Meditations on the Excellencies of the Word of God
א ALEPH
Who walk in the law of the Lord!
2Blessed are those who keep His testimonies,
Who seek Him with the whole heart!
3They also do no iniquity;
They walk in His ways.
4You have commanded us
To keep Your precepts diligently.
5Oh, that my ways were directed
To keep Your statutes!
6Then I would not be ashamed,
When I look into all Your commandments.
7I will praise You with uprightness of heart,
When I learn Your righteous judgments.
8I will keep Your statutes;
Oh, do not forsake me utterly!
ב BETH
9How can a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your word.
10With my whole heart I have sought You;
Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
11Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You.
Teach me Your statutes.
13With my lips I have declared
All the judgments of Your mouth.
14I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
As much as in all riches.
15I will meditate on Your precepts,
And 119:15 look intocontemplate Your ways.
16I will delight myself in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your word.
ג GIMEL
17Deal bountifully with Your servant,
That I may live and keep Your word.
18Open my eyes, that I may see
Wondrous things from Your law.
19I am a stranger in the earth;
Do not hide Your commandments from me.
20My soul 119:20 is crushedbreaks with longing
For Your judgments at all times.
21You rebuke the proud—the cursed,
Who stray from Your commandments.
22Remove from me reproach and contempt,
For I have kept Your testimonies.
23Princes also sit and speak against me,
But Your servant meditates on Your statutes.
24Your testimonies also are my delight
And my counselors.
ד DALETH
25My soul clings to the dust;
Revive me according to Your word.
26I have declared my ways, and You answered me;
Teach me Your statutes.
27Make me understand the way of Your precepts;
So shall I meditate on Your wonderful works.
Strengthen me according to Your word.
29Remove from me the way of lying,
And grant me Your law graciously.
30I have chosen the way of truth;
Your judgments I have laid before me.
31I cling to Your testimonies;
O Lord, do not put me to shame!
32I will run the course of Your commandments,
For You shall enlarge my heart.
ה HE
33Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes,
And I shall keep it to the end.
34Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law;
Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
35Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,
For I delight in it.
36119:36 Cause me to long forIncline my heart to Your testimonies,
And not to covetousness.
37Turn119:37 Lit. Cause my eyes to pass away from away my eyes from looking at worthless things,
And revive me in 119:37 So with MT, LXX, Vg.; Tg. Your wordsYour way.
38Establish Your word to Your servant,
Who is devoted to fearing You.
39Turn away my reproach which I dread,
For Your judgments are good.
40Behold, I long for Your precepts;
Revive me in Your righteousness.
ו WAW
41Let Your mercies come also to me, O Lord—
Your salvation according to Your word.
42So shall I have an answer for him who 119:42 tauntsreproaches me,
For I trust in Your word.
43And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
For I have hoped in Your ordinances.
44So shall I keep Your law continually,
Forever and ever.
45And I will walk 119:45 Lit. in a wide placeat liberty,
For I seek Your precepts.
46I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings,
And will not be ashamed.
47And I will delight myself in Your commandments,
Which I love.
48My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments,
Which I love,
And I will meditate on Your statutes.
ז ZAYIN
49Remember the word to Your servant,
Upon which You have caused me to hope.
50This is my comfort in my affliction,
For Your word has given me life.
51The proud have me in great derision,
Yet I do not turn aside from Your law.
52I remembered Your judgments of old, O Lord,
And have comforted myself.
53Indignation has taken hold of me
Because of the wicked, who forsake Your law.
54Your statutes have been my songs
In the house of my pilgrimage.
55I remember Your name in the night, O Lord,
And I keep Your law.
56This has become mine,
Because I kept Your precepts.
ח HETH
I have said that I would keep Your words.
58I entreated Your favor with my whole heart;
Be merciful to me according to Your word.
59I thought about my ways,
And turned my feet to Your testimonies.
60I made haste, and did not delay
To keep Your commandments.
61The cords of the wicked have bound me,
But I have not forgotten Your law.
