Psalm 119:1-40
New American Standard Bible
Meditations and Prayers Relating to the Law of God.
Aleph
119 Blessed are those whose way is [a](A)blameless,
Who (B)walk in the Law of the Lord.
2 Blessed are those who (C)comply with His [b]testimonies,
And (D)seek Him (E)with all their heart.
3 They also (F)do no injustice;
They walk in His ways.
4 You have [c](G)ordained Your precepts,
[d]That we are to keep them diligently.
5 Oh that my (H)ways may be established
To (I)keep Your statutes!
6 Then I (J)will not be ashamed
When I look at all Your commandments.
7 I will (K)give thanks to You with uprightness of heart,
When I learn Your righteous judgments.
8 I will keep Your statutes;
Do not utterly (L)abandon me!
Beth
9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By (M)keeping it according to Your word.
10 With (N)all my heart I have sought You;
Do not let me (O)wander from Your commandments.
11 I have (P)treasured Your word in my heart,
So that I may not sin against You.
12 Blessed are You, Lord;
(Q)Teach me Your statutes.
13 With my lips I have (R)told of
All the (S)ordinances of Your mouth.
14 I have (T)rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
[e]As much as in all riches.
15 I will (U)meditate on Your precepts
And [f]regard (V)Your ways.
16 I shall [g](W)delight in Your statutes;
I will (X)not forget Your word.
Gimel
17 (Y)Deal generously with Your servant,
That I may live and keep Your word.
18 Open my eyes, that I may behold
Wonderful things from Your Law.
19 I am a (Z)stranger on the earth;
Do not hide Your commandments from me.
20 My soul is crushed [h](AA)with longing
For Your ordinances at all times.
21 You (AB)rebuke the arrogant, [i]the (AC)cursed,
Who (AD)wander from Your commandments.
22 (AE)Take disgrace and contempt away from me,
For I (AF)comply with Your testimonies.
23 Even though (AG)rulers sit and speak against me,
Your servant (AH)meditates on Your statutes.
24 Your testimonies also are my (AI)delight;
They are [j]my advisers.
Daleth
25 My (AJ)soul clings to the dust;
(AK)Revive me (AL)according to Your word.
26 I have told of my ways, and You have answered me;
(AM)Teach me Your statutes.
27 Make me understand the way of Your precepts,
And I will (AN)meditate on Your wonders.
28 My (AO)soul [k]weeps because of grief;
(AP)Strengthen me according to Your word.
29 Remove the false way from me,
And graciously grant me Your Law.
30 I have chosen the faithful way;
I have [l]placed Your judgments before me.
31 I (AQ)cling to Your testimonies;
Lord, do not put me to shame!
32 I shall run the way of Your commandments,
For You will (AR)enlarge my heart.
He
33 (AS)Teach me, the way of Your statutes, Lord,
And I shall comply with it to the end.
34 (AT)Give me understanding, so that I may (AU)comply with Your Law
And keep it (AV)with all my heart.
35 Make me walk in the (AW)path of Your commandments,
For I (AX)delight in it.
36 (AY)Incline my heart to Your testimonies,
And not to (AZ)dishonest gain.
37 Turn my (BA)eyes away from looking at what is worthless,
And (BB)revive me in Your ways.
38 (BC)Establish Your [m]word to Your servant
[n]As that which produces reverence for You.
39 (BD)Take away my disgrace which I dread,
For Your judgments are good.
40 Behold, I (BE)long for Your precepts;
Revive me through Your righteousness.
Footnotes
- Psalm 119:1 Lit complete; or having integrity
- Psalm 119:2 Or provisions, and so throughout the Psalm
- Psalm 119:4 Lit commanded
- Psalm 119:4 Lit To keep
- Psalm 119:14 Lit As over all
- Psalm 119:15 Or look at
- Psalm 119:16 Lit delight myself
- Psalm 119:20 Lit for
- Psalm 119:21 Or Cursed are those who wander...
- Psalm 119:24 Lit the men of my counsel
- Psalm 119:28 Lit drops
- Psalm 119:30 Or accounted Your ordinances worthy
- Psalm 119:38 Or promise
- Psalm 119:38 Lit Which is for the fear of You
Psalm 119:1-40
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Psalm 119
The Glories of God’s Law
1 Happy are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the Lord.(A)
2 Happy are those who keep his decrees,
who seek him with their whole heart,
3 who also do no wrong
but walk in his ways.(B)
4 You have commanded your precepts
to be kept diligently.
5 O that my ways may be steadfast
in keeping your statutes!
6 Then I shall not be put to shame,
having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.(C)
7 I will praise you with an upright heart,
when I learn your righteous ordinances.(D)
8 I will observe your statutes;
do not utterly forsake me.
9 How can young people keep their way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.(E)
10 With my whole heart I seek you;
do not let me stray from your commandments.(F)
11 I treasure your word in my heart,
so that I may not sin against you.(G)
12 Blessed are you, O Lord;
teach me your statutes.(H)
13 With my lips I declare
all the ordinances of your mouth.(I)
14 I delight in the way of your decrees
as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on your precepts
and fix my eyes on your ways.(J)
16 I will delight in your statutes;
I will not forget your word.(K)
17 Deal bountifully with your servant,
so that I may live and observe your word.(L)
18 Open my eyes, so that I may behold
wondrous things out of your law.
