Psalm 119 - Amplified Bible

PSALM 119

Meditations and Prayers Relating to the Law of God.

# This long Psalm (176 verses) consists of separate units, each of which has its first word beginning with a consecutive letter of the Hebrew alphabet as a memory aid. The first verse begins with the first letter of the alphabet, aleph (first letter of the word blessed), and the last unit of the Psalm (vv 169-176) begins with tav, the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Aleph.

¹ How blessed and favored by God are those whose way is blameless [those with personal integrity, the upright, the guileless], Who walk in the law [and who are guided by the precepts and revealed will] of the Lord.

² Blessed and favored by God are those who keep His testimonies, And who [consistently] seek Him and long for Him with all their heart.

³ They do no unrighteousness; They walk in His ways.

⁴ You have ordained Your precepts, That we should follow them with [careful] diligence.

⁵ Oh, that my ways may be established To observe and keep Your statutes [obediently accepting and honoring them]!

⁶ Then I will not be ashamed When I look [with respect] to all Your commandments [as my guide].

⁷ I will give thanks to You with an upright heart, When I learn [through discipline] Your righteous judgments [for my transgressions].

Beth.

⁸ I shall keep Your statutes; Do not utterly abandon me [when I fail].

⁹ How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to Your precepts].

¹⁰ With all my heart I have sought You, [inquiring of You and longing for You]; Do not let me wander from Your commandments [neither through ignorance nor by willful disobedience].

¹¹ Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart, That I may not sin against You.

¹² Blessed and reverently praised are You, O Lord; Teach me Your statutes.

¹³ With my lips I have told of All the ordinances of Your mouth.

¹⁴ I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches.

¹⁵ I will meditate on Your precepts And [thoughtfully] regard Your ways [the path of life established by Your precepts].

Gimel.

¹⁶ I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.

¹⁷ Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word [treasuring it and being guided by it day by day].

¹⁸ Open my eyes [to spiritual truth] so that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law.

¹⁹ I am a stranger on the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me.

²⁰ My soul is crushed with longing For Your ordinances at all times.

²¹ You rebuke the presumptuous and arrogant, the cursed ones, Who wander from Your commandments.

²² Take reproach and contempt away from me, For I observe Your testimonies.

²³ Even though princes sit and talk to one another against me, Your servant meditates on Your statutes.

Daleth.

²⁴ Your testimonies also are my delight And my counselors.

²⁵ My earthly life clings to the dust; Revive and refresh me according to Your word.

²⁶ I have told of my ways, and You have answered me; Teach me Your statutes.

²⁷ Make me understand the way of Your precepts, So that I will meditate (focus my thoughts) on Your wonderful works.

²⁸ My soul dissolves because of grief; Renew and strengthen me according to [the promises of] Your word.

²⁹ Remove from me the way of falsehood and unfaithfulness, And graciously grant me Your law.

³⁰ I have chosen the faithful way; I have placed Your ordinances before me.

³¹ I cling tightly to Your testimonies; O Lord, do not put me to shame!

He.

³² I will run the way of Your commandments [with purpose], For You will give me a heart that is willing.

³³ Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, And I will [steadfastly] observe it to the end.

³⁴ Give me understanding [a teachable heart and the ability to learn], that I may keep Your law; And observe it with all my heart.

³⁵ Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, For I delight in it.

³⁶ Incline my heart to Your testimonies And not to dishonest gain and envy.

³⁷ Turn my eyes away from vanity [all those worldly, meaningless things that distract—let Your priorities be mine], And restore me [with renewed energy] in Your ways.

³⁸ Establish Your word and confirm Your promise to Your servant, As that which produces [awe-inspired] reverence for You.

³⁹ Turn away my reproach which I dread, For Your ordinances are good.

Vav.

⁴⁰ I long for Your precepts; Renew me through Your righteousness.

⁴¹ May Your lovingkindness also come to me, O Lord, Your salvation according to Your promise;

⁴² So I will have an answer for the one who taunts me, For I trust [completely] in Your word [and its reliability].

