Chapter 119

  Blessed are they that are perfect in the way, Who walk in the law of Jehovah.  

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

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  Yea, they do no unrighteousness; They walk in his ways.  

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  Thou hast commanded [us] thy precepts, That we should observe them diligently.  

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  Oh that my ways were established To observe thy statutes!  

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  Then shall I not be put to shame, When I have respect unto all thy commandments.  

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  I will give thanks unto thee with uprightness of heart, When I learn thy righteous judgments.  

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  I will observe thy statutes: Oh forsake me not utterly. BETH.  

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  Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed [thereto] according to thy word.  

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

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  Thy word have I laid up in my heart, That I might not sin against thee.  

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  Blessed art thou, O Jehovah: Teach me thy statutes.  

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  With my lips have I declared All the ordinances of thy mouth.  

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

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  I will meditate on thy precepts, And have respect unto thy ways.  

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

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  Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live; So will I observe thy word.  

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  Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold Wondrous things out of thy law.  

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  I am a sojourner in the earth: Hide not thy commandments from me.  

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  My soul breaketh for the longing That it hath unto thine ordinances at all times.  

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  Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, That do wander from thy commandments.  

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  Take away from me reproach and contempt; For I have kept thy testimonies.  

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  Princes also sat and talked against me; [But] thy servant did meditate on thy statutes.  

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  Thy testimonies also are my delight [And] my counsellors. DALETH.  

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  My soul cleaveth unto the dust: Quicken thou me according to thy word.  

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  I declared my ways, and thou answeredst me: Teach me thy statutes.  

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  Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: So shall I meditate on thy wondrous works.  

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  My soul melteth for heaviness: Strengthen thou me according unto thy word.  

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  Remove from me the way of falsehood; And grant me thy law graciously.  

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  I have chosen the way of faithfulness: Thine ordinances have I set [before me].  

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  I cleave unto thy testimonies: O Jehovah, put me not to shame.  

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

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  Teach me, O Jehovah, the way of thy statutes; And I shall keep it unto the end.  

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

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  Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; For therein do I delight.  

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  Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, And not to covetousness.  

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  Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, And quicken me in thy ways.  

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  Confirm unto thy servant thy word, Which [is in order] unto the fear of thee.  

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  Turn away my reproach whereof I am afraid; For thine ordinances are good.  

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

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  Let thy lovingkindnesses also come unto me, O Jehovah, Even thy salvation, according to thy word.  

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  So shall I have an answer for him that reproacheth me; For I trust in thy word.  

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  And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; For I have hoped in thine ordinances.  

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  So shall I observe thy law continually For ever and ever.  

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  And I shall walk at liberty; For I have sought thy precepts.  

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  I will also speak of thy testimonies before kings, And shall not be put to shame.  

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

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  I will lift up my hands also unto thy commandments, which I have loved; And I will meditate on thy statutes. ZAYIN.  

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  Remember the word unto thy servant, Because thou hast made me to hope.  

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  This is my comfort in my affliction; For thy word hath quickened me.  

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  The proud have had me greatly in derision: [Yet] have I not swerved from thy law.  

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  I have remembered thine ordinances of old, O Jehovah, And have comforted myself.  

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  Hot indignation hath taken hold upon me, Because of the wicked that forsake thy law.  

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

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  I have remembered thy name, O Jehovah, in the night, And have observed thy law.  

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  This I have had, Because I have kept thy precepts. HHETH.  

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  Jehovah is my portion: I have said that I would observe thy words.  

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

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  I thought on my ways, And turned my feet unto thy testimonies.  

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  I made haste, and delayed not, To observe thy commandments.  

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  The cords of the wicked have wrapped me round; [But] I have not forgotten thy law.  

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  At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee Because of thy righteous ordinances.  

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  I am a companion of all them that fear thee, And of them that observe thy precepts.  

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  The earth, O Jehovah, is full of thy lovingkindness: Teach me thy statutes. TETH.  

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  Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O Jehovah, according unto thy word.  

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  Teach me good judgment and knowledge; For I have believed in thy commandments.  

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  Before I was afflicted I went astray; But now I observe thy word.  

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

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

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  Their heart is as fat as grease; But I delight in thy law.  

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

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  The law of thy mouth is better unto me Than thousands of gold and silver. YODH.  

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

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  They that fear thee shall see me and be glad, Because I have hoped in thy word.  

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  I know, O Jehovah, that thy judgments are righteous, And that in faithfulness thou hast afflicted me.  

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  Let, I pray thee, thy lovingkindness be for my comfort, According to thy word unto thy servant.  

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  Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live; For thy law is my delight.  

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  Let the proud be put to shame; For they have overthrown me wrongfully: [But] I will meditate on thy precepts.  

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  Let those that fear thee turn unto me; And they shall know thy testimonies.  

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  Let my heart be perfect in thy statutes, That I be not put to shame. KAPH.  

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  My soul fainteth for thy salvation; [But] I hope in thy word.  

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  Mine eyes fail for thy word, While I say, When wilt thou comfort me?  

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  For I am become like a wine-skin in the smoke; Yet do I not forget thy statutes.  

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

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

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

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

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  Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; So shall I observe the testimony of thy mouth.  

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  For ever, O Jehovah, Thy word is settled in heaven.  

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  Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: Thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.  

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  They abide this day according to thine ordinances; For all things are thy servants.  

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

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  I will never forget thy precepts; For with them thou hast quickened me.  

