# Psalm 119 --- ## Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet --- ### א - ALEPH - 1 Blessed {This psalm is an acrostic poem of twenty-two stanzas, following the letters of the Hebrew alphabet; within a stanza, each verse begins with the same Hebrew letter.} are those whose way is blameless, - who walk in the Law of the LORD. - 2 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies - and seek Him with all their heart. - 3 They do no iniquity; - they walk in His ways. - 4 You have ordained Your precepts, - that we should keep them diligently. - 5 Oh, that my ways were committed - to keeping Your statutes! - 6 Then I would not be ashamed - when I consider all Your commandments. - 7 I will praise You with an upright heart - when I learn Your righteous judgments. - 8 I will keep Your statutes; - do not utterly forsake me. --- ### ב - BETH - 9 How can a young man keep his way pure? - By guarding it according to Your word. - 10 With all my heart I have sought You; - do not let me stray from Your commandments. - 11 I have hidden 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 proclaim - all the judgments of Your mouth. - 14 I rejoice in the way of Your testimonies - as much as in all riches. - 15 I will meditate on Your precepts - and regard Your ways. - 16 I will delight in Your statutes; - I will not forget Your word. --- ### ג - GIMEL - 17 Deal bountifully with Your servant, - that I may live and keep Your word. - 18 Open my eyes that I may see - wondrous things from Your law. - 19 I am a stranger on the earth; - do not hide Your commandments from me. - 20 My soul is consumed with longing - for Your judgments at all times. - 21 You rebuke the arrogant— - the cursed who stray from Your commandments. - 22 Remove my scorn and contempt, - for I have kept Your testimonies. - 23 Though rulers sit and slander me, - Your servant meditates on Your statutes. - 24 Your testimonies are indeed my delight; - they are my counselors. --- ### ד - DALETH - 25 My soul cleaves to the dust; - revive me according to Your word. - 26 I recounted my ways, and You answered me; - teach me Your statutes. - 27 Make clear to me the way of Your precepts; - then I will meditate on Your wonders. - 28 My soul melts with sorrow; - strengthen me according to Your word. - 29 Remove me from the path of deceit - and graciously grant me Your law. - 30 I have chosen the way of truth; - I have set Your ordinances before me. - 31 I cling to Your testimonies, O LORD; - let me not be put to shame. - 32 I run in the path of Your commandments, - for You will enlarge my heart. --- ### - ה - HE - 33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, - and I will keep them to the end. {Or "keep them as my reward" } - 34 Give me understanding that I may obey Your law, - and follow it with all my heart. - 35 Direct me in the path of Your commandments, - for there I find delight. - 36 Turn my heart to Your testimonies - and not to covetous gain. - 37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things; - revive me with Your word. {Two MT manuscripts and DSS; most MT manuscripts "in Your way" } - 38 Establish Your word to Your servant, - to produce reverence for You. - 39 Turn away the disgrace I dread, - for Your judgments are good. - 40 How I long for Your precepts! - Revive me in Your righteousness. --- ### ו - WAW - 41 May Your loving devotion come to me, O LORD, - Your salvation, according to Your promise. - 42 Then I can answer him who taunts, - for I trust in Your word. - 43 Never take Your word of truth from my mouth, - for I hope in Your judgments. - 44 I will always obey Your law, - forever and ever. - 45 And I will walk in freedom, - for I have sought Your precepts. - 46 I will speak of Your testimonies before kings, - and I will not be ashamed. - 47 I delight in Your commandments - because I love them. - 48 I lift up my hands to Your commandments, which I love, - and I meditate on Your statutes. --- ### ז - ZAYIN - 49 Remember Your word to Your servant, - upon which You have given me hope. - 50 This is my comfort in affliction, - that Your promise has given me life. - 51 The arrogant utterly deride me, - but I do not turn from Your law. - 52 I remember Your judgments of old, O LORD, - and in them I find comfort. - 53 Rage has taken hold of me - because of the wicked who reject Your law. - 54 Your [[H2706|statutes]] are [[H2159|songs]] to me - in the [[H1004|house]] of my [[H4033|pilgrimage]]. - 55 In the night, O LORD, I remember Your name, - that I may keep Your law. - 56 This is my practice, - for I obey Your precepts. --- ### ח - HETH - 57 The LORD is my portion; - I have promised to keep Your words. - 58 I have sought Your face with all my heart; - be