Chapter 119

  ALEPH. Blessed are the perfect in the way, who walk in the law of Jehovah.  

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  Blessed are they that observe his testimonies, that seek him with the whole heart;  

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  Who also do no unrighteousness: they walk in his ways.  

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  Thou hast enjoined thy precepts, to be kept diligently.  

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  Oh that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!  

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  Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.  

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  I will give thee thanks with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.  

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  I will keep thy statutes: forsake me not utterly.  

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  BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his path? by taking heed according to thy word.  

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

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  Thy ùword have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.  

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  Blessed art thou, Jehovah! teach me thy statutes.  

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  With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.  

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  I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as [much as] in all wealth.  

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  I will meditate upon thy precepts, and have respect unto thy paths.  

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  I delight myself in thy statutes; I will not forget thy word.  

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  GIMEL. Deal bountifully with thy servant [and] I shall live; and I will keep thy word.  

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  Open mine eyes, and I shall behold wondrous things out of thy law.  

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  I am a stranger in the land; hide not thy commandments from me.  

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  My soul breaketh for longing after thy judgments at all times.  

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  Thou hast rebuked the proud [that are] cursed, who wander from thy commandments.  

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  Roll off from me reproach and contempt; for I observe thy testimonies.  

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  Princes also did sit [and] talk together against me: thy servant doth meditate in thy statutes.  

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  Thy testimonies also are my delight [and] my counsellors.  

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  DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken me according to thy word.  

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  I have declared my ways, and thou hast answered me: teach me thy statutes.  

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  Make me to understand the way of thy precepts, and I will meditate upon thy wondrous works.  

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  My soul melteth for sadness: strengthen me according to thy word.  

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  Remove from me the way of falsehood, and graciously grant me thy law.  

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  I have chosen the way of faithfulness; thy judgments have I set [before me].  

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  I cleave unto thy testimonies; Jehovah, let me not be ashamed.  

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  I will run the way of thy commandments when thou shalt enlarge my heart.  

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  HE. Teach me, O Jehovah, the way of thy statutes, and I will observe it [unto] the end.  

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  Give me understanding, and I will observe thy law; and I will keep it with [my] whole heart.  

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  Make me to walk in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.  

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  Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to gain.  

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  Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; quicken me in thy way.  

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  Establish thy ùword unto thy servant, who is [devoted] to thy fear.  

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  Turn away my reproach which I fear; for thy judgments are good.  

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

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  VAU. And let thy loving-kindness come unto me, O Jehovah, -- thy salvation according to thy ùword.  

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  So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me; for I confide in thy word.  

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  And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; because I have hoped in thy judgments.  

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  Then will I keep thy law continually, for ever and ever;  

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  And I will walk at liberty, for I have sought thy precepts;  

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  And I will speak of thy testimonies before kings, and will not be ashamed;  

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  And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved;  

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  And I will lift up my hands unto thy commandments, which I have loved, and I will meditate in thy statutes.  

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  ZAIN. Remember the word for thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.  

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  This is my comfort in mine affliction; for thy ùword hath quickened me.  

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  The proud have derided me beyond measure: I have not declined from thy law.  

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  I remembered thy judgments of old, O Jehovah, and have comforted myself.  

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  Burning indignation hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked who 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 kept thy law.  

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  This I have had, because I have observed thy precepts.  

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  CHETH. My portion, O Jehovah, I have said, is to keep thy words.  

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  I have sought thy favour with [my] whole heart: be gracious unto me according to thy ùword.  

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

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  I have made haste, and not delayed, to keep thy commandments.  

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  The bands of the wicked have wrapped me round: I have not forgotten thy law.  

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  At midnight I rise up to give thanks unto thee, because of thy righteous judgments.  

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  I am the companion of all that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.  

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  The earth, O Jehovah, is full of thy loving-kindness: teach me thy statutes.  

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

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  Teach me good discernment and knowledge; for I have believed in thy commandments.  

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  Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep thy ùword.  

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

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  The proud have forged falsehood against me: I will observe thy precepts with [my] whole heart.  

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  Their heart is as fat as grease: as for me, I delight in thy law.  

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  It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes.  

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

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  YOD. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandments.  

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  They that fear thee will see me, and rejoice; because I have hoped in thy word.  

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  I know, Jehovah, that thy Judgments are righteousness, and that in faithfulness thou hast afflicted me.  

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  Oh let thy loving-kindness be for my comfort, according to thy ùword 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 ashamed; for they have acted perversely towards me with falsehood: as for me, I meditate in thy precepts.  

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  Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that know thy testimonies.  

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  Let my heart be perfect in thy statutes, that I be not ashamed.  

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  CAPH. My soul fainteth for thy salvation; I hope in thy word.  

