1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.
4 Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.
5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.
8 I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.
9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
12 Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.
13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
17 Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.
18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
19 I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.
20 My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.
21 Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.
22 Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.
23 Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.
24 Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.
25 My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.
26 I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.
27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.
28 My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.
29 Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.
30 I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.
31 I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O LORD, put me not to shame.
32 I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.
33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.
38 Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.
39 Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good.
40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.
41 Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.
42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.
43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.
44 So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.
45 And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.
46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.
47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.
48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.
49 Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.
50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.
51 The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law.
52 I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself.
53 Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.
54 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.
55 I have remembered thy name, O LORD, in the night, and have kept thy law.
56 This I had, because I kept thy precepts.
57 Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.
58 I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.
59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.
61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.
62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.
63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.
64 The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.
65 Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word.
66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.
69 The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.
70 Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.
71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.
73 Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.
74 They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.
75 I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
76 Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.
77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.
78 Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.
79 Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.
80 Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.
81 My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.
82 Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?
83 For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.
84 How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?
85 The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law.
86 All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.
87 They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.
88 Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.
89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
90 Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.
91 They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.
92 Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.
93 I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.
94 I am thine, save me: for I have sought thy precepts.
95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.
96 I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.
97 O how I love thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.
101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.
102 I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.
103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
106 I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.
107 I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word.
108 Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.
109 My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.
110 The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.
111 Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.
112 I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.
113 I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.
114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.
115 Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.
116 Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.
117 Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.
118 Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: for their deceit is falsehood.
119 Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies.
120 My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.
121 I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressors.
122 Be surety for thy servant for good: let not the proud oppress me.
123 Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness.
124 Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes.
125 I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.
126 It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law.
127 Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.
128 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.
129 Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.
130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
131 I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.
132 Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name.
133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
134 Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts.
135 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes.
136 Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.
137 Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments.
138 Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.
139 My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.
140 Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.
141 I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts.
142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.
143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.
144 The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.
145 I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes.
146 I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.
147 I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.
148 Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.
149 Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O LORD, quicken me according to thy judgment.
150 They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law.
151 Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth.
152 Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.
153 Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.
154 Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.
155 Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.
156 Great are thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken me according to thy judgments.
157 Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.
158 I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.
159 Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness.
160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
161 Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.
162 I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.
163 I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.
164 Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.
165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
166 LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.
167 My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.
168 I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.
169 Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word.
170 Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word.
171 My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.
172 My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.
173 Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts.
174 I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight.
175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.
176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.
1 ALEPH. Blessed H835 are the undefiled H8549 in the way, H1870 who walk H1980 in the law H8451 of the LORD. H3068
2 Blessed H835 are they that keep H5341 his testimonies, H5713 and that seek H1875 him with the whole heart. H3820
3 They also do H6466 no iniquity: H5766 they walk H1980 in his ways. H1870
4 Thou hast commanded H6680 us to keep H8104 thy precepts H6490 diligently. H3966
5 O that H305 my ways H1870 were directed H3559 to keep H8104 thy statutes! H2706
6 Then shall I not be ashamed, H954 when I have respect H5027 unto all thy commandments. H4687
7 I will praise H3034 thee with uprightness H3476 of heart, H3824 when I shall have learned H3925 thy righteous H6664 judgments. H4941
8 I will keep H8104 thy statutes: H2706 O forsake H5800 me not utterly. H3966
9 BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man H5288 cleanse H2135 his way? H734 by taking heed H8104 thereto according to thy word. H1697
10 With my whole heart H3820 have I sought H1875 thee: O let me not wander H7686 from thy commandments. H4687
11 Thy word H565 have I hid H6845 in mine heart, H3820 that I might not sin H2398 against thee.
12 Blessed H1288 art thou, O LORD: H3068 teach H3925 me thy statutes. H2706
13 With my lips H8193 have I declared H5608 all the judgments H4941 of thy mouth. H6310
14 I have rejoiced H7797 in the way H1870 of thy testimonies, H5715 as much as in H5921 all riches. H1952
15 I will meditate H7878 in thy precepts, H6490 and have respect H5027 unto thy ways. H734
16 I will delight H8173 myself in thy statutes: H2708 I will not forget H7911 thy word. H1697
17 GIMEL. Deal bountifully H1580 with thy servant, H5650 that I may live, H2421 and keep H8104 thy word. H1697
18 Open H1540 thou mine eyes, H5869 that I may behold H5027 wondrous things H6381 out of thy law. H8451
19 I am a stranger H1616 in the earth: H776 hide H5641 not thy commandments H4687 from me.
20 My soul H5315 breaketh H1638 for the longing H8375 that it hath unto thy judgments H4941 at all times. H6256
21 Thou hast rebuked H1605 the proud H2086 that are cursed, H779 which do err H7686 from thy commandments. H4687
22 Remove H1556 from me reproach H2781 and contempt; H937 for I have kept H5341 thy testimonies. H5713
23 Princes H8269 also did sit H3427 and speak H1696 against me: but thy servant H5650 did meditate H7878 in thy statutes. H2706
24 Thy testimonies H5713 also are my delight H8191 and my counsellors. H582 H6098
25 DALETH. My soul H5315 cleaveth H1692 unto the dust: H6083 quicken H2421 thou me according to thy word. H1697
26 I have declared H5608 my ways, H1870 and thou heardest H6030 me: teach H3925 me thy statutes. H2706
27 Make me to understand H995 the way H1870 of thy precepts: H6490 so shall I talk H7878 of thy wondrous works. H6381
28 My soul H5315 melteth H1811 for heaviness: H8424 strengthen H6965 thou me according unto thy word. H1697
29 Remove H5493 from me the way H1870 of lying: H8267 and grant me thy law H8451 graciously. H2603
30 I have chosen H977 the way H1870 of truth: H530 thy judgments H4941 have I laid H7737 before me.
31 I have stuck H1692 unto thy testimonies: H5715 O LORD, H3068 put me not to shame. H954
32 I will run H7323 the way H1870 of thy commandments, H4687 when thou shalt enlarge H7337 my heart. H3820
33 HE. Teach H3384 me, O LORD, H3068 the way H1870 of thy statutes; H2706 and I shall keep H5341 it unto the end. H6118
34 Give me understanding, H995 and I shall keep H5341 thy law; H8451 yea, I shall observe H8104 it with my whole heart. H3820
35 Make me to go H1869 in the path H5410 of thy commandments; H4687 for therein do I delight. H2654
36 Incline H5186 my heart H3820 unto thy testimonies, H5715 and not to covetousness. H1215
37 Turn away H5674 mine eyes H5869 from beholding H7200 vanity; H7723 and quicken H2421 thou me in thy way. H1870
38 Stablish H6965 thy word H565 unto thy servant, H5650 who is devoted to thy fear. H3374
39 Turn away H5674 my reproach H2781 which I fear: H3025 for thy judgments H4941 are good. H2896
40 Behold, I have longed H8373 after thy precepts: H6490 quicken H2421 me in thy righteousness. H6666
41 VAU. Let thy mercies H2617 come H935 also unto me, O LORD, H3068 even thy salvation, H8668 according to thy word. H565
42 So shall I have wherewith H1697 to answer H6030 him that reproacheth H2778 me: for I trust H982 in thy word. H1697
43 And take H5337 not the word H1697 of truth H571 utterly H3966 out of my mouth; H6310 for I have hoped H3176 in thy judgments. H4941
44 So shall I keep H8104 thy law H8451 continually H8548 for ever H5769 and ever. H5703
45 And I will walk H1980 at liberty: H7342 for I seek H1875 thy precepts. H6490
46 I will speak H1696 of thy testimonies H5713 also before kings, H4428 and will not be ashamed. H954
47 And I will delight H8173 myself in thy commandments, H4687 which I have loved. H157
48 My hands H3709 also will I lift up H5375 unto thy commandments, H4687 which I have loved; H157 and I will meditate H7878 in thy statutes. H2706
49 ZAIN. Remember H2142 the word H1697 unto thy servant, H5650 upon which thou hast caused me to hope. H3176
50 This is my comfort H5165 in my affliction: H6040 for thy word H565 hath quickened H2421 me.
51 The proud H2086 have had me greatly H3966 in derision: H3887 yet have I not declined H5186 from thy law. H8451
52 I remembered H2142 thy judgments H4941 of old, H5769 O LORD; H3068 and have comforted H5162 myself.
53 Horror H2152 hath taken hold H270 upon me because of the wicked H7563 that forsake H5800 thy law. H8451
54 Thy statutes H2706 have been my songs H2158 in the house H1004 of my pilgrimage. H4033
55 I have remembered H2142 thy name, H8034 O LORD, H3068 in the night, H3915 and have kept H8104 thy law. H8451
56 This I had, because I kept H5341 thy precepts. H6490
57 CHETH. Thou art my portion, H2506 O LORD: H3068 I have said H559 that I would keep H8104 thy words. H1697
58 I intreated H2470 thy favour H6440 with my whole heart: H3820 be merciful H2603 unto me according to thy word. H565
59 I thought H2803 on my ways, H1870 and turned H7725 my feet H7272 unto thy testimonies. H5713
60 I made haste, H2363 and delayed H4102 not to keep H8104 thy commandments. H4687
61 The bands H2256 of the wicked H7563 have robbed H5749 me: but I have not forgotten H7911 thy law. H8451
62 At midnight H2676 H3915 I will rise H6965 to give thanks H3034 unto thee because of thy righteous H6664 judgments. H4941
63 I am a companion H2270 of all them that fear H3372 thee, and of them that keep H8104 thy precepts. H6490
64 The earth, H776 O LORD, H3068 is full H4390 of thy mercy: H2617 teach H3925 me thy statutes. H2706
65 TETH. Thou hast dealt H6213 well H2896 with thy servant, H5650 O LORD, H3068 according unto thy word. H1697
66 Teach H3925 me good H2898 judgment H2940 and knowledge: H1847 for I have believed H539 thy commandments. H4687
67 Before I was afflicted H6031 I went astray: H7683 but now have I kept H8104 thy word. H565
68 Thou art good, H2896 and doest good; H2895 teach H3925 me thy statutes. H2706
69 The proud H2086 have forged H2950 a lie H8267 against me: but I will keep H5341 thy precepts H6490 with my whole heart. H3820
70 Their heart H3820 is as fat H2954 as grease; H2459 but I delight H8173 in thy law. H8451
71 It is good H2896 for me that I have been afflicted; H6031 that I might learn H3925 thy statutes. H2706
72 The law H8451 of thy mouth H6310 is better H2896 unto me than thousands H505 of gold H2091 and silver. H3701
73 JOD. Thy hands H3027 have made H6213 me and fashioned H3559 me: give me understanding, H995 that I may learn H3925 thy commandments. H4687
74 They that fear H3373 thee will be glad H8055 when they see H7200 me; because I have hoped H3176 in thy word. H1697
75 I know, H3045 O LORD, H3068 that thy judgments H4941 are right, H6664 and that thou in faithfulness H530 hast afflicted H6031 me.
76 Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness H2617 be for my comfort, H5162 according to thy word H565 unto thy servant. H5650
77 Let thy tender mercies H7356 come H935 unto me, that I may live: H2421 for thy law H8451 is my delight. H8191
78 Let the proud H2086 be ashamed; H954 for they dealt perversely H5791 with me without a cause: H8267 but I will meditate H7878 in thy precepts. H6490
79 Let those that fear H3373 thee turn H7725 unto me, and those that have known H3045 H3045 thy testimonies. H5713
80 Let my heart H3820 be sound H8549 in thy statutes; H2706 that I be not ashamed. H954
81 CAPH. My soul H5315 fainteth H3615 for thy salvation: H8668 but I hope H3176 in thy word. H1697
82 Mine eyes H5869 fail H3615 for thy word, H565 saying, H559 When wilt thou comfort H5162 me?
83 For I am become like a bottle H4997 in the smoke; H7008 yet do I not forget H7911 thy statutes. H2706
84 How many are the days H3117 of thy servant? H5650 when wilt thou execute H6213 judgment H4941 on them that persecute H7291 me?
85 The proud H2086 have digged H3738 pits H7882 for me, which are not after thy law. H8451
86 All thy commandments H4687 are faithful: H530 they persecute H7291 me wrongfully; H8267 help H5826 thou me.
87 They had almost H4592 consumed H3615 me upon earth; H776 but I forsook H5800 not thy precepts. H6490
88 Quicken H2421 me after thy lovingkindness; H2617 so shall I keep H8104 the testimony H5715 of thy mouth. H6310
89 LAMED. For ever, H5769 O LORD, H3068 thy word H1697 is settled H5324 in heaven. H8064
90 Thy faithfulness H530 is unto all H1755 generations: H1755 thou hast established H3559 the earth, H776 and it abideth. H5975
91 They continue H5975 this day H3117 according to thine ordinances: H4941 for all are thy servants. H5650
92 Unless H3884 thy law H8451 had been my delights, H8191 I should then have perished H6 in mine affliction. H6040
93 I will never H5769 forget H7911 thy precepts: H6490 for with them thou hast quickened H2421 me.
94 I am thine, save H3467 me; for I have sought H1875 thy precepts. H6490
95 The wicked H7563 have waited H6960 for me to destroy H6 me: but I will consider H995 thy testimonies. H5713
96 I have seen H7200 an end H7093 of all perfection: H8502 but thy commandment H4687 is exceeding H3966 broad. H7342
97 MEM. O how love I H157 thy law! H8451 it is my meditation H7881 all the day. H3117
98 Thou through thy commandments H4687 hast made me wiser H2449 than mine enemies: H341 for they are ever H5769 with me.
99 I have more understanding H7919 than all my teachers: H3925 for thy testimonies H5715 are my meditation. H7881
100 I understand H995 more than the ancients, H2205 because I keep H5341 thy precepts. H6490
101 I have refrained H3607 my feet H7272 from every evil H7451 way, H734 that I might keep H8104 thy word. H1697
102 I have not departed H5493 from thy judgments: H4941 for thou hast taught H3384 me.
103 How sweet H4452 are thy words H565 unto my taste! H2441 yea, sweeter than honey H1706 to my mouth! H6310
104 Through thy precepts H6490 I get understanding: H995 therefore I hate H8130 every false H8267 way. H734
105 NUN. Thy word H1697 is a lamp H5216 unto my feet, H7272 and a light H216 unto my path. H5410
106 I have sworn, H7650 and I will perform H6965 it, that I will keep H8104 thy righteous H6664 judgments. H4941
107 I am afflicted H6031 very much: H3966 quicken H2421 me, O LORD, H3068 according unto thy word. H1697
108 Accept, H7521 I beseech thee, the freewill offerings H5071 of my mouth, H6310 O LORD, H3068 and teach H3925 me thy judgments. H4941
109 My soul H5315 is continually H8548 in my hand: H3709 yet do I not forget H7911 thy law. H8451
110 The wicked H7563 have laid H5414 a snare H6341 for me: yet I erred H8582 not from thy precepts. H6490
111 Thy testimonies H5715 have I taken as an heritage H5157 for ever: H5769 for they are the rejoicing H8342 of my heart. H3820
112 I have inclined H5186 mine heart H3820 to perform H6213 thy statutes H2706 alway, H5769 even unto the end. H6118
113 SAMECH. I hate H8130 vain thoughts: H5588 but thy law H8451 do I love. H157
114 Thou art my hiding place H5643 and my shield: H4043 I hope H3176 in thy word. H1697
115 Depart H5493 from me, ye evildoers: H7489 for I will keep H5341 the commandments H4687 of my God. H430
116 Uphold H5564 me according unto thy word, H565 that I may live: H2421 and let me not be ashamed H954 of my hope. H7664
117 Hold thou me up, H5582 and I shall be safe: H3467 and I will have respect H8159 unto thy statutes H2706 continually. H8548
118 Thou hast trodden down H5541 all them that err H7686 from thy statutes: H2706 for their deceit H8649 is falsehood. H8267
119 Thou puttest away H7673 all the wicked H7563 of the earth H776 like dross: H5509 therefore I love H157 thy testimonies. H5713