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

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  The wicked have waited for me, to destroy me; [But] I will consider thy testimonies. MEM.  

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  I have seen an end of all perfection; [But] thy commandment is exceeding broad.  

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  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.  

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  Thy commandments make me wiser than mine enemies; For they are ever with me.  

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  I have more understanding than all my teachers; For thy testimonies are my meditation.  

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  I understand more than the aged, Because I have kept thy precepts.  

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  I have refrained my feet from every evil way, That I might observe thy word.  

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  I have not turned aside from thine ordinances; For thou hast taught me.  

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  How sweet are thy words unto my taste! [Yea, sweeter] than honey to my mouth!  

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

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  Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And light unto my path.  

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  I have sworn, and have confirmed it, That I will observe thy righteous ordinances.  

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  I am afflicted very much: Quicken me, O Jehovah, according unto thy word.  

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  Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill-offerings of my mouth, O Jehovah, And teach me thine ordinances.  

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  My soul is continually in my hand; Yet do I not forget thy law.  

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  The wicked have laid a snare for me; Yet have I not gone astray from thy precepts.  

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  Thy testimonies have I taken as a heritage for ever; For they are the rejoicing of my heart.  

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  I have inclined my heart to perform thy statutes For ever, even unto the end. SAMEKH.  

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  I hate them that are of a double mind; But thy law do I love.  

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

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  Depart from me, ye evil-doers, That I may keep the commandments of my God.  

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  Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live; And let me not be ashamed of my hope.  

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  Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe, And shall have respect unto thy statutes continually.  

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  Thou hast set at nought all them that err from thy statutes; For their deceit is falsehood.  

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

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

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  I have done justice and righteousness: Leave me not to mine oppressors.  

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

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  Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, And for thy righteous word.  

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  Deal with thy servant according unto thy lovingkindness, And teach me thy statutes.  

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

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  It is time for Jehovah to work; [For] they have made void thy law.  

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  Therefore I love thy commandments Above gold, yea, above fine gold.  

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  Therefore I esteem all [thy] precepts concerning all [things] to be right; [And] I hate every false way. PE.  

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  Thy testimonies are wonderful; Therefore doth my soul keep them.  

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  The opening of thy words giveth light; It giveth understanding unto the simple.  

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  I opened wide my mouth, and panted; For I longed for thy commandments.  

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  Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me, As thou usest to do unto those that love thy name.  

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  Establish my footsteps in thy word; And let not any iniquity have dominion over me.  

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  Redeem me from the oppression of man: So will I observe thy precepts.  

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  Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; And teach me thy statutes.  

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  Streams of water run down mine eyes, Because they observe not thy law. TSADHE.  

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  Righteous art thou, O Jehovah, And upright are thy judgments.  

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  Thou hast commanded thy testimonies in righteousness And very faithfulness.  

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  My zeal hath consumed me, Because mine adversaries have forgotten thy words.  

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  Thy word is very pure; Therefore thy servant loveth it.  

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  I am small and despised; [Yet] do I not forget thy precepts.  

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  Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And thy law is truth.  

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  Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me; [Yet] thy commandments are my delight.  

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  Thy testimonies are righteous for ever: Give me understanding, and I shall live. QOPH.  

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  I have called with my whole heart; answer me, O Jehovah: I will keep thy statutes.  

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  I have called unto thee; save me, And I shall observe thy testimonies.  

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  I anticipated the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy words.  

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  Mine eyes anticipated the night-watches, That I might meditate on thy word.  

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  Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: Quicken me, O Jehovah, according to thine ordinances.  

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  They draw nigh that follow after wickedness; They are far from thy law.  

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  Thou art nigh, O Jehovah; And all thy commandments are truth.  

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  Of old have I known from thy testimonies, That thou hast founded them for ever. RESH.  

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  Consider mine affliction, and deliver me; For I do not forget thy law.  

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  Plead thou my cause, and redeem me: Quicken me according to thy word.  

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  Salvation is far from the wicked; For they seek not thy statutes.  

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  Great are thy tender mercies, O Jehovah: Quicken me according to thine ordinances.  

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  Many are my persecutors and mine adversaries; [Yet] have I not swerved from thy testimonies.  

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  I beheld the treacherous, and was grieved, Because they observe not thy word.  

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  Consider how I love thy precepts: Quicken me, O Jehovah, according to thy lovingkindness.  

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  The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances [endureth] for ever. SHIN.  

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  Princes have persecuted me without a cause; But my heart standeth in awe of thy words.  

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

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  I hate and abhor falsehood; [But] thy law do I love.  

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  Seven times a day do I praise thee, Because of thy righteous ordinances.  

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  Great peace have they that love thy law; And they have no occasion of stumbling.  

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  I have hoped for thy salvation, O Jehovah, And have done thy commandments.  

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  My soul hath observed thy testimonies; And I love them exceedingly.  

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  I have observed thy precepts and thy testimonies; For all my ways are before thee. TAV.  

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  Let my cry come near before thee, O Jehovah: Give me understanding according to thy word.  

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

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  Let my lips utter praise; For thou teachest me thy statutes.  

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  Let my tongue sing of thy word; For all thy commandments are righteousness.  

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  Let thy hand be ready to help me; For I have chosen thy precepts.  

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  I have longed for thy salvation, O Jehovah; And thy law is my delight.  

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  Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; And let thine ordinances help me.  

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  I have gone astray like a lost sheep; Seek thy servant; For I do not forget thy commandments. Psalm 120 A Song of Ascents.  

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