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1How blessed are those whose actions are blameless,[#tn Heb “[Oh] the happiness of those who are blameless of way.”]
who obey the law of the Lord .
2How blessed are those who observe his rules,
and seek him with all their heart,
3who, moreover, do no wrong,
but follow in his footsteps.
4You demand that your precepts
be carefully kept.
5If only I were predisposed[#tn Heb “if only my ways were established.”]
to keep your statutes!
6Then I would not be ashamed,
if I were focused on all your commands.
7I will give you sincere thanks,[#tn Heb “I will give you thanks with an upright heart.”]
when I learn your just regulations.
8I will keep your statutes.
Do not completely abandon me!
ב (Bet )
9How can a young person maintain a pure life?[#tn Heb “young man.” Hebrew wisdom literature often assumes and reflects the male-oriented perspective of ancient Israelite society. The principle of the psalm is certainly applicable to all people, regardless of their gender or age. To facilitate modern application, the gender specific “young man” has been translated with the more neutral “young person.”; #tn Heb “purify his path.”]
By guarding it according to your instructions!
10With all my heart I seek you.
Do not allow me to stray from your commands!
11In my heart I store up your words,[#tn Or “hide.”; #tn Heb “your word.” Some medieval Hebrew mss as well as the LXX read the plural, “your words.”]
so I might not sin against you.
12You deserve praise, O Lord ![#tn Heb “[are] blessed.”]
Teach me your statutes!
13With my lips I proclaim
all the regulations you have revealed.
14I rejoice in the lifestyle prescribed by your rules[#tn Heb “in the way of your rules.”]
as if they were riches of all kinds.
15I will meditate on your precepts[#tn The cohortative verbal forms in this verse express the psalmist’s resolve.]
and focus on your behavior.
16I find delight in your statutes;[#tn The imperfects in this verse emphasize the attitude the psalmist maintains toward God’s law. Another option is to translate with the future tense, “I will find delight…I will not forget.”]
I do not forget your instructions.
ג (Gimel )
17Be kind to your servant!
Then I will live and keep your instructions.
18Open my eyes so I can truly see[#tn Heb “uncover.” The verb form גַּל (gal) is an apocopated Piel imperative from גָּלָה (galah, see GKC 214 §75.cc).; #tn The cohortative with vav (ו) conjunctive indicates purpose/result after the preceding imperative.]
the marvelous things in your law!
19I am like a foreigner in this land.[#tn Heb “I am a resident alien in the land.” Resident aliens were especially vulnerable and in need of help. They needed to know the social and legal customs of the land to avoid getting into trouble. The translation (note the addition of “like”) assumes the psalmist is speaking metaphorically, not literally.]
Do not hide your commands from me!
20I desperately long to know[#tn Heb “my soul languishes for longing for.”]
your regulations at all times.
21You reprimand arrogant people.
Those who stray from your commands are doomed.
22Spare me shame and humiliation,[#tn Heb “roll away from upon me.” Some derive the imperatival form גַּל (gal) from גָּלָה (galah, “uncover,” as in v. 18), but here the form is from גָּלַל (galal, “roll”; see Josh 5:9, where חֶרְפָּה [kherpah, “shame; reproach”] also appears as object of the verb). Some, following the lead of a Dead Sea scroll (11QPsa), emend the form to גֹּל (gol).]
for I observe your rules.
23Though rulers plot and slander me,[#tn Heb “though rulers sit, about me they talk together.” (For another example of the Niphal of דָּבַר (davar) used with a suffixed form of the preposition ב, see Ezek 33:30.)]
your servant meditates on your statutes.
24Yes, I find delight in your rules;
they give me guidance.
ד (Dalet )
25I collapse in the dirt.[#tn Heb “my soul clings to the dirt.” The Hebrew term נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh, “being; soul”) with a pronominal suffix is often equivalent to a pronoun, especially in poetry (see BDB 660 s.v. נֶפֶשׁ 4.a).]