120 My flesh H1320 trembleth H5568 for fear H6343 of thee; and I am afraid H3372 of thy judgments. H4941
121 AIN. I have done H6213 judgment H4941 and justice: H6664 leave H3240 me not to mine oppressors. H6231
122 Be surety H6148 for thy servant H5650 for good: H2896 let not the proud H2086 oppress H6231 me.
123 Mine eyes H5869 fail H3615 for thy salvation, H3444 and for the word H565 of thy righteousness. H6664
124 Deal H6213 with thy servant H5650 according unto thy mercy, H2617 and teach H3925 me thy statutes. H2706
125 I am thy servant; H5650 give me understanding, H995 that I may know H3045 thy testimonies. H5713
126 It is time H6256 for thee, LORD, H3068 to work: H6213 for they have made void H6565 thy law. H8451
127 Therefore I love H157 thy commandments H4687 above gold; H2091 yea, above fine gold. H6337
128 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts H6490 concerning all things to be right; H3474 and I hate H8130 every false H8267 way. H734
129 PE. Thy testimonies H5715 are wonderful: H6382 therefore doth my soul H5315 keep H5341 them.
130 The entrance H6608 of thy words H1697 giveth light; H215 it giveth understanding H995 unto the simple. H6612
131 I opened H6473 my mouth, H6310 and panted: H7602 for I longed H2968 for thy commandments. H4687
132 Look H6437 thou upon me, and be merciful H2603 unto me, as thou usest H4941 to do unto those that love H157 thy name. H8034
133 Order H3559 my steps H6471 in thy word: H565 and let not any iniquity H205 have dominion H7980 over me.
134 Deliver H6299 me from the oppression H6233 of man: H120 so will I keep H8104 thy precepts. H6490
135 Make thy face H6440 to shine H215 upon thy servant; H5650 and teach H3925 me thy statutes. H2706
136 Rivers H6388 of waters H4325 run down H3381 mine eyes, H5869 because they keep H8104 not thy law. H8451
137 TZADDI. Righteous H6662 art thou, O LORD, H3068 and upright H3477 are thy judgments. H4941
138 Thy testimonies H5713 that thou hast commanded H6680 are righteous H6664 and very H3966 faithful. H530
139 My zeal H7068 hath consumed H6789 me, because mine enemies H6862 have forgotten H7911 thy words. H1697
140 Thy word H565 is very H3966 pure: H6884 therefore thy servant H5650 loveth H157 it.
141 I am small H6810 and despised: H959 yet do not I forget H7911 thy precepts. H6490
142 Thy righteousness H6666 is an everlasting H5769 righteousness, H6664 and thy law H8451 is the truth. H571
143 Trouble H6862 and anguish H4689 have taken hold H4672 on me: yet thy commandments H4687 are my delights. H8191
144 The righteousness H6664 of thy testimonies H5715 is everlasting: H5769 give me understanding, H995 and I shall live. H2421
145 KOPH. I cried H7121 with my whole heart; H3820 hear H6030 me, O LORD: H3068 I will keep H5341 thy statutes. H2706
146 I cried H7121 unto thee; save H3467 me, and I shall keep H8104 thy testimonies. H5713
147 I prevented H6923 the dawning of the morning, H5399 and cried: H7768 I hoped H3176 in thy word. H1697
148 Mine eyes H5869 prevent H6923 the night watches, H821 that I might meditate H7878 in thy word. H565
149 Hear H8085 my voice H6963 according unto thy lovingkindness: H2617 O LORD, H3068 quicken H2421 me according to thy judgment. H4941
150 They draw nigh H7126 that follow H7291 after mischief: H2154 they are far H7368 from thy law. H8451
151 Thou art near, H7138 O LORD; H3068 and all thy commandments H4687 are truth. H571
152 Concerning thy testimonies, H5713 I have known H3045 of old H6924 that thou hast founded H3245 them for ever. H5769
153 RESH. Consider H7200 mine affliction, H6040 and deliver H2502 me: for I do not forget H7911 thy law. H8451
154 Plead H7378 my cause, H7379 and deliver H1350 me: quicken H2421 me according to thy word. H565
155 Salvation H3444 is far H7350 from the wicked: H7563 for they seek H1875 not thy statutes. H2706
156 Great H7227 are thy tender mercies, H7356 O LORD: H3068 quicken H2421 me according to thy judgments. H4941
157 Many H7227 are my persecutors H7291 and mine enemies; H6862 yet do I not decline H5186 from thy testimonies. H5715
158 I beheld H7200 the transgressors, H898 and was grieved; H6962 because they kept H8104 not thy word. H565
159 Consider H7200 how I love H157 thy precepts: H6490 quicken H2421 me, O LORD, H3068 according to thy lovingkindness. H2617
160 Thy word H1697 is true H571 from the beginning: H7218 and every one of thy righteous H6664 judgments H4941 endureth for ever. H5769
161 SCHIN. Princes H8269 have persecuted H7291 me without a cause: H2600 but my heart H3820 standeth in awe H6342 of thy word. H1697
162 I rejoice H7797 at thy word, H565 as one that findeth H4672 great H7227 spoil. H7998
163 I hate H8130 and abhor H8581 lying: H8267 but thy law H8451 do I love. H157
164 Seven times H7651 a day H3117 do I praise H1984 thee because of thy righteous H6664 judgments. H4941
165 Great H7227 peace H7965 have they which love H157 thy law: H8451 and nothing shall offend H4383 them.
166 LORD, H3068 I have hoped H7663 for thy salvation, H3444 and done H6213 thy commandments. H4687
167 My soul H5315 hath kept H8104 thy testimonies; H5713 and I love H157 them exceedingly. H3966
168 I have kept H8104 thy precepts H6490 and thy testimonies: H5713 for all my ways H1870 are before thee.
169 TAU. Let my cry H7440 come near H7126 before H6440 thee, O LORD: H3068 give me understanding H995 according to thy word. H1697
170 Let my supplication H8467 come H935 before H6440 thee: deliver H5337 me according to thy word. H565
171 My lips H8193 shall utter H5042 praise, H8416 when thou hast taught H3925 me thy statutes. H2706
172 My tongue H3956 shall speak H6030 of thy word: H565 for all thy commandments H4687 are righteousness. H6664
173 Let thine hand H3027 help H5826 me; for I have chosen H977 thy precepts. H6490
174 I have longed H8373 for thy salvation, H3444 O LORD; H3068 and thy law H8451 is my delight. H8191
175 Let my soul H5315 live, H2421 and it shall praise H1984 thee; and let thy judgments H4941 help H5826 me.
176 I have gone astray H8582 like a lost H6 sheep; H7716 seek H1245 thy servant; H5650 for I do not forget H7911 thy commandments. H4687
1 ALEPH. Blessed are they that are perfect in the way, Who walk in the law of Jehovah.
2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, That seek him with the whole heart.
3 Yea, they do no unrighteousness; They walk in his ways.
4 Thou hast commanded `us' thy precepts, That we should observe them diligently.
5 Oh that my ways were established To observe thy statutes!
6 Then shall I not be put to shame, When I have respect unto all thy commandments.
7 I will give thanks unto thee with uprightness of heart, When I learn thy righteous judgments.
8 I will observe thy statutes: Oh forsake me not utterly.
9 BETH. Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed `thereto' according to thy word.
10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: Oh let me not wander from thy commandments.
11 Thy word have I laid up in my heart, That I might not sin against thee.
12 Blessed art thou, O Jehovah: Teach me thy statutes.
13 With my lips have I declared All the ordinances of thy mouth.
14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, As much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on thy precepts, And have respect unto thy ways.
16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
17 GIMEL. Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live; So will I observe thy word.
18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold Wondrous things out of thy law.
19 I am a sojourner in the earth: Hide not thy commandments from me.
20 My soul breaketh for the longing That it hath unto thine ordinances at all times.
21 Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, That do wander from thy commandments.
22 Take away from me reproach and contempt; For I have kept thy testimonies.
23 Princes also sat and talked against me; `But' thy servant did meditate on thy statutes.
24 Thy testimonies also are my delight `And' my counsellors.
25 DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: Quicken thou me according to thy word.
26 I declared my ways, and thou answeredst me: Teach me thy statutes.
27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: So shall I meditate on thy wondrous works.
28 My soul melteth for heaviness: Strengthen thou me according unto thy word.
29 Remove from me the way of falsehood; And grant me thy law graciously.
30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness: Thine ordinances have I set `before me'.
31 I cleave unto thy testimonies: O Jehovah, put me not to shame.
32 I will run the way of thy commandments, When thou shalt enlarge my heart.
33 HE. Teach me, O Jehovah, the way of thy statutes; And I shall keep it unto the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; Yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; For therein do I delight.
36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, And not to covetousness.
37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, And quicken me in thy ways.
38 Confirm unto thy servant thy word, Which `is in order' unto the fear of thee.
39 Turn away my reproach whereof I am afraid; For thine ordinances are good.
40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: Quicken me in thy righteousness.
41 VAV. Let thy lovingkindnesses also come unto me, O Jehovah, Even thy salvation, according to thy word.
42 So shall I have an answer for him that reproacheth me; For I trust in thy word.
43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; For I have hoped in thine ordinances.
44 So shall I observe thy law continually For ever and ever.
45 And I shall walk at liberty; For I have sought thy precepts.
46 I will also speak of thy testimonies before kings, And shall not be put to shame.
47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, Which I have loved.
48 I will lift up my hands also unto thy commandments, which I have loved; And I will meditate on thy statutes.
49 ZAYIN. Remember the word unto thy servant, Because thou hast made me to hope.
50 This is my comfort in my affliction; For thy word hath quickened me.
51 The proud have had me greatly in derision: `Yet' have I not swerved from thy law.
52 I have remembered thine ordinances of old, O Jehovah, And have comforted myself.
53 Hot indignation hath taken hold upon me, Because of the wicked that forsake thy law.
54 Thy statutes have been my songs In the house of my pilgrimage.
55 I have remembered thy name, O Jehovah, in the night, And have observed thy law.
56 This I have had, Because I have kept thy precepts.
57 HHETH. Jehovah is my portion: I have said that I would observe thy words.
58 I entreated thy favor with my whole heart: Be merciful unto me according to thy word.
59 I thought on my ways, And turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
60 I made haste, and delayed not, To observe thy commandments.
61 The cords of the wicked have wrapped me round; `But' I have not forgotten thy law.
62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee Because of thy righteous ordinances.
63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, And of them that observe thy precepts.
64 The earth, O Jehovah, is full of thy lovingkindness: Teach me thy statutes.
65 TETH. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O Jehovah, according unto thy word.
66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge; For I have believed in thy commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray; But now I observe thy word.
68 Thou art good, and doest good; Teach me thy statutes.
69 The proud have forged a lie against me: With my whole heart will I keep thy precepts.
70 Their heart is as fat as grease; But I delight in thy law.
71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; That I may learn thy statutes.
72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me Than thousands of gold and silver.
73 YODH. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: Give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.
74 They that fear thee shall see me and be glad, Because I have hoped in thy word.
75 I know, O Jehovah, that thy judgments are righteous, And that in faithfulness thou hast afflicted me.
76 Let, I pray thee, thy lovingkindness be for my comfort, According to thy word unto thy servant.
77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live; For thy law is my delight.
78 Let the proud be put to shame; For they have overthrown me wrongfully: `But' I will meditate on thy precepts.
79 Let those that fear thee turn unto me; And they shall know thy testimonies.
80 Let my heart be perfect in thy statutes, That I be not put to shame.
81 KAPH. My soul fainteth for thy salvation; `But' I hope in thy word.
82 Mine eyes fail for thy word, While I say, When wilt thou comfort me?
83 For I am become like a wine-skin in the smoke; Yet do I not forget thy statutes.
84 How many are the days of thy servant? When wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?
85 The proud have digged pits for me, Who are not according to thy law.
86 All thy commandments are faithful: They persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.
87 They had almost consumed me upon earth; But I forsook not thy precepts.
88 LAMEDH. Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; So shall I observe the testimony of thy mouth.
89 For ever, O Jehovah, Thy word is settled in heaven.
90 Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: Thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.
91 They abide this day according to thine ordinances; For all things are thy servants.
92 Unless thy law had been my delight, I should then have perished in mine affliction.
93 I will never forget thy precepts; For with them thou hast quickened me.
94 I am thine, save me; For I have sought thy precepts.
95 The wicked have waited for me, to destroy me; `But' I will consider thy testimonies.
96 MEM. I have seen an end of all perfection; `But' thy commandment is exceeding broad.
97 Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
98 Thy commandments make me wiser than mine enemies; For they are ever with me.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers; For thy testimonies are my meditation.
100 I understand more than the aged, Because I have kept thy precepts.
101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, That I might observe thy word.
102 I have not turned aside from thine ordinances; For thou hast taught me.
103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! `Yea, sweeter' than honey to my mouth!
104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: Therefore I hate every false way.
105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And light unto my path.
106 I have sworn, and have confirmed it, That I will observe thy righteous ordinances.
107 I am afflicted very much: Quicken me, O Jehovah, according unto thy word.
108 Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill-offerings of my mouth, O Jehovah, And teach me thine ordinances.
109 My soul is continually in my hand; Yet do I not forget thy law.
110 The wicked have laid a snare for me; Yet have I not gone astray from thy precepts.
111 Thy testimonies have I taken as a heritage for ever; For they are the rejoicing of my heart.
112 I have inclined my heart to perform thy statutes For ever, even unto the end.
113 SAMEKH. I hate them that are of a double mind; But thy law do I love.
114 Thou art my hiding-place and my shield: I hope in thy word.
115 Depart from me, ye evil-doers, That I may keep the commandments of my God.
116 Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live; And let me not be ashamed of my hope.
117 Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe, And shall have respect unto thy statutes continually.
118 Thou hast set at nought all them that err from thy statutes; For their deceit is falsehood.
119 Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: Therefore I love thy testimonies.
120 My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; And I am afraid of thy judgments.
121 AYIN. I have done justice and righteousness: Leave me not to mine oppressors.
122 Be surety for thy servant for good: Let not the proud oppress me.
123 Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, And for thy righteous word.
124 Deal with thy servant according unto thy lovingkindness, And teach me thy statutes.
125 I am thy servant; give me understanding, That I may know thy testimonies.
126 It is time for Jehovah to work; `For' they have made void thy law.
127 Therefore I love thy commandments Above gold, yea, above fine gold.
128 Therefore I esteem all `thy' precepts concerning all `things' to be right; `And' I hate every false way.
129 PE. Thy testimonies are wonderful; Therefore doth my soul keep them.
130 The opening of thy words giveth light; It giveth understanding unto the simple.
131 I opened wide my mouth, and panted; For I longed for thy commandments.
132 Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me, As thou usest to do unto those that love thy name.
133 Establish my footsteps in thy word; And let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
134 Redeem me from the oppression of man: So will I observe thy precepts.
135 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; And teach me thy statutes.
136 Streams of water run down mine eyes, Because they observe not thy law.
137 TSADHE. Righteous art thou, O Jehovah, And upright are thy judgments.
138 Thou hast commanded thy testimonies in righteousness And very faithfulness.
139 My zeal hath consumed me, Because mine adversaries have forgotten thy words.
140 Thy word is very pure; Therefore thy servant loveth it.
141 I am small and despised; `Yet' do I not forget thy precepts.
142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And thy law is truth.
143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me; `Yet' thy commandments are my delight.
144 Thy testimonies are righteous for ever: Give me understanding, and I shall live.
145 QOPH. I have called with my whole heart; answer me, O Jehovah: I will keep thy statutes.
146 I have called unto thee; save me, And I shall observe thy testimonies.
147 I anticipated the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy words.
148 Mine eyes anticipated the night-watches, That I might meditate on thy word.
149 Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: Quicken me, O Jehovah, according to thine ordinances.