⁴³ And do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, For I wait for Your ordinances.

⁴⁴ I will keep Your law continually, Forever and ever [writing Your precepts on my heart].

⁴⁵ And I will walk at liberty, For I seek and deeply long for Your precepts.

⁴⁶ I will also speak of Your testimonies before kings And shall not be ashamed.

⁴⁷ For I shall delight in Your commandments, Which I love.

Zayin.

⁴⁸ And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments, Which I love; And I will meditate on Your statutes.

⁴⁹ Remember [always] the word and promise to Your servant, In which You have made me hope.

⁵⁰ This is my comfort in my affliction, That Your word has revived me and given me life.

⁵¹ The arrogant utterly ridicule me, Yet I do not turn away from Your law.

⁵² I have remembered [carefully] Your ancient ordinances, O Lord, And I have taken comfort.

⁵³ Burning indignation has seized me because of the wicked, Who reject Your law.

⁵⁴ Your statutes are my songs In the house of my pilgrimage.

⁵⁵ O Lord, I remember Your name in the night, And keep Your law.

Heth.

⁵⁶ This has become mine [as the gift of Your grace], That I observe Your precepts [accepting them with loving obedience].

⁵⁷ The Lord is my portion; I have promised to keep Your words.

⁵⁸ I sought Your favor with all my heart; Be merciful and gracious to me according to Your promise.

⁵⁹ I considered my ways And turned my feet to [follow and obey] Your testimonies.

⁶⁰ I hurried and did not delay To keep Your commandments.

⁶¹ The cords of the wicked have encircled and ensnared me, But I have not forgotten Your law.

⁶² At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You Because of Your righteous ordinances.

⁶³ I am a companion of all who [reverently] fear You, And of those who keep and honor Your precepts.

Teth.

⁶⁴ The earth, O Lord, is full of Your lovingkindness and goodness; Teach me Your statutes.

⁶⁵ You have dealt well with Your servant, O Lord, according to Your promise.

⁶⁶ Teach me good judgment (discernment) and knowledge, For I have believed and trusted and relied on Your commandments.

⁶⁷ Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep and honor Your word [with loving obedience].

⁶⁸ You are good and do good; Teach me Your statutes.

⁶⁹ The arrogant have forged a lie against me, But I will keep Your precepts with all my heart.

⁷⁰ Their heart is insensitive like fat [their minds are dull and brutal], But I delight in Your law.

⁷¹ It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.

Yodh.

⁷² The law from Your mouth is better to me Than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

⁷³ Your hands have made me and established me; Give me understanding and a teachable heart, that I may learn Your commandments.

⁷⁴ May those who [reverently] fear You see me and be glad, Because I wait for Your word.

⁷⁵ I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are fair, And that in faithfulness You have disciplined me.

⁷⁶ O may Your lovingkindness and graciousness comfort me, According to Your word (promise) to Your servant.

⁷⁷ Let Your compassion come to me that I may live, For Your law is my delight.

⁷⁸ Let the arrogant be ashamed and humiliated, for they sabotage me with a lie; But I will meditate on Your precepts.

⁷⁹ May those who fear You [with submissive wonder] turn to me, Even those who have known Your testimonies.

Kaph.

⁸⁰ May my heart be blameless in Your statutes, So that I will not be ashamed.

⁸¹ My soul languishes and grows weak for Your salvation; I wait for Your word.

⁸² My eyes fail [with longing, watching] for [the fulfillment of] Your promise, Saying, “When will You comfort me?”

⁸³ For I have become like a wineskin [blackened and shriveled] in the smoke [in which it hangs], Yet I do not forget Your statutes.

⁸⁴ How many are the days of Your servant [which he must endure]? When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me?

⁸⁵ The arrogant (godless) have dug pits for me, Men who do not conform to Your law.

⁸⁶ All Your commandments are faithful and trustworthy. They have persecuted me with a lie; help me [Lord]!

⁸⁷ They had almost destroyed me on earth, But as for me, I did not turn away from Your precepts.

