Psalm 119

Abraham Coles

3 Yea, no unrighteousness they do;
Walk in His ways with careful feet;
4 They keep the precepts He enjoins,
And find their strict observance sweet.

5 O that my ways directed were
To keep Thy statutes, void of blame;
6 Then when to all of Thy commands
I have respect, I'll feel no shame.

7 With upright heart I will Thee praise,
When I Thy righteous judgments learn;
8 I all Thy statutes will observe —
Forsake me not, nor from me turn.

BETH.
9 How shall a young man cleanse his way?
By due attention to Thy word,
10 With my whole heart I have Thee sought,
From Thy commandments have not erred.

11 I have Thy word hid in my heart,
That I against Thee might not sin.
12 Thy statutes, blessed Lord, me teach.
And firmly stablish me therein.

13 I have recounted with my lips
Thy Judgments of Thy mouth entire;
14 Thy testimonies making glad,
More than all riches I desire.

15 I'll in Thy precepts meditate.
Thy ways by me shall be preferred;
16 I in Thy statutes will delight,
And I will not forget Thy word.

GIMEL.
17 Be to Thy servant kind that I
May live, and I Thy word will keep;
18 Open mine eyes, that in Thy law
I may see wondrous things and deep.

19 I am a stranger in the earth,
Hide Thy commandments not from me;
20 My soul breaks from the longing it
Has toward Thy judgments ceaselessly.

21 Thou hast rebuked the proud, accursed,
Who have from Thy commandments swerved.
22 Roll off reproach from me, for I
Thy testimonies have observed.

23 Princes against me sit and talk —
Thy servant on Thy statutes pores;
24 Thy testimonies also are
My chief delight and counsellors.

DALETH.
25 My soul cleaves to the dust: Thou me
Quicken according to Thy word,
26 I told my ways, Thou heardest me,
Teach me Thy statutes, gracious Lord!

27 Make me Thy precepts understand,
I'll on Thy wonders meditate.
28 My soul sinks down from heaviness.
Make Thy word strong to lift the weight.

29 Cause me from falsehood to depart,
And grant me graciously Thy law.
30 The way of truth I've made my choice,
Thy Judgments, I have held in awe.

31 I to Thy testimonies cleave,
Preserve me clear from shameful charge.
32 I'll run the way of Thy commands,
Then when Thou shalt my heart enlarge.

HE.
33 Teach me Thy statutes, and I'll keep
Them to the end in every part.
34 Give understanding, and I will
Observe Thy law with my whole heart.

35 Make me in Thy commandments tread,
For I therein great joy obtain.
36 Me to Thy testimonies bend,
And not to covetousness and gain.

37 Turn off mine eyes from vanity,
Me quicken in Thy ways and cheer;
38 Make to Thy servant good Thy word,
Who is devoted to Thy fear.

39 Turn the reproach away I dread,
For good Thy judgments are and true;
40 Behold, I for Thy precepts long,
Me in Thy righteousness renew.

VAU.
41 And let Thy mercies come to me
According to Thy promise, Lord!
42 Then I'll him answer that reviles,
For I have trusted in Thy word.

43 Take not the word of truth from me,
Seeing I for Thy judgments wait.
44 So I Thy law for aye will keep,
By it my conduct regulate.

45 And I will walk at liberty,
For I to know Thy precepts seek:
46 And of Thy testimonies pure
I unashamed 'fore kings will speak.

47 In Thy commandments which I love
I'll take delight; and will as well
48 To them lift up my hands and heart,
And on Thy statutes fondly dwell.

ZAIN.
49 Thy word of promise call to mind,
In which Thou hast caused me to hope.
50 This is my comfort in my grief,
Thy quickening word new doors can ope.

51 The proud ones have laughed me to scorn,
Yet from Thy law I've not declined.
52 Thy Judgments I of old recalled.
And they consoled my troubled mind.

53 Horror me seized, beholding men
Forsake Thy law, its sanctions spurn.
54 Thy statutes still have been my songs,
Here in the house of my sojourn.

55 Thy Name I've thought on in the night,
And sought for strength to keep Thy law,
56 I have Thy precepts kept, and so
Knowledge from sweet experience draw.

CHETH.
57 Thou art my portion. Lord, to keep
Thy words will I devote my mind;
58 I sought Thy help with my whole heart,
According to Thy word be kind!

59 I thought upon my ways, my feet
I to Thy testimonies turned.
60 I hastened Thy commands to keep.
With holy zeal my bosom burned.