Revive me with your word!
26I told you about my ways and you answered me.[#tn Heb “my ways I proclaimed.”]
Teach me your statutes!
27Help me to understand what your precepts mean![#tn Heb “the way of your precepts make me understand.”]
Then I can meditate on your marvelous teachings.
28I collapse from grief.[#tn Some translate “my soul weeps,” taking the verb דָלַף (dalaf) from a root meaning “to drip; to drop” (BDB 196 s.v. דֶּלַף). On the basis of cognate evidence from Arabic and Akkadian, HALOT 223 s.v. II דלף proposes a homonymic root here, meaning “be sleepless.” Following L. C. Allen (Psalms 101-150 [WBC], 127, 135) the translation assumes that the verb is cognate with Ugaritic dlp, “to collapse; to crumple” in CTA 2 iv. 17, 26. See G. R. Driver, Canaanite Myths and Legends, 44, 144.]
Sustain me by your word!
29Remove me from the path of deceit![#tn The “path of deceit” refers to a lifestyle characterized by deceit and disloyalty to God. It stands in contrast to the “way of faithfulness” in v. 30.]
Graciously give me your law!
30I choose the path of faithfulness;
I am committed to your regulations.
31I hold fast to your rules.[#tn Or “cling to.”]
O Lord , do not let me be ashamed!
32I run along the path of your commands,
for you enable me to do so.
ה (He )
33Teach me, O Lord , the lifestyle prescribed by your statutes,[#tn Heb “the way of your statutes.”]
so that I might observe it continually.
34Give me understanding so that I might observe your law,
and keep it with all my heart.
35Guide me in the path of your commands,[#tn Or “make me walk.”]
for I delight to walk in it.
36Give me a desire for your rules,[#tn Heb “turn my heart to your rules.”]
rather than for wealth gained unjustly.
37Turn my eyes away from what is worthless![#tn Heb “Make my eyes pass by from looking at what is worthless.”]
Revive me with your word!
38Confirm to your servant your promise,[#tn Heb “word.”]
which you made to the one who honors you.
39Take away the insults that I dread![#tn Heb “my reproach that I fear.”]
Indeed, your regulations are good.
40Look, I long for your precepts.
Revive me with your deliverance!
ו (Vav )
41May I experience your loyal love, O Lord ,[#tn Heb “and may your loyal love come to me.”]
and your deliverance, as you promised.
42Then I will have a reply for the one who insults me,[#tn Heb “and I will answer [the] one who insults me a word.” The prefixed verbal form with vav (ו) conjunctive indicates purpose/result after the jussive (see v. 41).]
for I trust in your word.
43Do not completely deprive me of a truthful testimony,[#tn Heb “do not snatch from my mouth a word of truth to excess.” The psalmist wants to be able to give a reliable testimony about the Lord’s loyal love (vv. 41-42), but if God does not intervene, the psalmist will be deprived of doing so, for the evidence of such love (i.e., deliverance) will be lacking.]
for I await your justice.
44Then I will keep your law continually[#tn The cohortative verbal form with vav (ו) conjunctive indicates purpose/result after the negated jussive (see v. 43).]
now and for all time.
45I will be secure,[#tn Heb “and I will walk about in a wide place.” The cohortative with prefixed vav (ו) conjunctive gives a further consequence of the anticipated positive divine response (see vv. 43-44). Another option is to take the cohortative as expressing the psalmist’s request. In this case one could translate, “and please give me security.”]
for I seek your precepts.
46I will speak about your regulations before kings[#tn The series of four cohortatives with prefixed vav (ו) conjunctive in vv. 46-48 list further consequences of the anticipated positive divine response to the request made in v. 43.]
and not be ashamed.
47I will find delight in your commands,
which I love.
