Day 175: Psalms 119

Chapter 119

Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet
Aleph
1: Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD!
2: Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart,
3: who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!
4: You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently.
5: Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!
6: Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
7: I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules.
8: I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me!

Beth
9: How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
10: With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!
11: I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
12: Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your statutes!
13: With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth.
14: In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.
15: I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.
16: I will delight in your statutes;
I will not forget your word.

Gimel
17: Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word.
18: Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.
19: I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me!
20: My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.
21: You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones,
who wander from your commandments.
22: Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies.
23: Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.
24: Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.

Daleth
25: My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word!
26: When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes!
27: Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
28: My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word!
29: Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law!
30: I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me.
31: I cling to your testimonies, O LORD; let me not be put to shame!
32: I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart!

He
33: Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end.
34: Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.
35: Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.
36: Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!
37: Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.
38: Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared.
39: Turn away the reproach that I dread, for your rules are good.
40: Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life!

Waw
41: Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise;
42: then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me, for I trust in your word.
43: And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your rules.
44: I will keep your law continually, forever and ever,
45: and I shall walk in a wide place, for I have sought your precepts.
46: I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame,
47: for I find my delight in your commandments, which I love.
48: I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes.

Zayin
49: Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope.
50: This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.
51: The insolent utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from your law.
52: When I think of your rules from of old, I take comfort, O LORD.
53: Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, who forsake your law.
54: Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning.
55: I remember your name in the night, O LORD, and keep your law.
56: This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept your precepts.

Heth
57: The LORD is my portion; I promise to keep your words.
58: I entreat your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.
59: When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies;
60: I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments.
61: Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law.
62: At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous rules.
63: I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts.
64: The earth, O LORD, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes!

Teth
65: You have dealt well with your servant, O LORD, according to your word.
66: Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments.
67: Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.
68: You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.
69: The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts;
70: their heart is unfeeling like fat, but I delight in your law.
71: It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.
72: The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Yodh
73: Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
74: Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word.
75: I know, O LORD, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
76: Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant.
77: Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight.
78: Let the insolent be put to shame, because they have wronged me with falsehood;
as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.
79: Let those who fear you turn to me, that they may know your testimonies.
80: May my heart be blameless in your statutes, that I may not be put to shame!

Kaph
81: My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word.
82: My eyes long for your promise; I ask, “When will you comfort me?”
83: For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, yet I have not forgotten your statutes.
84: How long must your servant endure? When will you judge those who persecute me?
85: The insolent have dug pitfalls for me; they do not live according to your law.
86: All your commandments are sure; they persecute me with falsehood; help me!
87: They have almost made an end of me on earth, but I have not forsaken your precepts.
88: In your steadfast love give me life, that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.

Lamedh
89: Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.
90: Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast.
91: By your appointment they stand this day, for all things are your servants.
92: If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.
93: I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life.
94: I am yours; save me, for I have sought your precepts.
95: The wicked lie in wait to destroy me, but I consider your testimonies.
96: I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad.

Mem
97: Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.
98: Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me.
99: I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation.
100: I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts.
101: I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word.
102: I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me.
103: How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104: Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.

Nun
105: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
106: I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules.
107: I am severely afflicted; give me life, O LORD, according to your word!
108: Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O LORD, and teach me your rules.
109: I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law.
110 The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your precepts.
111: Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.
112: I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end.

Samekh
113: I hate the double-minded, but I love your law.
114: You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.
115: Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God.
116: Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope!
117: Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for your statutes continually!
118: You spurn all who go astray from your statutes, for their cunning is in vain.
119: All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross, therefore I love your testimonies.
120: My flesh trembles for fear of you, and I am afraid of your judgments.

Ayin
121: I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my oppressors.
122: Give your servant a pledge of good; let not the insolent oppress me.
123: My eyes long for your salvation and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.
124: Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, and teach me your statutes.
125: I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies!
126: It is time for the LORD to act, for your law has been broken.
127: Therefore I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold.
128: Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right; I hate every false way.

Pe
129: Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them.
130: The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.
131: I open my mouth and pant, because I long for your commandments.
132: Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your way with those who love your name.
133: Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me.
134: Redeem me from man’s oppression, that I may keep your precepts.
135: Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes.
136: My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law.

Tsadhe
137: Righteous are you, O LORD, and right are your rules.
138: You have appointed your testimonies in righteousness and in all faithfulness.
139: My zeal consumes me, because my foes forget your words.
140: Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it.
141: I am small and despised, yet I do not forget your precepts.
142: Your righteousness is righteous forever, and your law is true.
143: Trouble and anguish have found me out, but your commandments are my delight.
144: Your testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding that I may live.

Qoph
145: With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O LORD! I will keep your statutes.
146: I call to you; save me, that I may observe your testimonies.
147: I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words.
148: My eyes are awake before the watches of the night that I may meditate on your promise.
149: Hear my voice according to your steadfast love; O LORD, according to your justice give me life.
150: They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose; they are far from your law.
151: But you are near, O LORD, and all your commandments are true.
152: Long have I known from your testimonies that you have founded them forever.

Resh
153: Look on my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget your law.
154: Plead my cause and redeem me; give me life according to your promise!
155: Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek your statutes.
156: Great is your mercy, O LORD; give me life according to your rules.
157: Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, but I do not swerve from your testimonies.
158: I look at the faithless with disgust, because they do not keep your commands.
159: Consider how I love your precepts! Give me life according to your steadfast love.
160: The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.

Sin and Shin
161: Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words.
162: I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil.
163: I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law.
164: Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous rules.
165: Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.
166: I hope for your salvation, O LORD, and I do your commandments.
167: My soul keeps your testimonies; I love them exceedingly.
168: I keep your precepts and testimonies, for all my ways are before you.

Taw
169: Let my cry come before you, O LORD; give me understanding according to your word!
170: Let my plea come before you; deliver me according to your word.
171: My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me your statutes.
172: My tongue will sing of your word, for all your commandments are right.
173: Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.
174: I long for your salvation, O LORD, and your law is my delight.
175: Let my soul live and praise you, and let your rules help me.
176: I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.