Thy hands have made and formed me; Make me to understand, and I shall learn thy commandments.

74 י Those who fear thee shall see me and rejoice; Because for thy word I have waited.

75 י I have known, O Jehovah! that righteousness are thy judgments; And in truth thou hast humbled me.

76 י To thy word to thy servant.

77 י Let come to me thy compassions, and I shall live; For thy law is my delight.

78 י Ashamed let be the proud, for they have falsely wronged me: As for me I will meditate upon thy precepts.

79 י Let those turn unto me who fear thee, And have known thy testimonies.

80 י Let my heart be sound in thy statutes, That I may not be put to shame.

כ [Caph.]

81 כ Fainted for thy salvation hath my soul: For thy word I wait.

82 כ Failed have my eyes [in looking] for thy word, While I say, “When wilt thou comfort me?”

83 כ For I have been as a bottle in the smoke; And yet thy statutes I have not forgotten.

84 כ How many are the days of thy servant? When wilt thou execute judgment on my persecutors?

85 כ The proud have digged pits for me, Which is not according to thy law.

86 כ All thy commandments are truth: Deceitfully do they persecute me; therefore help thou me.

87 כ Almost have they consumed me upon the earth; Yet I have not forsaken thy statutes.

88 כ According to thy goodness quicken me; And I will keep the testimony of thy mouth.

ל [Lamed.]

89 ל For ever, O Jehovah! Thy word endureth in the heavens.

90 ל From generation to generation is thy truth: Thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.

91 ל By thy judgments they continue to this day; For all are thy servants.

92 ל Unless thy law had been my delight, Then should I have perished in my affliction.

93 ל Never will I forget thy statutes, For in them thou hast quickened me.

94 ל Thine I am; O save me! For thy statutes I have sought.

95 ל For me wait do the ungodly to destroy me: But I consider thy testimonies.

96 ל In all perfection I have seen an end: Broad is thy commandment exceedingly.

מ [Mem.]

97 מ O how have I loved thy law! All the day it is my meditation.

98 מ Than my adversaries thou hast made me wiser by thy commandments; Because for ever they are with me.

99 מ Than all my teachers thou hast made me wiser; Because thy testimonies are my meditation.

100 מ Than the aged I have more understanding; Because thy statutes I have observed.

101 מ From every evil path I have restrained my feet, That I may keep thy word.

102 מ From thy judgments I have not declined; For thou thyself hast taught me.

103 מ How sweet to my palate have been thy words! More [sweet] than honey to my mouth!

104 מ By thy statutes I have gotten understanding; Therefore I have hated every path of falsehood.

נ [Nun.]

105 נ A lamp to my feet is thy word, And a light to my path.

106 נ I have sworn and will make sure, To observe the judgments of thy righteousness.

107 נ I am afflicted exceedingly, O Jehovah! Quicken me according to thy word.

108 נ I Let the freewill offerings of my mouth, I pray thee, be pleasing to thee, O Jehovah! And thy judgments teach me.

109 נ My soul is in my hand continually; And thy law I have not forgotten.

110 נ Laid have the ungodly a snare for me: Yet from thy statutes I have not erred.

111 נ I have as [my] inheritance thy testimonies for ever; For the joy of my heart are they.

112 נ I have inclined my heart to perform thy statutes For ever, and even to the end.

ס [Samech.]

113 ס Crooked thoughts I have hated; But thy law I have loved.

114 ס My hiding-place and my shield art thou: In thy word I have trusted.

115 ס Depart from me, ye wicked men! And I will keep the commandments of my God.

116 ס Sustain me by thy word, and I shall live: And make me not ashamed of my expectation.

117 ס Establish me, and I shall be safe, And I will consider thy statutes continually.

118 ס Thou hast trodden down all who go astray from thy statutes; For falsehood is their deceit.

119 ס As dross thou hast made to cease all the ungodly of the earth; Therefore I have loved thy testimonies.

120 ס Tremble ³⁹¹³⁹¹     “Horruit.” — Lat. for fear of thee did my flesh, And of thy judgments I was afraid.

ע [Ain.]

121 ע I have done judgment and righteousness: Give me not up to my oppressors.

122 ע Become surety for thy servant for good, That the proud may not oppress me.

123 ע My eyes have failed for thy salvation, And for the word of thy righteousness.

124 ע Deal with thy servant according to thy goodness, And thy statutes teach thou me.

