Psalms 119

119 ¹Blessing dey for those wey dia way no get blame, wey dey waka for our Papa im instruction.

Aleph: Blessing Dey For Those Wey No Get Blame

²Blessing dey for those wey dey keep im testimony, wey dey find am with dia whole heart. ³Dem no dey do wrong; dem dey waka for im ways. ⁴You don command say make dem keep your precepts well-well. ⁵Ah, if only my ways go stand strong to dey keep your statutes! ⁶Den shame no go catch me when I dey look all your commandments. ⁷I go praise you with correct heart when I learn your righteous judgment dem. ⁸I go keep your statutes; no throway me comot patapata.

⁹How young man fit keep im way clean? Na by minding am according to your word. ¹⁰With my whole heart I dey find you; no let me wander comot from your commandments. ¹¹I don keep your word like treasure for my heart, so dat I no go sin against you. ¹²Blessing dey for you, my Papa; teach me your statutes. ¹³With my mouth I dey talk all di judgment wey comot from your mouth. ¹⁴For di way of your testimony dem I dey rejoice, as much as person go rejoice for all riches. ¹⁵I go meditate for your precepts and fix my eye for your ways. ¹⁶I dey find joy for your statutes; I no go forget your word.

¹⁷Do good give your servant, so dat I go live and keep your word. ¹⁸Open my eye, so dat I go fit see wonderful tins from your instruction. ¹⁹I be stranger for dis earth; no hide your commandments from me. ²⁰My soul dey melt with hunger for your judgment dem all di time. ²¹You dey rebuke di proud, dem wey curse dey follow, wey dey wander comot from your commandments. ²²Take scorn and disgrace comot from me, because I dey keep your testimony dem. ²³Even if princes sidon dey talk against me, your servant dey meditate for your statutes. ²⁴Your testimony dem na my joy; dem be my counselors.

²⁵My soul dey stick for di dust; give me life back according to your word. ²⁶I tell you my ways, and you answer me; teach me your statutes. ²⁷Make me understand di way of your precepts, and I go meditate for your wonderful works. ²⁸My soul dey melt for sorrow; make me strong according to your word. ²⁹Keep me comot from di way of lie, and by your grace give me your instruction. ³⁰I don choose di way of faithfulness; I don put your judgment dem before me. ³¹I dey stick for your testimony dem, my Papa; no make shame catch me. ³²I go run for di way of your commandments, because you dey open my heart wide.

³³Teach me, my Papa, di way of your statutes, and I go keep am reach di end. ³⁴Give me understanding, so dat I go keep your instruction and obey am with my whole heart. ³⁵Lead me for di path of your commandments, because na dia I dey find joy. ³⁶Turn my heart to your testimony dem, and not to greedy gain. ³⁷Turn my eye comot from looking useless tins; give me life back for your ways. ³⁸Confirm to your servant your promise, di promise wey be for those wey dey fear you. ³⁹Turn away di disgrace wey I dey fear, because your judgment dem good. ⁴⁰I dey hunger for your precepts; for your correct-and-holy way give me life.

⁴¹Make your Covenant love come to me, my Papa, your salvation according to your promise. ⁴²Den I go get answer for di person wey dey mock me, because I dey trust your word. ⁴³And no take di word of truth comot patapata from my mouth, because my hope dey for your judgment dem. ⁴⁴I go keep your instruction always, forever and ever. ⁴⁵And I go waka for freedom, because I don find your precepts. ⁴⁶I go talk about your testimony dem before kings and shame no go catch me. ⁴⁷I dey find joy for your commandments, wey I love. ⁴⁸I lift up my hand to your commandments, wey I love, and I dey meditate for your statutes.

⁴⁹Remember your word to your servant, di word wey you take give me hope. ⁵⁰Na dis be my comfort for my suffering, say your promise dey give me life. ⁵¹Di proud dey mock me well-well, but I no dey turn comot from your instruction. ⁵²When I remember your judgment dem from di old days, my Papa, I dey find comfort. ⁵³Hot vex dey catch me because of di wicked, dem wey dey abandon your instruction. ⁵⁴Your statutes don be my songs everywhere wey I don live. ⁵⁵I dey remember your name for di night, my Papa, and I dey keep your instruction. ⁵⁶Na dis blessing don come to me, say I don keep your precepts.

⁵⁷My Papa na my portion; I promise say I go keep your words. ⁵⁸I dey find your favor with my whole heart; show me grace according to your promise. ⁵⁹When I think about my ways, I turn my leg to your testimony dem. ⁶⁰I quick-quick and I no delay to keep your commandments. ⁶¹Even as di rope of di wicked dey trap me, I no dey forget your instruction. ⁶²For midnight I dey wake up to praise you for your righteous judgment dem. ⁶³I be companion of all wey dey fear you, of those wey dey keep your precepts. ⁶⁴Di earth full with your Covenant love, my Papa; teach me your statutes.

