119:1 BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, to be envied) are the undefiled (the upright, truly sincere, and blameless) in the way [of the revealed will of God], who walk (order their conduct and conversation) in the law of the Lord (the whole of God's revealed will). |
119:2 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are they who keep His testimonies, and who seek, inquire for {and} of Him {and} crave Him with the whole heart. |
119:3 Yes, they do no unrighteousness [no willful wandering from His precepts]; they walk in His ways. |
119:4 You have commanded us to keep Your precepts, that we should observe them diligently. |
119:5 Oh, that my ways were directed {and} established to observe Your statutes [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them]! |
119:6 Then shall I not be put to shame [by failing to inherit Your promises] when I have respect to all Your commandments. |
119:7 I will praise {and} give thanks to You with uprightness of heart when I learn [by sanctified experiences] Your righteous judgments [Your decisions against and punishments for particular lines of thought and conduct]. |
119:8 I will keep Your statutes; O forsake me not utterly. |
119:9 How shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed {and} keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to it]. |
119:10 With my whole heart have I sought You, inquiring for {and} of You {and} yearning for You; Oh, let me not wander {or} step aside [either in ignorance or willfully] from Your commandments. |
119:11 Your word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against You. |
119:12 Blessed are You, O Lord; teach me Your statutes. |
119:13 With my lips have I declared {and} recounted all the ordinances of Your mouth. |
119:14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies as much as in all riches. |
119:15 I will meditate on Your precepts and have respect to Your ways [the paths of life marked out by Your law]. |
119:16 I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word. |
119:17 Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live; and I will observe Your word [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it]. |
119:18 Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law. |
119:19 I am a stranger {and} a temporary resident on the earth; hide not Your commandments from me. |
119:20 My heart is breaking with the longing that it has for Your ordinances {and} judgments at all times. |
119:21 You rebuke the proud {and} arrogant, the accursed ones, who err {and} wander from Your commandments. |
119:22 Take away from me reproach and contempt, for I keep Your testimonies. |
119:23 Princes also sat {and} talked against me, but Your servant meditated on Your statutes. |
119:24 Your testimonies also are my delight and my counselors. |
119:25 My earthly life cleaves to the dust; revive {and} stimulate me according to Your word! |
119:26 I have declared my ways {and} opened my griefs to You, and You listened to me; teach me Your statutes. |
119:27 Make me understand the way of Your precepts; so shall I meditate on {and} talk of Your wondrous works. |
119:28 My life dissolves {and} weeps itself away for heaviness; raise me up {and} strengthen me according to [the promises of] Your word. |
119:29 Remove from me the way of falsehood {and} unfaithfulness [to You], and graciously impart Your law to me. |
119:30 I have chosen the way of truth {and} faithfulness; Your ordinances have I set before me. |
119:31 I cleave to Your testimonies; O Lord, put me not to shame! |
119:32 I will [not merely walk, but] run the way of Your commandments, when You give me a heart that is willing. |
119:33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, and I will keep it to the end [steadfastly]. |
119:34 Give me understanding, that I may keep Your law; yes, I will observe it with my whole heart. |
119:35 Make me go in the path of Your commandments, for in them do I delight. |
119:36 Incline my heart to Your testimonies and not to covetousness (robbery, sensuality, unworthy riches). |
119:37 Turn away my eyes from beholding vanity (idols and idolatry); and restore me to vigorous life {and} health in Your ways. |
119:38 Establish Your word {and} confirm Your promise to Your servant, which is for those who reverently fear {and} devotedly worship You. |
119:39 Turn away my reproach which I fear {and} dread, for Your ordinances are good. |
119:40 Behold, I long for Your precepts; in Your righteousness give me renewed life. |
119:41 Let Your mercy {and} loving-kindness come also to me, O Lord, even Your salvation according to Your promise; |
119:42 Then shall I have an answer for those who taunt {and} reproach me, for I lean on, rely on, {and} trust in Your word. |
119:43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for I hope in Your ordinances. |
119:44 I will keep Your law continually, forever and ever [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it]. |