150 They draw nigh that follow after wickedness; They are far from thy law.
151 Thou art nigh, O Jehovah; And all thy commandments are truth.
152 Of old have I known from thy testimonies, That thou hast founded them for ever.
153 RESH. Consider mine affliction, and deliver me; For I do not forget thy law.
154 Plead thou my cause, and redeem me: Quicken me according to thy word.
155 Salvation is far from the wicked; For they seek not thy statutes.
156 Great are thy tender mercies, O Jehovah: Quicken me according to thine ordinances.
157 Many are my persecutors and mine adversaries; `Yet' have I not swerved from thy testimonies.
158 I beheld the treacherous, and was grieved, Because they observe not thy word.
159 Consider how I love thy precepts: Quicken me, O Jehovah, according to thy lovingkindness.
160 The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances `endureth' for ever.
161 SHIN. Princes have persecuted me without a cause; But my heart standeth in awe of thy words.
162 I rejoice at thy word, As one that findeth great spoil.
163 I hate and abhor falsehood; `But' thy law do I love.
164 Seven times a day do I praise thee, Because of thy righteous ordinances.
165 Great peace have they that love thy law; And they have no occasion of stumbling.
166 I have hoped for thy salvation, O Jehovah, And have done thy commandments.
167 My soul hath observed thy testimonies; And I love them exceedingly.
168 I have observed thy precepts and thy testimonies; For all my ways are before thee.
169 TAV. Let my cry come near before thee, O Jehovah: Give me understanding according to thy word.
170 Let my supplication come before thee: Deliver me according to thy word.
171 Let my lips utter praise; For thou teachest me thy statutes.
172 Let my tongue sing of thy word; For all thy commandments are righteousness.
173 Let thy hand be ready to help me; For I have chosen thy precepts.
174 I have longed for thy salvation, O Jehovah; And thy law is my delight.
175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; And let thine ordinances help me.
176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; Seek thy servant; For I do not forget thy commandments. Psalm 120 A Song of Ascents.
1 `Aleph.' O the happiness of those perfect in the way, They are walking in the law of Jehovah,
2 O the happiness of those keeping His testimonies, With the whole heart they seek Him.
3 Yea, they have not done iniquity, In His ways they have walked.
4 Thou hast commanded us Thy precepts to keep diligently,
5 O that my ways were prepared to keep Thy statutes,
6 Then I am not ashamed In my looking unto all Thy commands.
7 I confess Thee with uprightness of heart, In my learning the judgments of Thy righteousness.
8 Thy statutes I keep, leave me not utterly!
9 `Beth.' With what doth a young man purify his path? To observe -- according to Thy word.
10 With all my heart I have sought Thee, Let me not err from Thy commands.
11 In my heart I have hid Thy saying, That I sin not before Thee.
12 Blessed `art' Thou, O Jehovah, teach me Thy statutes.
13 With my lips I have recounted All the judgments of Thy mouth.
14 In the way of Thy testimonies I have joyed, As over all wealth.
15 In Thy precepts I meditate, And I behold attentively Thy paths.
16 In Thy statutes I delight myself, I do not forget Thy word.
17 `Gimel.' Confer benefits on Thy servant, I live, and I keep Thy word.
18 Uncover mine eyes, and I behold wonders out of Thy law.
19 A sojourner I `am' on earth, Hide not from me Thy commands.
20 Broken hath my soul for desire Unto Thy judgments at all times.
21 Thou hast rebuked the cursed proud, Who are erring from Thy commands.
22 Remove from me reproach and contempt, For Thy testimonies I have kept.
23 Princes also sat -- against me they spoke, Thy servant doth meditate in Thy statutes,
24 Thy testimonies also `are' my delight, The men of my counsel!
25 `Daleth.' Cleaved to the dust hath my soul, Quicken me according to Thy word.
26 My ways I have recounted, And Thou answerest me, teach me Thy statutes,
27 The way of Thy precepts cause me to understand, And I meditate in Thy wonders.
28 My soul hath dropped from affliction, Establish me according to Thy word.
29 The way of falsehood turn aside from me And with Thy law favour me.
30 The way of faithfulness I have chosen, Thy judgments I have compared,
31 I have adhered to Thy testimonies, O Jehovah, put me not to shame.
32 The way of Thy commands I run, For Thou dost enlarge my heart!
33 `He.' Show me, O Jehovah, the way of Thy statutes, And I keep it -- `to' the end.
34 Cause me to understand, and I keep Thy law, And observe it with the whole heart.
35 Cause me to tread in the path of Thy commands, For in it I have delighted.
36 Incline my heart unto Thy testimonies, And not unto dishonest gain.
37 Remove mine eyes from seeing vanity, In Thy way quicken Thou me.
38 Establish to Thy servant Thy saying, That `is' concerning Thy fear.
39 Remove my reproach that I have feared, For Thy judgments `are' good.
40 Lo, I have longed for Thy precepts, In Thy righteousness quicken Thou me,
41 `Waw.' And meet me doth Thy kindness, O Jehovah, Thy salvation according to Thy saying.
42 And I answer him who is reproaching me a word, For I have trusted in Thy word.
43 And Thou takest not utterly away From my mouth the word of truth, Because for Thy judgment I have hoped.
44 And I keep Thy law continually, To the age and for ever.
45 And I walk habitually in a broad place, For Thy precepts I have sought.
46 And I speak of Thy testimonies before kings, And I am not ashamed.
47 And I delight myself in Thy commands, That I have loved,
48 And I lift up my hands unto Thy commands, That I have loved, And I do meditate on Thy statutes!
49 `Zain.' Remember the word to Thy servant, On which Thou hast caused me to hope.
50 This `is' my comfort in mine affliction, That Thy saying hath quickened me.
51 The proud have utterly scorned me, From Thy law I have not turned aside.
52 I remembered Thy judgments of old, O Jehovah, And I comfort myself.
53 Horror hath seized me, Because of the wicked forsaking Thy law.
54 Songs have been to me Thy statutes, In the house of my sojournings.
55 I have remembered in the night Thy name, O Jehovah, And I do keep Thy law.
56 This hath been to me, That Thy precepts I have kept!
57 `Cheth.' My portion `is' Jehovah; I have said -- to keep Thy words,
58 I appeased Thy face with the whole heart, Favour me according to Thy saying.
59 I have reckoned my ways, And turn back my feet unto Thy testimonies.
60 I have made haste, And delayed not, to keep Thy commands.
61 Cords of the wicked have surrounded me, Thy law I have not forgotten.
62 At midnight I rise to give thanks to Thee, For the judgments of Thy righteousness.
63 A companion I `am' to all who fear Thee, And to those keeping Thy precepts.
64 Of Thy kindness, O Jehovah, the earth is full, Thy statutes teach Thou me!
65 `Teth.' Good Thou didst with Thy servant, O Jehovah, According to Thy word.
66 The goodness of reason and knowledge teach me, For in Thy commands I have believed.
67 Before I am afflicted, I -- I am erring, And now Thy saying I have kept.
68 Good Thou `art', and doing good, Teach me Thy statutes.
69 Forged against me falsehood have the proud, I with the whole heart keep Thy precepts.
70 Insensate as fat hath been their heart, I -- in Thy law I have delighted.
71 Good for me that I have been afflicted, That I might learn Thy statutes.
72 Better to me `is' the law of Thy mouth Than thousands of gold and silver!
73 `Yod.' Thy hands made me and establish me, Cause me to understand, and I learn Thy commands.
74 Those fearing Thee see me and rejoice, Because for Thy word I have hoped.
75 I have known, O Jehovah, That righteous `are' Thy judgments, And `in' faithfulness Thou hast afflicted me.
76 Let, I pray Thee, Thy kindness be to comfort me, According to Thy saying to Thy servant.
77 Meet me do Thy mercies, and I live, For Thy law `is' my delight.
78 Ashamed are the proud, For `with' falsehood they dealt perversely with me. I meditate in Thy precepts.
79 Those fearing Thee turn back to me, And those knowing Thy testimonies.
80 My heart is perfect in Thy statutes, So that I am not ashamed.
81 `Kaph.' Consumed for Thy salvation hath been my soul, For Thy word I have hoped.
82 Consumed have been mine eyes for Thy word, Saying, `When doth it comfort me?'
83 For I have been as a bottle in smoke, Thy statutes I have not forgotten.
84 How many `are' the days of Thy servant? When dost Thou execute Against my pursuers judgment?
85 The proud have digged for me pits, That `are' not according to Thy law.
86 All Thy commands `are' faithfulness, `With' falsehood they have pursued me, Help Thou me.
87 Almost consumed me on earth have they, And I -- I have not forsaken Thy precepts.
88 According to Thy kindness quicken Thou me, And I keep the testimony of Thy mouth!
89 `Lamed.' To the age, O Jehovah, Thy word is set up in the heavens.
90 To all generations Thy faithfulness, Thou didst establish earth, and it standeth.
91 According to Thine ordinances They have stood this day, for the whole `are' Thy servants.
92 Unless Thy law `were' my delights, Then had I perished in mine affliction.
93 To the age I forget not Thy precepts, For by them Thou hast quickened me.
94 I `am' Thine, save Thou me, For Thy precepts I have sought.
95 Thy wicked waited for me to destroy me, Thy testimonies I understand.
96 Of all perfection I have seen an end, Broad `is' Thy command -- exceedingly!
97 `Mem.' O how I have loved Thy law! All the day it `is' my meditation.
98 Than mine enemies Thy command maketh me wiser, For it `is' before me to the age.
99 Above all my teachers I have acted wisely. For Thy testimonies `are' my meditation.
100 Above elders I understand more, For Thy precepts I have kept.
101 From every evil path I restrained my feet, So that I keep Thy word.
102 From Thy judgments I turned not aside, For Thou -- Thou hast directed me.
103 How sweet to my palate hath been Thy saying, Above honey to my mouth.
104 From Thy precepts I have understanding, Therefore I have hated every false path!
105 `Nun.' A lamp to my foot `is' Thy word, And a light to my path.
106 I have sworn, and I confirm `it', To keep the judgments of Thy righteousness.
107 I have been afflicted very much, O Jehovah, quicken me, according to Thy word.
108 Free-will-offerings of my mouth, Accept, I pray Thee, O Jehovah, And Thy judgments teach Thou me.
109 My soul `is' in my hand continually, And Thy law I have not forgotten.
110 The wicked have laid a snare for me, And from thy precepts I wandered not.
111 I have inherited Thy testimonies to the age, For the joy of my heart `are' they.
112 I have inclined my heart To do Thy statutes, to the age -- `to' the end!
113 `Samech.' Doubting ones I have hated, And Thy law I have loved.
114 My hiding place and my shield `art' Thou, For Thy word I have hoped.
115 Turn aside from me, ye evil-doers, And I keep the commands of my God.
116 Sustain me according to Thy saying, And I live, and Thou puttest me not to shame Because of my hope.
117 Support Thou me, and I am saved, And I look on Thy statutes continually.
118 Thou hast trodden down All going astray from Thy statutes, For falsehood `is' their deceit.
119 Dross! Thou hast caused to cease All the wicked of the earth; Therefore I have loved Thy testimonies.
120 Trembled from Thy fear hath my flesh, And from Thy judgments I have been afraid!
121 `Ain.' I have done judgment and righteousness, Leave me not to mine oppressors.
122 Make sure Thy servant for good, Let not the proud oppress me.
123 Mine eyes have been consumed for Thy salvation. And for the saying of Thy righteousness.
124 Do with Thy servant according to Thy kindness. And Thy statutes teach Thou me.
125 Thy servant `am' I -- cause me to understand, And I know Thy testimonies.
126 Time for Jehovah to work! they have made void Thy law.
127 Therefore I have loved Thy commands Above gold -- even fine gold.
128 Therefore all my appointments I have declared wholly right, Every path of falsehood I have hated!
129 `Pe.' Wonderful `are' Thy testimonies, Therefore hath my soul kept them.
130 The opening of Thy words enlighteneth, Instructing the simple.
131 My mouth I have opened, yea, I pant, For, for Thy commands I have longed.
132 Look unto me, and favour me, As customary to those loving Thy name.
133 My steps establish by Thy saying, And any iniquity doth not rule over me.
134 Ransom me from the oppression of man, And I observe Thy precepts,
135 Thy face cause to shine on Thy servant, And teach me Thy statutes.
136 Rivulets of waters have come down mine eyes, Because they have not kept Thy law!
137 `Tzade.' Righteous `art' Thou, O Jehovah, And upright `are' Thy judgments.
138 Thou hast appointed Thy testimonies, Righteous and exceeding faithful,
139 Cut me off hath my zeal, For mine adversaries forgot Thy words.
140 Tried `is' thy saying exceedingly, And Thy servant hath loved it.
141 Small I `am', and despised, Thy precepts I have not forgotten.
142 Thy righteousness `is' righteousness to the age, And Thy law `is' truth.
143 Adversity and distress have found me, Thy commands `are' my delights.
144 The righteousness of Thy testimonies `is' to Cause me to understand, and I live!
145 `Koph.' I have called with the whole heart, Answer me, O Jehovah, Thy statutes I keep,
146 I have called Thee, save Thou me, And I do keep Thy testimonies.
147 I have gone forward in the dawn, and I cry, For Thy word I have hoped.
148 Mine eyes have gone before the watches, To meditate in Thy saying.
149 My voice hear, according to Thy kindness, Jehovah, according to Thy judgment quicken me.
150 Near have been my wicked pursuers, From Thy law they have been far off.
151 Near `art' Thou, O Jehovah, And all Thy commands `are' truth.
152 Of old I have known Thy testimonies, That to the age Thou hast founded them!
153 `Resh.' See my affliction, and deliver Thou me, For Thy law I have not forgotten.
154 Plead my plea, and redeem me, According to Thy saying quicken me.
155 Far from the wicked `is' salvation, For Thy statutes they have not sought.
156 Thy mercies `are' many, O Jehovah, According to Thy judgments quicken me.
157 Many `are' my pursuers, and adversaries, From Thy testimonies I have not turned aside.
158 I have seen treacherous ones, And grieve myself, Because Thy saying they have not kept.
159 See, for thy precepts I have loved, Jehovah, According to Thy kindness quicken me.
160 The sum of Thy word `is' truth, And to the age `is' every judgment of Thy righteousness!
161 `Shin.' Princes have pursued me without cause, And because of Thy words was my heart afraid.
162 I do rejoice concerning Thy saying, As one finding abundant spoil.
163 Falsehood I have hated, yea I abominate `it', Thy law I have loved.
164 Seven `times' in a day I have praised Thee, Because of the judgments of Thy righteousness.
165 Abundant peace have those loving Thy law, And they have no stumbling-block.
166 I have waited for Thy salvation, O Jehovah, And Thy commands I have done.
167 Kept hath my soul Thy testimonies, And I do love them exceedingly.
168 I have kept Thy precepts and Thy testimonies, For all my ways are before Thee!
169 `Taw.' My loud cry cometh near before Thee, O Jehovah; According to Thy word cause me to understand.
170 My supplication cometh in before Thee, According to Thy saying deliver Thou me.
171 My lips do utter praise, For Thou dost teach me Thy statutes.
172 My tongue doth sing of Thy saying, For all Thy commands `are' righteous.
173 Thy hand is for a help to me, For Thy commands I have chosen.
174 I have longed for Thy salvation, O Jehovah, And Thy law `is' my delight.
175 My soul liveth, and it doth praise Thee, And Thy judgments do help me.
176 I wandered as a lost sheep, seek Thy servant, For Thy precepts I have not forgotten!
1 ALEPH. Blessed are the perfect in the way, who walk in the law of Jehovah.
2 Blessed are they that observe his testimonies, that seek him with the whole heart;
3 Who also do no unrighteousness: they walk in his ways.
4 Thou hast enjoined thy precepts, to be kept diligently.
5 Oh that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
7 I will give thee thanks with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.
8 I will keep thy statutes: forsake me not utterly.
9 BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his path? by taking heed according to thy word.
10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: let me not wander from thy commandments.
11 Thy ùword have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.
12 Blessed art thou, Jehovah! teach me thy statutes.
13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as [much as] in all wealth.
