Psalms 119

Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet

Aleph

1  ▼
▼ This psalm is an acrostic poem of twenty-two stanzas, following the letters of the Hebrew alphabet; within a stanza, each verse begins with the same Hebrew letter
 Blessed are those whose b way is blameless,
who c walk in the law of the  Lord!
 2 Blessed are those who d keep his e testimonies,
who f seek him with their whole heart,
 3 who also g do no wrong,
but walk in his ways!
 4 You have commanded your h precepts
to be kept diligently.
 5 Oh that my ways may i be steadfast
in keeping your statutes!
 6  j Then I shall not be put to shame,
having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
 7 I will praise you with an upright heart,
when I learn k your righteous rules. ▼
▼ Or  your just and righteous decrees; also verses 62, 106, 160, 164

 8 I will keep your statutes;
m do not utterly forsake me!

Beth

9  How can n a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
 10  o With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not p wander from your commandments!
 11 I have q stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
 12 Blessed are you, O  Lord;
r teach me your statutes!
 13 With my lips I s declare
all the rules ▼
▼ Or  all the just decrees
 of your mouth.
 14 In the way of your testimonies I u delight
as much as in all v riches.
 15 I will w meditate on your precepts
and fix my eyes on your x ways.
 16 I will y delight in your statutes;
I will not forget your word.

Gimel

17  z Deal bountifully with your servant,
aa that I may live and keep your word.
 18 Open my eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of your law.
 19 I am ab a sojourner on the earth;
ac hide not your commandments from me!
 20 My soul is consumed with ad longing
for your rules ▼
▼ Or  your just decrees; also verses 30, 39, 43, 52, 75, 102, 108, 137, 156, 175
 at all times.
 21 You rebuke af the insolent ag accursed ones,
who ah wander from your commandments.
 22 Take away from me ai scorn and contempt,
aj for I have kept your testimonies.
 23 Even though ak princes sit plotting against me,
your servant will al meditate on your statutes.
 24 Your testimonies are my am delight;
they are my an counselors.

Daleth

25  ao My soul clings to the dust;
ap give me life aq according to your word!
 26 When ar I told of my ways, you answered me;
as teach me your statutes!
 27  at Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will au meditate on your wondrous works.
 28  av My soul melts away for sorrow;
strengthen me according to your word!
 29 Put false ways far from me
and graciously aw teach me your law!
 30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
I ax set your rules before me.
 31 I cling to your testimonies, O  Lord;
ay let me not be put to shame!
 32 I will run in the way of your commandments
when you az enlarge my heart! ▼
▼ Or for you set my heart free

He

33  bb Teach me, O  Lord, the way of your statutes;
and I will keep it bc to the end. ▼
▼ Or  keep it as my reward

 34  be Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
and observe it with my whole heart.
 35  bf Lead me in the path of your commandments,
for I bg delight in it.
 36  bh Incline my heart to your testimonies,
and not to bi selfish gain!
 37  bj Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;
and bk give me life in your ways.
 38  bl Confirm to your servant your promise,
bm that you may be feared.
 39 Turn away the bn reproach that I dread,
for your rules are good.
 40 Behold, I bo long for your precepts;
bp in your righteousness give me life!

Waw

41  Let your bq steadfast love come to me, O  Lord,
your salvation br according to your promise;
 42 then bs shall I have an answer for him bt who taunts me,
for I trust in your word.
 43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
for my bu hope is in your rules.
 44 I will keep your law continually,
forever and ever,
 45 and I shall walk bv in a wide place,
for I have bw sought your precepts.
 46 I will also speak of your testimonies bx before kings
and shall not be put to shame,
 47 for I by find my delight in your commandments,
which I love.
 48 I will bz lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love,
and I will ca meditate on your statutes.

Zayin

49  Remember cb your word to your servant,
in which you have made me cc hope.
 50 This is cd my comfort in my affliction,
that your promise ce gives me life.
 51  cf The insolent utterly deride me,
but I do not cg turn away from your law.
 52 When I think of your rules from of old,
I take comfort, O  Lord.
 53  ch Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked,
who forsake your law.
 54 Your statutes have been my songs
in the house of my ci sojourning.
 55 I cj remember your name in the night, O  Lord,
and keep your law.
 56 This blessing has fallen to me,
that ck I have kept your precepts.

