Delight in God’s Word

¹How happy are those whose way is blameless,[#119:1 The stanzas of this poem form an acrostic.; #119:1 Ps 101:6; Pr 11:20]

who walk according to the Lord ’s instruction!

²Happy are those who keep his decrees[#119:2 Ps 25:10; 119:10,22,168]

and seek him with all their heart.

³They do nothing wrong;[#119:3 1Jn 3:9; 5:18]

they walk in his ways.

⁴You have commanded that your precepts[#119:4 Dt 4:13; Neh 9:13; Ps 19:8]

be diligently kept.

⁵If only my ways were committed

to keeping your statutes!

⁶Then I would not be ashamed[#119:6 Jb 22:26; Ps 119:80]

when I think about all your commands.

⁷I will praise you with an upright heart[#119:7 Ps 119:62,106]

when I learn your righteous judgements.

⁸I will keep your statutes;

never abandon me.

⁹How can a young man keep his way pure?

By keeping your word.

¹⁰I have sought you with all my heart;[#119:10 Ps 119:2]

don’t let me wander from your commands.

¹¹I have treasured your word in my heart[#119:11 Ps 37:31; 40:8; Lk 2:19,51]

so that I may not sin against you.

¹²Lord , may you be blessed;

teach me your statutes.

¹³With my lips I proclaim

all the judgements from your mouth.

¹⁴I rejoice in the way revealed by your decrees[#119:14 Ps 119:111,162; Pr 3:13–15; 8:10–11,18–19]

as much as in all riches.

¹⁵I will meditate on your precepts[#119:15 Ps 1:2; 119:23, 48, 78, 97, 148]

and think about your ways.

¹⁶I will delight in your statutes;[#119:16 Ps 1:2; 119:24, 47, 70, 77, 92, 143, 174]

I will not forget your word.

¹⁷Deal generously with your servant[#119:17 Ps 13:6; 119:144]

so that I might live;

then I will keep your word.

¹⁸Open my eyes so that I may contemplate

wondrous things from your instruction.

¹⁹I am a resident foreigner on earth;[#119:19 1Ch 29:15; Ps 39:12; 119:54; Heb 11:13]

do not hide your commands from me.

²⁰I am continually overcome

with longing for your judgements.

²¹You rebuke the arrogant,

the ones under a curse,

who wander from your commands.

²²Take insult and contempt away from me,[#119:22 Ps 39:8; 119:39]

for I have kept your decrees.

²³Though princes sit together speaking against me,[#119:23 Ps 119:161]

your servant will think about your statutes;

²⁴your decrees are my delight

and my counsellors.

²⁵My life is down in the dust;[#119:25 Ps 44:25]

give me life through your word.

²⁶I told you about my life,

and you answered me;

teach me your statutes.

²⁷Help me understand

the meaning of your precepts

so that I can meditate on your wonders.

²⁸I am weary from grief;[#119:28 Or I weep]

strengthen me through your word.

²⁹Keep me from the way of deceit

and graciously give me your instruction.

³⁰I have chosen the way of truth;

I have set your ordinances before me.

³¹I cling to your decrees;

Lord , do not put me to shame.

³²I pursue the way of your commands,

for you broaden my understanding. ,

³³Teach me, Lord , the meaning of your statutes,[#119:33 Lit way]

and I will always keep them. ,

³⁴Help me understand your instruction,[#119:34 Ps 119:125,144,169]

and I will obey it

and follow it with all my heart.

³⁵Help me stay on the path of your commands,[#119:35 Ps 25:4; Is 40:14]

for I take pleasure in it.

³⁶Turn my heart to your decrees[#119:36 1Kg 8:58]

and not to dishonest profit.

³⁷Turn my eyes

from looking at what is worthless;

give me life in your ways. ,

³⁸Confirm what you said to your servant,[#119:38 2Sm 7:25]

for it produces reverence for you.

