Psalm 119:33-72

Common English Bible

³³ Lord, teach me what your statutes are about,
    and I will guard every part of them.
³⁴ Help me understand so I can guard your Instruction
    and keep it with all my heart.
³⁵ Lead me on the trail of your commandments
    because that is what I want.
³⁶ Turn my heart to your laws,
    not to greedy gain.
³⁷ Turn my eyes away from looking at worthless things.
    Make me live by your way.
³⁸ Confirm your promise to your servant—
    the promise that is for all those who honor you.
³⁹ Remove the insults that I dread
    because your rules are good.
⁴⁰ Look how I desire your precepts!
    Make me live by your righteousness.

⁴¹ Lord, let your faithful love come to me—
        let your salvation come to me according to your promise—
⁴²     so I can have a response for those who mock me
        because I have trusted in your word!
⁴³ Please don’t take your true word out of my mouth,
    because I have waited for your rules.
⁴⁴ I will always keep your Instruction,
    always and forever!
⁴⁵ I will walk around in wide-open spaces,
    because I have pursued your precepts.
⁴⁶ I will talk about your laws
    before rulers with no shame whatsoever.
⁴⁷ I will rejoice in your commandments
    because I love them.
⁴⁸ I will lift up my hands to your commandments
    because I love them,
    and I will contemplate all your statutes.

⁴⁹ Remember your promise to your servant,
    for which you made me wait.
⁵⁰ My comfort during my suffering is this:
    your word gives me new life.
⁵¹ The arrogant make fun of me to no end,
    but I haven’t deviated from your Instruction.
⁵² When I remember your ancient rules,
    I’m comforted, Lord.
⁵³ But I’m seized with anger because of the wicked—
    because of those who abandon your Instruction.
⁵⁴ Your statutes have been my songs of praise
    wherever I lived as an immigrant.
⁵⁵ Lord, I remember your name at nighttime,
    and I keep your Instruction.
⁵⁶ This has been my practice
    because I guard your precepts.

⁵⁷ The Lord is my possession.
    I promise to do what you have said.
⁵⁸ I’ve sought your favor with all my heart;
    have mercy on me according to your word.
⁵⁹ I’ve considered my ways and turned my feet back to your laws.
⁶⁰ I hurry to keep your commandments—
    I never put it off!
⁶¹ Though the wicked have surrounded me with their ropes,
    I haven’t forgotten your Instruction.
⁶² I get up in the middle of the night to give thanks to you
    because of your righteous rules.
⁶³ I’m a friend to everyone who honors you
    and to all who keep your precepts.
⁶⁴ Lord, the world is full of your faithful love!
    Teach me your statutes!

⁶⁵ You have treated your servant well,
    Lord, according to your promise.
⁶⁶ Teach me knowledge and good judgment
    because I’ve put my trust in your commandments.
⁶⁷ Before I suffered, I took the wrong way,
    but now I do what you say.
⁶⁸ You are good and you do good.
    Teach me your statutes!
⁶⁹ The arrogant cover me with their lies,
    but I guard your precepts with all my heart.
⁷⁰ Their hearts are unfeeling, like blubber,
    but I rejoice in your Instruction.
⁷¹ My suffering was good for me,
    because through it I learned your statutes.
⁷² The Instruction you’ve given to me is better
    than thousands of pieces of gold and silver!