48I will lift my hands to your commands,[#tn Lifting the hands is often associated with prayer (Pss 28:2; 63:4; Lam 2:19). (1) Because praying to God’s law borders on the extreme, some prefer to emend the text to “I lift up my hands to you,” eliminating “your commands, which I love” as dittographic. In this view these words were accidentally repeated from the previous verse. (2) However, it is possible that the psalmist closely associates the law with God himself because he views the law as the expression of the divine will. (3) Another option is that “lifting the hands” does not refer to prayer here, but to the psalmist’s desire to receive and appropriate the law. (4) Still others understand this to be an action praising God’s commands (so NCV; cf. TEV, CEV, NLT).]
which I love,
and I will meditate on your statutes.
ז (Zayin )
49Remember your word to your servant,
for you have given me hope.
50This is what comforts me in my trouble,[#tn The demonstrative “this” refers back to the hope just mentioned or forward to the statement in the second line concerning the promise’s power to revive. See the note on the word “me” at the end of the verse for further discussion.]
for your promise revives me.
51Arrogant people do nothing but scoff at me.[#tn Heb “scoff at me to excess.”]
Yet I do not turn aside from your law.
52I remember your ancient regulations,[#tn Heb “I remember your regulations from of old.” The prepositional phrase “from of old” apparently modifies “your regulations,” alluding to the fact that God revealed them to Israel in the distant past. Another option is to understand the prepositional phrase as modifying the verb, in which case one might translate, “I have long remembered your regulations.”]
O Lord , and console myself.
53Rage takes hold of me because of the wicked,
those who reject your law.
54Your statutes have been my songs[#tn Heb “songs were your statutes to me.”]
in the house where I live.
55I remember your name during the night, O Lord ,
and I will keep your law.
56This has been my practice,[#tn Heb “this has been to me.” The demonstrative “this” (1) refers back to the practices mentioned in vv. 54-55, or (2) looks forward to the statement in the second line, in which case the כִּי (ki) at the beginning of the second line should be translated “that.”]
for I observe your precepts.
ח (Khet )
57The Lord is my source of security.[#tn Heb “my portion [is] the Lord.” The psalmist compares the Lord to landed property, which was foundational to economic stability in ancient Israel (see Ps 16:5).]
I have determined to follow your instructions.
58I seek your favor with all my heart.[#tn Heb “I appease your face.”]
Have mercy on me as you promised!
59I consider my actions[#tn Heb “my ways.”]
and follow your rules.
60I keep your commands
eagerly and without delay.
61The ropes of the wicked tighten around me,[#tn Heb “surround.”]
but I do not forget your law.
62In the middle of the night I arise to thank you[#tn The psalmist uses an imperfect verbal form to emphasize that this is his continuing practice.]
for your just regulations.
63I am a friend to all your loyal followers,[#tn Heb “to all who fear you.”]
and to those who keep your precepts.
64O Lord , your loyal love fills the earth.
Teach me your statutes!
ט (Tet )
65You are good to your servant,[#tn Heb “do good.”]
O Lord , just as you promised.
66Teach me proper discernment and understanding![#tn Heb “goodness of taste.” Here “taste” refers to moral and ethical discernment.]
For I consider your commands to be reliable.
67Before I was afflicted I used to stray off,[#tn Heb “before I suffered, I was straying off.”]
but now I keep your instructions.
68You are good and you do good.
Teach me your statutes!
69Arrogant people smear my reputation with lies,[#tn Heb “smear over me a lie.”]
but I observe your precepts with all my heart.
70Their hearts are calloused,[#tn Heb “their heart is insensitive like fat.”]
but I find delight in your law.
71It was good for me to suffer,
so that I might learn your statutes.
72The law you have revealed is more important to me
than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.
י (Yod )
73Your hands made me and formed me.[#tn Heb “made me and established me.” The two verbs also appear together in Deut 32:6, where God, compared to a father, is said to have “made and established” Israel.]
Give me understanding so that I might learn your commands.
74Your loyal followers will be glad when they see me,[#tn Heb “those who fear you will see me and rejoice.”]
for I find hope in your word.
