Psalm 119 : Beauty of the Word of God

Psalm 119

Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet

Aleph

119 Blessed are those whose way is blameless,

    who walk in the law of the Lord!

² Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,

    who seek him with their whole heart,

³ who also do no wrong,

    but walk in his ways!

⁴ You have commanded your precepts

    to be kept diligently.

⁵ Oh that my ways may be steadfast

    in keeping your statutes!

⁶ 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 your righteous rules.

⁸ I will keep your statutes;

    do not utterly forsake me!

Beth

⁹ How can a young man keep his way pure?

    By guarding it according to your word.

¹⁰ With my whole heart I seek you;

    let me not wander from your commandments!

¹¹ I have stored up your word in my heart,

    that I might not sin against you.

¹² Blessed are you, O Lord;

    teach me your statutes!

¹³ With my lips I declare

    all the rules of your mouth.

¹⁴ In the way of your testimonies I delight

    as much as in all riches.

¹⁵ I will meditate on your precepts

    and fix my eyes on your ways.

¹⁶ I will delight in your statutes;

    I will not forget your word.

Gimel

¹⁷ Deal bountifully with your servant,

    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 a sojourner on the earth;

    hide not your commandments from me!

²⁰ My soul is consumed with longing

    for your rules at all times.

²¹ You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones,

    who wander from your commandments.

²² Take away from me scorn and contempt,

    for I have kept your testimonies.

²³ Even though princes sit plotting against me,

    your servant will meditate on your statutes.

²⁴ Your testimonies are my delight;

    they are my counselors.

Daleth

²⁵ My soul clings to the dust;

    give me life according to your word!

²⁶ When I told of my ways, you answered me;

    teach me your statutes!

²⁷ Make me understand the way of your precepts,

    and I will meditate on your wondrous works.

²⁸ My soul melts away for sorrow;

    strengthen me according to your word!

²⁹ Put false ways far from me

    and graciously teach me your law!

³⁰ I have chosen the way of faithfulness;

    I set your rules before me.

³¹ I cling to your testimonies, O Lord;

    let me not be put to shame!

³² I will run in the way of your commandments

    when you enlarge my heart!

He

³³ Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes;

    and I will keep it to the end.

³⁴ Give me understanding, that I may keep your law

    and observe it with my whole heart.

³⁵ Lead me in the path of your commandments,

    for I delight in it.

³⁶ Incline my heart to your testimonies,

    and not to selfish gain!

³⁷ Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;

    and give me life in your ways.

³⁸ Confirm to your servant your promise,

    that you may be feared.

³⁹ Turn away the reproach that I dread,

    for your rules are good.

⁴⁰ Behold, I long for your precepts;

    in your righteousness give me life!

Waw

⁴¹ Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord,

    your salvation according to your promise;

⁴² then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me,

    for I trust in your word.

⁴³ And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,

    for my hope is in your rules.

⁴⁴ I will keep your law continually,

    forever and ever,

⁴⁵ and I shall walk in a wide place,

    for I have sought your precepts.

⁴⁶ I will also speak of your testimonies before kings

    and shall not be put to shame,

⁴⁷ for I find my delight in your commandments,

    which I love.

⁴⁸ I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love,

    and I will meditate on your statutes.

Zayin

⁴⁹ Remember your word to your servant,

    in which you have made me hope.

⁵⁰ This is my comfort in my affliction,

    that your promise gives me life.

⁵¹ The insolent utterly deride me,

    but I do not turn away from your law.

⁵² When I think of your rules from of old,

    I take comfort, O Lord.

⁵³ Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked,

    who forsake your law.

⁵⁴ Your statutes have been my songs

    in the house of my sojourning.

⁵⁵ I remember your name in the night, O Lord,

    and keep your law.

⁵⁶ This blessing has fallen to me,

    that I have kept your precepts.

Heth

⁵⁷ The Lord is my portion;

    I promise to keep your words.

⁵⁸ I entreat your favor with all my heart;

    be gracious to me according to your promise.

⁵⁹ When I think on my ways,

    I turn my feet to your testimonies;

⁶⁰ I hasten and do not delay

    to keep your commandments.

⁶¹ Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me,

    I do not forget your law.

