Psalms

119 Happy are men of conscientious course,

those who go by Jehovah’s instructions.

2 Happy those who keep his lessons,

wholeheartedly resort to him.

3 Neither do they commit knavery;

they go by his courses.

4 It was you ordained your mandates,

well to be observed.

5 Would that my courses were steady

in observing your precepts!

6 I shall be then unashamed

when I look toward all your commandments.

7 I will give you thanks with straightforward heart

when I learn your righteous laws.

8 Your precepts I observe;

do not totally leave me.

9 By what is a young man to keep his path clean?

Watching it on the basis of your word.

10 Wholeheartedly I resort to you;

let me take no wrong step away from your commandments.

11 In my heart I have buried your behest,

so that I might not sin against you.

12 Blessed are you, Jehovah;

teach me your precepts.

13 With my lips I tell the story

of all the laws your mouth has given out.

14 In the course your lips teach I rejoice

as much as over any affluence.

15 In your mandates I study,

and eye your paths.

16 In your precepts I take my pleasure,

will not forget your word.

17 Do your servant a good turn;

let me live and observe your word.

18 Unblind my eyes and let me look

at mysteries out of your instructions.

19 A visitor on earth am I;

do not veil your commandments from me.

20 My soul wears away with wishing

toward your laws at every time.

21 You rebuke presumptuous men;

cursed are those who err from your commandments.

22 Roll off from me ignominy and contempt,

because I keep your lessons.

23 If even chieftains sat talking together against me

your servant would study in your precepts.

24 Your lessons are withal

my pleasure, my advisers.

25 Flat on the ground lies my soul;

give me life in accordance with your word.

26 I told my story and you answered me;

teach me your precepts.

27 Give me insight into the course your mandates prescribe;

that I may study your mysteries.

28 My soul is dissolved in woe;

set me on my feet in accordance with your word.

29 Turn away from me the course of falsehood

and favor me with your instructions.

30 I choose the course of faithfulness,

I crave your laws.

31 I have adhered to your lessons;

Jehovah, do not disappoint me.

32 I will run the road of your commandments

because you have set my heart at ease.

33 Instruct me, Jehovah, in the course your precepts direct,

and I will keep it to the last.

34 Give me insight and I will keep your instructions

and observe them wholeheartedly.

35 Direct me along the path of your commandments;

for that is what I like.

36 Bend my heart toward your lessons

and not toward pelf.

37 Lead my eyes to go past sights of frivolity;

give me life by your word.

38 Make good to your servant

your promise for the fear of you.

39 Drive off my ignominy of which I stand in fear,

because your laws are good.

40 Here have I been wishing your mandates;

give me life in your fairness,

41 And let your acts of friendship come to me, Jehovah,

your salvation in accordance with your promise,

42 And let me give an answer to him who taunts me;

for I am confident in your word;

44 And I will observe your instructions always,

forever and evermore,

45 And walk a roomy road

because I have betaken myself to your mandates;

46 And I will talk of your lessons in the presence of kings

and never be ashamed,

47 And take my pleasure in your commandments

which I love,

48 And raise my hands to your commandments, which I love,

and study your precepts.

49 Remember for your servant your word,

forasmuch as you are letting me wait.

50 This is my comfort in my misfortune,

that your promise gives me life.

51 Presumptuous men have been very cynical to me—

I did not swerve from your instructions;

52 I remembered your judgments since olden times,

Jehovah, and took comfort.

53 I am seized with fever at wrong-doers

who forsake your instructions.

54 Your precepts have been music to me

in the house where I am on my visit.

55 I have remembered your name in the night, Jehovah,

and observed your instructions.

56 This has been mine,

that I have kept your mandates.

57 My portion is Jehovah;

I resolve to keep your word.

58 I entreat you, Jehovah, with all my heart,

be gracious to me according to your promise.

59 I thought over my courses

and turned my feet back to your lessons.

60 I hastened and did not delay

to observe your commandments.

61 Wrong-doers’ cords swing around me,

I do not forget your instructions.

62 At midnight I stand up to give you thanks

for your righteous judgments.

63 I am comrade of all who fear you,

observing your mandates.

64 The earth is full of your friendliness, Jehovah;

teach me your precepts.

65 You have done kindly by your servant,

Jehovah, in accordance with your word.

66 Teach me good sense and knowledge,

because I believe in your commandments.

67 Before I had my misfortunes I went wrong;

but now I observe your behest.

68 You are good and do the good;

teach me your precepts.

69 Presumptuous men have smeared lies over me;

I keep your mandates with all my heart.

70 Their hearts are fatty as tallow;

I take my pleasure in your instructions.

71 It was good for me that I had my misfortunes,

in order that I might learn your precepts.

72 The instructions of your mouth are a better thing for me

than thousands in gold and silver.

73 Your hands made me and organized me;

give me intelligence and I will learn your commandments.

74 Those who fear you see me and are glad,

because I wait for your word.

75 I know, Jehovah, that your judgments are right

and it was in faithfulness you sent me misfortune;

76 Let your friendship come to comfort me

in accordance with your promise to your servant;

77 Let your tenderness come in, that I may get well,

because your instructions are my pleasure.

78 Let presumptuous men be ashamed that they have circumvented me with falsehood;

I will study your mandates.

79 Those who fear you shall come back to me,

and those who know your lessons.

80 Be my heart faultless by your precepts,

so that I may not be put to shame.