61 Cords of the wicked wrapped me round,
But on Thy law meanwhile I thought;
62 I'll rise at midnight to give thanks
Because of righteous judgments wrought.

63 All those who fear Thee and who keep
Thy precepts, my companions be.
64 The earth is of Thy mercies full,
Make plain Thy statutes, Lord, to me,

TETH.
65 Thou with Thy servant has dealt well,
According to Thy word relieved.
66 Me knowledge and good judgment teach,
For Thy commandments I've believed.

67 Before I smitten was, I strayed,
But now Thy word I keep fast hold.
68 Thou art most good and doest good,
Thy statutes teach me and unfold.

69 The proud 'gainst me have forged a lie,
But to Thy precepts I'll be true.
70 Their heart is fat and gross, but I
Will with delight Thy law pursue.

71 'T is for my good I've been chastised,
That I might learn Thy statutes old:
72 Law of Thy mouth is better than
Thousands of silver and of gold.

JOD.
73 Thy hands they made and fashioned me,
Make me Thy pure commandments learn:
74 All they that fear Thee will rejoice
That to Thy word for hope I turn.

75 I know Thy Judgments, Lord, are right,
In faithfulness Thou smotest me.
76 According to Thy word, O let
Thy mercy for my comfort be.

77 Be merciful that I may live,
For my delight is in Thy law,
78 Shame those who wronged me without cause,
I'll on Thy precepts muse with awe.

79 Let them that fear Thee, turn to me,
Those that Thy testimonies know:
80 Make my heart in Thy statutes sound,
Lest I meet shameful overthrow.

CAPH.
81 My soul for Thy salvation faints,
I for Thy word with longing wait:
82 Mine eyes fail for Thy promise, made
To comfort the disconsolate.

83 I'm like a bottle in the smoke,
Yet I Thy statutes keep in view:
84 When wilt Thou judgment execute
On them who hotly me pursue?

85 The proud ones have digged pits for me,
Whose lives are by Thy law not swayed:
86 All Thy commandments faithful are,
Against my persecutors, aid.

87 They nigh consumed me on the earth,
I from Thy precepts did not swerve:
88 After Thy mercy quicken me,
Thy testimonies I'll observe.

LAMED.
89 Thy word in heaven forever stands.
From age to age Thy faithfulness:
90 As earth abides which Thou didst found,
Thy truth is permanent no less;

91 By Thy decrees they stand this day,
For all Thy servants are, I know;
92 Had not Thy law been my delight,
I should have perished long ago.

93 Thy precepts I will ne'er forget;
For with them Thou hast quickened me.
94 Lord, I am Thine, me save, for I
Have sought Thy precepts diligently.

95 The wicked wait to me destroy;
But I Thy testimonies laud:
96 An end I've to perfection seen,
For Thy commandment's very broad.

MEM.
97 O how I love Thy law; it is
My meditation all the day.
98 Above my foes I am made wise
For Thy commandments with me stay.

99 I'm wiser than my teachers, for
Thy testimonies are my school;
100 Am wiser than the ancients, for
Thy precepts all my conduct rule.

101 My feet have shunned each evil way,
That in Thy word I might abide:
102 I have not from Thy judgments strayed,
For Thou Thyself hast been my guide.

103 How sweet Thy words are to my taste,
Than honey to my mouth more sweet.
104 Instructed by Thy precepts, far
From each false way I turn my feet.

NUN.
105 Thy word's a lantern to my feet,
A light to make my pathway clear.
106 I've sworn, and will perform my oath,
I'll hold Thy righteous judgments dear.

107 I am afflicted very much,
According to Thy word, restore:
108 Accept my free-will offerings, Lord,
Teach me Thy Judgments to adore.

109 My soul is ever in my hand,
Yet have I not thy law forgot:
110 The wicked laid a snare for me,
Yet from Thy precepts strayed I not.

111 Because Thy testimonies are
My heart's rejoicing, I them take
112 As my eternal heritage,
And I'll Thy statutes ne'er forsake.

SAMECH.
113 Those of a double mind I hate,
But love Thy law and do not feign.
114 Thou art my Hiding-Place and Shield,
I from Thy word assurance gain.

115 Ye evil-doers, hence depart!
My God's commands I'll keep unblamed.
116 According to Thy word uphold,
That I may live, and not be shamed.

117 Hold Thou me up, and I'll be safe,
I'll on Thy statutes fix my eye:
118 Who err from these Thou'lt set at naught,
For their deceit is their own lie.

