Psalm 119

¹Those whose way is blameless—

who walk in the LORD ’s Instruction—are truly happy!

²Those who guard God’s laws are truly happy!

They seek God with all their hearts.

³They don’t even do anything wrong!

They walk in God’s ways.

⁴God, you have ordered that your decrees

should be kept most carefully.

⁵How I wish my ways were strong

when it comes to keeping your statutes!

⁶Then I wouldn’t be ashamed

when I examine all your commandments.

⁷I will give thanks to you with a heart that does right

as I learn your righteous rules.

⁸I will keep your statutes.

Please don’t leave me all alone!

⁹How can young people keep their paths pure?

By guarding them according to what you’ve said.

¹⁰I have sought you with all my heart.

Don’t let me stray from any of your commandments!

¹¹I keep your word close, in my heart,

so that I won’t sin against you.

¹²You, LORD , are to be blessed!

Teach me your statutes.

¹³I will declare out loud

all the rules you have spoken.

¹⁴I rejoice in the content of your laws

as if I were rejoicing over great wealth.

¹⁵I will think about your precepts

and examine all your paths.

¹⁶I will delight in your statutes;

I will not forget what you have said.

¹⁷Be good to your servant so I can go on living

¹⁸Open my eyes so I can examine

¹⁹I’m an immigrant in the land.

Don’t hide your commandments from me!

²⁰I’m worn out by longing

every minute for your rules!

²¹You rebuke the arrogant, accursed people

who stray from your commandments.

²²Take all their insults and contempt away from me

because I’ve kept your laws!

²³Even if rulers gather and scheme against me,

your servant will contemplate your statutes!

²⁴Yes, your laws are my joy—

they are my most trusted advisors!

²⁵My life is stuck in the dirt.

Now make me live again according to your promise!

²⁶I confessed my ways and you answered me.

Now teach me your statutes!

²⁷Help me understand what your precepts are about

so I can contemplate your wondrous works!

²⁸My spirit sags because of grief.

Now raise me up according to your promise!

²⁹Remove all false ways from me;

show mercy to me by means of your Instruction.

³⁰I’ve chosen the way of faithfulness;

I’m set on your rules.

³¹I’m holding tight to your laws, LORD .

Please don’t let me be put to shame.

³²I run the same path as your commandments

because you give my heart insight.

³³LORD , teach me what your statutes are about,

and I will guard every part of them.

³⁴Help me understand so I can guard your Instruction

and keep it with all my heart.

³⁵Lead me on the trail of your commandments

because that is what I want.

³⁶Turn my heart to your laws,

not to greedy gain.

³⁷Turn my eyes away from looking at worthless things.

Make me live by your way.

³⁸Confirm your promise to your servant—

the promise that is for all those who honor you.

³⁹Remove the insults that I dread

because your rules are good.

⁴⁰Look how I desire your precepts!

Make me live by your righteousness.

⁴¹LORD , let your faithful love come to me—

⁴²so I can have a response for those who mock me

⁴³Please don’t take your true word out of my mouth,

because I have waited for your rules.

⁴⁴I will always keep your Instruction,

always and forever!

⁴⁵I will walk around in wide-open spaces,

because I have pursued your precepts.

⁴⁶I will talk about your laws

before rulers with no shame whatsoever.

⁴⁷I will rejoice in your commandments

because I love them.

⁴⁸I will lift up my hands to your commandments

because I love them,

and I will contemplate all your statutes.

⁴⁹Remember your promise to your servant,

for which you made me wait.

⁵⁰My comfort during my suffering is this:

your word gives me new life.

⁵¹The arrogant make fun of me to no end,

but I haven’t deviated from your Instruction.

⁵²When I remember your ancient rules,

I’m comforted, LORD .

⁵³But I’m seized with anger because of the wicked—

because of those who abandon your Instruction.

⁵⁴Your statutes have been my songs of praise

wherever I lived as an immigrant.

⁵⁵LORD , I remember your name at nighttime,

and I keep your Instruction.

⁵⁶This has been my practice

because I guard your precepts.

⁵⁷The LORD is my possession.

I promise to do what you have said.

⁵⁸I’ve sought your favor with all my heart;

have mercy on me according to your word.

⁵⁹I’ve considered my ways and turned my feet back to your laws.

⁶⁰I hurry to keep your commandments—

I never put it off!

⁶¹Though the wicked have surrounded me with their ropes,

I haven’t forgotten your Instruction.

⁶²I get up in the middle of the night to give thanks to you

because of your righteous rules.

⁶³I’m a friend to everyone who honors you

and to all who keep your precepts.