⁶² At midnight I rise to praise you,

    because of your righteous rules.

⁶³ I am a companion of all who fear you,

    of those who keep your precepts.

⁶⁴ The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love;

    teach me your statutes!

Teth

⁶⁵ You have dealt well with your servant,

    O Lord, according to your word.

⁶⁶ Teach me good judgment and knowledge,

    for I believe in your commandments.

⁶⁷ Before I was afflicted I went astray,

    but now I keep your word.

⁶⁸ You are good and do good;

    teach me your statutes.

⁶⁹ The insolent smear me with lies,

    but with my whole heart I keep your precepts;

⁷⁰ their heart is unfeeling like fat,

    but I delight in your law.

⁷¹ It is good for me that I was afflicted,

    that I might learn your statutes.

⁷² The law of your mouth is better to me

    than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Yodh

⁷³ Your hands have made and fashioned me;

    give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.

⁷⁴ Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice,

    because I have hoped in your word.

⁷⁵ I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous,

    and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.

⁷⁶ Let your steadfast love comfort me

    according to your promise to your servant.

⁷⁷ Let your mercy come to me, that I may live;

    for your law is my delight.

⁷⁸ Let the insolent be put to shame,

    because they have wronged me with falsehood;

    as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.

⁷⁹ Let those who fear you turn to me,

    that they may know your testimonies.

⁸⁰ May my heart be blameless in your statutes,

    that I may not be put to shame!

Kaph

⁸¹ My soul longs for your salvation;

    I hope in your word.

⁸² My eyes long for your promise;

    I ask, “When will you comfort me?”

⁸³ For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,

    yet I have not forgotten your statutes.

⁸⁴ How long must your servant endure?

    When will you judge those who persecute me?

⁸⁵ The insolent have dug pitfalls for me;

    they do not live according to your law.

⁸⁶ All your commandments are sure;

    they persecute me with falsehood; 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 give me life,

    that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.

Lamedh

⁸⁹ Forever, O Lord, your word

    is firmly fixed in the heavens.

⁹⁰ Your faithfulness endures to all generations;

    you have established the earth, and it stands fast.

⁹¹ By your appointment they stand this day,

    for all things are your servants.

⁹² If your law had not been my delight,

    I would have perished in my affliction.

⁹³ I will never forget your precepts,

    for by them you have given me life.

⁹⁴ I am yours; save me,

    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 broad.

Mem

⁹⁷ Oh how I love your law!

    It is my meditation all the day.

⁹⁸ Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,

    for it is ever with me.

⁹⁹ I have more understanding than all my teachers,

    for your testimonies are my meditation.

¹⁰⁰ I understand more than the aged,

    for I keep your precepts.

¹⁰¹ I 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 sweet are your words to my taste,

    sweeter than honey to my mouth!

¹⁰⁴ Through your precepts I get understanding;

    therefore I hate every false way.

Nun

¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to my feet

    and a light to my path.

¹⁰⁶ I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,

    to keep your righteous rules.

¹⁰⁷ I am severely afflicted;

    give me life, O Lord, according to your word!

¹⁰⁸ Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord,

    and teach me your rules.

¹⁰⁹ I hold my life in my hand continually,

    but I do not forget your law.

¹¹⁰ The wicked have laid a snare for me,

    but I do not stray from your precepts.

¹¹¹ Your testimonies are my heritage forever,

    for they are the joy of my heart.

¹¹² I incline my heart to perform your statutes

    forever, to the end.

Samekh

¹¹³ I hate the double-minded,

    but I love your law.

¹¹⁴ You are my hiding place and my shield;

    I hope in your word.

¹¹⁵ Depart from me, you evildoers,

    that I may keep the commandments of my God.

¹¹⁶ Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live,

    and let me not be put to shame in my hope!

¹¹⁷ Hold me up, that I may be safe

    and have regard for your statutes continually!

¹¹⁸ You spurn all who go astray from your statutes,

    for their cunning is in vain.

¹¹⁹ All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross,

    therefore I love your testimonies.

¹²⁰ My flesh 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 a pledge of good;

    let not the insolent oppress me.

¹²³ My eyes long for your salvation

    and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.