Heth

57  cl The  Lord is my portion;
I promise to keep your words.
 58 I cm entreat your favor with all my heart;
be gracious to me cn according to your promise.
 59 When I co think on my ways,
I turn my feet to your testimonies;
 60 I hasten and do not delay
to keep your commandments.
 61 Though cp the cords of the wicked ensnare me,
I do not cq forget your law.
 62 At cr midnight I rise to praise you,
because of your cs righteous rules.
 63  ct I am a companion of all who fear you,
of those who keep your precepts.
 64  cu The earth, O  Lord, is full of your steadfast love;
cv teach me your statutes!

Teth

65  You have dealt well with your servant,
O  Lord, cw according to your word.
 66 Teach me cx good judgment and knowledge,
for I believe in your commandments.
 67  cy Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I keep your word.
 68  cz You are good and do good;
da teach me your statutes.
 69  db The insolent dc smear me with lies,
but with my whole heart I dd keep your precepts;
 70 their heart is unfeeling de like fat,
but I df delight in your law.
 71 It is dg good for me that I was afflicted,
that I might learn your statutes.
 72  dh The law of your mouth is better to me
than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Yodh

73  di Your hands have made and fashioned me;
dj give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
 74 Those who fear you shall see me and dk rejoice,
because I have dl hoped in your word.
 75 I know, O  Lord, that your rules are dm righteous,
and that in dn faithfulness you have afflicted me.
 76 Let your steadfast love comfort me
according to your promise to your servant.
 77 Let your do mercy come to me, that I may live;
for your law is my dp delight.
 78 Let dq the insolent be put to dr shame,
because they have ds wronged me with falsehood;
as for me, I will dt meditate on your precepts.
 79 Let those who fear you du turn to me,
that they may know your testimonies.
 80 May my heart be dv blameless in your statutes,
dw that I may not be put to shame!

Kaph

81  My soul dx longs for your salvation;
I dy hope in your word.
 82 My dz eyes long for your promise;
I ask ea “When will you comfort me?”
 83 For I have eb become like a ec wineskin in the smoke,
yet I have not forgotten your statutes.
 84  ed How long must your servant endure? ▼
▼ Hebrew  How many are the days of your servant?

ef When will you judge those who persecute me?
 85  eg The insolent have eh dug pitfalls for me;
they do not live according to your law.
 86 All your commandments are ei sure;
they persecute me ej with falsehood; ek help me!
 87 They have almost made an end of me on earth,
but I have not forsaken your precepts.
 88 In your steadfast love el give me life,
that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.

Lamedh

89  Forever, O  Lord, your em word
is firmly fixed in the heavens.
 90 Your en faithfulness endures to all generations;
you have eo established the earth, and it ep stands fast.
 91 By your eq appointment they stand this day,
for all things are your servants.
 92 If your law had not been my er delight,
I would have perished in my affliction.
 93 I will never forget your precepts,
for by them you have es given me life.
 94 I am yours; save me,
et for I have sought your precepts.
 95 The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,
but I consider your testimonies.
 96 I have seen a limit to all perfection,
but your commandment is exceedingly eu broad.

Mem

97  Oh how ev I love your law!
It is my ew meditation all the day.
 98 Your commandment makes me ex wiser than my enemies,
for it is ever with me.
 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers,
for ey your testimonies are my meditation.
 100 I understand more than ez the aged ▼
▼ Or  the elders

for I fb keep your precepts.
 101 I fc hold back my feet from every evil way,
in order to keep your word.
 102 I do not turn aside from your rules,
for you have taught me.
 103 How fd sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
 104 Through your precepts I get understanding;
therefore fe I hate every false way.

Nun

105  ff Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
 106 I have fg sworn an oath and confirmed it,
to keep your fh righteous rules.
 107 I am severely fi afflicted;
fj give me life, O  Lord, according to your word!
 108 Accept fk my freewill offerings of praise, O  Lord,
and fl teach me your rules.
 109 I hold my life fm in my hand continually,
but I do not fn forget your law.
 110 The wicked have laid fo a snare for me,
but fp I do not stray from your precepts.
 111 Your testimonies are fq my heritage forever,
for they are fr the joy of my heart.
 112 I fs incline my heart to perform your statutes
forever ft to the end. ▼
▼ Or  statutes; the reward is eternal

Samekh

113  I hate fv the double-minded,
but I love fw your law.
 114 You are my fx hiding place and my fy shield;
I fz hope in your word.
 115  ga Depart from me, you evildoers,
that I may gb keep the commandments of my God.
 116 Uphold me gc according to your promise, that I may live,
and let me not be gd put to shame in my ge hope!
 117  gf Hold me up, that I may be safe
and have regard for your statutes continually!
 118 You gg spurn all who gh go astray from your statutes,
for their cunning is in vain.
 119 All the wicked of the earth you discard like gi dross,
therefore gj I love your testimonies.
 120 My flesh gk trembles for fear of you,
and I am afraid of your judgments.