⁶⁴LORD , the world is full of your faithful love!

Teach me your statutes!

⁶⁵You have treated your servant well,

LORD , according to your promise.

⁶⁶Teach me knowledge and good judgment

because I’ve put my trust in your commandments.

⁶⁷Before I suffered, I took the wrong way,

but now I do what you say.

⁶⁸You are good and you do good.

Teach me your statutes!

⁶⁹The arrogant cover me with their lies,

but I guard your precepts with all my heart.

⁷⁰Their hearts are unfeeling, like blubber,

but I rejoice in your Instruction.

⁷¹My suffering was good for me,

because through it I learned your statutes.

⁷²The Instruction you’ve given to me is better

than thousands of pieces of gold and silver!

⁷³Your hands have made me and set me in place.

Help me understand so I can learn your commandments.

⁷⁴Then those who honor you will see me and be glad

because I have waited for your promise.

⁷⁵LORD , I know that your rules are right

and that you rightly made me suffer.

⁷⁶Please let your faithful love comfort me,

according to what you’ve said to your servant.

⁷⁷Let your compassion come to me so I can live again,

because your Instruction is my joy!

⁷⁸But let the arrogant be ashamed

because they oppressed me with lies—

⁷⁹Let the people who honor you come back to me;

let those who know your precepts return to me.

⁸⁰Let my heart be blameless in your statutes

so that I am not put to shame.

⁸¹My whole being yearns for your saving help!

I wait for your promise.

⁸²My eyes are worn out looking for your word.

“When will you comfort me?” I ask,

⁸³because I’ve become like a bottle dried up by smoke,

though I haven’t forgotten your statutes.

⁸⁴How much more time does your servant have?

When will you bring my oppressors to justice?

⁸⁵The arrogant have dug pits for me—

those people who act against your Instruction.

⁸⁶All your commandments are true,

but people harass me for no reason.

Help me!

⁸⁷They’ve almost wiped me off the face of the earth!

Meanwhile, I haven’t abandoned your precepts!

⁸⁸Make me live again according to your faithful love

so I can keep the law you’ve given!

⁸⁹Your word, LORD ,

stands firm in heaven forever!

⁹⁰Your faithfulness extends from one generation to the next!

You set the earth firmly in place, and it is still there.

⁹¹Your rules endure to this day

because everything serves you.

⁹²If your Instruction hadn’t been my delight,

I would have died because of my suffering.

⁹³I will never forget your precepts

because through them you gave me life again.

⁹⁴I’m yours—save me

because I’ve pursued your precepts!

⁹⁵The wicked wait for me,

wanting to kill me, but I’m studying your laws.

⁹⁶I’ve seen that everything,

no matter how perfect, has a limit,

but your commandment is boundless.

⁹⁷I love your Instruction!

I think about it constantly.

⁹⁸Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies

because it is always with me.

⁹⁹I have greater insight than all my teachers

because I contemplate your laws.

¹⁰⁰I have more understanding than the elders

because I guard your precepts.

¹⁰¹I haven’t set my feet on any evil path

so I can make sure to keep your word.

¹⁰²I haven’t deviated from any of your rules

because you are the one who has taught me.

¹⁰³Your word is so pleasing to my taste buds—

it’s sweeter than honey in my mouth!

¹⁰⁴I’m studying your precepts—

that’s why I hate every false path.

¹⁰⁵Your word is a lamp before my feet

and a light for my journey.

¹⁰⁶I have sworn, and I fully mean it:

I will keep your righteous rules.

¹⁰⁷I have been suffering so much—

LORD , make me live again according to your promise.

¹⁰⁸Please, LORD , accept my spontaneous gifts of praise.

Teach me your rules!

¹⁰⁹Though my life is constantly in danger,

I won’t forget your Instruction.

¹¹⁰Though the wicked have set a trap for me,

I won’t stray from your precepts.

¹¹¹Your laws are my possession forever

because they are my heart’s joy.

¹¹²I have decided to keep your statutes forever, every last one.

¹¹³I hate fickle people,

but I love your Instruction.

¹¹⁴You are my shelter and my shield—

I wait for your promise.

¹¹⁵Get away from me, you evildoers;

I want to guard my God’s commandments!

¹¹⁶Sustain me according to your word so I can live!

Don’t let me be put to shame because of hope.

¹¹⁷Support me so I can be saved

and so I can focus constantly on your statutes.

¹¹⁸You discard everyone who strays from your statutes

because they are dishonest and false.

¹¹⁹You dispose of all the wicked people on earth like waste—

that’s why I love your laws.

¹²⁰My body shudders because I fear you;

I’m in awe of your rules.