⁶⁵You don do good to your servant, my Papa, according to your word. ⁶⁶Teach me good judgment and knowledge, because I dey believe your commandments. ⁶⁷Before dem afflict me I bin dey wander, but now I dey keep your word. ⁶⁸You good and you dey do good; teach me your statutes. ⁶⁹Di proud dey smear me with lie, but with my whole heart I dey keep your precepts. ⁷⁰Dia heart hard, e no dey feel anytin like fat, but I dey find joy for your instruction. ⁷¹E good for me say dem afflict me, so dat I go learn your statutes. ⁷²Di instruction from your mouth better pass thousands of gold and silver for me.

⁷³Na your hand make me and form me; give me understanding so dat I go learn your commandments. ⁷⁴Those wey dey fear you go see me and rejoice, because I don put my hope for your word. ⁷⁵I know, my Papa, say your judgment dem na correct-and-holy way, and say na for faithfulness you afflict me. ⁷⁶Make your Covenant love comfort me according to your promise to your servant. ⁷⁷Make your tender mercy wey dey pain belle come to me, so dat I go live; because your instruction na my joy. ⁷⁸Make shame catch di proud, because dem wrong me with lie; but as for me, I go meditate for your precepts. ⁷⁹Make those wey dey fear you turn come to me, those wey sabi your testimony dem. ⁸⁰Make my heart no get blame for your statutes, so dat shame no go catch me.

⁸¹My soul dey faint dey wait for your salvation; I dey put my hope for your word. ⁸²My eye don tire dey watch for your promise; I dey ask, “When you go comfort me?” ⁸³Because I don be like wineskin wey dey for smoke, but still I no dey forget your statutes. ^a a v83 Wineskin wey dem hang for room wey full with smoke go shrink and turn black — na so di poet take draw picture of im own tired-out condition. ⁸⁴How many days your servant get? When you go bring judgment on those wey dey persecute me? ⁸⁵Di proud don dig pit for me; dem no dey live according to your instruction. ⁸⁶All your commandments dey faithful; dem dey persecute me with lie; help me! ⁸⁷Dem don almost finish me for dis earth, but I no abandon your precepts. ⁸⁸For your Covenant love give me life, so dat I go keep di testimony wey comot from your mouth.

⁸⁹Forever, my Papa, your word stand firm for di heavens. ⁹⁰Your faithfulness dey last reach all generations; you don set di earth, and e dey stand strong. ⁹¹Dem dey stand reach today by your decree, because all tins na your servants. ⁹²If your instruction no bin be my joy, I for don perish for my suffering. ⁹³I no go ever forget your precepts, because na dem you take give me life. ⁹⁴I be your own; save me, because I don find your precepts. ⁹⁵Di wicked dey wait to destroy me, but I dey consider your testimony dem. ⁹⁶I don see say all perfection get end, but your commandment wide well-well pass measure.

⁹⁷Ah, how I take love your instruction! Na my meditation di whole day. ⁹⁸Your commandment dey make me wise pass my enemies, because e dey with me always. ⁹⁹I get understanding pass all my teachers, because your testimony dem na my meditation. ¹⁰⁰I understand pass di old people, because I dey keep your precepts. ¹⁰¹I dey hold my leg back from every evil way, so dat I go fit keep your word. ¹⁰²I no dey turn comot from your judgment dem, because na you yourself teach me. ¹⁰³How your words take sweet for my mouth, dem sweet pass honey for my mouth! ¹⁰⁴Through your precepts I dey get understanding; na why I hate every false way.

¹⁰⁵Your word na lamp for my leg and light for my path. ¹⁰⁶I don swear oath and confirm am, to keep your righteous judgment dem. ¹⁰⁷I dey suffer well-well; give me life, my Papa, according to your word. ¹⁰⁸Accept di praise wey I dey offer free-free, my Papa, and teach me your judgment dem. ¹⁰⁹I dey hold my life for my hand always, but I no dey forget your instruction. ¹¹⁰Di wicked don set trap for me, but I no dey wander comot from your precepts. ¹¹¹Your testimony dem na my heritage forever, because dem be di joy of my heart. ¹¹²I don set my heart to do your statutes forever, reach di end.

¹¹³I hate people wey get double mind, but I love your instruction. ¹¹⁴You na my hiding place and my shield; I dey put my hope for your word. ¹¹⁵Comot from me, una wey dey do evil, so dat I go keep di commandments of my Papa. ¹¹⁶Hold me up according to your promise, so dat I go live, and no make shame catch me for my hope. ¹¹⁷Hold me up, so dat I go dey safe and dey mind your statutes always. ¹¹⁸You dey reject all wey dey wander comot from your statutes, because dia cunning na waste. ¹¹⁹You dey throway all di wicked of di earth like rubbish; na why I love your testimony dem. ¹²⁰My body dey shake for fear of you, and I dey fear your judgment dem.