15 I will meditate upon thy precepts, and have respect unto thy paths.
16 I delight myself in thy statutes; I will not forget thy word.
17 GIMEL. Deal bountifully with thy servant [and] I shall live; and I will keep thy word.
18 Open mine eyes, and I shall behold wondrous things out of thy law.
19 I am a stranger in the land; hide not thy commandments from me.
20 My soul breaketh for longing after thy judgments at all times.
21 Thou hast rebuked the proud [that are] cursed, who wander from thy commandments.
22 Roll off from me reproach and contempt; for I observe thy testimonies.
23 Princes also did sit [and] talk together against me: thy servant doth meditate in thy statutes.
24 Thy testimonies also are my delight [and] my counsellors.
25 DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken me according to thy word.
26 I have declared my ways, and thou hast answered me: teach me thy statutes.
27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts, and I will meditate upon thy wondrous works.
28 My soul melteth for sadness: strengthen me according to thy word.
29 Remove from me the way of falsehood, and graciously grant me thy law.
30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness; thy judgments have I set [before me].
31 I cleave unto thy testimonies; Jehovah, let me not be ashamed.
32 I will run the way of thy commandments when thou shalt enlarge my heart.
33 HE. Teach me, O Jehovah, the way of thy statutes, and I will observe it [unto] the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I will observe thy law; and I will keep it with [my] whole heart.
35 Make me to walk in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to gain.
37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; quicken me in thy way.
38 Establish thy ùword unto thy servant, who is [devoted] to thy fear.
39 Turn away my reproach which I fear; for thy judgments are good.
40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.
41 VAU. And let thy loving-kindness come unto me, O Jehovah, -- thy salvation according to thy ùword.
42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me; for I confide in thy word.
43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; because I have hoped in thy judgments.
44 Then will I keep thy law continually, for ever and ever;
45 And I will walk at liberty, for I have sought thy precepts;
46 And I will speak of thy testimonies before kings, and will not be ashamed;
47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved;
48 And I will lift up my hands unto thy commandments, which I have loved, and I will meditate in thy statutes.
49 ZAIN. Remember the word for thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.
50 This is my comfort in mine affliction; for thy ùword hath quickened me.
51 The proud have derided me beyond measure: I have not declined from thy law.
52 I remembered thy judgments of old, O Jehovah, and have comforted myself.
53 Burning indignation hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked who forsake thy law.
54 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.
55 I have remembered thy name, O Jehovah, in the night, and have kept thy law.
56 This I have had, because I have observed thy precepts.
57 CHETH. My portion, O Jehovah, I have said, is to keep thy words.
58 I have sought thy favour with [my] whole heart: be gracious unto me according to thy ùword.
59 I have thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
60 I have made haste, and not delayed, to keep thy commandments.
61 The bands of the wicked have wrapped me round: I have not forgotten thy law.
62 At midnight I rise up to give thanks unto thee, because of thy righteous judgments.
63 I am the companion of all that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.
64 The earth, O Jehovah, is full of thy loving-kindness: teach me thy statutes.
65 TETH. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O Jehovah, according to thy word.
66 Teach me good discernment and knowledge; for I have believed in thy commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep thy ùword.
68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.
69 The proud have forged falsehood against me: I will observe thy precepts with [my] whole heart.
70 Their heart is as fat as grease: as for me, I delight in thy law.
71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes.
72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.
73 YOD. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandments.
74 They that fear thee will see me, and rejoice; because I have hoped in thy word.
75 I know, Jehovah, that thy Judgments are righteousness, and that in faithfulness thou hast afflicted me.
76 Oh let thy loving-kindness be for my comfort, according to thy ùword unto thy servant.
77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live; for thy law is my delight.
78 Let the proud be ashamed; for they have acted perversely towards me with falsehood: as for me, I meditate in thy precepts.
79 Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that know thy testimonies.
80 Let my heart be perfect in thy statutes, that I be not ashamed.
81 CAPH. My soul fainteth for thy salvation; I hope in thy word.
82 Mine eyes fail for thy ùword, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?
83 For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; I do not forget thy statutes.
84 How many shall be the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?
85 The proud have digged pits for me, which is not according to thy law.
86 All thy commandments are faithfulness. They persecute me wrongfully: help thou me.
87 They had almost consumed me upon the earth; but as for me, I forsook not thy precepts.
88 Quicken me according to thy loving-kindness, and I will keep the testimony of thy mouth.
89 LAMED. For ever, O Jehovah, thy word is settled in the heavens.
90 Thy faithfulness is from generation to generation: thou hast established the earth, and it standeth.
91 By thine ordinances they stand this day; for all things are thy servants.
92 Unless thy law had been my delight, I should then have perished in mine affliction.
93 I will never forget thy precepts; for by them thou hast quickened me.
94 I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.
95 The wicked have awaited me to destroy me; [but] I attend unto thy testimonies.
96 I have seen an end of all perfection: thy commandment is exceeding broad.
97 MEM. Oh how I love thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
98 Thy commandments make me wiser than mine enemies; for they are ever with me.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers; for thy testimonies are my meditation.
100 I understand more than the aged, because I have observed thy precepts.
101 I have refrained my feet from every evil path, that I might keep thy word.
102 I have not departed from thy judgments; for it is thou that hast taught me.
103 How sweet are thy ùwords unto my taste! more than honey to my mouth!
104 From thy precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false path.
105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
106 I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.
107 I am afflicted very much; O Jehovah, quicken me according to thy word.
108 Accept, I beseech thee, Jehovah, the voluntary-offerings of my mouth, and teach me thy judgments.
109 My life is continually in my hand; but I do not forget thy law.
110 The wicked have laid a snare for me; but I have not wandered from thy precepts.
111 Thy testimonies have I taken as a heritage for ever; for they are the rejoicing of my heart.
112 I have inclined my heart to perform thy statutes for ever, unto the end.
113 SAMECH. The double-minded have I hated; but thy law do I love.
114 Thou art my hiding-place and my shield: I hope in thy word.
115 Depart from me, ye evil-doers; and I will observe the commandments of my God.
116 Uphold me according to thy ùword, that I may live; and let me not be ashamed of my hope.
117 Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe; and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.
118 Thou hast set at nought all them that wander from thy statutes; for their deceit is falsehood.
119 Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth [like] dross; therefore I love thy testimonies.
120 My flesh shuddereth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.
121 AIN. I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressors.
122 Be surety for thy servant for good; let not the proud oppress me.
123 Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the ùword of thy righteousness.
124 Deal with thy servant according to thy loving-kindness, and teach me thy statutes.
125 I am thy servant; give me understanding that I may know thy testimonies.
126 It is time for Jehovah to work: they have made void thy law.
127 Therefore I love thy commandments above gold, yea, above fine gold.
128 Therefore I regard all [thy] precepts concerning all things to be right: I hate every false path.
129 PE. Thy testimonies are wonderful; therefore doth my soul observe them.
130 The entrance of thy words giveth light, giving understanding unto the simple.
131 I opened my mouth wide and panted; for I longed for thy commandments.
132 Turn unto me, and be gracious unto me, as thou art wont to do unto those that love thy name.
133 Establish my steps in thy ùword; and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
134 Deliver me from the oppression of man; and I will keep thy precepts.
135 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant, and teach me thy statutes.
136 Mine eyes run down with streams of water, because they keep not thy law.
137 TZADE. Righteous art thou, Jehovah, and upright are thy judgments.
138 Thou hast commanded thy testimonies in righteousness and exceeding faithfulness.
139 My zeal destroyeth me, because mine oppressors have forgotten thy words.
140 Thy ùword is exceeding pure, and thy servant loveth it.
141 I am little and despised: thy precepts have I not forgotten.
142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is truth.
143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold upon me: thy commandments are my delights.
144 The righteousness of thy testimonies is for ever: give me understanding, and I shall live.
145 KOPH. I have called with [my] whole heart; answer me, O Jehovah: I will observe thy statutes.
146 I call upon thee; save me, and I will keep thy testimonies.
147 I anticipate the morning-dawn and I cry: I hope in thy word.
148 Mine eyes anticipate the night-watches, that I may meditate in thy ùword.
149 Hear my voice according to thy loving-kindness: O Jehovah, quicken me according to thy judgment.
150 They have drawn nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law.
151 Thou, Jehovah, art near, and all thy commandments are truth.
152 From thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.
153 RESH. See mine affliction, and deliver me; for I have not forgotten thy law.
154 Plead my cause, and redeem me: quicken me according to thy ùword.
155 Salvation is far from the wicked; for they seek not thy statutes.
156 Many are thy tender mercies, O Jehovah; quicken me according to thy judgments.
157 Many are my persecutors and mine oppressors; I have not declined from thy testimonies.
158 I beheld them that deal treacherously, and was grieved; because they kept not thy ùword.
159 See how I have loved thy precepts: quicken me, O Jehovah, according to thy loving-kindness.
160 The sum of thy word is truth, and every righteous judgment of thine is for ever.
161 SHIN. Princes have persecuted me without a cause; but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.
162 I have joy in thy ùword, as one that findeth great spoil.
163 I hate and abhor falsehood; thy law do I love.
164 Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.
165 Great peace have they that love thy law, and nothing doth stumble them.
166 I have hoped for thy salvation, O Jehovah, and have done thy commandments.
167 My soul hath kept thy testimonies, and I love them exceedingly.
168 I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies; for all my ways are before thee.
169 TAU. Let my cry come near before thee, Jehovah: give me understanding according to thy word.
170 Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy ùword.
171 My lips shall pour forth praise when thou hast taught me thy statutes.
172 My tongue shall speak aloud of thy ùword; for all thy commandments are righteousness.
173 Let thy hand be for my help; for I have chosen thy precepts.
174 I have longed for thy salvation, O Jehovah, and thy law is my delight.
175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.
176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep: seek thy servant; for I have not forgotten thy commandments.
1 > Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, Who walk according to Yahweh's law.
2 Blessed are those who keep his statutes, Who seek him with their whole heart.
3 Yes, they do nothing wrong. They walk in his ways.
4 You have commanded your precepts, That we should fully obey them.
5 Oh that my ways were steadfast To obey your statutes!
6 Then I wouldn't be disappointed, When I consider all of your commandments.
7 I will give thanks to you with uprightness of heart, When I learn your righteous judgments.
8 I will observe your statutes. Don't utterly forsake me.
9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.
10 With my whole heart, I have sought you. Don't let me wander from your commandments.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart, That I might not sin against you.
12 Blessed are you, Yahweh. Teach me your statutes.
13 With my lips, I have declared all 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 precepts, And consider your ways.
16 I will delight myself in your statutes. I will not forget your word.
17 Do good to your servant. I will live and I will obey your word.
18 Open my eyes, That I may see wondrous things out of your law.
19 I am a stranger on the earth. Don't hide your commandments from me.
20 My soul is consumed with longing for your ordinances at all times.
21 You have rebuked the proud who are cursed, Who wander from your commandments.
22 Take reproach and contempt away from me, For I have kept your statutes.
23 Though princes sit and slander me, Your servant will meditate on your statutes.
24 Indeed your statutes are my delight, And my counselors.
25 My soul is laid low in the dust. Revive me according to your word!
26 I declared my ways, and you answered me. Teach me your statutes.
27 Let me understand the teaching of your precepts! Then I will meditate on your wondrous works.
28 My soul is weary with sorrow: Strengthen me according to your word.
29 Keep me from the way of deceit. Grant me your law graciously!
30 I have chosen the way of truth. I have set my heart on your law.
31 I cling to your statutes, Yahweh. Don't let me be disappointed.
32 I run in the path of your commandments, For you have set my heart free.
33 Teach me, Yahweh, the way of your statutes. I will keep them to the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I will keep your law. Yes, I will obey it with my whole heart.
35 Direct me in the path of your commandments, For I delight in them.
36 Turn my heart toward your statutes, Not toward selfish gain.
37 Turn my eyes away from looking at worthless things. Revive me in your ways.
38 Fulfill your promise to your servant, That you may be feared.
39 Take away my disgrace that I dread, For your ordinances are good.
40 Behold, I long for your precepts! Revive me in your righteousness.
41 Let your loving kindness also come to me, Yahweh, Your salvation, according to your word.
42 So I will have an answer for him who reproaches me, For I trust in your word.
43 Don't snatch the word of truth out of my mouth, For I put my hope in your ordinances.
44 So I will obey your law continually, Forever and ever.
45 I will walk in liberty, For I have sought your precepts.
46 I will also speak of your statutes before kings, And will not be disappointed.
47 I will delight myself in your commandments, Because I love them.
48 I reach out my hands for your commandments, which I love. I will meditate on your statutes.
49 Remember your word to your servant, Because you gave me hope.
50 This is my comfort in my affliction, For your word has revived me.
51 The arrogant mock me excessively, But I don't swerve from your law.
52 I remember your ordinances of old, Yahweh, And have comforted myself.
53 Indignation has taken hold on me, Because of the wicked who forsake your law.
54 Your statutes have been my songs, In the house where I live.
55 I have remembered your name, Yahweh, in the night, And I obey your law.
56 This is my way, That I keep your precepts.
57 Yahweh is my portion. I promised to obey your words.
58 I sought your favor with my whole heart. Be merciful to me according to your word.
59 I considered my ways, And turned my steps to your statutes.
60 I will hurry, and not delay, To obey your commandments.
61 The ropes of the wicked bind me, But I won't forget your law.
62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks to you, Because of your righteous ordinances.
63 I am a friend of all those who fear you, Of those who observe your precepts.
64 The earth is full of your loving kindness, Yahweh. Teach me your statutes.
65 Do good to your servant, According to your word, Yahweh.
66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge, For I believe in your commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted, I went astray; But now I observe your word.
68 You are good, and do good. Teach me your statutes.
69 The proud have smeared a lie upon me. With my whole heart, I will keep your precepts.
70 Their heart is as callous as the fat, 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 of your mouth is better to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.
73 Your hands have made me and formed me. Give me understanding, that I may learn your commandments.
74 Those who fear you will see me and be glad, Because I have put my hope in your word.
75 Yahweh, I know that your judgments are righteous, That in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
76 Please let your loving kindness be for my comfort, According to your word to your servant.
77 Let your tender mercies come to me, that I may live; For your law is my delight.
78 Let the proud be disappointed, for they have overthrown me wrongfully. I will meditate on your precepts.
79 Let those who fear you turn to me. They will know your statutes.
80 Let my heart be blameless toward your decrees, That I may not be disappointed.
81 My soul faints for your salvation. I hope in your word.
82 My eyes fail for your word. I say, "When will you comfort me?"
83 For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke. I don't forget your statutes.
84 How many are the days of your servant? When will you execute judgment on those who persecute me?
85 The proud have dug pits for me, Contrary to your law.
86 All of your commandments are faithful. They persecute me wrongfully. Help me!
87 They had almost wiped me from the earth, But I didn't forsake your precepts.
88 Preserve my life according to your loving kindness, So I will obey the statutes of your mouth.
89 Yahweh, your word is settled in heaven forever.
90 Your faithfulness is to all generations. You have established the earth, and it remains.
91 Your laws remain to this day, For all things serve you.
92 Unless your law had been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.
93 I will never forget your precepts, For with them, you have revived me.
94 I am yours. Save me, for I have sought your precepts.
95 The wicked have waited for me, to destroy me. I will consider your statutes.
96 I have seen a limit to all perfection, But your commands are boundless.
97 How love I your law! It is my meditation all day.
98 Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, For your commandments are always with me.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, For your testimonies are my meditation.
100 I understand more than the aged, Because I have kept your precepts.
101 I have kept my feet from every evil way, That I might observe your word.
102 I have not turned aside from your ordinances, For you have taught me.
103 How sweet are your promises to my taste, More than honey to my mouth!
104 Through your precepts, I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet, And a light for my path.
106 I have sworn, and have confirmed it, That I will obey your righteous ordinances.
107 I am afflicted very much. Revive me, Yahweh, according to your word.
108 Accept, I beg you, the willing offerings of my mouth. Yahweh, teach me your ordinances.
109 My soul is continually in my hand, Yet I won't forget your law.
110 The wicked have laid a snare for me, Yet I haven't gone astray from your precepts.
111 I have taken your testimonies as a heritage forever, For they are the joy of my heart.
112 I have set my heart to perform your statutes forever, Even to the end.
113 I hate double-minded men, 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 word, that I may live. Let me not be ashamed of my hope.