119:45 And I will walk at liberty {and} at ease, for I have sought and inquired for [and desperately required] Your precepts. |
119:46 I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings and will not be put to shame. |
119:47 For I will delight myself in Your commandments, which I love. |
119:48 My hands also will I lift up [in fervent supplication] to Your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on Your statutes. |
119:49 Remember [fervently] the word {and} promise to Your servant, in which You have caused me to hope. |
119:50 This is my comfort {and} consolation in my affliction: that Your word has revived me {and} given me life. |
119:51 The proud have had me greatly in derision, yet have I not declined in my interest in {or} turned aside from Your law. |
119:52 When I have [earnestly] recalled Your ordinances from of old, O Lord, I have taken comfort. |
119:53 Burning indignation, terror, {and} sadness seize upon me because of the wicked, who forsake Your law. |
119:54 Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage. |
119:55 I have [earnestly] remembered Your name, O Lord, in the night, and I have observed Your law. |
119:56 This I have had [as the gift of Your grace and as my reward]: that I have kept Your precepts [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them]. |
119:57 You are my portion, O Lord; I have promised to keep Your words. |
119:58 I entreated Your favor with my whole heart; be merciful {and} gracious to me according to Your promise. |
119:59 I considered my ways; I turned my feet to [obey] Your testimonies. |
119:60 I made haste and delayed not to keep Your commandments. |
119:61 Though the cords of the wicked have enclosed {and} ensnared me, I have not forgotten Your law. |
119:62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You because of Your righteous ordinances. |
119:63 I am a companion of all those who fear, revere, {and} worship You, and of those who observe {and} give heed to Your precepts. |
119:64 The earth, O Lord, is full of Your mercy {and} loving-kindness; teach me Your statutes. |
119:65 You have dealt well with Your servant, O Lord, according to Your promise. |
119:66 Teach me good judgment, wise {and} right discernment, and knowledge, for I have believed (trusted, relied on, and clung to) Your commandments. |
119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now Your word do I keep [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it]. |
119:68 You are good {and} kind and do good; teach me Your statutes. |
119:69 The arrogant {and} godless have put together a lie against me, but I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart. |
119:70 Their hearts are as fat as grease [their minds are dull and brutal], but I delight in Your law. |
119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes. |
119:72 The law from Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces. |
119:73 Your hands have made me, cunningly fashioned {and} established me; give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments. |
119:74 Those who reverently {and} worshipfully fear You will see me and be glad, because I have hoped in Your word {and} tarried for it. |
119:75 I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right {and} righteous, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me. |
119:76 Let, I pray You, Your merciful kindness {and} steadfast love be for my comfort, according to Your promise to Your servant. |
119:77 Let Your tender mercy {and} loving-kindness come to me that I may live, for Your law is my delight! |
119:78 Let the proud be put to shame, for they dealt perversely with me without a cause; but I will meditate on Your precepts. |
119:79 Let those who reverently {and} worshipfully fear You turn to me, and those who have known Your testimonies. |
119:80 Let my heart be sound (sincere and wholehearted and blameless) in Your statutes, that I may not be put to shame. |
119:81 My soul languishes {and} grows faint for Your salvation, but I hope in Your word. |
119:82 My eyes fail, watching for [the fulfillment of] Your promise. I say, When will You comfort me? |
119:83 For I have become like a bottle [a wineskin blackened and shriveled] in the smoke [in which it hangs], yet do I not forget Your statutes. |
119:84 How many are the days of Your servant [which he must endure]? When will You judge those who pursue and persecute me? |
119:85 The godless {and} arrogant have dug pitfalls for me, men who do not conform to Your law. |
119:86 All Your commandments are faithful {and} sure. [The godless] pursue {and} persecute me with falsehood; help me [Lord]! |
119:87 They had almost consumed me upon earth, but I forsook not Your precepts. |
119:88 According to Your steadfast love give life to me; then I will keep the testimony of Your mouth [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it]. |