62At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You,
Because of Your righteous judgments.
63I am a companion of all who fear You,
And of those who keep Your precepts.
64The earth, O Lord, is full of Your mercy;
Teach me Your statutes.
ט TETH
65You have dealt well with Your servant,
O Lord, according to Your word.
66Teach me good judgment and knowledge,
For I believe Your commandments.
67Before I was afflicted I went astray,
But now I keep Your word.
68You are good, and do good;
Teach me Your statutes.
69The proud have forged119:69 Lit. smeared me with a lie a lie against me,
But I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart.
70Their heart is 119:70 Insensibleas fat as grease,
But I delight in Your law.
71It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes.
72The law of Your mouth is better to me
Than thousands of coins of gold and silver.
י YOD
73Your hands have made me and fashioned me;
Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.
74Those who fear You will be glad when they see me,
Because I have hoped in Your word.
And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.
76Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort,
According to Your word to Your servant.
77Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live;
For Your law is my delight.
78Let the proud be ashamed,
For they treated me wrongfully with falsehood;
But I will meditate on Your precepts.
79Let those who fear You turn to me,
Those who know Your testimonies.
80Let my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes,
That I may not be ashamed.
כ KAPH
81My soul faints for Your salvation,
But I hope in Your word.
82My eyes fail from searching Your word,
Saying, “When will You comfort me?”
83For I have become like a wineskin in smoke,
Yet I do not forget Your statutes.
84How many are the days of Your servant?
When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me?
85The proud have dug pits for me,
Which is not according to Your law.
86All Your commandments are faithful;
They persecute me wrongfully;
Help me!
87They almost made an end of me on earth,
But I did not forsake Your precepts.
88Revive me according to Your lovingkindness,
So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.
ל LAMED
89Forever, O Lord,
Your word 119:89 Lit. stands firmis settled in heaven.
90Your faithfulness endures to all generations;
You established the earth, and it 119:90 Lit. standsabides.
91They continue this day according to Your ordinances,
For all are Your servants.
92Unless Your law had been my delight,
I would then have perished in my affliction.
93I will never forget Your precepts,
For by them You have given me life.
94I am Yours, save me;
For I have sought Your precepts.
95The wicked wait for me to destroy me,
But I will 119:95 give attention toconsider Your testimonies.
96I have seen the consummation of all perfection,
But Your commandment is exceedingly broad.
מ MEM
97Oh, how I love Your law!
It is my meditation all the day.
98You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies;
For they are ever with me.
99I have more understanding than all my teachers,
For Your testimonies are my meditation.
100I understand more than the 119:100 agedancients,
Because I keep Your precepts.
101I have restrained my feet from every evil way,
That I may keep Your word.
102I have not departed from Your judgments,
For You Yourself have taught me.
103How sweet are Your words to my taste,
Sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104Through Your precepts I get understanding;
Therefore I hate every false way.
נ NUN
105Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.
106I have sworn and confirmed
That I will keep Your righteous judgments.
107I am afflicted very much;
Revive me, O Lord, according to Your word.
108Accept, I pray, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord,
And teach me Your judgments.
Yet I do not forget Your law.
110The wicked have laid a snare for me,
Yet I have not strayed from Your precepts.
111Your testimonies I have taken as a 119:111 inheritanceheritage forever,
For they are the rejoicing of my heart.
112I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes
Forever, to the very end.
ס SAMEK
113I hate the 119:113 Lit. divided in heart or minddouble-minded,
But I love Your law.
114You are my hiding place and my shield;
I hope in Your word.
115Depart from me, you evildoers,
For I will keep the commandments of my God!
116Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live;
And do not let me be ashamed of my hope.
117119:117 Uphold meHold me up, and I shall be safe,
And I shall observe Your statutes continually.
118You reject all those who stray from Your statutes,
For their deceit is falsehood.
119You 119:119 destroy, lit. cause to ceaseput away all the wicked of the earth like 119:119 slag or refusedross;
Therefore I love Your testimonies.