Lamedh.

⁸⁸ According to Your steadfast love refresh me and give me life, So that I may keep and obey the testimony of Your mouth.

⁸⁹ Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven [standing firm and unchangeable].

⁹⁰ Your faithfulness continues from generation to generation; You have established the earth, and it stands [securely].

⁹¹ They continue this day according to Your ordinances, For all things [all parts of the universe] are Your servants.

⁹² If Your law had not been my delight, Then I would have perished in my time of trouble.

⁹³ I will never forget Your precepts, For by them You have revived me and given me life.

⁹⁴ I am Yours, save me [as Your own]; For I have [diligently] sought Your precepts and required them [as my greatest need].

⁹⁵ The wicked wait for me to destroy me, But I will consider Your testimonies.

Mem.

⁹⁶ I have seen that all [human] perfection has its limits [no matter how grand and perfect and noble]; Your commandment is exceedingly broad and extends without limits [into eternity].

⁹⁷ Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.

⁹⁸ Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, For Your words are always with me.

⁹⁹ I have better understanding and deeper insight than all my teachers [because of Your word], For Your testimonies are my meditation.

¹⁰⁰ I understand more than the aged [who have not observed Your precepts], Because I have observed and kept Your precepts.

¹⁰¹ I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word.

¹⁰² I have not turned aside from Your ordinances, For You Yourself have taught me.

¹⁰³ How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Nun.

¹⁰⁴ From Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.

¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

¹⁰⁶ I have sworn [an oath] and have confirmed it, That I will keep Your righteous ordinances.

¹⁰⁷ I am greatly afflicted; Renew and revive me [giving me life], O Lord, according to Your word.

¹⁰⁸ Accept and take pleasure in the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, And teach me Your ordinances.

¹⁰⁹ My life is continually in my hand, Yet I do not forget Your law.

¹¹⁰ The wicked have laid a snare for me, Yet I do not wander from Your precepts.

¹¹¹ I have taken Your testimonies as a heritage forever, For they are the joy of my heart.

Samekh.

¹¹² I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes Forever, even to the end.

¹¹³ I hate those who are double-minded, But I love and treasure Your law.

¹¹⁴ You are my hiding place and my shield; I wait for Your word.

¹¹⁵ Leave me, you evildoers, That I may keep the commandments of my God [honoring and obeying them].

¹¹⁶ Uphold me according to Your word [of promise], so that I may live; And do not let me be ashamed of my hope [in Your great goodness].

¹¹⁷ Uphold me that I may be safe, That I may have regard for Your statutes continually.

¹¹⁸ You have turned Your back on all those who wander from Your statutes, For their deceitfulness is useless.

¹¹⁹ You have removed all the wicked of the earth like dross [for they have no value]; Therefore I love Your testimonies.

Ayin.

¹²⁰ My flesh trembles in [reverent] fear of You, And I am afraid and in awe of Your judgments.

¹²¹ I have done justice and righteousness; Do not leave me to those who oppress me.

¹²² Be the guarantee for Your servant for good [as Judah was the guarantee for Benjamin]; Do not let the arrogant oppress me.

¹²³ My eyes fail [with longing, watching] for [the fulfillment of] Your salvation, And for [the fulfillment of] Your righteous word.

¹²⁴ Deal with Your servant according to Your [gracious] lovingkindness, And teach me Your statutes.

¹²⁵ I am Your servant; give me understanding [the ability to learn and a teachable heart] That I may know Your testimonies.

¹²⁶ It is time for the Lord to act; They have broken Your law.

¹²⁷ Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, Yes, more than refined gold.

Pe.

¹²⁸ Therefore I esteem as right all Your precepts concerning everything; I hate every false way.

¹²⁹ Your testimonies are wonderful; Therefore my soul keeps them.

¹³⁰ The unfolding of Your [glorious] words give light; Their unfolding gives understanding to the simple (childlike).

¹³¹ I opened my mouth and panted [with anticipation], Because I longed for Your commandments.