Ayin

121  I have done what is just and right;
do not leave me to my oppressors.
 122 Give your servant gl a pledge of good;
let not gm the insolent oppress me.
 123 My gn eyes long for your salvation
and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.
 124 Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love,
and go teach me your statutes.
 125 I am your gp servant; gq give me understanding,
that I may know your testimonies!
 126 It is time for the  Lord to act,
for your law has been broken.
 127 Therefore I gr love your commandments
above gold, above fine gold.
 128 Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right;
I hate every gs false way.

Pe

129  Your testimonies are gt wonderful;
therefore my soul gu keeps them.
 130 The unfolding of your words gives light;
it imparts gv understanding to the simple.
 131 I gw open my mouth and gx pant,
because I gy long for your commandments.
 132  gz Turn to me and be gracious to me,
as is your way with those who love your name.
 133  ha Keep steady my steps according to your promise,
and let no iniquity hb get dominion over me.
 134  hc Redeem me from man’s oppression,
that I may keep your precepts.
 135  hd Make your face shine upon your servant,
and he teach me your statutes.
 136 My eyes hf shed streams of tears,
because people hg do not keep your law.

Tsadhe

137  hh Righteous are you, O  Lord,
and right are your rules.
 138 You have appointed your testimonies in hi righteousness
and in all hj faithfulness.
 139 My hk zeal consumes me,
because my foes forget your words.
 140 Your promise is well hl tried,
and your servant hm loves it.
 141 I am small and despised,
yet I do not hn forget your precepts.
 142 Your righteousness is righteous forever,
and your law is ho true.
 143 Trouble and anguish have found me out,
but your commandments are my hp delight.
 144 Your testimonies are righteous forever;
hq give me understanding that I may hr live.

Qoph

145  With my hs whole heart I cry; answer me, O  Lord!
I will ht keep your statutes.
 146 I call to you; save me,
that I may observe your testimonies.
 147 I rise before hu dawn and cry for help;
I hv hope in your words.
 148 My eyes are awake before hw the watches of the night,
that I may meditate on your promise.
 149 Hear my voice according to your steadfast love;
O  Lord hx according to your justice hy give me life.
 150 They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose;
they are far from your law.
 151 But hz you are near, O  Lord,
and all your commandments are ia true.
 152 Long have I known from your testimonies
that you have ib founded them forever.

Resh

153  Look on my ic affliction and deliver me,
for id I do not forget your law.
 154  ie Plead my cause and redeem me;
if give me life according to your promise!
 155  ig Salvation is far from the wicked,
ih for they do not seek your statutes.
 156  ii Great is your mercy, O  Lord;
ij give me life according to your rules.
 157  ik Many are my persecutors and my adversaries,
but I do not il swerve from your testimonies.
 158 I look at im the faithless with in disgust,
because they do not keep your commands.
 159 Consider how I io love your precepts!
ip Give me life according to your steadfast love.
 160  iq The sum of your word is ir truth,
and every one of your is righteous rules endures forever.

Sin and Shin

161  it Princes persecute me iu without cause,
but my heart iv stands in awe of your words.
 162 I iw rejoice at your word
like one who ix finds great spoil.
 163 I hate and abhor falsehood,
but I love iy your law.
 164 Seven times a day I praise you
for your iz righteous rules.
 165 Great ja peace have those who love your law;
jb nothing can make them stumble.
 166 I jc hope for your salvation, O  Lord,
and I do your commandments.
 167 My soul keeps your testimonies;
I jd love them exceedingly.
 168 I keep your precepts and testimonies,
je for all my ways are before you.

Taw

169  Let my jf cry come before you, O  Lord;
jg give me understanding jh according to your word!
 170 Let my plea come before you;
ji deliver me according to your word.
 171 My lips will jj pour forth praise,
for you jk teach me your statutes.
 172 My tongue will sing of your word,
for jl all your commandments are right.
 173 Let your hand be ready to help me,
for I have jm chosen your precepts.
 174 I jn long for your salvation, O  Lord,
and your law is my jo delight.
 175 Let my soul live and praise you,
and let your rules help me.
 176 I have jp gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant,
for I do not jq forget your commandments.
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