119:89 Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven [stands firm as the heavens]. |
119:90 Your faithfulness is from generation to generation; You have established the earth, and it stands fast. |
119:91 All [the whole universe] are Your servants; therefore they continue this day according to Your ordinances. |
119:92 Unless Your law had been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. |
119:93 I will never forget Your precepts, [how can I?] for it is by them You have quickened me (granted me life). |
119:94 I am Yours, therefore save me [Your own]; for I have sought (inquired of and for) Your precepts {and} required them [as my urgent need]. |
119:95 The wicked wait for me to destroy me, but I will consider Your testimonies. |
119:96 I have seen that everything [human] has its limits {and} end [no matter how extensive, noble, and excellent]; but Your commandment is exceedingly broad {and} extends without limits [into eternity]. |
119:97 Oh, how love I Your law! It is my meditation all the day. |
119:98 You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies, for [Your words] are ever before me. |
119:99 I have better understanding {and} deeper insight than all my teachers, because Your testimonies are my meditation. |
119:100 I understand more than the aged, because I keep Your precepts [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them]. |
119:101 I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep Your word [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it]. |
119:102 I have not turned aside from Your ordinances, for You Yourself have taught me. |
119:103 How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! |
119:104 Through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. |
119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. |
119:106 I have sworn [an oath] and have confirmed it, that I will keep Your righteous ordinances [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them]. |
119:107 I am sorely afflicted; renew {and} quicken me [give me life], O Lord, according to Your word! |
119:108 Accept, I beseech You, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me Your ordinances. |
119:109 My life is continually in my hand, yet I do not forget Your law. |
119:110 The wicked have laid a snare for me, yet I do not stray from Your precepts. |
119:111 Your testimonies have I taken as a heritage forever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart. |
119:112 I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes forever, even to the end. |
119:113 I hate the thoughts of undecided [in religion], double-minded people, but Your law do I love. |
119:114 You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word. |
119:115 Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them]. |
119:116 Uphold me according to Your promise, that I may live; and let me not be put to shame in my hope! |
119:117 Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for Your statutes continually! |
119:118 You spurn {and} set at nought all those who stray from Your statutes, for their own lying deceives them {and} their tricks are in vain. |
119:119 You put away {and} count as dross all the wicked of the earth [for there is no true metal in them]; therefore I love Your testimonies. |
119:120 My flesh trembles {and} shudders for fear {and} reverential, worshipful awe of You, and I am afraid {and} in dread of Your judgments. |
119:121 I have done justice and righteousness; leave me not to those who would oppress me. |
119:122 Be surety for Your servant for good [as Judah was surety for the safety of Benjamin]; let not the proud oppress me. |
119:123 My eyes fail, watching for Your salvation and for the fulfillment of Your righteous promise. |
119:124 Deal with Your servant according to Your mercy {and} loving-kindness, and teach me Your statutes. |
119:125 I am Your servant; give me understanding (discernment and comprehension), that I may know (discern and be familiar with the character of) Your testimonies. |
119:126 It is time for the Lord to act; they have frustrated Your law. |
119:127 Therefore I love Your commandments more than [resplendent] gold, yes, more than [perfectly] refined gold. |
119:128 Therefore I esteem as right all, yes, all Your precepts; I hate every false way. |
119:129 Your testimonies are wonderful [far exceeding anything conceived by man]; therefore my [penitent] self keeps them [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them]. |
119:130 The entrance {and} unfolding of Your words give light; their unfolding gives understanding (discernment and comprehension) to the simple. |
119:131 I opened my mouth and panted [with eager desire], for I longed for Your commandments. |
119:132 Look upon me, be merciful unto me, {and} show me favor, as is Your way to those who love Your name. |
119:133 Establish my steps {and} direct them by [means of] Your word; let not any iniquity have dominion over me. |