117 Hold me up, and I will be safe, And will have respect for your statutes continually.
118 You reject all those who stray from your statutes, For their deceit is in vain.
119 You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross. Therefore I love your testimonies.
120 My flesh trembles for fear of you. I am afraid of your judgments.
121 I have done what is just and righteous. Don't leave me to my oppressors.
122 Ensure your servant's well-being. Don't let the proud oppress me.
123 My eyes fail looking for your salvation, For your righteous word.
124 Deal with your servant according to your loving kindness. Teach me your statutes.
125 I am your servant. Give me understanding, That I may know your testimonies.
126 It is time to act, Yahweh, For they break your law.
127 Therefore I love your commandments more than gold, Yes, more than pure gold.
128 Therefore I consider all of your precepts to be right. I hate every false way.
129 Your testimonies are wonderful, Therefore my soul keeps them.
130 The entrance of your words gives light. It gives understanding to the simple.
131 I opened my mouth wide and panted, For I longed for your commandments.
132 Turn to me, and have mercy on me, As you always do to those who love your name.
133 Establish my footsteps in your word. Don't let any iniquity have dominion over me.
134 Redeem me from the oppression of man, So I will observe your precepts.
135 Make your face shine on your servant. Teach me your statutes.
136 Streams of tears run down my eyes, Because they don't observe your law.
137 You are righteous, Yahweh. Your judgments are upright.
138 You have commanded your statutes in righteousness. They are fully trustworthy.
139 My zeal wears me out, Because my enemies ignore your words.
140 Your promises have been thoroughly tested, And your servant loves them.
141 I am small and despised. I don't forget your precepts.
142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness. Your law is truth.
143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold of me. Your commandments are my delight.
144 Your testimonies are righteous forever. Give me understanding, that I may live.
145 I have called with my whole heart. Answer me, Yahweh! I will keep your statutes.
146 I have called to you. Save me! I will obey your statutes.
147 I rise before dawn and cry for help. I put my hope in your words.
148 My eyes stay open through the night watches, That I might meditate on your word.
149 Hear my voice according to your loving kindness. Revive me, Yahweh, according to your ordinances.
150 They draw near who follow after wickedness. They are far from your law.
151 You are near, Yahweh. All your commandments are truth.
152 Of old I have known from your testimonies, That you have founded them forever.
153 Consider my affliction, and deliver me, For I don't forget your law.
154 Plead my cause, and redeem me! Revive me according to your promise.
155 Salvation is far from the wicked, For they don't seek your statutes.
156 Great are your tender mercies, Yahweh. Revive me according to your ordinances.
157 Many are my persecutors and my adversaries. I haven't swerved from your testimonies.
158 I look at the faithless with loathing, Because they don't observe your word.
159 Consider how I love your precepts. Revive me, Yahweh, according to your loving kindness.
160 All of your words are truth. Every one of your righteous ordinances endures forever.
161 Princes have persecuted me without a cause, But my heart stands in awe of your words.
162 I rejoice at your word, As one who finds great spoil.
163 I hate and abhor falsehood. I love your law.
164 Seven times a day, I praise you, Because of your righteous ordinances.
165 Those who love your law have great peace. Nothing causes them to stumble.
166 I have hoped for your salvation, Yahweh. I have done your commandments.
167 My soul has observed your testimonies. I love them exceedingly.
168 I have obeyed your precepts and your testimonies, For all my ways are before you.
169 Let my cry come before you, Yahweh. Give me understanding according to your word.
170 Let my supplication come before you. Deliver me according to your word.
171 Let my lips utter praise, For you teach me your statutes.
172 Let my tongue sing of your word, For all your commandments are righteousness.
173 Let your hand be ready to help me, For I have chosen your precepts.
174 I have longed for your salvation, Yahweh. Your law is my delight.
175 Let my soul live, that I may praise you. Let your ordinances help me.
176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I don't forget your commandments.
1 <ALEPH> Happy are they who are without sin in their ways, walking in the law of the Lord.
2 Happy are they who keep his unchanging word, searching after him with all their heart.
3 They do no evil; they go in his ways.
4 You have put your orders into our hearts, so that we might keep them with care.
5 If only my ways were ordered so that I might keep your rules!
6 Then I would not be put to shame, as long as I have respect for all your teaching.
7 I will give you praise with an upright heart in learning your right decisions.
8 I will keep your rules: O give me not up completely.
9 <BETH> How may a young man make his way clean? by guiding it after your word.
10 I have made search for you with all my heart: O let me not go wandering far from your teaching.
11 I have kept your sayings secretly in my heart, so that I might do no sin against you.
12 Praise be to you, O Lord: give me knowledge of your rules.
13 With my lips have I made clear all the decisions of your mouth.
14 I have taken as much delight in the way of your unchanging word, as in all wealth.
15 I will give thought to your orders, and have respect for your ways.
16 I will have delight in your rules; I will not let your word go out of my mind.
17 <GIMEL> Give me, your servant, the reward of life, so that I may keep your word;
18 Let my eyes be open to see the wonders of your law.
19 I am living in a strange land: do not let your teachings be kept secret from me.
20 My soul is broken with desire for your decisions at all times.
21 Your hand has been against the men of pride, a curse is on those who go wandering out of your way.
22 Take away from me shame and bitter words; for I have kept your unchanging word in my heart.
23 Rulers make evil designs against me; but your servant gives thought to your rules.
24 Your unchanging word is my delight, and the guide of my footsteps.
25 <DALETH> My soul is joined to the dust: O give me life, in keeping with your word.
26 I put the record of my ways before you, and you gave me an answer: O give me knowledge of your rules.
27 Make the way of your orders clear to me; then my thoughts will be ever on your wonders.
28 My soul is wasted with sorrow; give me strength again in keeping with your word
29 Take from me every false way; and in mercy give me your law.
30 I have taken the way of faith: I have kept your decisions before me.
31 I have been true to your unchanging word; O Lord, do not put me to shame.
32 I will go quickly in the way of your teaching, because you have given me a free heart.
33 <HE> O Lord, let me see the way of your rules, and I will keep it to the end.
34 Give me wisdom, so that I may keep your law; going after it with all my heart.
35 Make me go in the way of your teachings; for they are my delight.
36 Let my heart be turned to your unchanging word, and not to evil desire.
37 Let my eyes be turned away from what is false; give me life in your ways.
38 Give effect to your word to your servant, in whose heart is the fear of you.
39 Take away the shame which is my fear; for your decisions are good.
40 See how great is my desire for your orders: give me life in your righteousness.
41 <VAU> Let your mercies come to me, O Lord, even your salvation, as you have said.
42 So that I may have an answer for the man who would put me to shame; for I have faith in your word.
43 Take not your true word quite out of my mouth; for I have put my hope in your decisions.
44 So that I may keep your law for ever and ever;
45 So that my way may be in a wide place: because my search has been for your orders.
46 So that I may give knowledge of your unchanging word before kings, and not be put to shame.
47 And so that I may take delight in your teachings, to which I have given my love.
48 And so that my hands may be stretched out to you; and I will give thought to your rules.
49 <ZAIN> Keep in mind your word to your servant, for on it has my hope been fixed.
50 This is my comfort in my trouble; that your sayings have given me life.
51 The men of pride have made great sport of me; but I have not been turned from your law.
52 I have kept the memory of your decisions from times past, O Lord; and they have been my comfort.
53 I am burning with wrath, because of the sinners who have given up your law.
54 Your rules have been melodies to me, while I have been living in strange lands.
55 I have given thought to your name in the night, O Lord, and have kept your law.
56 This has been true of me, that I have kept your orders in my heart.
57 <CHETH> The Lord is my heritage: I have said that I would be ruled by your words.
58 I have given my mind to do your pleasure with all my heart; have mercy on me, as you have said.
59 I gave thought to my steps, and my feet were turned into the way of your unchanging word.
60 I was quick to do your orders, and let no time be wasted.
61 The cords of evil-doers are round me; but I have kept in mind your law.
62 In the middle of the night I will get up to give you praise, because of all your right decisions.
63 I keep company with all your worshippers, and those who have your orders in their memory.
64 The earth, O Lord, is full of your mercy: give me knowledge of your rules.
65 <TETH> You have done good to your servant, O Lord, in keeping with your word.
66 Give me knowledge and good sense; for I have put my faith in your teachings.
67 Before I was in trouble I went out of the way; but now I keep your word.
68 You are good, and your works are good; give me knowledge of your rules.
69 The men of pride have said false things about me; but I will keep your orders in my heart.
70 Their hearts are shut up with fat; but my delight is in your law.
71 It is good for me to have been through trouble; so that I might come to the knowledge of your rules.
72 The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver.
73 <JOD> Your hands have made me, and given me form: give me wisdom, so that I may have knowledge of your teaching.
74 Your worshippers will see me and be glad; because my hope has been in your word.
75 I have seen, O Lord, that your decisions are right, and that in unchanging faith you have sent trouble on me.
76 Let your mercy now be my comfort, as you have said to your servant.
77 Let your gentle mercies come to me, so that I may have life; for your law is my delight.
78 Let the men of pride be shamed; because they have falsely given decision against me; but I will give thought to your orders.
79 Let your worshippers be turned to me, and those who have knowledge of your words.
80 Let all my heart be given to your orders, so that I may not be put to shame.
81 <CAPH> My soul is wasted with desire for your salvation: but I have hope in your word.
82 My eyes are full of weariness with searching for your word, saying, When will you give me comfort?
83 For I have become like a wine-skin black with smoke; but I still keep the memory of your rules.
84 How short is the life of your servant! when will you give your decision against those who are attacking me?
85 The men of pride, who are turned away from your law, have put nets for me.
86 All your teachings are certain; they go after me with evil design; give me your help.
87 They had almost put an end to me on earth; but I did not give up your orders.
88 Give me life in your mercy; so that I may be ruled by the unchanging word of your mouth.
89 <LAMED> For ever, O Lord, your word is fixed in heaven.
90 Your faith is unchanging from generation to generation: you have put the earth in its place, and it is not moved.
91 They are ruled this day by your decisions; for all things are your servants.
92 If your law had not been my delight, my troubles would have put an end to me.
93 I will ever keep your orders in mind; for in them I have life.
94 I am yours, O be my saviour; for my desire has been for your rules.
95 The sinners have been waiting for me to give me up to destruction; but I will give all my mind to your unchanging ward.
96 I have seen that nothing on earth is complete; but your teaching is very wide.
97 <MEM> O what love I have for your law! I give thought to it all the day.
98 Your teaching has made me wiser than my haters: for it is mine for ever.
99 I have more knowledge than all my teachers, because I give thought to your unchanging word.
100 I have more wisdom than the old, because I have kept your orders.
101 I have kept back my feet from all evil ways, so that I might be true to your word.
102 My heart has not been turned away from your decisions; for you have been my teacher.
103 How sweet are your sayings to my taste! truly, they are sweeter than honey in my mouth!
104 Through your orders I get wisdom; for this reason I am a hater of every false way.
105 <NUN> Your word is a light for my feet, ever shining on my way.
106 I have made an oath and kept it, to be guided by your upright decisions.
107 I am greatly troubled, O Lord, give me life in keeping with your word.
108 Take, O Lord, the free offerings of my mouth, and give me knowledge of your decisions.
109 My soul is ever in danger; but I still keep the memory of your law.
110 Sinners have put a net to take me; but I was true to your orders.
111 I have taken your unchanging word as an eternal heritage; for it is the joy of my heart.
112 My heart is ever ready to keep your rules, even to the end.
113 <SAMECH> I am a hater of men of doubting mind; but I am a lover of your law.
114 You are my secret place and my breastplate against danger; my hope is in your word.
115 Go far from me, you evil-doers; so that I may keep the teachings of my God.
116 Be my support as you have said, and give me life; let not my hope be turned to shame.
117 Let me not be moved, and I will be safe, and ever take delight in your rules.
118 You have overcome all those who are wandering from your rules; for all their thoughts are false.
119 All the sinners of the earth are like waste metal in your eyes; and for this cause I give my love to your unchanging word.
120 My flesh is moved for fear of you; I give honour to your decisions.
121 <AIN> I have done what is good and right: you will not give me into the hands of those who are working against me.
122 Take your servant's interests into your keeping; let me not be crushed by the men of pride.
123 My eyes are wasted with desire for your salvation, and for the word of your righteousness.
124 Be good to your servant in your mercy, and give me teaching in your rules.
125 I am your servant; give me wisdom, so that I may have knowledge of your unchanging word.
126 It is time, O Lord, for you to let your work be seen; for they have made your law without effect.
127 For this reason I have greater love far your teachings than for gold, even for shining gold.
128 Because of it I keep straight in all things by your orders; and I am a hater of every false way.
129 <PE> Your unchanging word is full of wonder; for this reason my soul keeps it.
130 The opening of your words gives light; it gives good sense to the simple.
131 My mouth was open wide, waiting with great desire for your teachings.
132 Let your eyes be turned to me, and have mercy on me, as it is right for you to do to those who are lovers of your name.
133 Let my steps be guided by your word; and let not sin have control over me.
134 Make me free from the cruel rule of man; then I will keep your orders.
135 Let your servant see the shining of your face; give me knowledge of your rules.
136 Rivers of water are flowing from my eyes, because men do not keep your law.
137 <TZADE> O Lord, great is your righteousness, and upright are your decisions.
138 You have given your unchanging word in righteousness, and it is for ever.
139 My passion has overcome me; because my haters are turned away from your words.
140 Your word is of tested value; and it is dear to your servant.
141 I am small and of no account; but I keep your orders in mind.
142 Your righteousness is an unchanging righteousness, and your law is certain.
143 Pain and trouble have overcome me: but your teachings are my delight.
144 The righteousness of your unchanging word is eternal; give me wisdom so that I may have life.
145 <KOPH> I have made my prayer with all my heart; give answer to me, O Lord: I will keep your rules.
146 My cry has gone up to you; take me out of trouble, and I will be guided by your unchanging word.
147 Before the sun is up, my cry for help comes to your ear; my hope is in your words.
148 In the night watches I am awake, so that I may give thought to your saying.
149 Let my voice come to you, in your mercy; O Lord, by your decisions give me life.
150 Those who have evil designs against me come near; they are far from your law.
151 You are near, O Lord; and all your teachings are true.
152 I have long had knowledge that your unchanging word is for ever.
153 <RESH> O see my trouble, and be my saviour; for I keep your law in my mind,
154 Undertake my cause, and come to my help, give me life, as you have said.
155 Salvation is far from evil-doers; for they have made no search for your rules.
156 Great is the number of your mercies, O Lord; give me life in keeping with your decisions.
157 Great is the number of those who are against me; but I have not been turned away from your unchanging word.
158 I saw with hate those who were untrue to you; for they did not keep your saying.
159 See how great is my love for your orders: give me life, O Lord, in keeping with your mercy.
160 Your word is true from the first; and your upright decision is unchanging for ever.
161 <SHIN> Rulers have been cruel to me without cause; but I have the fear of your word in my heart.
162 I am delighted by your saying, like a man who makes discovery of great wealth.
163 I am full of hate and disgust for false words; but I am a lover of your law.
164 Seven times a day do I give you praise, because of your upright decisions.
165 Great peace have lovers of your law; they have no cause for falling.
166 Lord, my hope has been in your salvation; and I have kept your teachings.
167 My soul has kept your unchanging word; great is my love for it.
168 I have been ruled by your orders; for all my ways are before you.
169 <TAU> Let my cry come before you, O Lord; give me wisdom in keeping with your word.
