Psalms 119

119 ¹ Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the instruction of our Father.

Aleph: Blessed Are the Blameless

² Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with all their heart. ³ They do no wrong; they walk in his ways. ⁴ You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. ⁵ Oh, that my ways were steadfast in keeping your statutes! ⁶ Then I will not be ashamed when I look at 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.

⁹ How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. ¹⁰ With all my heart I seek you; do not let me stray from your commandments. ¹¹ I have treasured your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. ¹² Blessed are you, my Father; teach me your statutes. ¹³ With my lips I recount all the judgments of your mouth. ¹⁴ In the way of your testimonies I rejoice, as much as in all riches. ¹⁵ I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. ¹⁶ I delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.

¹⁷ Be generous to your servant, that I may live and keep your word. ¹⁸ Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from your instruction. ¹⁹ I am a stranger on the earth; do not hide your commandments from me. ²⁰ My soul is consumed with longing for your judgments at all times. ²¹ You rebuke the insolent, the accursed, who stray from your commandments. ²² Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I keep your testimonies. ²³ Even though princes sit and speak against me, your servant meditates on your statutes. ²⁴ Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.

²⁵ My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to your word. ²⁶ I told you my ways, and you answered me; teach me your statutes. ²⁷ Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works. ²⁸ My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. ²⁹ Keep me from the way of falsehood, and graciously give me your instruction. ³⁰ I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set your judgments before me. ³¹ I cling to your testimonies, my Father; let me not be put to shame. ³² I will run in the way of your commandments, for you enlarge my heart.

³³ Teach me, my Father, the way of your statutes, and I will keep it to the end. ³⁴ Give me understanding, that I may keep your instruction and observe it with all my heart. ³⁵ Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. ³⁶ Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain. ³⁷ Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; revive me in your ways. ³⁸ Confirm to your servant your promise, which is for those who fear you. ³⁹ Turn away the reproach that I dread, for your judgments are good. ⁴⁰ I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life.

⁴¹ Let your covenant love come to me, my Father, your salvation according to your promise. ⁴² Then I shall have an answer for him who taunts me, for I trust in your word. ⁴³ And do not take the word of truth utterly from my mouth, for my hope is in your judgments. ⁴⁴ I will keep your instruction continually, forever and ever. ⁴⁵ And I will walk in freedom, for I have sought your precepts. ⁴⁶ I will speak of your testimonies before kings and will not be put to shame. ⁴⁷ I delight in your commandments, which I love. ⁴⁸ I lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I meditate on your statutes.

⁴⁹ Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope. ⁵⁰ This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life. ⁵¹ The insolent utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from your instruction. ⁵² When I think of your judgments from ages past, my Father, I take comfort. ⁵³ Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, who forsake your instruction. ⁵⁴ Your statutes have been my songs wherever I have lived. ⁵⁵ I remember your name in the night, my Father, and keep your instruction. ⁵⁶ This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept your precepts.

⁵⁷ My Father is my portion; I promise to keep your words. ⁵⁸ I seek your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. ⁵⁹ When I think about my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies. ⁶⁰ I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments. ⁶¹ Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your instruction. ⁶² At midnight I rise to praise you for your righteous judgments. ⁶³ I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts. ⁶⁴ The earth is full of your covenant love, my Father; teach me your statutes.

⁶⁵ You have been good to your servant, my Father, according to your word. ⁶⁶ Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in 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 insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts. ⁷⁰ Their heart is unfeeling like fat, but I delight in your instruction. ⁷¹ It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. ⁷² The instruction of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

⁷³ Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments. ⁷⁴ Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word. ⁷⁵ I know, my Father, that your judgments are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. ⁷⁶ Let your covenant love comfort me according to your promise to your servant. ⁷⁷ Let your tender compassion come to me, that I may live; for your instruction is my delight. ⁷⁸ Let the insolent be put to shame, because they have wronged me with falsehood; as for me, I will meditate on your precepts. ⁷⁹ Let those who fear you turn to me, those who know your testimonies. ⁸⁰ May my heart be blameless in your statutes, that I may not be put to shame.

⁸¹ My soul faints for your salvation; I hope in your word. ⁸² My eyes grow weary watching for your promise; I ask, "When will you comfort me?" ⁸³ For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, yet I do not forget your statutes. ^a a v83 A wineskin hung in a smoky room shrivels and darkens — the poet's picture of his own worn-out condition. ⁸⁴ How many days does your servant have? When will you bring judgment on those who persecute me? ⁸⁵ The insolent have dug pitfalls for me; they do not live according to your instruction. ⁸⁶ All your commandments are faithful; they persecute me with falsehood; help me! ⁸⁷ They have almost put an end to me on earth, but I have not forsaken your precepts. ⁸⁸ In your covenant love give me life, that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.