gracious to me according to Your promise. - 59 I considered my ways - and turned my steps to Your testimonies. - 60 I hurried without hesitating - to keep Your commandments. - 61 Though the ropes of the wicked bind me, - I do not forget Your law. - 62 At midnight I rise to give You thanks - for Your righteous judgments. - 63 I am a friend to all who fear You, - and to those who keep Your precepts. - 64 The earth is filled with Your loving devotion, O LORD; - teach me Your statutes. --- ### ט - TETH - 65 You are good to 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 You do what is good; - teach me Your statutes. - 69 Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, - I keep Your precepts with all my heart. - 70 Their hearts are hard {Or "fat" } and callous, - but I delight in Your law. - 71 It was good for me to be afflicted, - that I might learn Your statutes. - 72 The law from Your mouth is more precious to me - than thousands of pieces of gold and silver. --- ### י - YODH - 73 Your hands have made me and fashioned me; - give me understanding to learn Your commandments. - 74 May those who fear You see me and rejoice, - for I have hoped in Your word. - 75 I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are righteous, - and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me. - 76 May Your loving devotion comfort me, I pray, - according to Your promise to Your servant. - 77 May Your compassion come to me, that I may live, - for Your law is my delight. - 78 May the arrogant be put to shame for subverting me with a lie; - I will meditate on Your precepts. - 79 May those who fear You turn to me, - those who know Your testimonies. - 80 May my heart be blameless in Your statutes, - that I may not be put to shame. --- ### כ - KAPH - 81 My soul faints for Your salvation; - I wait for Your word. - 82 My eyes fail, looking for Your promise; - I ask, “When will You comfort me?” - 83 Though I am like a wineskin dried up by smoke, - I do not forget Your statutes. - 84 How many days must Your servant wait? {Or "How many are the days of Your servant?" } - When will You execute judgment on my persecutors? - 85 The arrogant have dug pits for me - in violation of Your law. - 86 All Your commandments are faithful; - I am persecuted without cause—help me! - 87 They almost wiped me from the earth, - but I have not forsaken Your precepts. - 88 Revive me according to Your loving devotion, - that I may obey the testimony of Your mouth. --- ### ל - LAMEDH - 89 Your word, O LORD, is everlasting; - it is firmly fixed in the heavens. - 90 Your faithfulness continues through all generations; - You established the earth, and it endures. - 91 Your ordinances stand to this day, {Or "They stand this day according to Your ordinances" } - for all things are servants to You. - 92 If Your law had not been my delight, - then I would have perished in my affliction. - 93 I will never forget Your precepts, - for by them You have revived me. - 94 I am Yours; save me, - for I have sought Your precepts. - 95 The wicked wait to destroy me, - but I will ponder Your testimonies. - 96 I have seen a limit to all perfection, - but Your commandment is without limit. --- ### מ - MEM - 97 Oh, how I love Your law! - All day long it is my meditation. - 98 Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, - for they are always with me. - 99 I have more insight than all my teachers, - for Your testimonies are my meditation. - 100 I discern more than the elders, - for I obey Your precepts. - 101 I have kept my feet from every evil path, - that I may keep Your word. - 102 I have not departed from Your ordinances, - for You Yourself have taught me. - 103 How sweet are Your words to my taste— - sweeter than honey in my mouth! - 104 I gain understanding from Your precepts; - therefore I hate every false way. --- ### נ - NUN - 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet - and a light to my path. - 106 I have sworn and confirmed - that I will keep Your righteous judgments. - 107 I am severely afflicted, O LORD; - revive me through Your word. - 108 Accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, - and teach me Your judgments. - 109 I constantly take my life in my hands, - yet I do not forget Your law. - 110 The wicked have set a snare for me, - but I have not strayed from Your precepts. - 111 Your testimonies are my heritage forever, - for they are the joy of my heart. - 112 I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes, - even to the very end. --- ### ס - SAMEKH - 113 The double-minded I despise, - but Your law I love. - 114 You are my hiding place and my shield; - I put my hope in Your word. - 115 Depart from me, you evildoers, - that