170 Let my prayer come before you; take me out of trouble, as you have said.
171 Let my lips be flowing with praise, because you have given me knowledge of your rules.
172 Let my tongue make songs in praise of your word; for all your teachings are righteousness.
173 Let your hand be near for my help; for I have given my heart to your orders.
174 All my desire has been for your salvation, O Lord; and your law is my delight.
175 Give life to my soul so that it may give you praise; and let your decisions be my support.
176 I have gone out of the way like a wandering sheep; make search for your servant; for I keep your teachings ever in mind.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Keil & Delitzsch Commentary » Commentary on Psalms 119
Commentary on Psalms 119 Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
A Twenty-Two-Fold String of Aphorisms by One Who Is Persecuted for the Sake of His Faith
To the Hodu Ps 118, written in gnome-like, wreathed style, is appended the throughout gnomico-didactic Psalms 119, consisting of one hundred and seventy-six Masoretic verses, or regarded in relation to the strophe, distichs, which according to the twenty-two letters of the alphabet fall into twenty-two groups (called by the old expositors the ὀγδοάδες or octonarii of this Psalmus literatus s. alphabetites ); for each group contains eight verses (distichs), each of which begins with the same consecutive letter (8 x 22 = 176). The Latin Psalters (as the Psalterium Veronense , and originally perhaps all the old Greek Psalters) have the name of the letter before each group; the Syriac has the signs of the letters; and in the Complutensian Bible, as also elsewhere, a new line begins with each group. The Talmud, B. Berachoth , says of this Psalm: “it consists of eight Alephs ,” etc.; the Masora styles it אלפא ביתא רבא ; the Midrash on it is called מדרשׁ אלפא ביתא , and the Pesikta פסיקתא דתמניא אפי . In our German version it has the appropriate inscription, “The Christian's golden A B C of the praise, love, power, and use of the word of God;” for here we have set forth in inexhaustible fulness what the word of God is to a man, and how a man is to behave himself in relation to it. The Masora observes that the Psalm contains only the one Psalms 119:122, in which some reference or other to the word of revelation is not found as in all the 175 others
(Note: “In every verse,” this is the observation of the Masora on Psalms 119:122, “v. 122 only excepted, we find one of the ten (pointing to the ten fundamental words or decalogue of the Sinaitic Law) expressions: word, saying, testimonies, way, judgment, precept, commandment ( צוּוּי ), law, statute, truth ” (according to another reading, righteousness ).)
- a many-linked chain of synonyms which runs through the whole Psalm. In connection with this ingenious arrangement, so artfully devised and carried out, it may also not be merely accidental that the address Jahve occurs twenty-two times, as Bengel has observed: bis et vicesies pro numero octonariorum .
All kinds of erroneous views have, however, been put forth concerning this Psalm. Köster, von Gerlach, Hengstenberg, and Hupfeld renounce all attempts to show that there is any accordance whatever with a set plan, and find here a series of maxims without any internal progression and connection. Ewald begins at once with the error, that we have before us the long prayer of an old experienced teacher. But from Psalms 119:9. it is clear that the poet himself is a “young man,” a fact that is also corroborated by Psalms 119:99, Psalms 119:100. The poet is a young man, who finds himself in a situation which is clearly described: he is derided, oppressed, persecuted, and that by those who despise the divine word (for apostasy encompasses him round about), and more particularly by a government hostile to the true religion, Psalms 119:23, Psalms 119:46, Psalms 119:161. He is lying in bonds (Psalms 119:61, cf. Psalms 119:83), expecting death (Psalms 119:109), and recognises in his affliction, it is true, God's salutary humbling, and in the midst of it God's word is his comfort and his wisdom, but he also yearns for help, and earnestly prays for it. - The whole Psalm is a prayer for stedfastness in the midst of an ungodly, degenerate race, and in the midst of great trouble, which is heightened by the pain he feels at the prevailing apostasy, and a prayer for ultimate deliverance which rises in group Kaph to an urgent how long! If this sharply-defined physiognomy of the Psalm is recognised, then the internal progression will not fail to be discerned.
After the poet has praised fidelity to the word of God ( Aleph ), and described it as the virtue of all virtues which is of service to the young man and to which he devotes himself ( Beth ), he prays, in the midst of the scoffing and persecuting persons that surround him, for the grace of enlightenment ( Gimel ), of strengthening ( Daleth ), of preservation ( He ), of suitable and joyful confession ( Vav ); God's word is all his thought and pursuit ( Zajin ), he cleaves to those who fear God ( Ḥeth ), and recognises the salutary element of His humbling ( Ṭeth ), but is in need of comfort ( Jod ) and signs: how long! ( Kaph ). Without the eternal, sure, mighty word of God he would despair ( Lamed ); this is his wisdom in difficult circumstances ( Mem ); he has sworn fidelity to it, and maintains his fidelity as being one who is persecuted ( Nun ), and abhors and despises the apostates ( Samech ). He is oppressed, but God will not suffer him to be crushed ( Ajin ); He will not suffer the doings of the ungodly, which wring from him floods of tears, to prevail over him ( Phe ) - over him, the small (still youthful) and despised one whom zeal concerning the prevailing godlessness is consuming away ( Tsade ). Oh that God would hear his crying by day and by night ( Ḳoph ), would revive him speedily with His helpful pity ( Resh ) - him, viz., who being persecuted by princes clings fast to Him ( Shin ), and would seek him the isolated and so sorely imperilled sheep! ( Tav ). This outline does not exhaust the fundamental thoughts of the separate ogdoades, and they might surely be still more aptly reproduced, but this is sufficient to show that the Psalm is not wanting in coherence and progressive movement, and that it is not an ideal situation and mood, but a situation and mood based upon public relationships, from which this manifold celebration of the divine word, as a fruit of its teaching, has sprung.
It is natural to suppose that the composition of the Psalm falls in those times of the Greek domination in which the government was hostile, and a large party from among the Jews themselves, that was friendly towards the government, persecuted all decided confessors of the Tôra. Hitzig says, “It can be safely maintained that the Psalm was written in the Maccabaean age by a renowned Israelite who was in imprisonment under Gentile authorities.” It is at least probable that the plaited work of so long a Psalm, which, in connection with all that is artificial about it, from beginning to end gives a glimpse of the subdued afflicted mien of a confessor, is the work of one in prison, who whiled away his time with this plaiting together of his complaints and his consolatry thoughts.
The eightfold Aleph . Blessed are those who act according to the word of God; the poet wishes to be one of these. The alphabetical Psalm on the largest scale begins appropriately, not merely with a simple ( Psalms 112:1), but with a twofold ashrך . It refers principally to those integri viae ( vitae ). In Psalms 119:3 the description of those who are accounted blessed is carried further. Perfects,a s denoting that which is habitual, alternate with futures used as presents. In Psalms 119:4 לשׁמר expresses the purpose of the enjoining, as in Psalms 119:5 the goal of the directing. אחלי (whence אחלי , 2 Kings 5:3) is compounded of אח (vid., supra , p. 273) and לי ( לוי ), and consequently signifies o si . On יכּנוּ cf. Proverbs 4:26 (lxx κατευθυνθείησαν ). The retrospective אז is expanded anew in Psalms 119:6 : then, when I namely. “Judgment of Thy righteousness” are the decisions concerning right and wrong which give expression to and put in execution the righteousness of God.
(Note: The word “judgments” of our English authorized version is retained in the text as being the most convenient word; it must, however, be borne in mind that in this Psalm it belongs to the “chain of synonyms,” and does not mean God's acts of judgment, its more usual meaning in the Old Testament Scriptures, but is used as defined above, and is the equivalent here of the German Rechte , not Gerichte . - Tr.)
בּלמדי refers to Scripture in comparison with history.
The eightfold Beth . Acting in accordance with the word of God, a young man walks blamelessly; the poet desires this, and supplicates God's gracious assistance in order to it. To purify or cleanse one's way or walk ( זכּה , cf. Psalms 73:13; Proverbs 20:9) signifies to maintain it pure ( זך , root זך , Arab. zk , to prick, to strike the eye, nitere ;
(Note: The word receives the meaning of νικᾶν (vid., supra , p. 367), like Arab. ḏhr and bhr , from the signification of outshining = overpowering.)
vid., Fleischer in Levy's Chaldäisches Wörterbuch , i. 424) from the spotting of sin, or to free it from it. Psalms 119:9 is the answer to the question in Psalms 119:9 ; לשׁמר signifies custodiendo semetipsum , for שׁמר can also signify “to be on one's guard” without נפשׁו (Joshua 6:18). The old classic (e.g., Psalms 18:31) אמרתך alternates throughout with דּברך ; both are intended collectively. One is said to hide ( צפן ) the word in one's heart when one has it continually present with him, not merely as an outward precept, but as an inward motive power in opposition to selfish action (Job 23:12). In Psalms 119:12 the poet makes his way through adoration to petition. ספּרתּי in Psalms 119:13 does not mean enumeration, but recounting, as in Deuteronomy 6:7. עדות is the plural to עדוּת ; עדות , on the contrary, in Psalms 119:138 is the plural to עדה : both are used of God's attestation of Himself and of His will in the word of revelation. כּעל signifies, according to Psalms 119:162, “as over” (short for כּאשׁר על ), not: as it were more than (Olshausen); the כּ would only be troublesome in connection with this interpretation. With reference to הון , which has occurred already in Psalms 44:13; Psalms 112:3 (from הון , Arab. hawn , to be light, levem ), aisance , ease, opulence, and concrete, goods, property, vid., Fleischer in Levy's Chald. Wórterb . i. 423f. ארחתיך , Psalms 119:15, are the paths traced out in the word of God; these he will studiously keep in his eye.
The eightfold Gimel . This is his life's aim: he will do it under fear of the curse of apostasy; he will do it also though he suffer persecution on account of it. In Psalms 119:17 the expression is only אחיה as Psalms 118:19, not ואחיה as in Psalms 119:77, Psalms 119:116, Psalms 119:144 : the apodosis imper. only begins with ואשׁמרה , whereas אחיה is the good itself for the bestowment of which the poet prays. גּל in Psalms 119:18 is imper. apoc. Piel for גּלּה , like גס in Daniel 1:12. נפלאות is the expression for everything supernatural and mysterious which is incomprehensible to the ordinary understanding and is left to the perception of faith. The Tôra beneath the surface of its letter contains an abundance of such “wondrous things,” into which only eyes from which God has removed the covering of natural short-sightedness penetrate; hence the prayer in Psalms 119:18. Upon earth we have no abiding resting-place, we sojourn here as in a strange land (Psalms 119:19, Psalms 39:13; 1 Chronicles 29:15). Hence the poet prays in Psalms 119:19 that God would keep His commandments, these rules of conduct for the journey of life, in living consciousness for him. Towards this, according to Psalms 119:20, his longing tends. גּרס ( Hiph . in Lamentations 3:16) signifies to crush in pieces, Arab. jrš , and here, like the Aramaic גּרס , גּרס , to be crushed, broken in pieces. לתאבה (from תּאב , Psalms 119:40, Psalms 119:174, a secondary form of אבה ) states the bias of mind in or at which the soul feels itself thus overpowered even to being crushed: it is crushing form longing after God's judgment, viz., after a more and more thorough knowledge of them. In Psalms 119:21 the lxx has probably caught the meaning of the poet better than the pointing has done, inasmuch as it draws ἐπικατάρατοι to Psalms 119:21 , so that Psalms 119:21 consists of two words, just like Psalms 119:59 , Psalms 119:89 ; and Kamphausen also follows this in his rendering. For ארוּרים as an attribute is unpoetical, and as an accusative of the predicate far-fetched; whereas it comes in naturally as a predicate before השּׁגים ממּצותיך : cursed ( ארר = Arab. harra , detestari ), viz., by God. Instead of גּל , “roll” (from גּלל , Joshua 5:9), it is pointed in Psalms 119:22 ( מעל ) גּל , “uncover” = גּלּה , as in Psalms 119:18, reproach being conceived of as a covering or veil (as e.g., in Psalms 69:8), cf. Isaiah 22:8 (perhaps also Lamentations 2:14; Lamentations 4:22, if גּלּה על there signifies “to remove the covering upon anything”). גּם in Psalms 119:23 , as in Jeremiah 36:25, has the sense of גּם־כּי , etiamsi ; and גּם in Psalms 119:24 the sense of nevertheless, ὅμως , Ew. §354, a . On נדבּר בּ (reciprocal), cf. Ezekiel 33:30. As in a criminal tribunal, princes sit and deliberate how they may be able to render him harmless.
The eightfold Daleth . He is in deep trouble, and prays for consolation and strengthening by means of God's word, to which he resigns himself. His soul is fixed to the dust (Psalms 44:26) in connection with such non-recognition and proscription, and is incapable of raising itself. In Psalms 119:25 he implores new strength and spirits ( חיּה as in Psalms 71:20; Psalms 85:7) from God, in conformity with and by reason of His word. He has rehearsed his walk in every detail to God, and has not been left without an answer, which has assured him of His good pleasure: may He then be pleased to advance him ever further and further in the understanding of His word, in order that, though men are against him, he may nevertheless have God on his side, Psalms 119:26-27. The complaint and request expressed in Psalms 119:25 are renewed in Psalms 119:28. דּלף refers to the soul, which is as it were melting away in the trickling down of tears; קיּם is a Piel of Aramaic formation belonging to the later language. In Psalms 119:29-30 the way of lies or of treachery, and the way of faithfulness or of perseverance in the truth, stand in opposition to one another. חנן is construed with a double accusative, inasmuch as תּורה has not the rigid notion of a fixed teaching, but of living empirical instruction. שׁוּה (short for שׁוה לנגד , Psalms 16:8) signifies to put or set, viz., as a norma normans that stands before one's eyes. He cleaves to the testimonies of God; may Jahve not disappoint the hope which to him springs up out of them, according to the promise, Psalms 119:31. He runs, i.e., walks vigorously and cheerfully, in the way of God's commandments, for He has widened his heart, by granting and preserving to the persecuted one the joyfulness of confession and the confidence of hope.
The eightfold He . He further prays for instruction and guidance that he may escape the by-paths of selfishness and of disavowal. The noun עקב , used also elsewhere as an accus. adverb. , in the signification ad extremum (Psalms 119:33 and Psalms 119:112) is peculiar to our poet. אצּרנּה (with a Shebâ which takes a colouring in accordance with the principal form) refers back to דּרך . In the petition “give me understanding” (which occurs six times in this Psalm) חבין is causative, as in Job 32:8, and frequently in the post-exilic writings. בּצע (from בּצע , abscindere , as κέρδος accords in sound with κείρειν ) signifies gain and acquisition by means of the damage which one does to his neighbour by depreciating his property, by robbery, deceit, and extortion (1 Samuel 8:3), and as a name of a vice, covetousness, and in general selfishness. שׁוא is that which is without real, i.e., without divine, contents or intrinsic worth, - God-opposed teaching and life. בּדרכך
(Note: Heidenheim and Baer erroneously have בּדרכיך with Jod. plural. , contrary to the Masora.)
is a defective plural; cf. חסדך , Psalms 119:41, וּמשׁפּטך , Psalms 119:43, and frequently. Establishing, in Psalms 119:38, is equivalent to a realizing of the divine word or promise. The relative clause אשׁר ליראתך is not to be referred to לעבדּך according to Psalms 119:85 (where the expression is different), but to אמרתך : fulfil to Thy servant Thy word or promise, as that which ( quippe quae ) aims at men attaining the fear of Thee and increasing therein (cf. Psalms 130:4; Psalms 40:4). The reproach which the poet fears in Psalms 119:39 is not the reproach of confessing, but of denying God. Accordingly משׁפּטיך are not God's judgments i.e., acts of judgment, but revealed decisions or judgments: these are good, inasmuch as it is well with him who keeps them. He can appeal before God to the fact that he is set upon the knowledge and experience of these with longing of heart; and he bases his request upon the fact that God by virtue of His righteousness, i.e., the stringency with which He maintains His order of grace, both as to its promises and its duties, would quicken him, who is at present as it were dead with sorrow and weariness.