75I know, Lord , that your regulations are just.[#tn In this context (note the second line) the Hebrew term מִשְׁפָּטִים (mishpatim), which so often refers to the regulations of God’s law elsewhere in this psalm, may refer instead to his decisions or disciplinary judgment.]
You disciplined me because of your faithful devotion to me.
76May your loyal love console me,
as you promised your servant.
77May I experience your compassion, so I might live![#tn Heb “and may your compassion come to me.”]
For I find delight in your law.
78May the arrogant be humiliated, for they have slandered me![#tn Heb “for [with] falsehood they have denied me justice.”]
But I meditate on your precepts.
79May your loyal followers turn to me,[#tn Heb “those who fear you.”]
those who know your rules.
80May I be fully committed to your statutes,[#tn Heb “may my heart be complete in your statutes.”]
so that I might not be ashamed.
כ (Kaf )
81I desperately long for your deliverance.[#tn Heb “my soul pines for.” See Ps 84:2.]
I find hope in your word.
82My eyes grow tired as I wait for your promise to be fulfilled.[#tn Heb “my eyes fail for your word.” The psalmist has intently kept his eyes open, looking for God to intervene, but now his eyes are watery and bloodshot, impairing his vision. See Ps 69:3.]
I say, “When will you comfort me?”
83For I am like a wineskin dried up in smoke.[#tn Or “even though.”; #tn The Hebrew word נֹאד (no’d, “leather container”) refers to a container made from animal skin which is used to hold wine or milk (see Josh 9:4, 13; Judg 4:19; 1 Sam 16:20).; #tn Heb “in the smoke.”]
I do not forget your statutes.
84How long must your servant endure this?[#tn Heb “How long are the days of your servant?”]
When will you judge those who pursue me?
85The arrogant dig pits to trap me,[#tn Heb “for me.”]
which violates your law.
86All your commands are reliable.
I am pursued without reason. Help me!
87They have almost destroyed me here on the earth,
but I do not reject your precepts.
88Revive me with your loyal love,[#tn Heb “according to.”]
that I might keep the rules you have revealed.
ל (Lamed )
89O Lord , your instructions endure;
they stand secure in heaven.
90You demonstrate your faithfulness to all generations.[#tn Heb “to a generation and a generation [is] your faithfulness.”]
You established the earth and it stood firm.
91Today they stand firm by your decrees,
for all things are your servants.
92If I had not found encouragement in your law,[#tn Heb “if your law had not been my delight.”]
I would have died in my sorrow.
93I will never forget your precepts,
for by them you have revived me.
94I belong to you. Deliver me!
For I seek your precepts.
95The wicked prepare to kill me,[#tn Heb “the wicked wait for me to kill me.”]
yet I concentrate on your rules.
96I realize that everything has its limits,
but your commands are beyond full comprehension.
מ (Mem )
97O how I love your law!
All day long I meditate on it.
98Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies,[#tn The plural form needs to be revocalized as a singular in order to agree with the preceding singular verb and the singular pronoun in the next line. The Lord’s “command” refers here to the law (see Ps 19:8).]
for I am always aware of them.
99I have more insight than all my teachers,
for I meditate on your rules.
100I am more discerning than those older than I,
for I observe your precepts.
101I stay away from the evil path,[#tn Heb “I hold back my feet.”]
so that I might keep your instructions.
102I do not turn aside from your regulations,
for you teach me.
103Your words are sweeter
in my mouth than honey!
104Your precepts give me discernment.
Therefore I hate all deceitful actions.
נ (Nun )
105Your word is a lamp to walk by,[#tn Many medieval Hebrew mss read the plural (“words”).]
and a light to illumine my path.
106I have vowed and solemnly sworn
to keep your just regulations.
107I am suffering terribly.
O Lord , revive me with your word!
108O Lord , please accept the freewill offerings of my praise![#tn Heb “of my mouth.”]
Teach me your regulations!
