Chapter 119

  ALEPH. Blessed [are] the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.  

--

  Blessed [are] they that keep his testimonies, [and that] seek him with the whole heart.  

--

  They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.  

--

  Thou hast commanded [us] to keep thy precepts diligently.  

--

  O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!  

--

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

--

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

--

  I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.  

--

  BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed [thereto] according to thy word.  

--

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

--

  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.  

--

  Blessed [art] thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.  

--

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

--

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

--

  I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.  

--

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

--

  GIMEL. Deal bountifully with thy servant, [that] I may live, and keep thy word.  

--

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

--

  I [am] a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.  

--

  My soul breaketh for the longing [that it hath] unto thy judgments at all times.  

--

  Thou hast rebuked the proud [that are] cursed, which do err from thy commandments.  

--

  Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.  

--

  Princes also did sit [and] speak against me: [but] thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.  

--

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

--

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

--

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

--

  Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.  

--

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

--

  Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.  

--

  I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid [before me].  

--

  I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O LORD, put me not to shame.  

--

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

--

  HE. Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it [unto] the end.  

--

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

--

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

--

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

--

  Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; [and] quicken thou me in thy way.  

--

  Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who [is devoted] to thy fear.  

--

  Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments [are] good.  

--

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

--

  VAU. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, [even] thy salvation, according to thy word.  

--

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

--

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

--

  So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.  

--

  And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.  

--

  I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.  

--

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

--

  My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.  

--

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

--

  This [is] my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.  

--

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

--

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

--

  Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.  

--

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

--

  I have remembered thy name, O LORD, in the night, and have kept thy law.  

--

  This I had, because I kept thy precepts.  

--

  CHETH. [Thou art] my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.  

--

  I intreated thy favour with [my] whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.  

--

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

--

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

--

  The bands of the wicked have robbed me: [but] I have not forgotten thy law.  

--

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

--

  I [am] a companion of all [them] that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.  

--

  The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.  

--

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

--

  Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.  

--

  Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.  

--

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

--

  The proud have forged a lie against me: [but] I will keep thy precepts with [my] whole heart.  

--

  Their heart is as fat as grease; [but] I delight in thy law.  

--

  [It is] good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.  

--

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

--

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

--

  They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.  

--

  I know, O LORD, that thy judgments [are] right, and [that] thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.  

--

  Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.  

--

  Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law [is] my delight.  

--

  Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: [but] I will meditate in thy precepts.  

--

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

--

  Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.  

--

  CAPH. My soul fainteth for thy salvation: [but] I hope in thy word.  

--

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

--

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

--

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

--

  The proud have digged pits for me, which [are] not after thy law.  

--

  All thy commandments [are] faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.  

--

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

--

  Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.  

--

  LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.  

--

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

--

  They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all [are] thy servants.  

--

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

--

  I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.  

--

  I [am] thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.  

--

  The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: [but] I will consider thy testimonies.  

--

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

--

  MEM. O how love I thy law! it [is] my meditation all the day.  

--

  Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they [are] ever with me.  

--

  I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies [are] my meditation.  

--

  I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.  

--

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

--

  I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.  

--

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

--

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

--

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

--

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

--

  I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word.  

--

  Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.  

--

  My soul [is] continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.  

--

  The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.  

--

  Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they [are] the rejoicing of my heart.  

--

  I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, [even unto] the end.  

--

  SAMECH. I hate [vain] thoughts: but thy law do I love.  

--

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

--

  Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.  

--

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

--

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

--

  Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: for their deceit [is] falsehood.  

--

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

--

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

--

  AIN. I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressors.  

--

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

--

  Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness.  

--

  Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes.  

--

  I [am] thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.  

--

  [It is] time for [thee], LORD, to work: [for] they have made void thy law.  

--

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

--

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

--

  PE. Thy testimonies [are] wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.  

--

  The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.  

--

  I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.  

--

  Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name.  

--

  Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.  

--

  Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts.  

--

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

--

  Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.  

--

  TZADDI. Righteous [art] thou, O LORD, and upright [are] thy judgments.  

--

  Thy testimonies [that] thou hast commanded [are] righteous and very faithful.  

--

  My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.  

--

  Thy word [is] very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.  

--

  I [am] small and despised: [yet] do not I forget thy precepts.  

--

  Thy righteousness [is] an everlasting righteousness, and thy law [is] the truth.  

--

  Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: [yet] thy commandments [are] my delights.  

--

  The righteousness of thy testimonies [is] everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.  

--

  KOPH. I cried with [my] whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes.  

--

  I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.  

--

  I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.  

--

  Mine eyes prevent the [night] watches, that I might meditate in thy word.  

--

  Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O LORD, quicken me according to thy judgment.  

--

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

--

  Thou [art] near, O LORD; and all thy commandments [are] truth.  

--

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

--

  RESH. Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.  

--

  Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.  

--

  Salvation [is] far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.  

--

  Great [are] thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken me according to thy judgments.  

--

  Many [are] my persecutors and mine enemies; [yet] do I not decline from thy testimonies.  

--

  I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.  

--

  Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness.  

--

  Thy word [is] true [from] the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments [endureth] for ever.  

--

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

--

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

--

  I hate and abhor lying: [but] thy law do I love.  

--

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

--

  Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.  

--

  LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.  

--

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

--

  I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways [are] before thee.  

--

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

--

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

--

  My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.  

--

  My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments [are] righteousness.  

--

  Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts.  

--

  I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law [is] my delight.  

--

  Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.  

--

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

--