The eightfold Vav . He prays for the grace of true and fearlessly joyous confession. The lxx renders Psalms 119:41 : καὶ ἔλθοι ἐπ ̓ ἐμε ̓ τὸ ἔλεός σου ; but the Targum and Jerome rightly (cf. Psalms 119:77, Isaiah 63:7) have the plural: God's proofs of loving-kindness in accordance with His promises will put him in the position that he will not be obliged to be dumb in the presence of him who reproaches him ( חרף , prop. a plucker, cf. Arab. charûf , a lamb = a plucker of leaves or grass), but will be able to answer him on the ground of his own experience. The verb ענה , which in itself has many meanings, acquires the signification “to give an answer” through the word, דּבר , that is added (synon. השׁיב דּבר ). Psalms 119:43 also refers to the duty of confessing God. The meaning of the prayer is, that God may not suffer him to come to such a pass that he will be utterly unable to witness for the truth; for language dies away in the mouth of him who is unworthy of its before God. The writer has no fear of this for himself, for his hope is set towards God's judgments ( למשׁפּטך , defective plural, as also in Psalms 119:149; in proof of which, compare Psalms 119:156 and Psalms 119:175), his confidence takes its stand upon them. The futures which follow from Psalms 119:44 to Psalms 119:48 declare that what he would willingly do by the grace of God, and strives to do, is to walk בּרחבה , in a broad space (elsewhere בּמּרחב ), therefore unstraitened, which in this instance is not equivalent to happily, but courageously and unconstrainedly, without allowing myself to be intimidated, and said of inward freedom which makes itself known outwardly. In Psalms 119:46 the Vulgate renders: Et loquebar de ( in ) testimoniis tuis in conspectu regum et non confundebar - the motto of the Augsburg Confession, to which it was adapted especially in connection with this historical interpretation of the two verbs, which does not correspond to the original text. The lifting up of the hands in Psalms 119:48 is an expression of fervent longing desire, as in connection with prayer, Psalms 28:2; Psalms 63:5; Psalms 134:2; Psalms 141:2, and frequently. The second אשׁר אהבתי is open to the suspicion of being an inadvertent repetition. שׂיח בּ (synon. בּ הגה ) signifies a still or audible meditating that is absorbed in the object.
The eightfold Zajin . God's word is his hope and his trust amidst all derision; and when he burns with indignation at the apostates, God's word is his solace. Since in Psalms 119:49 the expression is not דּברך but דּבר , it is not to be interpreted according to Psalms 98:3; Psalms 106:45, but: remember the word addressed to Thy servant, because Thou hast made me hope ( Piel causat. as e.g., נשּׁה , to cause to forget, Genesis 41:51), i.e., hast comforted me by promising me a blessed issue, and hast directed my expectation thereunto. This is his comfort in his dejected condition, that God's promissory declaration has quickened him and proved its reviving power in his case. In הליצוּני ( הליצוּני ), ludificantur , it is implied that the זדים eht taht d are just לצים , frivolous persons, libertines, free-thinkers (Proverbs 21:24). משׁפּטיך , Psalms 119:52, are the valid, verified decisions (judgments) of God revealed from the veriest olden times. In the remembrance of these, which determine the lot of a man according to the relation he holds towards them, the poet found comfort. It can be rendered: then I comforted myself; or according to a later usage of the Hithpa .: I was comforted. Concerning זלעפה , aestus , vid., Psalms 11:6, and on the subject-matter, Psalms 119:21, Psalms 119:104. The poet calls his earthly life “the house of his pilgrimage;” for it is true the earth is man's (Psalms 115:16), but he has no abiding resting-place there (1 Chronicles 29:15), his בּית עולם (Ecclesiastes 12:5) is elsewhere (vid., supra , Psalms 119:19, Psalms 39:13). God's statutes are here his “songs,” which give him spiritual refreshing, sweeten the hardships of the pilgrimage, and measure and hasten his steps. The Name of God has been in his mind hitherto, not merely by day, but also by night; and in consequence of this he has kept God's law ( ואשׁמרה , as five times besides in this Psalm, cf. Psalms 3:6, and to be distinguished from ואשׁמרה , Psalms 119:44). Just this, that he keeps ( observat ) God's precepts, has fallen to his lot. To others something else is allotted (Psalms 4:8), to him this one most needful thing.
The eightfold Heth . To understand and to keep God's word is his portion, the object of his incessant praying and thanksgiving, the highest grace or favour that can come to him. According to Psalms 16:5; Psalms 73:26, the words חלקי ה belong together. Psalms 119:57 is an inference drawn from it ( אמר ל as in Exodus 2:14, and frequently), and the existing division of the verse is verified. חלּה פּני , as in Psalms 45:13, is an expression of caressing, flattering entreaty; in Latin, caput mulcere ( demulcere ). His turning to the word of God the poet describes in Psalms 119:59 as a result of a careful trying of his actions. After that he quickly and cheerfully, Psalms 119:60, determined to keep it without any long deliberation with flesh and blood, although the snares of wicked men surround him. The meaning of חבלי is determined according to Psalms 119:110 : the pointing does not distinguish so sharply as one might have expected between חבלי , ὠδῖνας , and חבלי , snares, bonds (vid., Psalms 18:5.); but the plural nowhere, according to the usage of the language as we now have it, signifies bands (companies), from the singular in 1 Samuel 10:5 (Böttcher, §800). Thankfulness urges him to get up at midnight ( acc. temp. as in Job 34:20) to prostrate himself before God and to pray. Accordingly he is on friendly terms with, he is closely connected with (Proverbs 28:24), all who fear God. Out of the fulness of the loving-kindness of God, which is nowhere unattested upon earth ( Psalms 119:64 = Psalms 33:5), he implores for himself the inward teaching concerning His word as the highest and most cherished of mercies.
The eightfold Teth . The good word of the gracious God is the fountain of all good; and it is learned in the way of lowliness. He reviews his life, and sees in everything that has befallen him the good and well-meaning appointment of the God of salvation in accordance with the plan and order of salvation of His word. The form עבדּך , which is the form out of pause, is retained in Psalms 119:65 beside Athnach , although not preceded by Olewejored (cf. Psalms 35:19; Psalms 48:11; Proverbs 30:21). Clinging believingly to the commandments of God, he is able confidently to pray that He would teach him “good discernment” and “knowledge.” טעם is ethically the capacity of distinguishing between good and evil, and of discovering the latter as it were by touch; טוּב טעם , good discernment, is a coupling of words like טוּב לב , a happy disposition, cheerfulness. God has brought him into this relationship to His word by humbling him, and thus setting him right out of his having gone astray. אמרה in Psalms 119:67 , as in Psalms 119:11, is not God's utterance conveying a promise, but imposing a duty. God is called טּוב as He who is graciously disposed towards man, and מתיב as He who acts out this disposition; this loving and gracious God he implores to become his Teacher. In his fidelity to God's word he does not allow himself to be led astray by any of the lies which the proud try to impose upon him (Böttcher), or better absolutely (cf. Job 13:4): to patch together over him, making the true nature unrecognisable as it were by means of false plaster or whitewash ( טפל , to smear over, bedaub, as the Targumic, Talmudic, and Syriac show). If the heart of these men, who by slander make him into a caricature of himself, is covered as it were with thick fat (a figure of insensibility and obduracy, Psalms 17:10; Psalms 73:7; Isaiah 6:10, lxx ἐτυρώθη , Aquila ἐλιπάνθη , Symmachus ἐμυαλώθη ) against all the impressions of the word of God, he, on the other hand, has his delight in the law of God ( שׁעשׁע with an accusative of the object, not of that which is delighted, Psalms 94:19, but of that which delights). How beneficial has the school of affliction through which he has attained to this, been to him! The word proceeding from the mouth of God is now more precious to him than the greatest earthly riches.
The eightfold Jod . God humbles, but He also exalts again according to His word; for this the poet prays in order that he may be a consolatory example to the God-fearing, to the confusion of his enemies. It is impossible that God should forsake man, who is His creature, and deny to him that which makes him truly happy, viz., the understanding and knowledge of His word. For this spiritual gift the poet prays in Psalms 119:73 (cf. on 73 a , Deuteronomy 32:6; Job 10:8; Job 31:15); and he wishes in Psalms 119:74 that all who fear God may see in him with joy an example of the way in which trust in the word of God is rewarded (cf. Psalms 34:3; Psalms 35:27; Psalms 69:33; Psalms 107:42, and other passages). He knows that God's acts of judgment are pure righteousness, i.e., regulated by God's holiness, out of which they spring, and by the salvation of men, at which they aim; and he knows that God has humbled him אמוּנה ( accus. adverb. for בּאמוּנה ), being faithful in His intentions towards him; for it is just in the school of affliction that one first learns rightly to estimate the worth of His word, and comes to feel its power. But trouble, though sweetened by an insight into God's salutary design, is nevertheless always bitter; hence the well-justified prayer of Psalms 119:76, that God's mercy may notwithstanding be bestowed upon him for his consolation, in accordance with the promise which is become his ( ל as in Psalms 119:49 ), His servant's. עוּת , Psalms 119:78, instead of being construed with the accusative of the right, or of the cause, that is perverted, is construed with the accusative of the person upon whom such perversion of right, such oppression by means of misrepresentation, is inflicted, as in Job 19:6; Lamentations 3:36. Chajug' reads עוּדוּני as in Psalms 119:61. The wish expressed in Psalms 119:79 is to be understood according to Psalms 73:10; Jeremiah 15:19, cf. Proverbs 9:4, Proverbs 9:16. If instead of וידעי (which is favoured by Psalms 119:63), we read according to the Chethîb וידעוּ (cf. Psalms 119:125), then what is meant by ישׁוּבוּ לּי is a turning towards him for the purpose of learning: may their knowledge be enriched from his experience. For himself, however, in Psalms 119:80 he desires unreserved, faultless, unwavering adherence to God's word, for only thus is he secure against being ignominiously undeceived.
The eightfold Kaph . This strengthening according to God's promise is his earnest desire ( כּלה ) now, when within a very little his enemies have compassed his ruin ( כּלּה ). His soul and eyes languish ( כּלה as in Psalms 69:4; Psalms 84:3, cf. Job 19:27) for God's salvation, that it may be unto him according to God's word or promise, that this word may be fulfilled. In Psalms 119:83 כּי is hypothetical, as in Psalms 21:12 and frequently; here, as perhaps also in Psalms 27:10, in the sense of “although” (Ew. §362, b ). He does not suffer anything to drive God's word out of his mind, although he is already become like a leathern bottle blackened and shrivelled up in the smoke. The custom of the ancients of placing jars with wine over the smoke in order to make the wine prematurely old, i.e., to mellow it (vid., Rosenmüller), does not yield anything towards the understanding of this passage: the skin-bottle that is not intended for present use is hung up on high; and the fact that it had to withstand the upward ascending smoke is intelligible, notwithstanding the absence of any mention of the chimney. The point of comparison, in which we agree for the most part with Hitzig, is the removal of him who in his dungeon is continually exposed to the drudgery of his persecutors. כּמּה in Psalms 119:84 is equivalent to “how few.” Our life here below is short, so also is the period within which the divine righteousness can reveal itself. שׁיחות (instead of which the lxx erroneously reads שׂיחות ), pits, is an old word, Psalms 57:7. The relative clause, Psalms 119:85 , describes the “proud” as being a contradiction to the revealed law; for there was no necessity for saying that to dig a pit for others is not in accordance with this law. All God's commandments are an emanation of His faithfulness, and therefore too demand faithfulness; but it is just this faithfulness that makes the poet an object of deadly hatred. They have already almost destroyed him”in the land.” It is generally rendered “on earth;” but “in heaven” at the beginning of the following octonary is too far removed to be an antithesis to it, nor does it sound like one (cf. on the other hand ἐν τοῖς ouranoi's, Matthew 5:12). It is therefore: in the land (cf. Psalms 58:3; Psalms 73:9), where they think they are the only ones who have any right there, they have almost destroyed him, without shaking the constancy of his faith. But he stands in need of fresh grace in order that he may not, however, at last succumb.
The eightfold Lamed . Eternal and imperishable in the constant verifying of itself is the vigorous and consolatory word of God, to which the poet will ever cling. It has heaven as its standing-place, and therefore it also has the qualities of heaven, and before all others, heaven-like stability. Ps 89 (Psalms 89:3) uses similar language in reference to God's faithfulness, of which here Psalms 119:90 says that it endureth into all generations. The earth hath He creatively set up, and it standeth, viz., as a practical proof and as a scene of His infinite, unchangeable faithfulness. Heaven and earth are not the subjects of Psalms 119:91 (Hupfeld), for only the earth is previously mentioned; the reference to the heavens in Psalms 119:89 is of a very different character. Hitzig and others see the subject in למשׁפּטיך : with respect to Thy judgments, they stand fast unto this day; but the עבדיך which follows requires another meaning to be assigned to עמדוּ : either of taking up one's place ready for service, or, since עמד למשׁפט is a current phrase in Numbers 35:12; Joshua 20:6; Ezekiel 44:24, of placing one's self ready to obey (Böttcher). The subject of עמדוּ , as the following הכּל shows, is meant to be thought of in the most general sense (cf. Job 38:14): all beings are God's servants (subjects), and have accordingly to be obedient and humble before His judicial decisions - היּום , “even to this day,” the poet adds, for these judicial decisions are those which are formulated beforehand in the Tôra. Joy in this ever sure, all-conditioning word has upheld the poet in his affliction, Psalms 119:92. He who has been persecuted and cast down as it were to death, owes his reviving to it, Psalms 119:93. From Him whose possession or property he is in faith and love he also further looks for his salvation, Psalms 119:94. Let evil-doers lie in wait for him ( קוּוּ in a hostile sense, as in Psalms 56:7, קוּה , cf. חכּה , going back to קוה , Arab. qawiya , with the broad primary signification, to be tight, firm, strong) to destroy him, he meditates on God's testimonies. He knows from experience that all (earthly) perfection ( תּכלה ) has an end (inasmuch as, having reached its height, it changes into its opposite); God's commandment (singular as in Deuteronomy 11:22), on the contrary, is exceeding broad (cf. Job 11:9), unlimited in its duration and verification.
The eightfold Mem . The poet praises the practical wisdom which the word of God, on this very account so sweet to him, teaches. God's precious law, with which he unceasingly occupies himself, makes him superior in wisdom (Deuteronomy 4:6), intelligence, and judgment to his enemies, his teachers, and the aged (Job 12:20). There were therefore at that time teachers and elders ( πρεσβύτεροι ), who (like the Hellenizing Sadducees) were not far from apostasy in their laxness, and hostilely persecuted the young and strenuous zealot for God's law. The construction of Psalms 119:98 is like Joel 1:20; Isaiah 59:12, and frequently. היא refers to the commandments in their unity: he has taken possession of them for ever (cf. Psalms 119:111 ). The Mishna ( Aboth iv. 1) erroneously interprets: from all my teachers do I acquire understanding. All three מן in Psalms 119:98-100 signify prae (lxx ὑπὲρ ). In כּלאתי , Psalms 119:101 , from the mode of writing we see the verb Lamed Aleph passing over into the verb Lamed He . הורתני is, as in Proverbs 4:11 (cf. Exodus 4:15), a defective mode of writing for הוריתני . נמלצוּ , Psalms 119:103 , is not equivalent to נמרצוּ , Job 6:25 (vid., Job, at Job 6:25; Job 16:2-5), but signifies, in consequence of the dative of the object לחכּי , that which easily enters, or that which tastes good (lxx ὡς gluke'a); therefore surely from מלץ = מלט , to be smooth: how smooth, entering easily (Proverbs 23:31), are Thy words (promises) to my palate or taste! The collective singular אמרתך is construed with a plural of the predicate (cf. Exodus 1:10). He has no taste for the God-estranged present, but all the stronger taste for God's promised future. From God's laws he acquires the capacity for proving the spirits, therefore he hates every path of falsehood (= Psalms 119:128 ), i.e., all the heterodox tendencies which agree with the spirit of the age.
The eightfold Nun . The word of God is his constant guide, to which he has entrusted himself for ever. The way here below is a way through darkness, and leads close past abysses: in this danger of falling and of going astray the word of God is a lamp to his feet, i.e., to his course, and a light to his path (Proverbs 6:23); his lamp or torch and his sun. That which he has sworn, viz., to keep God's righteous requirements, he has also set up, i.e., brought to fulfilment, but not without being bowed down under heavy afflictions in confessing God; wherefore he prays (as in Psalms 119:25) that God would revive him in accordance with His word, which promises life to those who keep it. The confessions of prayer coming from the inmost impulse of his whole heart, in which he owns his indebtedness and gives himself up entirely to God's mercy, he calls the free-will offerings of his mouth in Psalms 119:108 (cf. Psalms 50:14; 19:15). He bases the prayer for a gracious acceptance of these upon the fact of his being reduced to extremity. “To have one's soul in one's hand” is the same as to be in conscious peril of one's life, just as “to take one's soul into one's hand” (Judges 12:3; 1 Samuel 19:5; 1 Samuel 28:21; Job 13:14) is the same as to be ready to give one's life for it, to risk one's life.
