Psalm 119 - Modern English Version

א 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 all their heart.

³ They also do no injustice; they walk in His ways.

⁴ You have commanded us to keep Your precepts diligently.

⁵ Oh that my ways were directed to keep Your statutes!

⁶ Then I shall not be ashamed, when I look upon 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 my whole heart have I sought You; let me not wander from Your commandments.

¹¹ Your word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

¹² Blessed are You, O  Lord; teach me Your statutes.

¹³ With my lips have I declared 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 have respect unto Your ways.

¹⁶ I will delight myself 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 behold wondrous things out of Your law.

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

²⁰ My soul is consumed with longing for Your decrees at all times.

²¹ You rebuke the proud, the cursed, who stray from Your commandments.

²² Remove from me reproach and contempt, for I have kept Your testimonies.

²³ Even though princes sit and speak against me, Your servant meditates on Your statutes.

²⁴ Your testimonies also are my delight and my counselors.

ד Daleth

²⁵ My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to Your word.

²⁶ I have declared my ways, and You answered me; teach me Your statutes.

²⁷ Make me understand the way of Your precepts, so shall I meditate on Your wondrous works.

²⁸ My soul melts for sorrow; strengthen me according to Your word.

²⁹ Remove from me the way of lying, and graciously teach me Your law.

³⁰ I have chosen the way of faithfulness; Your judgments have I set before me.

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

³² I will run the way of Your commandments, for You shall enlarge my heart.

ה He

³³ Teach me, O  Lord, the way of Your statutes, and I shall keep it to the end.

³⁴ Give me understanding, so that I may keep Your law, and observe it with my whole heart.

³⁵ Lead me in the path of Your commandments, for therein do I delight.

³⁶ Incline my heart unto Your testimonies, and not unto covetousness.

³⁷ Turn away my eyes from beholding vanity, and revive me in Your ways.

³⁸ Establish Your word unto Your servant, who is devoted to fearing you.

³⁹ Turn away my reproach which I dread, for Your judgments are good.

⁴⁰ Behold, I long for Your precepts; revive me in Your righteousness.

ו Waw

⁴¹ Let Your mercies also come to me, O  Lord, Your salvation according to Your word.

⁴² So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me, for I trust in Your word.

⁴³ And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for I hope in Your ordinances.

⁴⁴ So shall I keep Your law continually, forever and ever.

⁴⁵ And I will walk at liberty, for I seek Your precepts.

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

⁴⁷ I will take delight in Your commandments, which I love.

⁴⁸ My hands will I lift up to Your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on Your statutes.

ז Zayin

⁴⁹ Remember Your word to Your servant, in which You have caused me to hope.

⁵⁰ This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your word has given me life.

⁵¹ The proud have me in utter derision, yet I do not forsake Your law.

⁵² I have remembered Your judgments of old, O  Lord, and I take comfort.

⁵³ Indignation has seized me because of the wicked, those 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 has become mine, because I have kept Your precepts.

ח Heth

⁵⁷ You are my portion, O  Lord; I have promised to keep Your words.

⁵⁸ I entreated Your favor with all my heart; be merciful to me according to Your word.

⁵⁹ I considered my ways, and turned my feet to Your testimonies.

⁶⁰ I hurried and delayed not to keep Your commandments.

⁶¹ The bands of the wicked have bound me, but I have not forgotten Your law.

⁶² At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You, because of Your righteous judgments.

⁶³ I am a companion of all those who fear You, and of those who keep Your precepts.

⁶⁴ The earth, O  Lord, is full of Your mercy; teach me Your statutes.

ט 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 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 proud have forged a lie against me, but I will keep Your precepts with all my heart.

⁷⁰ Their heart is insensitive, like fat, but I delight in Your law.

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

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

י Yodh

⁷³ Your hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.

⁷⁴ Those who fear You will be glad when they see me, because I have hoped in Your word.

⁷⁵ I know, O  Lord, that Your judgments are right, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.

⁷⁶ Let, I pray, Your lovingkindness comfort me, according to Your word unto Your servant.

⁷⁷ Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live; for Your law is my delight.

⁷⁸ Let the proud be ashamed, for they wronged me with guile; but I will meditate on Your precepts.

⁷⁹ Let those who fear You turn to me, those who know Your testimonies.

⁸⁰ Let my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes, so that I may not be ashamed.

כ Kaph

⁸¹ My soul languishes for Your salvation, but I hope in Your word.

⁸² My eyes fail from reading Your word, saying, “When will You comfort me?”

⁸³ For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, yet have I not forgotten Your statutes.

⁸⁴ How many are the days of Your servant? When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me?

⁸⁵ The proud have dug pits for me; which is not according to Your law.

⁸⁶ All Your commandments are faithful; they persecute me wrongfully; help me!

⁸⁷ They have almost destroyed me on earth, but I did not forsake Your precepts.