⁸⁹ Forever, my Father, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. ⁹⁰ Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast. ⁹¹ They stand to this day by your decree, for all things are your servants. ⁹² If your instruction had not been my delight, I would 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 consider your testimonies. ⁹⁶ I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad.

⁹⁷ Oh how I love your instruction! It is my meditation all day long. ⁹⁸ Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. ⁹⁹ I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. ¹⁰⁰ I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts. ¹⁰¹ I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word. ¹⁰² I do not turn aside from your judgments, for you yourself 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.

¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. ¹⁰⁶ I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous judgments. ¹⁰⁷ I am severely afflicted; give me life, my Father, according to your word. ¹⁰⁸ Accept the praises I freely offer, my Father, and teach me your judgments. ¹⁰⁹ I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your instruction. ¹¹⁰ The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your precepts. ¹¹¹ Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. ¹¹² I set my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end.

¹¹³ I hate the double-minded, but I love your instruction. 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 Father. ¹¹⁶ Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live, and let me not be ashamed of my hope. ¹¹⁷ Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for your statutes continually. ¹¹⁸ You spurn all who go astray from your statutes, for their cunning is in vain. ¹¹⁹ You discard 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.

¹²¹ I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my oppressors. ¹²² Give your servant a pledge of good; let not the insolent oppress me. ¹²³ My eyes grow weary watching for your salvation and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise. ¹²⁴ Deal with your servant according to your covenant love, and teach me your statutes. ¹²⁵ I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies. ¹²⁶ It is time for our Father to act, for your instruction has been broken. ¹²⁷ Therefore I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold. ¹²⁸ Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right; I hate every false way.

¹²⁹ Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them. ¹³⁰ The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. ¹³¹ I open my mouth and pant, because I long for your commandments. ¹³² Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your way with those who love your name. ¹³³ Keep my steps steady according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me. ¹³⁴ Redeem me from man's oppression, that I may keep your precepts. ¹³⁵ Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes. ¹³⁶ My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your instruction.

¹³⁷ Righteous are you, my Father, and right are your judgments. ¹³⁸ You have appointed your testimonies in righteousness and in all faithfulness. ¹³⁹ My zeal consumes me, because my foes forget your words. ¹⁴⁰ Your promise is well-tested, and your servant loves it. ¹⁴¹ I am small and despised, yet I do not forget your precepts. ¹⁴² Your righteousness is righteous forever, and your instruction is true. ¹⁴³ Trouble and anguish have overtaken me, but your commandments are my delight. ¹⁴⁴ Your testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding that I may live.

¹⁴⁵ With my whole heart I cry; answer me, my Father! I will keep your statutes. ¹⁴⁶ I call to you; save me, that I may observe your testimonies. ¹⁴⁷ I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words. ¹⁴⁸ My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise. ^b b v148 The night was divided into set watch-periods (typically three or four shifts); the poet wakes before each one to pray. ¹⁴⁹ Hear my voice according to your covenant love; my Father, according to your judgments give me life. ¹⁵⁰ They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose; they are far from your instruction. ¹⁵¹ But you are near, my Father, and all your commandments are true. ¹⁵² I have long known from your testimonies that you have founded them forever.

¹⁵³ Look on my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget your instruction. ¹⁵⁴ Plead my cause and redeem me; give me life according to your promise. ¹⁵⁵ Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek your statutes. ¹⁵⁶ Great is your tender compassion, my Father; give me life according to your judgments. ¹⁵⁷ Many are my persecutors and my foes, but I do not swerve from your testimonies. ¹⁵⁸ I look at the faithless with disgust, because they do not keep your word. ¹⁵⁹ Consider how I love your precepts! Give me life, my Father, according to your covenant love. ¹⁶⁰ The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous judgments endures forever.

¹⁶¹ Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words. ¹⁶² I rejoice at your word like one who finds great treasure. ¹⁶³ I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your instruction. ¹⁶⁴ Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous judgments. ¹⁶⁵ Those who love your instruction have great peace; nothing can make them stumble. ¹⁶⁶ I hope for your salvation, my Father, and I keep your commandments. ¹⁶⁷ My soul keeps your testimonies; I love them exceedingly. ¹⁶⁸ I keep your precepts and testimonies, for all my ways are before you.

¹⁶⁹ Let my cry come before you, my Father; give me understanding according to your word. ¹⁷⁰ Let my plea come before you; deliver me according to your word. ¹⁷¹ My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me your statutes. ¹⁷² My tongue will sing of your word, for all your commandments are right. ¹⁷³ Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts. ¹⁷⁴ I long for your salvation, my Father, and your instruction is my delight. ¹⁷⁵ Let my soul live and praise you, and let your judgments help me. ¹⁷⁶ I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments. ^c c v176 The longest psalm ends with a confession of wandering and a plea for the Father to come find him — the same shepherd-heart Jesus reveals when he leaves the ninety-nine to seek the one sheep that strayed (Luke 15:4-6).