³⁹Turn away the disgrace I dread;[#119:39 Ps 119:22]

indeed, your judgements are good.

⁴⁰How I long for your precepts![#119:40 Ps 119:20]

Give me life through your righteousness.

⁴¹Let your faithful love come to me, Lord ,[#119:41 Ps 119:77]

your salvation, as you promised.

⁴²Then I can answer the one who taunts me,[#119:42 Ps 102:8; Pr 27:11]

for I trust in your word.

⁴³Never take the word of truth from my mouth,

for I hope in your judgements.

⁴⁴I will always obey your instruction,

for ever and ever.

⁴⁵I will walk freely in an open place[#119:45 Pr 4:12]

because I study your precepts.

⁴⁶I will speak of your decrees before kings

and not be ashamed.

⁴⁷I delight in your commands,

which I love.

⁴⁸I will lift up my hands to your commands,[#119:48 Ps 63:4]

which I love,

and will meditate on your statutes.

⁴⁹Remember your word to your servant;

you have given me hope through it.

⁵⁰This is my comfort in my affliction:[#119:50 Rm 15:4]

Your promise has given me life.

⁵¹The arrogant constantly ridicule me,

but I do not turn away from your instruction.

⁵²Lord , I remember your judgements from long ago

and find comfort.

⁵³Fury seizes me because of the wicked[#119:53 Ezr 9:3; Neh 13:25; Ps 119:158]

who reject your instruction.

⁵⁴Your statutes are the theme of my song

during my earthly life.

⁵⁵Lord , I remember your name in the night,[#119:55 Ps 63:6; #119:55 Ps 42:8; 92:2; Is 26:9; Ac 16:25]

and I obey your instruction.

⁵⁶This is my practice:

I obey your precepts.

⁵⁷The Lord is my portion; ,[#119:57 Lit You are my portion,; #119:57 Ps 16:5; Lm 3:24]

I have promised to keep your words.

⁵⁸I have sought your favour with all my heart;[#119:58 1Kg 13:6]

be gracious to me according to your promise.

⁵⁹I thought about my ways[#119:59 Lk 15:17]

and turned my steps back to your decrees.

⁶⁰I hurried, not hesitating

to keep your commands.

⁶¹Though the ropes of the wicked[#119:61 Jb 36:8; Ps 140:5]

were wrapped round me,

I did not forget your instruction.

⁶²I rise at midnight to thank you[#119:62 Ps 119:55]

for your righteous judgements.

⁶³I am a friend to all who fear you,[#119:63 Ps 101:6]

to those who keep your precepts.

⁶⁴Lord , the earth is filled with your faithful love;[#119:64 Ps 33:5]

teach me your statutes.

⁶⁵Lord , you have treated your servant well,

just as you promised.

⁶⁶Teach me good judgement and discernment,[#119:66 Php 1:9–10]

for I rely on your commands.

⁶⁷Before I was afflicted I went astray,[#119:67 Ps 119:71,75; Jr 31:18–19; Heb 12:5–11]

but now I keep your word.

⁶⁸You are good, and you do what is good;[#119:68 Ps 100:5; 106:1; 107:1; #119:68 Ps 125:4]

teach me your statutes.

⁶⁹The arrogant have smeared me with lies,[#119:69 Jb 13:4; Ps 109:2]

but I obey your precepts with all my heart.

⁷⁰Their hearts are hard and insensitive,[#119:70 Ps 17:10]

but I delight in your instruction.

⁷¹It was good for me to be afflicted[#119:71 Ps 119:67,75]

so that I could learn your statutes.

⁷²Instruction from your lips is better for me[#119:72 Ps 19:10; 119:127; Pr 8:10,11,19]

than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

⁷³Your hands made me and formed me;[#119:73 Jb 10:8; 31:15; Ps 100:3; 139:15–16]

give me understanding

so that I can learn your commands.