109My life is in continual danger,[#tn Heb “my life [is] in my hands continually.”]
but I do not forget your law.
110The wicked lay a trap for me,
but I do not wander from your precepts.
111I claim your rules as my permanent possession,
for they give me joy.
112I am determined to obey your statutes[#tn Heb “I turn my heart to do.”]
at all times, to the very end.
ס ( Samek )
ֹ119:113 I hate people with divided loyalties,
but I love your law.
114You are my hiding place and my shield.
I find hope in your word.
115Turn away from me, you evil men,
so that I can observe the commands of my God.
116Sustain me as you promised, so that I will live.[#tn Heb “according to your word.”; #tn The prefixed verbal form with vav (ו) conjunctive indicates purpose/result after the preceding imperative.]
Do not disappoint me!
117Support me, so that I will be delivered.
Then I will focus on your statutes continually.
118You despise all who stray from your statutes,[#tn The Hebrew verb סָלָה (salah, “to disdain”) occurs only here and in Lam 1:15. Cognate usage in Aramaic and Akkadian, as well as Lam 1:15, suggest it may have a concrete nuance of “to throw away.”]
for they are deceptive and unreliable.
119You remove all the wicked of the earth like slag.[#sn Traditionally “dross” (so KJV, ASV, NIV). The metaphor comes from metallurgy; “slag” is the substance left over after the metallic ore has been refined.]
Therefore I love your rules.
120My body trembles because I fear you;[#tn Heb “my flesh.”; #tn The Hebrew verb סָמַר (samar, “to tremble”) occurs only here and in Job 4:15.; #tn Heb “from fear of you.” The pronominal suffix on the noun is an objective genitive.]
I am afraid of your judgments.
ע (Ayin )
121I do what is fair and right.[#tn Heb “do justice and righteousness.”]
Do not abandon me to my oppressors!
122Guarantee the welfare of your servant![#tn Heb “be surety for your servant for good.”]
Do not let the arrogant oppress me!
123My eyes grow tired as I wait for your deliverance,[#tn Heb “my eyes fail for your deliverance.” The psalmist has intently kept his eyes open, looking for God to intervene, but now his eyes are watery and bloodshot, impairing his vision. See the similar phrase in v. 82.]
for your reliable promise to be fulfilled.
124Show your servant your loyal love![#tn Heb “do with your servant according to your loyal love.”]
Teach me your statutes!
125I am your servant. Give me insight,
so that I can understand your rules.
126It is time for the Lord to act –
they break your law!
127For this reason I love your commands[#tn “For this reason” connects logically with the statement made in v. 126. Because the judgment the psalmist fears (see vv. 119-120) is imminent, he remains loyal to God’s law.]
more than gold, even purest gold.
128For this reason I carefully follow all your precepts.[#tn Heb “for this reason all the precepts of everything I regard as right.” The phrase “precepts of everything” is odd. It is preferable to take the kaf (כ) on כֹּל (kol, “everything) with the preceding form as a pronominal suffix, “your precepts,” and the lamed (ל) with the following verb as an emphatic particle. See L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 138.]
I hate all deceitful actions.
פ (Pe )
129Your rules are marvelous.
Therefore I observe them.
130Your instructions are a doorway through which light shines.[#tn Heb “the doorway of your words gives light.” God’s “words” refer here to the instructions in his law (see vv. 9, 57).]
They give insight to the untrained.
131I open my mouth and pant,
because I long for your commands.
132Turn toward me and extend mercy to me,
as you typically do to your loyal followers.
133Direct my steps by your word![#tn God’s “word” refers here to his law (see v. 11).]
Do not let any sin dominate me!
134Deliver me from oppressive men,[#tn Or “redeem me.”]
so that I can keep your precepts.
135Smile on your servant![#tn Heb “cause your face to shine.”]
Teach me your statutes!
136Tears stream down from my eyes,[#tn Heb “[with] flowing streams my eyes go down.”]
because people do not keep your law.