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  Mine eyes fail for thy ùword, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?  

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  For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; I do not forget thy statutes.  

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  How many shall be 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, which is not according to thy law.  

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

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  They had almost consumed me upon the earth; but as for me, I forsook not thy precepts.  

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  Quicken me according to thy loving-kindness, and I will keep the testimony of thy mouth.  

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  LAMED. For ever, O Jehovah, thy word is settled in the heavens.  

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  Thy faithfulness is from generation to generation: thou hast established the earth, and it standeth.  

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  By thine ordinances they stand this day; 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 by 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 awaited me to destroy me; [but] I attend unto thy testimonies.  

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  I have seen an end of all perfection: thy commandment is exceeding broad.  

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  MEM. Oh how I love 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 observed thy precepts.  

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  I have refrained my feet from every evil path, that I might keep thy word.  

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  I have not departed from thy judgments; for it is thou that hast taught me.  

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  How sweet are thy ùwords unto my taste! more than honey to my mouth!  

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  From thy precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false path.  

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

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  I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.  

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  I am afflicted very much; O Jehovah, quicken me according to thy word.  

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  Accept, I beseech thee, Jehovah, the voluntary-offerings of my mouth, and teach me thy judgments.  

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  My life is continually in my hand; but I do not forget thy law.  

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  The wicked have laid a snare for me; but I have not wandered 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, unto the end.  

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  SAMECH. The double-minded have I hated; 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; and I will observe the commandments of my God.  

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  Uphold me according to thy ùword, 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 I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.  

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  Thou hast set at nought all them that wander 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 shuddereth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.  

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  AIN. I have done judgment and justice: 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 the ùword of thy righteousness.  

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  Deal with thy servant according to thy loving-kindness, 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: 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 regard all [thy] precepts concerning all things to be right: I hate every false path.  

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  PE. Thy testimonies are wonderful; therefore doth my soul observe them.  

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  The entrance of thy words giveth light, giving understanding unto the simple.  

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

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  Turn unto me, and be gracious unto me, as thou art wont to do unto those that love thy name.  

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  Establish my steps in thy ùword; and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.  

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  Deliver me from the oppression of man; and I will keep thy precepts.  

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  Make thy face to shine upon thy servant, and teach me thy statutes.  

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  Mine eyes run down with streams of water, because they keep not thy law.  

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  TZADE. Righteous art thou, Jehovah, and upright are thy judgments.  

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  Thou hast commanded thy testimonies in righteousness and exceeding faithfulness.  

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  My zeal destroyeth me, because mine oppressors have forgotten thy words.  

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  Thy ùword is exceeding pure, and thy servant loveth it.  

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  I am little and despised: thy precepts have I not forgotten.  

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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 upon me: thy commandments are my delights.  

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  The righteousness of thy testimonies is for ever: give me understanding, and I shall live.  

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  KOPH. I have called with [my] whole heart; answer me, O Jehovah: I will observe thy statutes.  

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  I call upon thee; save me, and I will keep thy testimonies.  

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  I anticipate the morning-dawn and I cry: I hope in thy word.  

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  Mine eyes anticipate the night-watches, that I may meditate in thy ùword.  

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  Hear my voice according to thy loving-kindness: O Jehovah, quicken me according to thy judgment.  

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  They have drawn nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law.  

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  Thou, Jehovah, art near, and all thy commandments are truth.  

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  From thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.  

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  RESH. See mine affliction, and deliver me; for I have not forgotten thy law.  

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  Plead my cause, and redeem me: quicken me according to thy ùword.  

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

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  Many are thy tender mercies, O Jehovah; quicken me according to thy judgments.  

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  Many are my persecutors and mine oppressors; I have not declined from thy testimonies.  

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  I beheld them that deal treacherously, and was grieved; because they kept not thy ùword.  

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  See how I have loved thy precepts: quicken me, O Jehovah, according to thy loving-kindness.  

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  The sum of thy word is truth, and every righteous judgment of thine is for ever.  

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  SHIN. Princes have persecuted me without a cause; but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.  

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  I have joy in thy ùword, as one that findeth great spoil.  

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  I hate and abhor falsehood; thy law do I love.  

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  Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.  

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  Great peace have they that love thy law, and nothing doth stumble them.  

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

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  My soul hath kept thy testimonies, and I love them exceedingly.  

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  I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies; for all my ways are before thee.  

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

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  Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy ùword.  

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  My lips shall pour forth praise when thou hast taught me thy statutes.  

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  My tongue shall speak aloud of thy ùword; for all thy commandments are righteousness.  

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  Let thy hand be for my help; 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 thy judgments help me.  

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  I have gone astray like a lost sheep: seek thy servant; for I have not forgotten thy commandments.  

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