⁷⁴Those who fear you will see me and rejoice,[#119:74 Ps 34:2; 107:42]

for I put my hope in your word.

⁷⁵I know, Lord , that your judgements are just

and that you have afflicted me fairly.

⁷⁶May your faithful love comfort me

as you promised your servant.

⁷⁷May your compassion come to me[#119:77 Ps 119:41]

so that I may live,

for your instruction is my delight.

⁷⁸Let the arrogant be put to shame[#119:78 Jr 50:32]

for slandering me with lies;

I will meditate on your precepts.

⁷⁹Let those who fear you,

those who know your decrees, turn to me.

⁸⁰May my heart be blameless regarding your statutes[#119:80 Ps 119:1]

so that I will not be put to shame.

⁸¹I long for your salvation;[#119:81 Ps 84:2]

I put my hope in your word.

⁸²My eyes grow weary

looking for what you have promised;

I ask, ‘When will you comfort me? ’

⁸³Though I have become like a wineskin dried by smoke,

I do not forget your statutes.

⁸⁴How many days must your servant wait?

When will you execute judgement on my persecutors?

⁸⁵The arrogant have dug pits for me;[#119:85 Ps 35:7; 57:6; Jr 18:22]

they violate your instruction.

⁸⁶All your commands are true;

people persecute me with lies #– #help me!

⁸⁷They almost ended my life on earth,

but I did not abandon your precepts.

⁸⁸Give me life in accordance with your faithful love,

and I will obey the decree you have spoken.

⁸⁹Lord , your word is for ever;[#119:89 Ps 89:2; 119:160; Is 40:8; Mt 24:35; 1Pt 1:25]

it is firmly fixed in heaven.

⁹⁰Your faithfulness is for all generations;[#119:90 Ps 89:1–2]

you established the earth, and it stands firm.

⁹¹Your judgements stand firm today,[#119:91 Jr 31:35]

for all things are your servants.

⁹²If your instruction had not been my delight,

I would have died in my affliction.

⁹³I will never forget your precepts,

for you have given me life through them.

⁹⁴I am yours; save me,[#119:94 Ps 119:146]

for I have studied your precepts.

⁹⁵The wicked hope to destroy me,[#119:95 Ps 40:14]

but I contemplate your decrees.

⁹⁶I have seen a limit to all perfection,

but your command is without limit.

⁹⁷How I love your instruction![#119:97 Ps 119:47, 127, 163, 165]

It is my meditation all day long.

⁹⁸Your command makes me wiser than my enemies,[#119:98 Dt 4:6; Ps 119:130]

for it is always with me.

⁹⁹I have more insight than all my teachers

because your decrees are my meditation.

¹⁰⁰I understand more than the elders[#119:100 Jb 32:7–9]

because I obey your precepts.

¹⁰¹I have kept my feet from every evil path[#119:101 Pr 1:15]

to follow your word.

¹⁰²I have not turned from your judgements,[#119:102 Dt 17:20; Jos 23:6; 1Kg 15:5]

for you yourself have instructed me.

¹⁰³How sweet your word is to my taste –[#119:103 Ps 19:10; Pr 8:11; 24:13–14]

sweeter than honey in my mouth.

¹⁰⁴I gain understanding from your precepts;[#119:104 Ps 119:130]

therefore I hate every false way.

¹⁰⁵Your word is a lamp for my feet[#119:105 Pr 6:23]

and a light on my path.

¹⁰⁶I have solemnly sworn[#119:106 Neh 10:29]

to keep your righteous judgements.

¹⁰⁷I am severely afflicted;

Lord , give me life according to your word.

¹⁰⁸Lord , please accept my freewill offerings of praise,[#119:108 Hs 14:2; Heb 13:15]

and teach me your judgements.

¹⁰⁹My life is constantly in danger,[#119:109 Lit in my hand]

yet I do not forget your instruction.