I may obey the commandments of my God. - 116 Sustain me as You promised, that I may live; - let me not be ashamed of my hope. - 117 Uphold me, and I will be saved, - that I may always regard Your statutes. - 118 You reject all who stray from Your statutes, - for their deceitfulness is in vain. - 119 All the wicked on earth You discard like dross; - therefore I love Your testimonies. - 120 My flesh trembles in awe of You; - I stand in fear of Your judgments. --- ### ע - AYIN - 121 I have done what is just and right; - do not leave me to my oppressors. - 122 Ensure Your servant’s well-being; - do not let the arrogant oppress me. - 123 My eyes fail, looking for Your salvation, - and for Your righteous promise. - 124 Deal with Your servant according to Your loving devotion, - 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 they have broken Your law. - 127 Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, - even the purest gold. - 128 Therefore I admire all Your precepts - and hate every false way. --- ### פ - PE - 129 Wonderful are Your testimonies; - therefore I obey them. - 130 The unfolding of Your words gives light; - it informs the simple. - 131 I open my mouth and pant, - longing for Your commandments. - 132 Turn to me and show me mercy, - as You do to those who love Your name. - 133 Order my steps in Your word; - let no sin rule over me. - 134 Redeem me from the oppression of man, - 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 Your law is not obeyed. --- ### צ - TZADE - 137 Righteous are You, O LORD, - and upright are Your judgments. - 138 The testimonies You have laid down are righteous - and altogether faithful. - 139 My zeal has consumed me - because my foes forget Your words. - 140 Your promise is completely pure; - therefore Your servant loves it. - 141 I am lowly and despised, - but I do not forget Your precepts. - 142 Your righteousness is everlasting - and Your law is true. - 143 Trouble and distress have found me, - but Your commandments are my delight. - 144 Your testimonies are righteous forever. - Give me understanding, that I may live. --- ### ק - KOPH - 145 I call with all my heart; answer me, O LORD! - I will obey Your statutes. - 146 I call to You; save me, - that I may keep Your testimonies. - 147 I rise before dawn and cry for help; - in Your word I have put my hope. - 148 My eyes anticipate the watches of night, - that I may meditate on Your word. - 149 Hear my voice, O LORD, according to Your loving devotion; - give me life according to Your justice. - 150 Those who follow after wickedness draw near; - they are far from Your law. - 151 You are near, O LORD, - and all Your commandments are true. - 152 Long ago I learned from Your testimonies - that You have established them forever. --- ### ר - RESH - 153 Look upon my affliction and rescue me, - for I have not forgotten Your law. - 154 Defend my cause and redeem me; - revive me according to Your word. - 155 Salvation is far from the wicked - because they do not seek Your statutes. - 156 Great are Your mercies, O LORD; - revive me according to Your ordinances. - 157 Though my persecutors and foes are many, - I have not turned from Your testimonies. - 158 I look on the faithless with loathing - because they do not keep Your word. - 159 Consider how I love Your precepts, O LORD; - give me life according to Your loving devotion. - 160 The entirety of Your word is truth, - and all Your righteous judgments endure forever. --- ### ש - SIN and SHIN - 161 Rulers persecute me without cause, - but my heart fears only Your word. - 162 I rejoice in Your promise - like one who finds great spoil. - 163 I hate and abhor falsehood, - but Your law I love. - 164 Seven times a day I praise You - for Your righteous judgments. - 165 Abundant peace belongs to those who love Your instruction; - nothing can make them stumble. - 166 I wait for Your salvation, O LORD, - and I carry out Your commandments. - 167 I obey Your testimonies - and love them greatly. - 168 I obey Your precepts and Your testimonies, - for all my ways are before You. --- ### ת - TAW - 169 May my cry come before You, O LORD; - give me understanding according to Your word. - 170 May my plea come before You; - rescue me according to Your promise. - 171 My lips pour forth praise, - for You teach me Your statutes. - 172 My tongue sings of Your word, - for all Your commandments are righteous. - 173 May 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 me live to praise You; - may Your judgments sustain me. - 176 I have strayed like a lost sheep; - seek Your servant, for I have not forgotten Your commandments. --- - Previous chapter: [[Psalm_118]] - Next chapter: [[Psalm_120]] - TOC: [[TOC_Psalms]] ---