¹²¹I’ve done what is just and right.

Don’t just hand me over to my oppressors.

¹²²Guarantee good things for your servant.

Please don’t let the arrogant oppress me.

¹²³My eyes are worn out looking for your saving help—

looking for your word that will set things right.

¹²⁴Act toward your servant according to your faithful love.

Teach me your statutes!

¹²⁵I’m your servant!

Help me understand so I can know your laws.

¹²⁶It is time for the LORD to do something!

Your Instruction has been broken.

¹²⁷But I love your commandments

more than gold, even more than pure gold.

¹²⁸That’s why I walk straight by every single one of your precepts.

That’s why I hate every false path.

¹²⁹Your laws are wonderful!

That’s why I guard them.

¹³⁰Access to your words gives light,[#119.130 Vulg, Sym]

giving simple folk understanding.

¹³¹I open my mouth up wide, panting,

because I long for your commandments.

¹³²Come back to me and have mercy on me;

that’s only right for those who love your name.

¹³³Keep my steps steady by your word;

don’t let any sin rule me.

¹³⁴Redeem me from the people who oppress me

so I can keep your precepts.

¹³⁵Shine your face on your servant,

and teach me your statutes.

¹³⁶Rivers of tears stream from my eyes

because your Instruction isn’t being kept.

¹³⁷LORD , you are righteous,

and your rules are right.

¹³⁸The laws you commanded are righteous,

completely trustworthy.

¹³⁹Anger consumes me

because my enemies have forgotten what you’ve said.

¹⁴⁰Your word has been tried and tested;

your servant loves your word!

¹⁴¹I’m insignificant and unpopular,

but I don’t forget your precepts.

¹⁴²Your righteousness lasts forever!

Your Instruction is true!

¹⁴³Stress and strain have caught up with me,

but your commandments are my joy!

¹⁴⁴Your laws are righteous forever.

Help me understand so I can live!

¹⁴⁵I cry out with all my heart:

“LORD , answer me so I can guard your statutes!”

¹⁴⁶I cry out to you, “Save me

so I can keep your laws!”

¹⁴⁷I meet the predawn light and cry for help.

I wait for your promise.

¹⁴⁸My eyes encounter each hour of the night

as I think about your word.

¹⁴⁹Listen to my voice, according to your faithful love.

LORD , make me live again, according to your justice.

¹⁵⁰The people who love to plot wicked schemes are nearby,

but they are so far from your Instruction!

¹⁵¹But you, LORD , are nearby too,

and all your commandments are true.

¹⁵²Long ago I learned from your laws

that you had established them forever.

¹⁵³Look at my suffering and deliver me

because I haven’t forgotten your Instruction.

¹⁵⁴Argue my case and redeem me.

Make me live again by your word.

¹⁵⁵Salvation is far from the wicked

because they haven’t pursued your statutes.

¹⁵⁶You have so much compassion, LORD —

make me live again, according to your rules.

¹⁵⁷My oppressors and enemies are many,

but I haven’t turned away from your laws.

¹⁵⁸I look on the faithless, and I am disgusted

because they haven’t kept your word.

¹⁵⁹Look at how much I love your precepts.

Make me live again, LORD , according to your faithful love!

¹⁶⁰The first thing to know about your word is that it is true

and that all your righteous rules last forever.

¹⁶¹Rulers oppress me without cause,

but my heart honors what you’ve said.

¹⁶²I’m overjoyed at your word,

like someone who finds great treasure.

¹⁶³I hate, I absolutely despise, what is false,

but I’m in love with your Instruction.

¹⁶⁴I praise you seven times a day

for your righteous rules.

¹⁶⁵The people who love your Instruction enjoy peace—and lots of it.

There’s no stumbling for them!

¹⁶⁶LORD , I wait for your saving help.

I do what you’ve commanded.

¹⁶⁷I keep your laws;

I love them so much!

¹⁶⁸I keep your precepts and your laws

because all my ways are seen by you.

¹⁶⁹Let my cry reach you, LORD ;

help me understand according to what you’ve said.

¹⁷⁰Let my request for grace come before you;

deliver me according to your promise!

¹⁷¹Let my lips overflow with praise

because you’ve taught me your statutes.

¹⁷²Let my tongue declare your word,

because all your commandments are righteous.

¹⁷³Let your power help me

because I have chosen your precepts.

¹⁷⁴LORD , I long for your saving help!

Your Instruction is my joy!

¹⁷⁵Let me live again so I can praise you!

Let your rules help me!

¹⁷⁶I’ve wandered off like a sheep, lost.

Find your servant