Psalms 119
1Psalm 119
Aleph
Blessed are those who live without blame.
They live in keeping with the law of the Lord.
2Blessed are those who obey his covenant laws.
They trust in him with all their hearts.
3They don’t do anything wrong.
They live as he wants them to live.
4You have given me rules
that I must obey completely.
5I hope I will always stand firm
in following your orders.
6Then I won’t be put to shame
when I think about all your commands.
7I will praise you with an honest heart
as I learn about how fair your decisions are.
8I will obey your orders.
Please don’t leave me all alone.
9Beth
How can a young person keep their life pure?
By living according to your word.
10I trust in you with all my heart.
Don’t let me wander away from your commands.
11I have hidden your word in my heart
so that I won’t sin against you.
12Lord, I give praise to you.
Teach me your orders.
13With my lips I talk about
all the decisions you have made.
14Following your covenant laws gives me joy
just as great riches give joy to others.
15I spend time thinking about your rules.
I consider how you want me to live.
16I take delight in your orders.
I won’t fail to obey your word.
17Gimel
Be good to me while I am alive.
Do this so that I may obey your word.
18Open my eyes so that I can see
the wonderful truths in your law.
19I’m a stranger on earth.
Don’t hide your commands from me.
20My heart is filled with longing
for your laws at all times.
21You correct proud people. They are under your curse.
They wander away from your commands.
22I obey your covenant laws.
So don’t let evil people laugh at me or hate me.
23Even if rulers sit together and tell lies about me,
I will spend time thinking about your orders.
24Your covenant laws are my delight.
They give me wise advice.
25Daleth
I lie in the dust. I’m about to die.
Keep me alive as you have promised.
26I told you how I’ve lived, and you gave me your answer.
Teach me your orders.
27Help me understand how your rules direct me to live.
Then I may think deeply about the wonderful things you have done.
28My sadness has worn me out.
Give me strength as you have promised.
29Keep me from cheating and telling lies.
Be kind to me and teach me your law.
30I have chosen to be faithful to you.
I put my trust in your laws.
31Lord, I’m careful to obey your covenant laws.
Don’t let me be put to shame.
32I am quick to follow your commands,
because you have added to my understanding.
33He
Lord, teach me how your orders direct me to live.
Then I will live that way to the very end.
34Help me understand your law so that I may follow it.
I will obey it with all my heart.
35Teach me to live as you command,
because that makes me very happy.
36Make me want to follow your covenant laws
instead of wanting to gain things only for myself.
37Turn my eyes away from things that are worthless.
Keep me alive as you have promised.
38Keep your promise to me.
Then other people will have respect for you.
39Please don’t let me be put to shame.
Your laws are good.
40I really want to follow your rules.
Keep me alive, because you do what is right.
41Waw
Lord, show me your faithful love.
Save me as you have promised.
42Then I can answer anyone who makes fun of me,
because I trust in your word.
43Help me always to tell the truth about how faithful you are.
I have put my hope in your laws.
44I will always obey your law,
for ever and ever.
45I will lead a full and happy life,
because I’ve tried to obey your rules.
46I will talk about your covenant laws to kings.
I will not be put to shame.
47I take delight in obeying your commands
because I love them.
48I reach out for your commands that I love.
I do this so that I may think deeply about your orders.
49Zayin
Remember what you have said to me.
You have given me hope.
50Even when I suffer, I am comforted
because you promised to keep me alive.
51Proud people make fun of me without mercy.
But I don’t turn away from your law.
52Lord, I remember the laws you gave long ago.
I find comfort in them.
53I am very angry
because evil people have turned away from your law.
54No matter where I live,
I sing about your orders.
55Lord, during the night I remember who you are.
That’s why I keep your law.
56I have really done my best
to obey your rules.
57Heth
Lord, you are everything I need.
I have promised to obey your words.
58I have looked to you with all my heart.
Be kind to me as you have promised.
59I have thought about the way I live.
And I have decided to follow your covenant laws.
60I won’t waste any time.
I will be quick to obey your commands.