125 ע Thy servant am I, give me understanding, That I may learn thy testimonies.

126 ע It is time [for thee] to work, O Jehovah! For they have destroyed thy law.

127 ע Therefore I have loved thy statutes Mere than gold and fine gold.

128 ע Therefore all thy commandments I have esteemed to be altogether right: Every way of falsehood I have hated:

פ [Phe.]

129 פ Marvelous things are thy testimonies; Therefore observed them hath my soul.

130 פ The entrance of thy words is light, Giving understanding to the little ones.

131 פ My mouth I opened and panted, Because thy commandments I loved.

132 פ Look upon me and have pity upon me, According to thy judgment towards those who love thy name.

133 פ My steps direct thou according to thy word, And let not any iniquity have dominion in me.

134 פ Redeem me from the oppression of men, And I will keep thy precepts.

135 פ Thy face cause thou to shine upon thy servant, And teach me thy statutes.

136 פ Rivers of waters run from my eyes, Because they have not kept thy law.

ץ [Tsadde.]

137 ץ Righteous art thou, O Jehovah! And right are thy judgments.

138 ץ Thou hast commanded righteousness in thy testimonies, And truth exceedingly.

139 ץ Consumed me hath my zeal, Because forgotten thy words have my adversaries.

140 ץ Refined is thy word exceedingly: And thy servant hath loved it.

141 ץ Small am I, and despised; [Yet] thy precepts I have not forgotten.

142 ץ Thy righteousness is righteousness for ever, And thy law is truth.

143 ץ Trouble and anguish have come upon me; But thy commandments have been my delights.

144 ץ The righteousness of thy testimonies endureth for ever; Make me to understand, and I shall live.

ק [Koph.]

145 ק I have cried with my whole heart; Answer me, O Jehovah! And thy statutes I will keep.

146 ק I have called upon thee, save me, And I will keep thy testimonies.

147 ק I have prevented the dawn of the morning, ³⁹²³⁹²     Literally, “I have prevented the twilight.” — But see the Commentary. and have cried: To thy word I have looked up.

148 ק Prevented have my eyes the watches of the night, To meditate upon thy word.

149 ק My voice hear thou, according to thy mercy, O Jehovah According to thy judgment quicken me.

150 ק Drawn near have the pursuers of malice; From thy law they have departed.

151 ק Near art thou, O Jehovah! And all thy commandments are truth.

152 ק From the beginning I have known from thy testimonies, That for ever thou hast founded them.

ר [Resh.]

153 ר Behold my affliction, and rescue me; For thy law I have not forgotten.

154 ר Debate my cause, and redeem me; According to thy word quicken me.

155 ר Far from the ungodly is safety; Because thy statutes they have not sought.

156 ר Thy compassions are great, O Jehovah! According to thy judgments quicken me.

157 ר Many are my persecutors and my oppressors: From thy testimonies I have not declined.

158 ר I saw the perfidious, and chid them; Because thy word they have not kept.

159 ר Behold how thy commandments I have loved: According to thy clemency quicken me.

160 ר The beginning of thy word is truth; And to everlasting is all the judgment of thy righteousness.

ש [Shin.]

161 ש Princes have persecuted me without a cause Yet at thy word afraid hath been my heart.

162 ש Joyful am I over thy word, As he who hath found much spoil.

163 ש Deceit I have hated and abhorred; Thy law I have loved.

164 ש Seven times a day have I praised thee, Because of the judgments of thy righteousness.

165 ש Much peace have those who love thy law, And they have no stumbling-block.

166 ש I have waited for thy salvation, O Jehovah! And thy commandments I have done.

167 ש Kept hath my soul thy testimonies, And I have loved them exceedingly.

168 ש I have kept thy commandments and thy testimonies; For all my ways are before thee.

ת [Thau.]

169 ת Come let my cry into thy presence, O Jehovah! According to thy word give me understanding.

170 ת Come let my prayer into thy presence: According to thy word deliver me.

171 ת Speak shall my lips praise, When thou shalt have taught me thy statutes.

172 ת Speak shall my tongue of thy word; For all thy precepts are righteousness.

173 ת Let thy hand be to succor me; For thy commandments I have chosen.

174 ת I have longed for thy salvation, O Jehovah! And thy law hath been my delights.

175 ת Live let my soul, and let it praise thee; And let thy judgments succor me.

176 ת I have wandered like a lost sheep; Seek thy servant, for thy statutes I have not forgotten.