¹³² Turn to me and be gracious to me and show me favor, As is Your way to those who love Your name.

¹³³ Establish my footsteps in [the way of] Your word; Do not let any human weakness have power over me [causing me to be separated from You].

¹³⁴ Redeem me from the oppression of man; That I may keep Your precepts.

¹³⁵ Make Your face shine [with pleasure] upon Your servant, And teach me Your statutes.

Tsadhe.

¹³⁶ My eyes weep streams of water Because people do not keep Your law.

¹³⁷ Righteous are You, O Lord, And upright are Your judgments.

¹³⁸ You have commanded Your testimonies in righteousness And in great faithfulness.

¹³⁹ My zeal has [completely] consumed me, Because my enemies have forgotten Your words.

¹⁴⁰ Your word is very pure (refined); Therefore Your servant loves it.

¹⁴¹ I am small and despised, But I do not forget Your precepts.

¹⁴² Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is truth.

¹⁴³ Trouble and anguish have found me, Yet Your commandments are my delight and my joy.

Qoph.

¹⁴⁴ Your righteous testimonies are everlasting; Give me understanding [the ability to learn and a teachable heart] that I may live.

¹⁴⁵ I cried with all my heart; answer me, O Lord! I will observe Your statutes.

¹⁴⁶ I cried to You; save me And I will keep Your testimonies.

¹⁴⁷ I rise before dawn and cry [in prayer] for help; I wait for Your word.

¹⁴⁸ My eyes anticipate the night watches and I awake before the call of the watchman, That I may meditate on Your word.

¹⁴⁹ Hear my voice according to Your [steadfast] lovingkindness; O Lord, renew and refresh me according to Your ordinances.

¹⁵⁰ Those who follow after wickedness approach; They are far from Your law.

¹⁵¹ You are near, O Lord, And all Your commandments are truth.

Resh.

¹⁵² Of old I have known from Your testimonies That You have founded them forever.

¹⁵³ Look upon my agony and rescue me, For I do not forget Your law.

¹⁵⁴ Plead my cause and redeem me; Revive me and give me life according to [the promise of] Your word.

¹⁵⁵ Salvation is far from the wicked, For they do not seek Your statutes.

¹⁵⁶ Great are Your tender mercies and steadfast love, O Lord; Revive me and give me life according to Your ordinances.

¹⁵⁷ Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, Yet I do not turn away from Your testimonies.

¹⁵⁸ I see the treacherous and loathe them, Because they do not respect Your law.

¹⁵⁹ Consider how I love Your precepts; Revive me and give me life, O Lord, according to Your lovingkindness.

Shin.

¹⁶⁰ The sum of Your word is truth [the full meaning of all Your precepts], And every one of Your righteous ordinances endures forever.

¹⁶¹ Princes persecute me without cause, But my heart stands in [reverent] awe of Your words [so I can expect You to help me].

¹⁶² I rejoice at Your word, As one who finds great treasure.

¹⁶³ I hate and detest falsehood, But I love Your law.

¹⁶⁴ Seven times a day I praise You, Because of Your righteous ordinances.

¹⁶⁵ Those who love Your law have great peace; Nothing makes them stumble.

¹⁶⁶ I hope and wait [with complete confidence] for Your salvation, O Lord, And I do Your commandments.

¹⁶⁷ My soul keeps Your testimonies [hearing and accepting and obeying them]; I love them greatly.

Tav.

¹⁶⁸ I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies, For all my ways are [fully known] before You.

¹⁶⁹ Let my [mournful] cry come before You, O Lord; Give me understanding [the ability to learn and a teachable heart] according to Your word [of promise].

¹⁷⁰ Let my supplication come before You; Deliver me according to Your word.

¹⁷¹ Let my lips speak praise [with thanksgiving], For You teach me Your statutes.

¹⁷² Let my tongue sing [praise for the fulfillment] of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteous.

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 that it may praise You, And let Your ordinances help me.

¹⁷⁶ I have gone astray like a lost sheep; Seek Your servant, for I do not forget Your commandments.