119 The wicked purgest Thou like dross,
Thy testimonies I hold dear.
120 Trembles my flesh for dread of Thee,
And I Thy judgments greatly fear.

AIN.
121 Justice and judgment I have done,
Me not to my oppressors leave.
122 Be surety. Lord, for good to me.
Let not the proud me crush and grieve.

123 Mine eyes for Thy salvation fail,
Waiting Thy words's fulfillment long.
124 Deal kindly with Thy servant, me
Thy statutes teach, to make me strong.

125 I am Thy servant, make me wise,
May I Thy testimonies know.
126 'T is time, Lord, Thou should'st work, when men
Thy law make void and overthrow.

127 I, therefore, Thy commandments love,
Above fine gold them estimate;
128 Thy precepts I esteem all right,
And every lying way I hate.

PE.
129 Wondrous Thy testimonies are;
In them my soul I exercise.
130 The entrance of Thy word gives light,
And serves to make the simple wise.

131 I stretched my mouth and panted — for
I longed for Thy commandments much.
132 Turn Thou to me for I Thee love,
And do as Thou art wont to such.

133 Order my footsteps in Thy word;
Let no iniquity have sway:
134 From man's oppression me redeem,
So I Thy precepts will obey.

135 Make Thou Thy Face on me to shine,
Thy statutes teach, by them me draw.
136 Rivers of tears run down mine eyes,
Because men do not keep Thy law.

TZADDI.
137 Righteous and true, O Lord, Thou art,
Upright Thy judgments are, and just.
138 Thy testimonies faithful are,
On us enjoined that we may trust.

139 My zeal for Thee has me consumed,
Because my foes Thy words forget.
140 Thy word is tried and very pure,
Therefore my heart is on it set.

141 Though I am little and despised,
Thy precepts I have loved from youth.
142 Eternal is Thy righteousness,
Thy law is everlasting truth.

143 Trouble and anguish have me seized,
Yet Thy commandments gladness give:
144 Right are Thy testimonies, make
Me understand and I shall live.

KOPH.
145 With my whole heart I Thee invoke,
Hear me and I'll Thy statutes keep;
146 Save, and Thy testimonies, I
Will cherish with affection deep.

147 I cry for help at early dawn,
And for Thy word devoutly wait:
148 I shorten the night watches that
I in Thy word may meditate.

149 According to Thy mercy hear,
Just to Thy Judgments, save alive!
150 For they are near, who, far from law,
Ingenious wickedness contrive.

151 Thou too art near, O Lord, and Thy
Commandments are immortal truth:
152 I have Thy testimonies known
To be eternal from my youth.

RESH.
153 See my affliction, and me save;
Naught from my breast Thy law shall drive,
154 Plead Thou my cause, and me redeem,
According to Thy word, revive.

155 Salvation's from the wicked far;
They've for Thy statutes no regard.
156 Great are Thy mercies, quicken me
According to Thy judgments, Lord!

157 My foes are many, yet do I
Not from Thy testimonies swerve.
158 I saw the faithless, and was grieved,
That they did not Thy word observe.

159 Behold, how I Thy precepts love,
After Thy mercy quicken me.
160 Thy word is from creation true,
Thy judgments span eternity.

SCHIN.
161 Princes pursue me without cause,
Awe of Thy word my heart appals:
162 And yet I at Thy word rejoice
As one to whom great booty falls.

163 Falsehood I hate and I abhor,
But love Thy law with all my might.
164 Seven times a day do I Thee praise
Because Thy judgments are upright.

165 Great peace have they who love Thy law,
Occasion have of stumbling none.
166 I have for Thy salvation hoped,
And Thy commandments I have done.

167 I have Thy testimonies kept,
And them I love exceedingly,
168 I all Thy precepts have observed,
For all my ways are known to Thee.

TAU.
169 Let my cry come before Thee, Lord!
True to Thy word me wisdom give:
170 Hear me, according to Thy word.
Deliver me that I may live.

171 My lips shall praise Thee, for Thou wilt
With knowledge of Thy statutes bless,
172 My tongue shall celebrate Thy word,
For Thy commands are righteousness.

173 Be ready with Thy hand to help,
For I've Thy precepts made my choice,
174 I've longed for Thy salvation, Lord!
I greatly in Thy law rejoice.

175 Let my soul live to praise Thee, let
Thy judgments help me; and O, when
176 I go astray like a lost sheep,
Bring Thou Thy servant back again.