61Evil people may tie me up with ropes.
But I won’t forget to obey your law.
62At midnight I get up to give you thanks
because your decisions are very fair.
63I’m a friend to everyone who has respect for you.
I’m a friend to everyone who follows your rules.
64Lord, the earth is filled with your love.
Teach me your orders.
65Teth
Lord, be good to me
as you have promised.
66Increase my knowledge and give me good sense,
because I trust your commands.
67Before I went through suffering, I went down the wrong path.
But now I obey your word.
68You are good, and what you do is good.
Teach me your orders.
69The lies of proud people have taken away my good name.
But I follow your rules with all my heart.
70Their unfeeling hearts are hard and stubborn.
But I take delight in your law.
71It was good for me to suffer.
That’s what helped me to understand your orders.
72The law you gave is worth more to me
than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.
73Yodh
You made me and formed me with your own hands.
Give me understanding so that I can learn your commands.
74May those who have respect for you be filled with joy when they see me.
I have put my hope in your word.
75Lord, I know that your laws are right.
You were faithful to your promise when you made me suffer.
76May your faithful love comfort me
as you have promised me.
77Show me your tender love so that I can live.
I take delight in your law.
78May proud people be put to shame for treating me badly for no reason.
I will think deeply about your rules.
79May those who have respect for you come to me.
Then I can teach them your covenant laws.
80May I follow your orders with all my heart.
Then I won’t be put to shame.
81Kaph
I deeply long for you to save me.
I have put my hope in your word.
82My eyes grow tired looking for what you have promised.
I say, “When will you comfort me?”
83I’m as useless as a wineskin that smoke has dried up.
But I don’t forget to follow your orders.
84How long do I have to wait?
When will you punish those who attack me?
85Proud people do what is against your law.
They dig pits for me to fall into.
86All your commands can be trusted.
Help me, because people attack me without any reason.
87They almost wiped me off the face of the earth.
But I have not turned away from your rules.
88Keep me alive, because of your faithful love.
Do this so that I may obey the covenant laws you have given.
89Lamedh
Lord, your word lasts forever.
It stands firm in the heavens.
90You will be faithful for all time to come.
You made the earth, and it continues to exist.
91Your laws continue to this very day,
because all things serve you.
92If I had not taken delight in your law,
I would have died because of my suffering.
93I will never forget your rules.
You have kept me alive, because I obey them.
94Save me, because I belong to you.
I’ve tried to obey your rules.
95Sinful people are waiting to destroy me.
But I will spend time thinking about your covenant laws.
96I’ve learned that everything has its limits.
But your commands are perfect. They are always there when I need them.
97Mem
Lord, I really love your law!
All day long I spend time thinking about it.
98Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,
because your commands are always in my heart.
99I know more than all my teachers do,
because I spend time thinking about your covenant laws.
100I understand more than the elders do,
because I obey your rules.
101I’ve kept my feet from every path that sinners take
so that I might obey your word.
102I haven’t turned away from your laws,
because you yourself have taught me.
103Your words are very sweet to my taste!
They are sweeter than honey to me.
104I gain understanding from your rules.
So I hate every path that sinners take.
105Nun
Your word is like a lamp that shows me the way.
It is like a light that guides me.
106I have made a promise
to follow your laws, because they are right.
107I have suffered very much.
Lord, keep me alive as you have promised.
108Lord, accept the praise I freely give you.
Teach me your laws.
109I keep putting my life in danger.
But I won’t forget to obey your law.
110Evil people have set a trap for me.
But I haven’t wandered away from your rules.
111Your covenant laws are your gift to me forever.
They fill my heart with joy.
112I have decided to obey your orders
to the very end.
113Samekh
I hate people who can’t make up their minds.
But I love your law.
114You are my place of safety.
You are like a shield that keeps me safe.
I have put my hope in your word.
115Get away from me, you who do evil!
Then I can do what my God commands me to do.
116My God, keep me going as you have promised. Then I will live.
Don’t let me lose all hope.
117Take good care of me, and I will be saved.
I will always honor your orders.