צ (Tsade )
137You are just, O Lord ,
and your judgments are fair.
138The rules you impose are just,[#tn Heb “you commanded [in] justice your rules.”]
and absolutely reliable.
139My zeal consumes me,[#tn or “zeal.”; #tn Heb “destroys,” in a hyperbolic sense.]
for my enemies forget your instructions.
140Your word is absolutely pure,
and your servant loves it!
141I am insignificant and despised,
yet I do not forget your precepts.
142Your justice endures,[#tn Heb “your justice [is] justice forever.”]
and your law is reliable.
143Distress and hardship confront me,[#tn Heb “find.”]
yet I find delight in your commands.
144Your rules remain just.[#tn Heb “just are your rules forever.”]
Give me insight so that I can live.
ק (Qof )
145I cried out with all my heart, “Answer me, O Lord !
I will observe your statutes.”
146I cried out to you, “Deliver me,
so that I can keep your rules.”
147I am up before dawn crying for help.
I find hope in your word.
148My eyes anticipate the nighttime hours,
so that I can meditate on your word.
149Listen to me because of your loyal love![#tn Heb “my voice.”; #tn Heb “according to.”]
O Lord , revive me, as you typically do!
150Those who are eager to do wrong draw near;[#tn Heb “those who pursue.”]
they are far from your law.
151You are near, O Lord ,
and all your commands are reliable.
152I learned long ago that
you ordained your rules to last.
ר (Resh )
153See my pain and rescue me!
For I do not forget your law.
154Fight for me and defend me![#tn Or “argue my case.”; #tn Heb “and redeem me.” The verb “redeem” casts the Lord in the role of a leader who protects members of his extended family in times of need and crisis (see Ps 19:14).]
Revive me with your word!
155The wicked have no chance for deliverance,[#tn Heb “far from the wicked [is] deliverance.”]
for they do not seek your statutes.
156Your compassion is great, O Lord .
Revive me, as you typically do!
157The enemies who chase me are numerous.[#tn Heb “many [are] those who chase me and my enemies.”]
Yet I do not turn aside from your rules.
158I take note of the treacherous and despise them,
because they do not keep your instructions.
159See how I love your precepts!
O Lord , revive me with your loyal love!
160Your instructions are totally reliable;
all your just regulations endure.
שׂ/שׁ (Sin/Shin )
161Rulers pursue me for no reason,
yet I am more afraid of disobeying your instructions.
162I rejoice in your instructions,
like one who finds much plunder.
163I hate and despise deceit;
I love your law.
164Seven times a day I praise you[#tn The number “seven” is use rhetorically to suggest thoroughness.]
because of your just regulations.
165Those who love your law are completely secure;[#tn Heb “great peace [is] to the lovers of your law.”]
nothing causes them to stumble.
166I hope for your deliverance, O Lord ,
and I obey your commands.
167I keep your rules;
I love them greatly.
168I keep your precepts and rules,
for you are aware of everything I do.
ת (Tav )
169Listen to my cry for help, O Lord ![#tn Heb “may my cry approach before you.”]
Give me insight by your word!
170Listen to my appeal for mercy![#tn Heb “may my appeal for mercy come before you.”]
Deliver me, as you promised.
171May praise flow freely from my lips,
for you teach me your statutes.
172May my tongue sing about your instructions,[#tn Heb “your word.”]
for all your commands are just.
173May your hand help me,
for I choose to obey your precepts.
174I long for your deliverance, O Lord ;
I find delight in your law.
175May I live and praise you![#tn Heb “my life.”]
May your regulations help me!
176I have wandered off like a lost sheep.[#tn Heb “I stray like a lost sheep.” It is possible that the point of the metaphor is vulnerability: The psalmist, who is threatened by his enemies, feels as vulnerable as a straying, lost sheep. This would not suggest, however, that he has wandered from God’s path (see the second half of the verse, as well as v. 110).]
Come looking for your servant,
for I do not forget your commands.