Psalm 119

Delight in God’s Word

א Alef

How[a] happy are those whose way is blameless,(A)
who live according to the Lord’s instruction!(B)
Happy are those who keep His decrees(C)
and seek Him with all their heart.(D)
They do nothing wrong;(E)
they follow His ways.
You have commanded that Your precepts(F)
be diligently kept.
If only my ways were committed
to keeping Your statutes!(G)
Then I would not be ashamed(H)
when I think about all Your commands.
I will praise You with a sincere heart(I)
when I learn Your righteous judgments.
I will keep Your statutes;
never abandon me.(J)

ב Bet

How can a young man keep his way pure?
By keeping Your[b] word.(K)
10 I have sought You with all my heart;(L)
don’t let me wander from Your commands.(M)
11 I have treasured Your word in my heart(N)
so that I may not sin against You.
12 Lord, may You be praised;
teach me Your statutes.(O)
13 With my lips I proclaim
all the judgments from Your mouth.(P)
14 I rejoice in the way revealed by Your decrees(Q)
as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on Your precepts(R)
and think about Your ways.(S)
16 I will delight in Your statutes;(T)
I will not forget Your word.

ג Gimel

17 Deal generously with Your servant(U)
so that I might live;
then I will keep Your word.
18 Open my eyes so that I may contemplate
wonderful things from Your instruction.
19 I am a stranger on earth;(V)
do not hide Your commands from me.
20 I am continually overcome
with longing for Your judgments.(W)
21 You rebuke the proud,
the ones under a curse,(X)
who wander from Your commands.(Y)
22 Take insult and contempt away from me,(Z)
for I have kept Your decrees.
23 Though princes sit together speaking against me,(AA)
Your servant will think about Your statutes;(AB)
24 Your decrees are my delight
and my counselors.(AC)

ד Dalet

25 My life is down in the dust;(AD)
give me life(AE) through Your word.
26 I told You about my life,
and You listened to me;
teach me Your statutes.(AF)
27 Help me understand
the meaning of Your precepts
so that I can meditate on Your wonders.(AG)
28 I am weary[c] from grief;
strengthen me through Your word.(AH)
29 Keep me from the way of deceit
and graciously give me Your instruction.
30 I have chosen the way of truth;
I have set Your ordinances before me.(AI)
31 I cling to Your decrees;
Lord, do not put me to shame.(AJ)
32 I pursue the way of Your commands,
for You broaden my understanding.[d](AK)

ה He

33 Teach me, Lord, the meaning[e] of Your statutes,
and I will always keep them.[f](AL)
34 Help me understand Your instruction,(AM)
and I will obey it
and follow it with all my heart.(AN)
35 Help me stay on the path of Your commands,(AO)
for I take pleasure in it.(AP)
36 Turn my heart to Your decrees(AQ)
and not to material gain.(AR)
37 Turn my eyes
from looking at what is worthless;(AS)
give me life in Your ways.[g](AT)
38 Confirm what You said to Your servant,(AU)
for it produces reverence for You.
39 Turn away the disgrace I dread;(AV)
indeed, Your judgments are good.
40 How I long for Your precepts!(AW)
Give me life through Your righteousness.

ו Vav

41 Let Your faithful love come to me, Lord,(AX)
Your salvation, as You promised.(AY)
42 Then I can answer the one who taunts me,(AZ)
for I trust in Your word.
43 Never take the word of truth from my mouth,
for I hope in Your judgments.(BA)
44 I will always obey Your instruction,
forever and ever.(BB)
45 I will walk freely in an open place(BC)
because I seek Your precepts.(BD)
46 I will speak of Your decrees before kings
and not be ashamed.(BE)
47 I delight in Your commands,
which I love.(BF)
48 I will lift up my hands(BG) to Your commands,
which I love,
and will meditate on Your statutes.(BH)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 119:1 The stanzas of this poem form an acrostic.
  2. Psalm 119:9 Or keeping it according to Your
  3. Psalm 119:28 Or I weep
  4. Psalm 119:32 Lit You enlarge my heart
  5. Psalm 119:33 Lit way
  6. Psalm 119:33 Or will keep it as my reward
  7. Psalm 119:37 Some Hb mss, Tg read word