¹¹⁰The wicked have set a trap for me,[#119:110 Ps 140:5; 141:9]

but I have not wandered from your precepts.

¹¹¹I have your decrees as a heritage for ever;

indeed, they are the joy of my heart.

¹¹²I am resolved to obey your statutes

to the very end. ,

¹¹³I hate those who are double-minded,[#119:113 1Kg 18:21; Jms 1:8; 4:8]

but I love your instruction.

¹¹⁴You are my shelter and my shield;[#119:114 Gn 15:1; Dt 33:29; Ps 3:3; 28:7; 115:9–11; 144:2; Pr 2:7]

I put my hope in your word.

¹¹⁵Depart from me, you evil ones,[#119:115 Ps 6:8; 139:19; Mt 4:10]

so that I may obey my God’s commands.

¹¹⁶Sustain me as you promised, and I will live;[#119:116 Ps 54:4]

do not let me be ashamed of my hope.

¹¹⁷Sustain me so that I can be safe[#119:117 Pr 29:25]

and always be concerned about your statutes.

¹¹⁸You reject all who stray from your statutes,[#119:118 Ps 119:10,21]

for their deceit is a lie.

¹¹⁹You remove all the wicked on earth

as if they were dross from metal;

therefore, I love your decrees.

¹²⁰I tremble in awe of you;[#119:120 Lit My flesh shudders; #119:120 Jb 4:14; Hab 3:16]

I fear your judgements.

¹²¹I have done what is just and right;[#119:121 Jb 29:14]

do not leave me to my oppressors.

¹²²Guarantee your servant’s well-being;[#119:122 Ps 119:134]

do not let the arrogant oppress me.

¹²³My eyes grow weary looking for your salvation[#119:123 Ps 119:82]

and for your righteous promise.

¹²⁴Deal with your servant based on your faithful love;[#119:124 Ps 51:1; 109:26; 119:88,149,159]

teach me your statutes.

¹²⁵I am your servant; give me understanding[#119:125 Ps 116:16; #119:125 Ps 119:27]

so that I may know your decrees.

¹²⁶It is time for the Lord to act,[#119:126 Jr 18:23]

for they have violated your instruction.

¹²⁷Since I love your commands[#119:127 Ps 19:10; 119:47]

more than gold, even the purest gold,

¹²⁸I carefully follow all your precepts[#119:128 Ps 19:8]

and hate every false way.

¹²⁹Your decrees are wondrous;[#119:129 Ps 119:18]

therefore I obey them.

¹³⁰The revelation of your words brings light[#119:130 Pr 6:23]

and gives understanding to the inexperienced.

¹³¹I open my mouth and pant[#119:131 Ps 42:1]

because I long for your commands.

¹³²Turn to me and be gracious to me,[#119:132 Ps 25:16]

as is your practise towards those who love your name.

¹³³Make my steps steady through your promise;[#119:133 Ps 17:5]

don’t let any sin dominate me.

¹³⁴Redeem me from human oppression,[#119:134 Ps 142:6; Lk 1:74]

and I will keep your precepts.

¹³⁵Make your face shine on your servant,[#119:135 Nm 6:25; Ps 31:16; 80:3,7,19]

and teach me your statutes.

¹³⁶My eyes pour out streams of tears[#119:136 Jr 9:1; 14:17; Lm 3:48]

because people do not follow your instruction.

¹³⁷You are righteous, Lord ,[#119:137 Neh 9:33; Ps 129:4; 145:17; Lm 1:18]

and your judgements are just.

¹³⁸The decrees you issue are righteous

and altogether trustworthy.

¹³⁹My anger overwhelms me

because my foes forget your words.

¹⁴⁰Your word is completely pure,[#119:140 Ps 12:6; 19:9]

and your servant loves it.

¹⁴¹I am insignificant and despised,[#119:141 Ps 22:6]

but I do not forget your precepts.

¹⁴²Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,

and your instruction is true.

