מ Mem

97 Oh, how I love your law!(A)
    I meditate(B) on it all day long.
98 Your commands are always with me
    and make me wiser(C) than my enemies.
99 I have more insight than all my teachers,
    for I meditate on your statutes.(D)
100 I have more understanding than the elders,
    for I obey your precepts.(E)
101 I have kept my feet(F) from every evil path
    so that I might obey your word.(G)
102 I have not departed from your laws,(H)
    for you yourself have taught(I) me.
103 How sweet are your words to my taste,
    sweeter than honey(J) to my mouth!(K)
104 I gain understanding(L) from your precepts;
    therefore I hate every wrong path.(M)

נ Nun

105 Your word is a lamp(N) for my feet,
    a light(O) on my path.
106 I have taken an oath(P) and confirmed it,
    that I will follow your righteous laws.(Q)
107 I have suffered much;
    preserve my life,(R) Lord, according to your word.
108 Accept, Lord, the willing praise of my mouth,(S)
    and teach me your laws.(T)
109 Though I constantly take my life in my hands,(U)
    I will not forget(V) your law.
110 The wicked have set a snare(W) for me,
    but I have not strayed(X) from your precepts.
111 Your statutes are my heritage forever;
    they are the joy of my heart.(Y)
112 My heart is set(Z) on keeping your decrees
    to the very end.[a](AA)

ס Samekh

113 I hate double-minded people,(AB)
    but I love your law.(AC)
114 You are my refuge and my shield;(AD)
    I have put my hope(AE) in your word.
115 Away from me,(AF) you evildoers,
    that I may keep the commands of my God!
116 Sustain me,(AG) my God, according to your promise,(AH) and I will live;
    do not let my hopes be dashed.(AI)
117 Uphold me,(AJ) and I will be delivered;(AK)
    I will always have regard for your decrees.(AL)
118 You reject all who stray(AM) from your decrees,
    for their delusions come to nothing.
119 All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross;(AN)
    therefore I love your statutes.(AO)
120 My flesh trembles(AP) in fear of you;(AQ)
    I stand in awe(AR) of your laws.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 119:112 Or decrees / for their enduring reward

Psalm 81[a]

For the director of music. According to gittith.[b] Of Asaph.

Sing for joy to God our strength;
    shout aloud to the God of Jacob!(A)
Begin the music, strike the timbrel,(B)
    play the melodious harp(C) and lyre.(D)

Sound the ram’s horn(E) at the New Moon,(F)
    and when the moon is full, on the day of our festival;
this is a decree for Israel,
    an ordinance of the God of Jacob.(G)
When God went out against Egypt,(H)
    he established it as a statute for Joseph.

I heard an unknown voice say:(I)

“I removed the burden(J) from their shoulders;(K)
    their hands were set free from the basket.
In your distress you called(L) and I rescued you,
    I answered(M) you out of a thundercloud;
    I tested you at the waters of Meribah.[c](N)
Hear me, my people,(O) and I will warn you—
    if you would only listen to me, Israel!
You shall have no foreign god(P) among you;
    you shall not worship any god other than me.
10 I am the Lord your God,
    who brought you up out of Egypt.(Q)
Open(R) wide your mouth and I will fill(S) it.

11 “But my people would not listen to me;
    Israel would not submit to me.(T)
12 So I gave them over(U) to their stubborn hearts
    to follow their own devices.

13 “If my people would only listen to me,(V)
    if Israel would only follow my ways,
14 how quickly I would subdue(W) their enemies
    and turn my hand against(X) their foes!
15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe(Y) before him,
    and their punishment would last forever.
16 But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;(Z)
    with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 81:1 In Hebrew texts 81:1-16 is numbered 81:2-17.
  2. Psalm 81:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  3. Psalm 81:7 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.

Psalm 82

A psalm of Asaph.

God presides in the great assembly;
    he renders judgment(A) among the “gods”:(B)

“How long will you[a] defend the unjust
    and show partiality(C) to the wicked?[b](D)
Defend the weak and the fatherless;(E)
    uphold the cause of the poor(F) and the oppressed.
Rescue the weak and the needy;
    deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

“The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing.(G)
    They walk about in darkness;(H)
    all the foundations(I) of the earth are shaken.

“I said, ‘You are “gods”;(J)
    you are all sons of the Most High.’
But you will die(K) like mere mortals;
    you will fall like every other ruler.”

Rise up,(L) O God, judge(M) the earth,
    for all the nations are your inheritance.(N)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 82:2 The Hebrew is plural.
  2. Psalm 82:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.

Bible Gateway Recommends