⁸⁸ Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.

ל Lamedh

⁸⁹ Forever, O  Lord, Your word is established in heaven.

⁹⁰ Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You have established the earth, and it stands.

⁹¹ They continue this day according to Your ordinances, for all things are Your servants.

⁹² If Your law had not been my delight, I would then 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 will consider Your testimonies.

⁹⁶ I have seen a limit to all perfection, but Your commandment is exceedingly broad.

מ Mem

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

⁹⁸ Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me.

⁹⁹ I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation.

¹⁰⁰ I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Your precepts.

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

¹⁰² I have not departed from Your judgments, 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.

נ Nun

¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

¹⁰⁶ I have sworn and I will confirm it, that I will keep Your righteous judgments.

¹⁰⁷ I am exceedingly afflicted; revive me, O  Lord, according to Your word.

¹⁰⁸ Accept, I beseech You, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O  Lord, and teach me Your judgments.

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 have not strayed from Your precepts.

¹¹¹ Your testimonies have I taken as my heritage forever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart.

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

ס Samekh

¹¹³ I hate the double-minded, but Your law do I love.

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 word, that I may live, and let me not be ashamed in my hope.

¹¹⁷ Hold me up, that I may be safe, and that I may observe Your statutes continually.

¹¹⁸ You reject all those who stray from Your statutes, for their deceit is falsehood.

¹¹⁹ You destroy all the wicked of the earth like dross; therefore I love Your testimonies.

¹²⁰ My flesh trembles for fear of You, and I am afraid of Your judgments.

ע Ayin

¹²¹ I have done justice and righteousness; let not the proud oppress me.

¹²² Guarantee the well-being of Your servant; let not the proud oppress me.

¹²³ My eyes fail from watching for Your salvation, and for the fulfillment of Your righteous word.

¹²⁴ Deal with Your servant according to Your mercy, and teach me Your statutes.

¹²⁵ I am Your servant; give me understanding, so that I may know Your testimonies.

¹²⁶ It is time for You, O  Lord, to act, for they have broken Your law.

¹²⁷ Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, more than fine gold.

¹²⁸ Therefore I esteem all Your precepts to be right; I hate every false way.

פ Pe

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

¹³⁰ The unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.

¹³¹ I opened my mouth and panted, for I long for Your commandments.

¹³² Look upon me and be merciful to me, as is Your manner toward those who love Your name.

¹³³ Direct my steps according to Your word, and let no iniquity have dominion 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 Rivers of water run down from my eyes, because they keep not Your law.

צ Tsadhe

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

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

¹³⁹ My zeal has consumed me, because my enemies have forgotten Your words.

¹⁴⁰ Your word is very pure; therefore Your servant loves it.

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

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

¹⁴³ Trouble and anguish have taken hold of me, but Your commandments are my delight.

¹⁴⁴ The righteousness of Your testimonies is everlasting; give me understanding that I may live.

ק Qoph

¹⁴⁵ I cry out with my whole heart; hear me, O  Lord! I will keep Your statutes.

¹⁴⁶ I cried unto You; save me, that I may keep Your testimonies.

¹⁴⁷ I rise before the dawning of the morning and cry for help; I hope in Your word.

¹⁴⁸ My eyes are awake before each watch of the night, that I may meditate on Your word.

¹⁴⁹ Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness; O  Lord, give me life according to Your judgment.

¹⁵⁰ Those who pursue wickedness draw near; they are far from Your law.

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

¹⁵² Concerning Your testimonies, I have known long ago that You have established them forever.

ר Resh

¹⁵³ Consider 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 word.

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

¹⁵⁶ Great are Your tender mercies, O  Lord; give me life according to Your judgments.

¹⁵⁷ Many are my persecutors and my enemies, yet I do not turn from Your testimonies.

¹⁵⁸ I look at the transgressors and grieve, because they keep not Your word.

¹⁵⁹ Consider how I love Your precepts; revive me, O  Lord, according to Your lovingkindness.

¹⁶⁰ The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.

ש Sin and Shin

¹⁶¹ Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of Your word.

¹⁶² I rejoice at Your word like one who finds great spoil.

¹⁶³ I hate and abhor lying, but Your law do I love.

¹⁶⁴ Seven times a day do I praise You, because of Your righteous judgments.

¹⁶⁵ Great peace have those who love Your law; nothing causes them to stumble.

¹⁶⁶ Lord, I hope for Your salvation, and I keep Your commandments.

¹⁶⁷ My soul keeps Your testimonies, and I love them exceedingly.

¹⁶⁸ I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies, for all my ways are before You.

ת Taw

¹⁶⁹ Let my cry come before You, O  Lord; give me understanding according to Your word.

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

¹⁷¹ My lips will utter praise, for You teach me Your statutes.

¹⁷² My tongue will speak of Your word, for all Your commandments are righteousness.

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 out Your servant, for I forget not Your commandments.