120My flesh trembles for fear of You,
And I am afraid of Your judgments.
ע AYIN
121I have done justice and righteousness;
Do not leave me to my oppressors.
122Be surety119:122 guaranty for Your servant for good;
Do not let the proud oppress me.
123My eyes fail from seeking Your salvation
And Your righteous word.
124Deal with Your servant according to Your mercy,
And teach me Your statutes.
125I am Your servant;
Give me understanding,
That I may know Your testimonies.
For they have 119:126 broken Your lawregarded Your law as void.
127Therefore I love Your commandments
More than gold, yes, than fine gold!
I consider to be right;
I hate every false way.
פ PE
129Your testimonies are wonderful;
Therefore my soul keeps them.
130The entrance of Your words gives light;
It gives understanding to the simple.
131I opened my mouth and panted,
For I longed for Your commandments.
132Look upon me and be merciful to me,
As Your custom is toward those who love Your name.
133Direct my steps by Your word,
And let no iniquity have dominion over me.
134Redeem me from the oppression of man,
That I may keep Your precepts.
135Make Your face shine upon Your servant,
And teach me Your statutes.
136Rivers of water run down from my eyes,
Because men do not keep Your law.
צ TSADDE
And upright are Your judgments.
138Your testimonies, which You have commanded,
Are righteous and very faithful.
139My zeal has 119:139 put an end toconsumed me,
Because my enemies have forgotten Your words.
Therefore Your servant loves it.
141I am small and despised,
Yet I do not forget Your precepts.
142Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
And Your law is truth.
143Trouble and anguish have 119:143 Lit. foundovertaken me,
Yet Your commandments are my delights.
144The righteousness of Your testimonies is everlasting;
Give me understanding, and I shall live.
ק QOPH
145I cry out with my whole heart;
Hear me, O Lord!
I will keep Your statutes.
146I cry out to You;
Save me, and I will keep Your testimonies.
147I rise before the dawning of the morning,
And cry for help;
I hope in Your word.
148My eyes are awake through the night watches,
That I may meditate on Your word.
149Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness;
O Lord, revive me according to Your justice.
150They draw near who follow after wickedness;
They are far from Your law.
And all Your commandments are truth.
152Concerning Your testimonies,
I have known of old that You have founded them forever.
ר RESH
153Consider my affliction and deliver me,
For I do not forget Your law.
154Plead my cause and redeem me;
Revive me according to Your word.
155Salvation is far from the wicked,
For they do not seek Your statutes.
Revive me according to Your judgments.
157Many are my persecutors and my enemies,
Yet I do not turn from Your testimonies.
158I see the treacherous, and am disgusted,
Because they do not keep Your word.
159Consider how I love Your precepts;
Revive me, O Lord, according to Your lovingkindness.
160The entirety of Your word is truth,
And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.
ש SHIN
161Princes persecute me without a cause,
But my heart stands in awe of Your word.
162I rejoice at Your word
As one who finds great treasure.
163I hate and abhor lying,
But I love Your law.
164Seven times a day I praise You,
Because of Your righteous judgments.
165Great peace have those who love Your law,
And 119:165 Lit. they have no stumbling blocknothing causes them to stumble.
166Lord, I hope for Your salvation,
And I do Your commandments.
167My soul keeps Your testimonies,
And I love them exceedingly.
168I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies,
For all my ways are before You.
ת TAU
169Let my cry come before You, O Lord;
Give me understanding according to Your word.
170Let my 119:170 Prayer of supplicationsupplication come before You;
Deliver me according to Your word.
171My lips shall utter praise,
For You teach me Your statutes.
172My tongue shall speak of Your word,
For all Your commandments are righteousness.
173Let Your hand become my help,
For I have chosen Your precepts.
174I long for Your salvation, O Lord,
And Your law is my delight.
175Let my soul live, and it shall praise You;
And let Your judgments help me.
176I have gone astray like a lost sheep;
Seek Your servant,
For I do not forget Your commandments.
New King James Version®, Copyright© 1982, Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