19 I live as an alien in the land;
do not hide your commandments from me.(M)
20 My soul is consumed with longing
for your ordinances at all times.(N)
21 You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones,
who wander from your commandments;(O)
22 take away from me their scorn and contempt,
for I have kept your decrees.(P)
23 Even though princes sit plotting against me,
your servant will meditate on your statutes.(Q)
24 Your decrees are my delight;
they are my counselors.(R)
25 My soul clings to the dust;
revive me according to your word.(S)
26 When I told of my ways, you answered me;
teach me your statutes.(T)
27 Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wondrous works.(U)
28 My soul melts away for sorrow;
strengthen me according to your word.(V)
29 Put false ways far from me,
and graciously teach me your law.
30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
I set your ordinances before me.
31 I cling to your decrees, O Lord;
let me not be put to shame.(W)
32 I run the way of your commandments,
for you enlarge my understanding.(X)
33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes,
and I will observe it to the end.(Y)
34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
and observe it with my whole heart.(Z)
35 Lead me in the path of your commandments,
for I delight in it.
36 Turn my heart to your decrees
and not to selfish gain.(AA)
37 Turn my eyes from looking at vanities;
be gracious to me[a] according to your word.(AB)
38 Confirm to your servant your promise,
which is for those who fear you.(AC)
39 Turn away the disgrace that I dread,
for your ordinances are good.
40 See, I have longed for your precepts;
in your righteousness be gracious to me.[b](AD)
Psalm 119
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
119 In my trouble I cried to the Lord: and he heard me.
2 O Lord, deliver my soul from wicked lips, and a deceitful tongue.
3 What shall be given to thee, or what shall be added to thee, to a deceitful tongue?
4 The sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals that lay waste.
5 Woe is me, that my sojourning is prolonged! I have dwelt with the inhabitants of cedar:
6 My soul hath been long a sojourner.
7 With them that hated peace I was peaceable: when I spoke to them they fought against me without cause.
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Psalm 119:1-40
The Message
119 1-8 You’re blessed when you stay on course,
walking steadily on the road revealed by God.
You’re blessed when you follow his directions,
doing your best to find him.
That’s right—you don’t go off on your own;
you walk straight along the road he set.
You, God, prescribed the right way to live;
now you expect us to live it.
Oh, that my steps might be steady,
keeping to the course you set;
Then I’d never have any regrets
in comparing my life with your counsel.
I thank you for speaking straight from your heart;
I learn the pattern of your righteous ways.
I’m going to do what you tell me to do;
don’t ever walk off and leave me.
* * *
9-16 How can a young person live a clean life?
By carefully reading the map of your Word.
I’m single-minded in pursuit of you;
don’t let me miss the road signs you’ve posted.
I’ve banked your promises in the vault of my heart
so I won’t sin myself bankrupt.
Be blessed, God;
train me in your ways of wise living.
I’ll transfer to my lips
all the counsel that comes from your mouth;
I delight far more in what you tell me about living
than in gathering a pile of riches.
I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you,
I attentively watch how you’ve done it.
I relish everything you’ve told me of life,
I won’t forget a word of it.
* * *
17-24 Be generous with me and I’ll live a full life;
not for a minute will I take my eyes off your road.
Open my eyes so I can see
what you show me of your miracle-wonders.
I’m a stranger in these parts;
give me clear directions.
My soul is starved and hungry, ravenous!—
insatiable for your nourishing commands.
And those who think they know so much,
ignoring everything you tell them—let them have it!
Don’t let them mock and humiliate me;
I’ve been careful to do just what you said.
While bad neighbors maliciously gossip about me,
I’m absorbed in pondering your wise counsel.
Yes, your sayings on life are what give me delight;
I listen to them as to good neighbors!
* * *
25-32 I’m feeling terrible—I couldn’t feel worse!
Get me on my feet again. You promised, remember?
When I told my story, you responded;
train me well in your deep wisdom.
Help me understand these things inside and out
so I can ponder your miracle-wonders.
My sad life’s dilapidated, a falling-down barn;
build me up again by your Word.
Barricade the road that goes Nowhere;
grace me with your clear revelation.
I choose the true road to Somewhere,
I post your road signs at every curve and corner.
I grasp and cling to whatever you tell me;
God, don’t let me down!
I’ll run the course you lay out for me
if you’ll just show me how.
* * *
33-40 God, teach me lessons for living
so I can stay the course.
Give me insight so I can do what you tell me—
my whole life one long, obedient response.
Guide me down the road of your commandments;
I love traveling this freeway!
Give me an appetite for your words of wisdom,
and not for piling up loot.
Divert my eyes from toys and trinkets,
invigorate me on the pilgrim way.
Affirm your promises to me—
promises made to all who fear you.
Deflect the harsh words of my critics—
but what you say is always so good.
See how hungry I am for your counsel;
preserve my life through your righteous ways!
* * *
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New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson