119
Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet
ALEPH
1 Blessed * This psalm is an acrostic poem of twenty-two stanzas, following the letters of the Hebrew alphabet; within a stanza, each verse begins with the same Hebrew letter. are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the Law of the LORD.
2 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies
and seek Him with all their heart.
3 They do no iniquity;
they walk in His ways.
4 You have ordained Your precepts,
that we should keep them diligently.
5 Oh, that my ways were committed
to keeping Your statutes!
6 Then I would not be ashamed
when I consider all Your commandments.
7 I will praise You with an upright heart
when I learn Your righteous judgments.
8 I will keep Your statutes;
do not utterly forsake me.
BETH
9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to Your word.
10 With all my heart I have sought You;
do not let me stray from Your commandments.
11 I have hidden Your word in my heart
that I might not sin against You.
12 Blessed are You, O LORD;
teach me Your statutes.
13 With my lips I proclaim
all the judgments of Your mouth.
14 I rejoice in the way of Your testimonies
as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on Your precepts
and regard Your ways.
16 I will delight in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your word.
GIMEL
17 Deal bountifully with Your servant,
that I may live and keep Your word.
18 Open my eyes that I may see
wondrous things from Your law.
19 I am a stranger on the earth;
do not hide Your commandments from me.
20 My soul is consumed with longing
for Your judgments at all times.
21 You rebuke the arrogant—
the cursed who stray from Your commandments.
22 Remove my scorn and contempt,
for I have kept Your testimonies.
23 Though rulers sit and slander me,
Your servant meditates on Your statutes.
24 Your testimonies are indeed my delight;
they are my counselors.
DALETH
25 My soul cleaves to the dust;
revive me according to Your word.
26 I recounted my ways, and You answered me;
teach me Your statutes.
27 Make clear to me the way of Your precepts;
then I will meditate on Your wonders.
28 My soul melts with sorrow;
strengthen me according to Your word.
29 Remove me from the path of deceit
and graciously grant me Your law.
30 I have chosen the way of truth;
I have set Your ordinances before me.
31 I cling to Your testimonies, O LORD;
let me not be put to shame.
32 I run in the path of Your commandments,
for You will enlarge my heart.
HE
33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes,
and I will keep them to the end.† Or keep them as my reward
34 Give me understanding that I may obey Your law,
and follow it with all my heart.
35 Direct me in the path of Your commandments,
for there I find delight.
36 Turn my heart to Your testimonies
and not to covetous gain.
37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
revive me with Your word.‡ Two MT manuscripts and DSS; most MT manuscripts in Your way
38 Establish Your word to Your servant,
to produce reverence for You.
39 Turn away the disgrace I dread,
for Your judgments are good.
40 How I long for Your precepts!
Revive me in Your righteousness.
WAW
41 May Your loving devotion come to me, O LORD,
Your salvation, according to Your promise.
42 Then I can answer him who taunts,
for I trust in Your word.
43 Never take Your word of truth from my mouth,
for I hope in Your judgments.
44 I will always obey Your law,
forever and ever.
45 And I will walk in freedom,
for I have sought Your precepts.
46 I will speak of Your testimonies before kings,
and I will not be ashamed.
47 I delight in Your commandments
because I love them.
48 I lift up my hands to Your commandments, which I love,
and I meditate on Your statutes.
ZAYIN
49 Remember Your word to Your servant,
upon which You have given me hope.
50 This is my comfort in affliction,
that Your promise has given me life.
51 The arrogant utterly deride me,
but I do not turn from Your law.
52 I remember Your judgments of old, O LORD,
and in them I find comfort.
53 Rage has taken hold of me
because of the wicked who reject Your law.
54 Your statutes are songs to me
in the house of my pilgrimage.
55 In the night, O LORD, I remember Your name,
that I may keep Your law.
56 This is my practice,
for I obey Your precepts.
HETH
57 The LORD is my portion;
I have promised to keep Your words.
58 I have sought Your face with all my heart;
be gracious to me according to Your promise.
59 I considered my ways
and turned my steps to Your testimonies.
60 I hurried without hesitating
to keep Your commandments.
61 Though the ropes of the wicked bind me,
I do not forget Your law.
62 At midnight I rise to give You thanks
for Your righteous judgments.
63 I am a friend to all who fear You,
and to those who keep Your precepts.
64 The earth is filled with Your loving devotion, O LORD;
teach me Your statutes.
TETH
65 You are good to Your servant, O LORD,
according to Your word.
66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge,
for I believe in Your commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted, I went astray;
but now I keep Your word.
68 You are good, and You do what is good;
teach me Your statutes.
69 Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies,
I keep Your precepts with all my heart.
70 Their hearts are hard § Or fat and callous,
but I delight in Your law.
71 It was good for me to be afflicted,
that I might learn Your statutes.
72 The law from Your mouth is more precious to me
than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.
YODH
73 Your hands have made me and fashioned me;
give me understanding to learn Your commandments.
74 May those who fear You see me and rejoice,
for I have hoped in Your word.
75 I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are righteous,
and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.
76 May Your loving devotion comfort me, I pray,
according to Your promise to Your servant.
77 May Your compassion come to me, that I may live,
for Your law is my delight.
78 May the arrogant be put to shame for subverting me with a lie;
I will meditate on Your precepts.
79 May those who fear You turn to me,
those who know Your testimonies.
80 May my heart be blameless in Your statutes,
that I may not be put to shame.
KAPH
81 My soul faints for Your salvation;
I wait for Your word.
82 My eyes fail, looking for Your promise;
I ask, “When will You comfort me?”
83 Though I am like a wineskin dried up by smoke,
I do not forget Your statutes.
84 How many days must Your servant wait?* Or How many are the days of Your servant?
When will You execute judgment on my persecutors?
85 The arrogant have dug pits for me
in violation of Your law.
86 All Your commandments are faithful;
I am persecuted without cause—help me!
87 They almost wiped me from the earth,
but I have not forsaken Your precepts.
88 Revive me according to Your loving devotion,
that I may obey the testimony of Your mouth.
LAMEDH
89 Your word, O LORD, is everlasting;
it is firmly fixed in the heavens.
90 Your faithfulness continues through all generations;
You established the earth, and it endures.
91 Your ordinances stand to this day,† Or They stand this day according to Your ordinances
for all things are servants to You.
92 If Your law had not been my delight,
then I would have perished in my affliction.
93 I will never forget Your precepts,
for by them You have revived me.
94 I am Yours; save me,
for I have sought Your precepts.
95 The wicked wait to destroy me,
but I will ponder Your testimonies.
96 I have seen a limit to all perfection,
but Your commandment is without limit.
MEM
97 Oh, how I love Your law!
All day long it is my meditation.
98 Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies,
for they are always with me.
99 I have more insight than all my teachers,
for Your testimonies are my meditation.
100 I discern more than the elders,
for I obey Your precepts.
101 I have kept my feet from every evil path,
that I may keep Your word.
102 I have not departed from Your ordinances,
for You Yourself have taught me.
103 How sweet are Your words to my taste—
sweeter than honey in my mouth!
104 I gain understanding from Your precepts;
therefore I hate every false way.
NUN
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
106 I have sworn and confirmed
that I will keep Your righteous judgments.
107 I am severely afflicted, O LORD;
revive me through Your word.
108 Accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD,
and teach me Your judgments.
109 I constantly take my life in my hands,
yet I do not forget Your law.
110 The wicked have set a snare for me,
but I have not strayed from Your precepts.
111 Your testimonies are my heritage forever,
for they are the joy of my heart.
112 I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes,
even to the very end.
SAMEKH
113 The double-minded I despise,
but Your law I love.
114 You are my hiding place and my shield;
I put my hope in Your word.
115 Depart from me, you evildoers,
that I may obey the commandments of my God.
116 Sustain me as You promised, that I may live;
let me not be ashamed of my hope.
117 Uphold me, and I will be saved,
that I may always regard Your statutes.
118 You reject all who stray from Your statutes,
for their deceitfulness is in vain.
119 All the wicked on earth You discard like dross;
therefore I love Your testimonies.
120 My flesh trembles in awe of You;
I stand in fear of Your judgments.
AYIN
121 I have done what is just and right;
do not leave me to my oppressors.
122 Ensure Your servant’s well-being;
do not let the arrogant oppress me.
123 My eyes fail, looking for Your salvation,
and for Your righteous promise.
124 Deal with Your servant according to Your loving devotion,
and teach me Your statutes.
125 I am Your servant; give me understanding,
that I may know Your testimonies.
126 It is time for the LORD to act,
for they have broken Your law.
127 Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold,
even the purest gold.
128 Therefore I admire all Your precepts
and hate every false way.
PE
129 Wonderful are Your testimonies;
therefore I obey them.
130 The unfolding of Your words gives light;
it informs the simple.
131 I open my mouth and pant,
longing for Your commandments.
132 Turn to me and show me mercy,
as You do to those who love Your name.
133 Order my steps in Your word;
let no sin rule over me.
134 Redeem me from the oppression of man,
that I may keep Your precepts.
135 Make Your face shine upon Your servant,
and teach me Your statutes.
136 My eyes shed streams of tears
because Your law is not obeyed.
TZADE
137 Righteous are You, O LORD,
and upright are Your judgments.
138 The testimonies You have laid down are righteous
and altogether faithful.
139 My zeal has consumed me
because my foes forget Your words.
140 Your promise is completely pure;
therefore Your servant loves it.
141 I am lowly and despised,
but I do not forget Your precepts.
142 Your righteousness is everlasting
and Your law is true.
143 Trouble and distress have found me,
but Your commandments are my delight.
144 Your testimonies are righteous forever.
Give me understanding, that I may live.
KOPH
145 I call with all my heart; answer me, O LORD!
I will obey Your statutes.
146 I call to You; save me,
that I may keep Your testimonies.
147 I rise before dawn and cry for help;
in Your word I have put my hope.
148 My eyes anticipate the watches of night,
that I may meditate on Your word.
149 Hear my voice, O LORD, according to Your loving devotion;
give me life according to Your justice.
150 Those who follow after wickedness draw near;
they are far from Your law.
151 You are near, O LORD,
and all Your commandments are true.
152 Long ago I learned from Your testimonies
that You have established them forever.
RESH
153 Look upon my affliction and rescue me,
for I have not forgotten Your law.
154 Defend my cause and redeem me;
revive me according to Your word.
155 Salvation is far from the wicked
because they do not seek Your statutes.
156 Great are Your mercies, O LORD;
revive me according to Your ordinances.
157 Though my persecutors and foes are many,
I have not turned from Your testimonies.
158 I look on the faithless with loathing
because they do not keep Your word.
159 Consider how I love Your precepts, O LORD;
give me life according to Your loving devotion.
160 The entirety of Your word is truth,
and all Your righteous judgments endure forever.
SIN and SHIN
161 Rulers persecute me without cause,
but my heart fears only Your word.
162 I rejoice in Your promise
like one who finds great spoil.
163 I hate and abhor falsehood,
but Your law I love.
164 Seven times a day I praise You
for Your righteous judgments.
165 Abundant peace belongs to those who love Your instruction;
nothing can make them stumble.
166 I wait for Your salvation, O LORD,
and I carry out Your commandments.
167 I obey Your testimonies
and love them greatly.
168 I obey Your precepts and Your testimonies,
for all my ways are before You.
TAW
169 May my cry come before You, O LORD;
give me understanding according to Your word.
170 May my plea come before You;
rescue me according to Your promise.
171 My lips pour forth praise,
for You teach me Your statutes.
172 My tongue sings of Your word,
for all Your commandments are righteous.
173 May Your hand be ready to help me,
for I have chosen Your precepts.
174 I long for Your salvation, O LORD,
and Your law is my delight.
175 Let me live to praise You;
may Your judgments sustain me.
176 I have strayed like a lost sheep;
seek Your servant, for I have not forgotten Your commandments.
*119:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem of twenty-two stanzas, following the letters of the Hebrew alphabet; within a stanza, each verse begins with the same Hebrew letter.
†119:33 Or keep them as my reward
‡119:37 Two MT manuscripts and DSS; most MT manuscripts in Your way
§119:70 Or fat
*119:84 Or How many are the days of Your servant?
†119:91 Or They stand this day according to Your ordinances