(Note: Cf. B. Taanîth 8 a : “The prayer of a man is not answered אלא אם כן משׂים נפשׁו בכפו , i.e., if he is not ready to sacrifice his life.”)
Although his life is threatened (Psalms 119:87), yet he does not waver and depart from God's word; he has taken and obtained possession of God's testimonies for ever (cf. Psalms 119:98); they are his “heritage,” for which he willingly gives up everything else, for they ( המּה inexactly for הנּה ) it is which bless and entrance him in his inmost soul. In Psalms 119:112 it is not to be interpreted after Psalms 19:12 : eternal is the reward (of the carrying out of Thy precepts), but in Psalms 119:33 עקב is equivalent to לעד , and Psalms 119:44 proves that Psalms 119:112 need not be a thought that is complete in itself.
The eightfold Samech . His hope rests on God's word, without allowing itself to be led astray by doubters and apostates. סעפים (the form of nouns which indicate defects or failings) are those inwardly divided, halting between two opinions ( סעפּים ), 1 Kings 18:21, who do homage partly to the worship of Jahve, partly to heathenism, and therefore are trying to combine faith and naturalism. In contrast to such, the poet's love, faith, and hope are devoted entirely to the God of revelation; and to all those who are desirous of drawing him away he addresses in Psalms 119:115 (cf. Psalms 6:9) an indignant “depart.” He, however, stands in need of grace in order to persevere and to conquer. For this he prays in Psalms 119:116-117. The מן in משּׁברי is the same as in בּושׁ מן . The ah of ואשׁעה is the intentional ah (Ew. §228, c), as in Isaiah 41:23. The statement of the ground of the סלית , vilipendis , does not mean: unsuccessful is their deceit (Hengstenberg, Olshausen), but falsehood without the consistency of truth is their self-deceptive and seductive tendency. The lxx and Syriac read תּרעיתם , “their sentiment;” but this is an Aramaic word that is unintelligible in Hebrew, which the old translators have conjured into the text only on account of an apparent tautology. The reading השּׁבתּ or חשׁבתּ (Aquila, Symmachus, and Jerome; lxx ἐλογισάμην , therefore חשׁבתי ) instead of חשׁבתּ might more readily be justified in Psalms 119:119 ; but the former gives too narrow a meaning, and the reading rests on a mistaking of the construction of השׁבית with an accusative of the object and of the effect: all the wicked, as many of them as are on the earth, dost Thou put away as dross ( סגים( ssor ). Accordingly משׁפטיך in Psalms 119:120 are God's punitive judgments, or rather (cf. Psalms 119:91) God's laws (judgments) according to which He judges. What is meant are sentences of punishment, as in Lev. 26, Deut. 28. Of these the poet is afraid, for omnipotence can change words into deeds forthwith. In fear of the God who has attested Himself in Exodus 34:7 and elsewhere, his skin shudders and his hair stands on end.
The eightfold Ajin . In the present time of apostasy and persecution he keeps all the more strictly to the direction of the divine word, and commends himself to the protection and teaching of God. In the consciousness of his godly behaviour (elsewhere always צדק וּמשׁפּט , here in one instance משׁפט וצדק ) the poet hopes that God will surely not ( בּל ) leave him to the arbitrary disposal of his oppressors. This hope does not, however, raise him above the necessity and duty of constant prayer that Jahve would place Himself between him and his enemies. ערב seq. acc. signifies to stand in any one's place as furnishing a guarantee, and in general as a mediator, Job 17:3; Isaiah 38:14; לטוב similar to לטובה , Psalms 86:17, Nehemiah 5:19 : in my behalf, for my real advantage. The expression of longing after redemption in Psalms 119:123 sounds like Psalms 119:81. “The word of Thy righteousness” is the promise which proceeds from God's “righteousness,” and as surely as He is “righteous” cannot remain unfulfilled. The one chief petition of the poet, however, to which he comes back in Psalms 119:124., has reference to the ever deeper knowledge of the word of God; for this knowledge is in itself at once life and blessedness, and the present calls most urgently for it. For the great multitude (which is the subject to הפרוּ ) practically and fundamentally break God's law; it is therefore time to act for Jahve ( עשׂה ל as in Genesis 30:30, Isaiah 64:4, Ezekiel 29:20), and just in order to this there is need of well-grounded, reliable knowledge. Therefore the poet attaches himself with all his love to God's commandments; to him they are above gold and fine gold (Psalms 19:11), which he might perhaps gain by a disavowal of them. Therefore he is as strict as he possibly can be with God's word, inasmuch as he acknowledges and observes all precepts of all things ( כּל־פּקּוּדי כל ), i.e., all divine precepts, let them have reference to whatsoever they will, as ישׁרים , right ( ישּׁר , to declare both in avowal and deed to be right); and every false (lying) tendency, all pseudo-Judaism, he hates. It is true Psalms 119:126 may be also explained: it is time that Jahve should act, i.e., interpose judicially; but this thought is foreign to the context, and affords no equally close union for על־כן ; moreover it ought then to have been accented עת לעשׂות ליהוה . On כּל־פּקּוּדי כל , “all commands of every purport,” cf. Isaiah 29:11, and more as to form, Numbers 8:16; Ezekiel 44:30.
The expression is purposely thus heightened; and the correction כל־פקודיך (Ewald, Olshausen, and Hupfeld) is also superfluous, because the reference of what is said to the God of revelation is self-evident in this connection.
The eightfold Phe . The deeper his depression of spirit concerning those who despise the word of God, the more ardently does he yearn after the light and food of that word. The testimonies of God are פּלאות , wonderful and strange (paradoxical) things, exalted above every-day life and the common understanding. In this connection of the thoughts נצרתם is not intended of careful observance, but of attentive contemplation that is prolonged until a clear penetrating understanding of the matter is attained. The opening, disclosure ( פּתח , apertio , with Tsere in distinction from פּתח , porta ) of God's word giveth light, inasmuch as it makes the simple ( פּתיים as in Proverbs 22:3) wise or sagacious; in connection with which it is assumed that it is God Himself who unfolds the mysteries of His word to those who are anxious to learn. Such an one, anxious to learn, is the poet: he pants with open mouth, viz., for the heavenly fare of such disclosures ( פּער like פּער פּה in Job 29:23, cf. Psalms 81:11). יאב is a hapaxlegomenon, just as תּאב is also exclusively peculiar to the Psalm before us; both are secondary forms of אבה . Love to God cannot indeed remain unresponded to. The experience of helping grace is a right belonging to those who love the God of revelation; love in return for love, salvation in return for the longing for salvation, is their prerogative. On the ground of this reciprocal relation the petitions in Psalms 119:133-135 are then put up, coming back at last to the one chief prayer “teach me.” אמרה , Psalms 119:133, is not merely a “promise” in this instance, but the declared will of God in general. כּל־און refers pre-eminently to all sin of disavowal (denying God), into which he might fall under outward and inward pressure ( עשׁק ). For he has round about him those who do not keep God's law. On account of these apostates ( על לא as in Isaiah 53:9, equivalent to על־אשׁר לא ) his eyes run down rivers of water ( ירד as in Lamentations 3:48, with an accusative of the object). His mood is not that of unfeeling self-glorying, but of sorrow like that of Jeremiah, because of the contempt of Jahve, and the self-destruction of those who contemn Him.
The eightfold Tsade . God rules righteously and faithfully according to His word, for which the poet is accordingly zealous, although young and despised. The predicate ישׂר in Psalms 119:137 precedes its subject משׁפּטיך (God's decisions in word and in deed) in the primary form (after the model of the verbal clause Psalms 124:5), just as in German [and English] the predicative adjective remains undeclined. The accusatives צדק and אמוּנה in Psalms 119:138 are not predicative (Hitzig), to which the former (“as righteousness”) - not the latter however - is not suited, but adverbial accusatives (in righteousness, in faithfulness), and מאד according to its position is subordinate to ואמונה as a virtual adjective (cf. Isaiah 47:9): the requirements of the revealed law proceed from a disposition towards and mode of dealing with men which is strictly determined by His holiness ( צדק ), and beyond measure faithfully and honestly designs the well-being of men ( אמונה מאד ). To see this good law of God despised by his persecutors stirs the poet up with a zeal, which brings him, from their side, to the brink of extreme destruction (Psalms 69:10, cf. צמתּת , Psalms 88:17). God's own utterance is indeed without spot, and therefore not to be carped at; it is pure, fire-proved, noblest metal (Psalms 18:31; Psalms 12:7), therefore he loves it, and does not, though young (lxx νεώτερος , Vulgate adolescentulus ) and lightly esteemed, care for the remonstrances of his proud opponents who are old and more learned than himself (the organization of Psalms 119:141 is like Psalms 119:95, and frequently). The righteousness ( צדקה ) of the God of revelation becomes eternal righteousness ( צדק ), and His law remains eternal truth ( אמת ). צדקה is here the name of the attribute and of the action that is conditioned in accordance with it; צדק the name of the state that thoroughly accords with the idea of that which is right. So too in Psalms 119:144 : צדק are Jahve's testimonies for ever, so that all creatures must give glory to their harmony with that which is absolutely right. To look ever deeper and deeper into this their perfection is the growing life of the spirit. The poet prays for this vivifying insight.
The eightfold Koph . Fidelity to God's word, and deliverance according to His promise, is the purport of his unceasing prayer. Even in the morning twilight ( נשׁף ) he was awake praying. It is not הנּשׁף , I anticipated the twilight; nor is קדּמתּי , according to Psalms 89:14, equivalent to קדמתיך , but ואשׁוּע ... קדּמתּי is the resolution of the otherwise customary construction קדמתי לשׁוּע , Jonah 4:2, inasmuch as קדּם may signify “to go before” (Psalms 68:26), and also “to make haste (with anything):” even early before the morning's dawn I cried. Instead of לדבריך the Kerî (Targum, Syriac, Jerome) more appropriately reads לדברך after Psalms 119:74, Psalms 119:81, Psalms 119:114. But his eyes also anticipated the night-watches, inasmuch as they did not allow themselves to be caught not sleeping by any of them at their beginning (cf. לראשׁ , Lamentations 2:19). אמרה is here, as in Psalms 119:140, Psalms 119:158, and frequently, the whole word of God, whether in its requirements or its promises. In Psalms 119:149 בּמשׁפּטך is a defective plural as in Psalms 119:43 (vid., on Psalms 119:37), according to Psalms 119:156, although according to Psalms 119:132 the singular (lxx, Targum, Jerome) would also be admissible: what is meant is God's order of salvation, or His appointments that relate thereto. The correlative relation of Psalms 119:150 and Psalms 119:151 is rendered natural by the position of the words. With קרבוּ (cf. קרב ) is associated the idea of rushing upon him with hostile purpose, and with קרוב , as in Psalms 69:19; Isaiah 58:2, of hastening to his succour. זמּה is infamy that is branded by the law: they go forth purposing this, but God's law is altogether self-verifying truth. And the poet has long gained the knowledge from it that it does not aim at merely temporary recompense. The sophisms of the apostates cannot therefore lead him astray. יסדתּם for יסדתּן , like המּה in Psalms 119:111.
The eightfold Resh . Because God cannot suffer those who are faithful to His word to succumb, he supplicates His help against his persecutors. ריבה is Milra before the initial (half-guttural) Resh , as in Psalms 43:1; Psalms 74:22. The Lamed of לאמרתך is the Lamed of reference (with respect to Thine utterance), whether the reference be normative (= כאמרתך , Psalms 119:58), as in Isaiah 11:3, or causal, Isaiah 25:2, Isaiah 55:5; Job 42:5. The predicate רחוק , like ישׂר in Psalms 119:137, stands first in the primary, as yet indefinite form. Concerning Psalms 119:156 vid., on Psalms 119:149. At the sight of the faithless he felt a profound disgust; ואתקוטטה , pausal aorist, supply בּהם , Psalms 139:21. It is all the same in the end whether we render אשׁר quippe qui or siquidem . ראשׁ in Psalms 119:160 signifies the head-number of sum. If he reckons up the word of God in its separate parts and as a whole, truth is the denominator of the whole, truth is the sum-total. This supplicatory חיּני is repeated three times in this group. The nearer it draws towards its end the more importunate does the Psalm become.
The eightfold ש (both Shin and Sin )
(Note: Whilst even in the oldest alphabetical Pijutim the Sin perhaps represents the Samech as well, but never the Shin , it is the reverse in the Biblical alphabetical pieces. Here Sin and Shin coincide, and Samech is specially represented.)).
In the midst of persecution God's word was still his fear, his joy, and his love, the object of his thanksgiving, and the ground of his hope. Princes persecute him without adequate cause, but his heart does not fear before them, but before God's words (the Kerî likes the singular, as in Psalms 119:147), to deny which would be to him the greatest possible evil. It is, however, a fear that is associated with heartfelt joy (Psalms 119:111). It is the joy of a conflict that is rewarded by rich spoil (Judges 5:30, Isaiah 9:3). Not merely morning and evening, not merely three times a day (Psalms 55:18), but seven times ( שׁבע as in Leviticus 26:18; Proverbs 24:16), i.e., ever again and again, availing himself of every prayerful impulse, he gives thanks to God for His word, which so righteously decides and so correctly guides, is a source of transcendent peace to all who love it, and beside which one is not exposed to any danger of stumbling ( מכשׁול , lxx σκάνδαλον , cf. 1 John 2:10) without some effectual counter-working. In Psalms 119:166 he speaks like Jacob in Genesis 49:18, and can speak thus, inasmuch as he has followed earnestly and untiringly after sanctification. He endeavours to keep God's law most conscientiously, in proof of which he is able to appeal to God the Omniscient One. שׁמרה is here the 3rd praet. , whereas in Psalms 86:2 it is imperat . The future of אהב is both אהב and אהב , just as of אחז both אחז and אאחז .
The eightfold Tav . May God answer this his supplication as He has heard his praise, and interest Himself on behalf of His servant, the sheep that is exposed to great danger. The petitions “give me understanding” and “deliver me” go hand-in-hand, because the poet is one who is persecuted for the sake of his faith, and is just as much in need of the fortifying of his faith as of deliverance from the outward restraint that is put upon him. רנּה is a shrill audible prayer; תּחנּה , a fervent and urgent prayer. ענה , prop. to answer, signifies in Psalms 119:172 to begin, strike up, attune (as does ἀποκρίνεσθαι also sometimes). According to the rule in Psalms 50:23 the poet bases his petition for help upon the purpose of thankful praise of God and of His word. Knowing how to value rightly what he possesses, he is warranted in further supplicating and hoping for the good that he does not as yet possess. The “salvation” for which he longs ( תּאב as in Psalms 119:40, Psalms 119:20) is redemption from the evil world, in which the life of his own soul is imperilled. May then God's judgments (defective plural, as in Psalms 119:43, Psalms 119:149, which the Syriac only takes a singular) succour him ( יעזּרני , not יעזרני ). God's hand, Psalms 119:173, and God's word afford him succour; the two are involved in one another, the word is the medium of His hand. After this relationship of the poet to God's word, which is attested a hundredfold in the Psalm, it may seem strange that he can say of himself תּעיתי כּשׂה אבד ; and perhaps the accentuation is correct when it does not allow itself to be determined by Isaiah 53:6, but interprets: If I have gone astray - seek Thou like a lost sheep Thy servant. שׂה אבד is a sheep that is lost (cf. אבדים as an appellation of the dispersion, Isaiah 27:13) and in imminent danger of total destruction (cf. Psalms 31:13 with Leviticus 26:38). In connection with that interpretation which is followed by the interpunction, Psalms 119:176 is also more easily connected with what precedes: his going astray is no apostasy; his home, to which he longs to return when he has been betrayed into by-ways, is beside the Lord.