¹⁴³Trouble and distress have overtaken me,

but your commands are my delight.

¹⁴⁴Your decrees are righteous for ever.[#119:144 Ps 19:9]

Give me understanding, and I will live.

¹⁴⁵I call with all my heart; answer me, Lord .

I will obey your statutes.

¹⁴⁶I call to you; save me,

and I will keep your decrees.

¹⁴⁷I rise before dawn and cry out for help;[#119:147 Ps 5:3]

I put my hope in your word.

¹⁴⁸I am awake through each watch of the night

to meditate on your promise.

¹⁴⁹In keeping with your faithful love, hear my voice.

Lord , give me life in keeping with your justice.

¹⁵⁰Those who pursue evil plans , come near;[#119:150 Some Hb mss, LXX, Sym, Jer read who maliciously persecute me; #119:150 Pr 6:17,18; 12:20; 14:22; 24:8]

they are far from your instruction.

¹⁵¹You are near, Lord ,[#119:151 Ps 34:18; 145:18; Is 50:8]

and all your commands are true.

¹⁵²Long ago I learned from your decrees

that you have established them for ever.

¹⁵³Consider my affliction and rescue me,[#119:153 Ps 119:50; Lm 5:1]

for I have not forgotten your instruction.

¹⁵⁴Champion my cause and redeem me;[#119:154 1Sm 24:15; Ps 35:1; Mc 7:9]

give me life as you promised.

¹⁵⁵Salvation is far from the wicked

because they do not study your statutes.

¹⁵⁶Your compassions are many, Lord ;[#119:156 2Sm 24:14]

give me life according to your judgements.

¹⁵⁷My persecutors and foes are many.[#119:157 Ps 7:1]

I have not turned from your decrees.

¹⁵⁸I have seen the disloyal and feel disgust[#119:158 Pr 14:14; #119:158 Ps 139:21]

because they do not keep your word.

¹⁵⁹Consider how I love your precepts;

Lord , give me life according to your faithful love.

¹⁶⁰The entirety of your word is truth,

each of your righteous judgements endures for ever.

¹⁶¹Princes have persecuted me without cause,

but my heart fears only your word.

¹⁶²I rejoice over your promise[#119:162 Ps 119:14,111]

like one who finds vast treasure.

¹⁶³I hate and abhor falsehood,[#119:163 Ps 119:104,128; Pr 13:5]

but I love your instruction.

¹⁶⁴I praise you seven times a day

for your righteous judgements.

¹⁶⁵Abundant peace belongs to those[#119:165 Pr 3:1–2; Is 26:3; 32:17]

who love your instruction;

nothing makes them stumble.

¹⁶⁶Lord , I hope for your salvation[#119:166 Gn 49:18; Ps 119:81,174]

and carry out your commands.

¹⁶⁷I obey your decrees

and love them greatly.

¹⁶⁸I obey your precepts and decrees,

for all my ways are before you.

¹⁶⁹Let my cry reach you, Lord ;[#119:169 Ps 18:6; 102:1; 140:6]

give me understanding according to your word.

¹⁷⁰Let my plea reach you;[#119:170 Ps 28:2; 130:2; 143:1]

rescue me according to your promise.

¹⁷¹My lips pour out praise,[#119:171 Ps 51:15; 63:3]

for you teach me your statutes.

¹⁷²My tongue sings about your promise,[#119:172 Ps 51:14]

for all your commands are righteous.

¹⁷³May your hand be ready to help me,[#119:173 Ps 37:24; 73:23]

for I have chosen your precepts.

¹⁷⁴I long for your salvation, Lord ,

and your instruction is my delight.

¹⁷⁵Let me live, and I will praise you;[#119:175 Ps 119:25]

may your judgements help me.

¹⁷⁶I wander like a lost sheep;[#119:176 Is 53:6; Jr 50:6]

seek your servant,

for I do not forget your commands.