119:134 Deliver me from the oppression of man; so will I keep Your precepts [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them]. |
119:135 Make Your face shine [with pleasure] upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes. |
119:136 Streams of water run down my eyes, because men do not keep Your law [they hear it not, nor receive it, love it, or obey it]. |
119:137 [Rigidly] righteous are You, O Lord, and upright are Your judgments {and} all expressions of Your will. |
119:138 You have commanded {and} appointed Your testimonies in righteousness and in great faithfulness. |
119:139 My zeal has consumed me {and} cut me off, because my adversaries have forgotten Your words. |
119:140 Your word is very pure (tried and well refined); therefore Your servant loves it. |
119:141 I am small (insignificant) and despised, but I do not forget Your precepts. |
119:142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your law is truth. |
119:143 Trouble and anguish have found {and} taken hold on me, yet Your commandments are my delight. |
119:144 Your righteous testimonies are everlasting {and} Your decrees are binding to eternity; give me understanding and I shall live [give me discernment and comprehension and I shall not die]. |
119:145 I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O Lord; I will keep Your statutes [I will hear, receive, love, and obey them]. |
119:146 I cried to You; save me, that I may keep Your testimonies [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them]. |
119:147 I anticipated the dawning of the morning and cried [in childlike prayer]; I hoped in Your word. |
119:148 My eyes anticipate the night watches {and} I am awake before the cry of the watchman, that I may meditate on Your word. |
119:149 Hear my voice according to Your steadfast love; O Lord, quicken me {and} give me life according to Your [righteous] decrees. |
119:150 They draw near who follow after wrong thinking {and} persecute me with wickedness; they are far from Your law. |
119:151 You are near, O Lord [nearer to me than my foes], and all Your commandments are truth. |
119:152 Of old have I known Your testimonies, {and} for a long time, [therefore it is a thoroughly established conviction] that You have founded them forever. |
119:153 Consider my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget Your law. |
119:154 Plead my cause and redeem me; revive me {and} give me life according to Your word. |
119:155 Salvation is far from the wicked, for they seek not {nor} hunger for Your statutes. |
119:156 Great are Your tender mercy {and} loving-kindness, O Lord; give me life according to Your ordinances. |
119:157 Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, yet I do not swerve from Your testimonies. |
119:158 I behold the treacherous and am grieved {and} loathe them, because they do not respect Your law [neither hearing, receiving, loving, nor obeying it]. |
119:159 Consider how I love Your precepts; revive me {and} give life to me, O Lord, according to Your loving-kindness! |
119:160 The sum of Your word is truth [the total of the full meaning of all Your individual precepts]; and every one of Your righteous decrees endures forever. |
119:161 Princes pursue {and} persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of Your words [dreading violation of them far more than the force of prince or potentate]. |
119:162 I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great spoil. |
119:163 I hate and abhor falsehood, but Your law do I love. |
119:164 Seven times a day {and} all day long do I praise You because of Your righteous decrees. |
119:165 Great peace have they who love Your law; nothing shall offend them {or} make them stumble. |
119:166 I am hoping {and} waiting [eagerly] for Your salvation, O Lord, and I do Your commandments. |
119:167 Your testimonies have I kept [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them]; I love them exceedingly! |
119:168 I have observed Your precepts {and} Your testimonies, for all my ways are [fully known] before You. |
119:169 Let my mournful cry {and} supplication come [near] before You, O Lord; give me understanding (discernment and comprehension) according to Your word [of assurance and promise]. |
119:170 Let my supplication come before You; deliver me according to Your word! |
119:171 My lips shall pour forth praise [with thanksgiving and renewed trust] when You teach me Your statutes. |
119:172 My tongue shall sing [praise for the fulfillment] of Your word, for all Your commandments are righteous. |
119:173 Let Your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen Your precepts. |
119:174 I have longed for Your salvation, O Lord, and Your law is my delight. |
119:175 Let me live that I may praise You, and let Your decrees help me. |
119:176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek, inquire for, {and} demand Your servant, for I do not forget Your commandments. |