Psalm 119[a]

א Aleph

Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,(A)
    who walk(B) according to the law of the Lord.(C)
Blessed(D) are those who keep his statutes(E)
    and seek him(F) with all their heart—(G)
they do no wrong(H)
    but follow his ways.(I)
You have laid down precepts(J)
    that are to be fully obeyed.(K)
Oh, that my ways were steadfast
    in obeying your decrees!(L)
Then I would not be put to shame(M)
    when I consider all your commands.(N)
I will praise you with an upright heart
    as I learn your righteous laws.(O)
I will obey your decrees;
    do not utterly forsake me.(P)

ב Beth

How can a young person stay on the path of purity?(Q)
    By living according to your word.(R)
10 I seek you with all my heart;(S)
    do not let me stray from your commands.(T)
11 I have hidden your word in my heart(U)
    that I might not sin(V) against you.
12 Praise be(W) to you, Lord;
    teach me(X) your decrees.(Y)
13 With my lips I recount
    all the laws that come from your mouth.(Z)
14 I rejoice in following your statutes(AA)
    as one rejoices in great riches.
15 I meditate on your precepts(AB)
    and consider your ways.
16 I delight(AC) in your decrees;
    I will not neglect your word.

ג Gimel

17 Be good to your servant(AD) while I live,
    that I may obey your word.(AE)
18 Open my eyes that I may see
    wonderful things in your law.
19 I am a stranger on earth;(AF)
    do not hide your commands from me.
20 My soul is consumed(AG) with longing
    for your laws(AH) at all times.
21 You rebuke the arrogant,(AI) who are accursed,(AJ)
    those who stray(AK) from your commands.
22 Remove from me their scorn(AL) and contempt,
    for I keep your statutes.(AM)
23 Though rulers sit together and slander me,
    your servant will meditate on your decrees.
24 Your statutes are my delight;
    they are my counselors.

ד Daleth

25 I am laid low in the dust;(AN)
    preserve my life(AO) according to your word.(AP)
26 I gave an account of my ways and you answered me;
    teach me your decrees.(AQ)
27 Cause me to understand the way of your precepts,
    that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds.(AR)
28 My soul is weary with sorrow;(AS)
    strengthen me(AT) according to your word.(AU)
29 Keep me from deceitful ways;(AV)
    be gracious to me(AW) and teach me your law.
30 I have chosen(AX) the way of faithfulness;(AY)
    I have set my heart(AZ) on your laws.
31 I hold fast(BA) to your statutes, Lord;
    do not let me be put to shame.
32 I run in the path of your commands,
    for you have broadened my understanding.

ה He

33 Teach me,(BB) Lord, the way of your decrees,
    that I may follow it to the end.[b]
34 Give me understanding,(BC) so that I may keep your law(BD)
    and obey it with all my heart.(BE)
35 Direct me(BF) in the path of your commands,(BG)
    for there I find delight.(BH)
36 Turn my heart(BI) toward your statutes
    and not toward selfish gain.(BJ)
37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
    preserve my life(BK) according to your word.[c](BL)
38 Fulfill your promise(BM) to your servant,
    so that you may be feared.
39 Take away the disgrace(BN) I dread,
    for your laws are good.
40 How I long(BO) for your precepts!
    In your righteousness preserve my life.(BP)

ו Waw

41 May your unfailing love(BQ) come to me, Lord,
    your salvation, according to your promise;(BR)
42 then I can answer(BS) anyone who taunts me,(BT)
    for I trust in your word.
43 Never take your word of truth from my mouth,(BU)
    for I have put my hope(BV) in your laws.
44 I will always obey your law,(BW)
    for ever and ever.
45 I will walk about in freedom,
    for I have sought out your precepts.(BX)
46 I will speak of your statutes before kings(BY)
    and will not be put to shame,(BZ)
47 for I delight(CA) in your commands
    because I love them.(CB)
48 I reach out for your commands, which I love,
    that I may meditate(CC) on your decrees.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 119:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the stanzas of which begin with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet; moreover, the verses of each stanza begin with the same letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
  2. Psalm 119:33 Or follow it for its reward
  3. Psalm 119:37 Two manuscripts of the Masoretic Text and Dead Sea Scrolls; most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text life in your way