¹²⁴ Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love,

    and teach me your statutes.

¹²⁵ I am your servant; 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 love your commandments

    above gold, above fine gold.

¹²⁸ Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right;

    I hate every false way.

Pe

¹²⁹ Your testimonies are wonderful;

    therefore my soul keeps them.

¹³⁰ The unfolding of your words gives light;

    it imparts understanding to the simple.

¹³¹ I open my mouth and pant,

    because I long for your commandments.

¹³² Turn to me and be gracious to me,

    as is your way with those who love your name.

¹³³ Keep steady my steps according to your promise,

    and let no iniquity get dominion over me.

¹³⁴ Redeem me from man's oppression,

    that I may keep your precepts.

¹³⁵ Make your face shine upon your servant,

    and teach me your statutes.

¹³⁶ My eyes shed streams of tears,

    because people do not keep your law.

Tsadhe

¹³⁷ Righteous are you, O Lord,

    and right are your rules.

¹³⁸ You have appointed your testimonies in righteousness

    and in all faithfulness.

¹³⁹ My zeal consumes me,

    because my foes forget your words.

¹⁴⁰ Your promise is well tried,

    and your servant loves it.

¹⁴¹ I am small and despised,

    yet I do not forget your precepts.

¹⁴² Your righteousness is righteous forever,

    and your law is true.

¹⁴³ Trouble and anguish have found me out,

    but your commandments are my delight.

¹⁴⁴ Your testimonies are righteous forever;

    give me understanding that I may live.

Qoph

¹⁴⁵ With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord!

    I will keep your statutes.

¹⁴⁶ I call to you; save me,

    that I may observe your testimonies.

¹⁴⁷ I rise before dawn and cry for help;

    I hope in your words.

¹⁴⁸ My eyes are awake before the watches of the night,

    that I may meditate on your promise.

¹⁴⁹ Hear my voice according to your steadfast love;

    O Lord, according to your justice give me life.

¹⁵⁰ They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose;

    they are far from your law.

¹⁵¹ But you are near, O Lord,

    and all your commandments are true.

¹⁵² Long have I known from your testimonies

    that you have founded them forever.

Resh

¹⁵³ Look on my affliction and deliver me,

    for I do not forget your law.

¹⁵⁴ Plead my cause and redeem me;

    give me life according to your promise!

¹⁵⁵ Salvation is far from the wicked,

    for they do not seek your statutes.

¹⁵⁶ Great is your mercy, O Lord;

    give me life according to your rules.

¹⁵⁷ Many are my persecutors and my adversaries,

    but I do not swerve from your testimonies.

¹⁵⁸ I look at the faithless with disgust,

    because they do not keep your commands.

¹⁵⁹ Consider how I love your precepts!

    Give me life according to your steadfast love.

¹⁶⁰ The sum of your word is truth,

    and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.

Sin and Shin

¹⁶¹ Princes persecute me without cause,

    but my heart stands in awe of your words.

¹⁶² I rejoice at your word

    like one who finds great spoil.

¹⁶³ I hate and abhor falsehood,

    but I love your law.

¹⁶⁴ Seven times a day I praise you

    for your righteous rules.

¹⁶⁵ Great peace have those who love your law;

    nothing can make them stumble.

¹⁶⁶ I hope for your salvation, O Lord,

    and I do your commandments.

¹⁶⁷ My soul keeps your testimonies;

    I love them exceedingly.

¹⁶⁸ I keep your precepts and testimonies,

    for all my ways are before you.

Taw

¹⁶⁹ Let my cry come before you, O Lord;

    give me understanding according to your word!

¹⁷⁰ Let my plea come before you;

    deliver me according to your word.

¹⁷¹ My lips will pour forth praise,

    for you teach me your statutes.

¹⁷² My tongue will sing of your word,

    for all your commandments are right.

¹⁷³ Let your hand be ready to help me,

    for I have chosen your precepts.

¹⁷⁴ I long for your salvation, O Lord,

    and your law is my delight.

¹⁷⁵ Let my soul live and praise you,

    and let your rules help me.

¹⁷⁶ I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant,

    for I do not forget your commandments.