¹²¹I don do wetin just and right; no leave me for hand of those wey dey oppress me. ¹²²Give your servant assurance of good; no let di proud oppress me. ¹²³My eye don tire dey watch for your salvation and for di fulfillment of your righteous promise. ¹²⁴Treat your servant according to your Covenant love, and teach me your statutes. ¹²⁵I be your servant; give me understanding, so dat I go sabi your testimony dem. ¹²⁶Na time for our Papa to act, because dem don break your instruction. ¹²⁷Na why I love your commandments pass gold, pass fine gold. ¹²⁸Na why I consider all your precepts to dey right; I hate every false way.

¹²⁹Your testimony dem dey wonderful; na why my soul dey keep dem. ¹³⁰As your words dey open, dem dey give light; dem dey give understanding to di simple ones. ¹³¹I open my mouth and I dey pant, because I dey hunger for your commandments. ¹³²Turn come to me and show me grace, as na so your way dey be to those wey love your name. ¹³³Keep my steps steady according to your promise, and no let any sin rule over me. ¹³⁴Redeem me from di oppression of man, so dat I go keep your precepts. ¹³⁵Make your face shine on your servant, and teach me your statutes. ¹³⁶My eye dey shed river of tears, because people no dey keep your instruction.

¹³⁷You dey righteous, my Papa, and your judgment dem dey right. ¹³⁸You don set your testimony dem for correct-and-holy way and for all faithfulness. ¹³⁹My zeal dey consume me, because my enemies dey forget your words. ¹⁴⁰Your promise don pass test well-well, and your servant love am. ¹⁴¹I small and dem dey despise me, but I no dey forget your precepts. ¹⁴²Your correct-and-holy way na righteous forever, and your instruction na truth. ¹⁴³Trouble and pain don catch me, but your commandments na my joy. ¹⁴⁴Your testimony dem na righteous forever; give me understanding so dat I go live.

¹⁴⁵With my whole heart I dey cry; answer me, my Papa! I go keep your statutes. ¹⁴⁶I dey call you; save me, so dat I go obey your testimony dem. ¹⁴⁷I dey wake up before day-break and I dey cry for help; I dey put my hope for your words. ¹⁴⁸My eye dey awake before di watches of di night, so dat I go meditate for your promise. ^b b v148 Dem bin divide di night into set watch-periods (usually three or four shifts); di poet dey wake before every one of dem to pray. ¹⁴⁹Hear my voice according to your Covenant love; my Papa, according to your judgment dem give me life. ¹⁵⁰Those wey dey persecute me with evil plan dey draw near; dem dey far from your instruction. ¹⁵¹But you dey near, my Papa, and all your commandments na truth. ¹⁵²Long time now I don know from your testimony dem say you don found dem forever.

¹⁵³Look my suffering and deliver me, because I no dey forget your instruction. ¹⁵⁴Fight my case and redeem me; give me life according to your promise. ¹⁵⁵Salvation dey far from di wicked, because dem no dey find your statutes. ¹⁵⁶Your tender mercy wey dey pain belle big, my Papa; give me life according to your judgment dem. ¹⁵⁷Plenty na my persecutors and my enemies, but I no dey turn comot from your testimony dem. ¹⁵⁸I dey look di faithless ones with disgust, because dem no dey keep your word. ¹⁵⁹Consider how I take love your precepts! Give me life, my Papa, according to your Covenant love. ¹⁶⁰Di sum of your word na truth, and every one of your righteous judgment dem dey last forever.

¹⁶¹Princes dey persecute me for notin, but my heart dey tremble before your words. ¹⁶²I dey rejoice for your word like person wey find big treasure. ¹⁶³I hate and I dey vex for lie, but I love your instruction. ¹⁶⁴Seven times for one day I dey praise you for your righteous judgment dem. ¹⁶⁵Those wey love your instruction get plenty peace; notin fit make dem stumble. ¹⁶⁶I dey hope for your salvation, my Papa, and I dey keep your commandments. ¹⁶⁷My soul dey keep your testimony dem; I love dem well-well. ¹⁶⁸I dey keep your precepts and your testimony dem, because all my ways dey before you.

¹⁶⁹Make my cry come before you, my Papa; give me understanding according to your word. ¹⁷⁰Make my plea come before you; deliver me according to your word. ¹⁷¹My mouth go pour out praise, because you dey teach me your statutes. ¹⁷²My tongue go sing about your word, because all your commandments dey right. ¹⁷³Make your hand dey ready to help me, because I don choose your precepts. ¹⁷⁴I dey hunger for your salvation, my Papa, and your instruction na my joy. ¹⁷⁵Make my soul live and praise you, and make your judgment dem help me. ¹⁷⁶I don wander like sheep wey lost; find your servant, because I no dey forget your commandments. ^c c v176 Di longest psalm end with confession of wandering and plea say make di Father come find am — na di same shepherd-heart wey Jesus show when e leave di ninety-nine to find di one sheep wey wander (Luke 15:4-6).