118You turn your back on all those who wander away from your orders.
Their wrong thoughts will be proved to be wrong.
119You throw away all the sinners on earth as if they were trash.
So I love your covenant laws.
120My body trembles because I have respect for you.
I have great respect for your laws.
121Ayin
I have done what is right and fair.
So don’t leave me to those who treat me badly.
122Make sure that everything goes well with me.
Don’t let proud people treat me badly.
123My eyes grow tired as I look to you to save me.
Please save me as you have promised.
124Be good to me, because you love me.
Teach me your orders.
125I serve you, so help me to understand what is right.
Then I will understand your covenant laws.
126Lord, it’s time for you to act.
People are breaking your law.
127I love your commands more than gold.
I love them more than pure gold.
128I consider all your rules to be right.
So I hate every path that sinners take.
129Pe
Your covenant laws are wonderful.
So I obey them.
130When your words are made clear, they bring light.
They bring understanding to childish people.
131I open my mouth and pant like a dog,
because I long to know your commands.
132Turn to me and have mercy on me.
That’s what you’ve always done for those who love you.
133Teach me how to live as you have promised.
Don’t let any sin be my master.
134Set me free from people who treat me badly.
Then I will obey your rules.
135Have mercy on me.
Teach me your orders.
136Streams of tears flow from my eyes,
because people don’t obey your law.
137Tsadhe
Lord, you do what is fair.
And your laws are right.
138The laws you have made are fair.
They can be completely trusted.
139My anger is wearing me out,
because my enemies don’t pay any attention to your words.
140Your promises have proved to be true.
I love them.
141I’m not important. People look down on me.
But I don’t forget to obey your rules.
142You always do what is right.
And your law is true.
143I’ve had my share of trouble and suffering.
But your commands give me delight.
144Your covenant laws are always right.
Help me to understand them. Then I will live.
145Qoph
Lord, I call out to you with all my heart.
Answer me, and I will obey your orders.
146I call out to you.
Save me, and I will keep your covenant laws.
147I get up before the sun rises. I cry out for help.
I’ve put my hope in your word.
148My eyes stay open all night long.
I spend my time thinking about your promises.
149Listen to me, because you love me.
Lord, keep me alive as you have promised.
150Those who think up evil plans are near.
They have wandered far away from your law.
151But Lord, you are near.
All your commands are true.
152Long ago I learned from your covenant laws
that you made them to last forever.
153Resh
Look at how I’m suffering!
Save me, because I haven’t forgotten to obey your law.
154Stand up for me and set me free.
Keep me alive as you have promised.
155Those who are evil are far from being saved.
They don’t want to obey your orders.
156Lord, you have deep concern for me.
Keep me alive as you have promised.
157Many enemies attack me.
But I haven’t turned away from your covenant laws.
158I get very angry when I see people who aren’t faithful to you.
They don’t obey your word.
159See how I love your rules!
Lord, keep me alive, because you love me.
160All your words are true.
All your laws are right. They last forever.
161Sin and Shin
Rulers attack me for no reason.
But I tremble because of your word.
162I’m filled with joy because of your promise.
It’s like finding a great fortune.
163I hate lies with a deep hatred.
But I love your law.
164Seven times a day I praise you
for your laws, because they are right.
165Those who love your law enjoy great peace.
Nothing can make them trip and fall.
166Lord, I wait for you to save me.
I follow your commands.
167I obey your covenant laws,
because I love them greatly.
168I obey your rules and your covenant laws,
because you know all about how I live.
169Taw
Lord, may you hear my cry.
Give me understanding, just as you said you would.
170May you hear my prayer.
Save me, just as you promised.
171May my lips pour out praise to you,
because you teach me your orders.
172May my tongue sing about your word,
because all your commands are right.
173May your hand be ready to help me,
because I have chosen to obey your rules.
174Lord, I long for you to save me.
Your law gives me delight.
175Let me live so that I can praise you.
May your laws keep me going.
176Like a lost sheep, I’ve gone down the wrong path.
Come and look for me,
because I haven’t forgotten to obey your commands.