81 My soul is spent with looking for your salvation;

I wait for your word.

82 My eyes are spent with looking for your promise,

thinking “How soon will you comfort me?”

83 Though I have become like a wineskin in a cloud of smoke,

I have not forgotten your precepts.

84 How long is your servant’s time?

how soon will you execute judgment on my persecutors?

85 Presumptuous men have dug pitfalls for me,

men who do not conform to your instructions.

86 All your commandments are faithful;

in falsehood they persecute me; help me.

87 They almost made an end of me on earth,

but I did not abandon your mandates.

88 As befits your friendship give me life,

and I will observe the lessons of your mouth.

89 Forever, Jehovah,

your word stands in heaven.

90 To generation after generation your faithfulness lasts;

you have set earth in order, and it stands.

91 For your laws they stand today;

for everything is in your service.

92 If your instructions had not been my pleasure,

then I should have perished in my misfortune.

93 Forever I will not forget your mandates,

because by them you have given me life.

94 Yours am I; save me,

because I have betaken myself to your mandates.

95 Wrong-doers have hoped to get me to destroy me;

I seek insight into your lessons.

96 Of every thoroughness I have seen an end;

your commandment goes far indeed.

97 How I love your instructions!

they are my study all day.

98 Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,

for it is mine forever.

99 I have more insight than all my teachers

because I have your lessons as a study.

100 I am more sagacious than aged men

because I keep your mandates.

101 From every vicious road I have shut off my feet

in order to observe your word.

102 From your laws I have not turned off,

because you have instructed me.

103 How delicious to my palate are your behest and promise,

more so to my mouth than honey!

104 Out of your mandates I grow intelligent;

therefore I hate every false road.

105 Your word is a lantern for my foot

and light for my path.

106 I have sworn, and will make it good,

to observe your just laws.

107 I am in great misfortune;

Jehovah, give me life in accordance with your word.

108 Accept the outpourings of my mouth, Jehovah,

and teach me your laws.

109 I carry my life in my hand all the time

but never forget your instructions.

110 Wrong-doers have set a trap for me,

but I have not strayed from your mandates.

111 I have your lessons as my estate forever,

because they are the joy of my heart.

112 I have bent my heart to live up to your precepts

to the last of all.

113 I hate undecided people

but love your instructions.

114 You are my screen and shield;

I wait for your word.

115 Away from me, evil-doers,

that I may keep my God’s commandments!

116 Hold me up in accordance with your promise and let me have life,

and do not disappoint me in my reliance.

117 Hold me firm, that I may be saved

and take my pleasure in your precepts always.

118 You spurn all who go wrong from your precepts,

because their duplicity is falsehood.

119 You have made an end of dross,

all earth’s wrong-doers;

therefore I love your lessons.

120 My hair stands on end for dread of you,

and I am in fear of your judgments.

121 I have done what was lawful and right;

do not leave me to those who deny me justice.

122 Be your servant’s bail for good;

let presumptuous men not deny me justice.

123 My eyes are spent with looking for your salvation

and for your righteous promise.

124 Do with your servant as befits your friendship

and teach me your precepts.

125 I am your servant; give me intelligence

to know your lessons.

126 It is time for Jehovah to act;

they have violated your instructions.

127 Therefore I love your commandments

more than gold, red gold.

128 Therefore I hold a straight course by all your mandates,

I hate every false road.

129 Wonderful are your lessons;

therefore my soul keeps them.

130 The doorway of your words shines out,

giving good sense to simpletons.

131 I open my mouth and catch my breath

because I am so eager for your commandments.

132 Face toward me and be gracious to me,

as is right for those who love your name.

133 Make my footing sure in your behest,

and let not any villainy dominate me.

134 Redeem me from man’s injustice,

and I will observe your mandates.

135 Show your servant a shining face

and teach me your precepts.

136 My eyes run streams of water

for men’s not having observed your instructions.

137 Righteous are you, Jehovah,

and just your laws.

138 You have ordained your lessons in righteousness

and utter faithfulness.

139 My jealousy has consumed me

because my foes have forgotten your word.

140 Fully sterling is your behest,

and your servant loves it.

141 Insignificant and despised am I—

I do not forget your mandates.

142 Your right dealing is righteous forever,

and your instructions are truth.

143 Distress and hardship have befallen me;

your commandments are my enjoyment.

144 Your lessons are right forever;

give me understanding and I shall come to life.

145 I call with all my heart; answer me, Jehovah;

I will keep your precepts.

146 I call you; save me

and I will observe your lessons.

147 I am up in the twilight and clamorous,

waiting for your word.

148 My eyes come up against the night watches

studying in your behest.

149 Hear my voice in accordance with your friendship;

Jehovah, give me life in accordance with your law.

150 Those who chase after enormity have come near;

from your instructions they are far.

151 Near are you, Jehovah,

and all your commandments are truth.

152 I know of old out of your lessons

that you have laid their foundations forever.

153 See my wretched state and rescue me,

because I have not forgotten your instructions.

154 Champion my cause and stand my friend;

give me life as was your promise.

155 Far from wrong-doers is salvation

because they have not betaken themselves to your precepts.

156 Your tenderness is great, Jehovah;

give me life in accordance with your laws.

157 Many are my persecutors and foes;

I have not swerved from your lessons.

158 I saw faithless men and was seized with loathing

that they did not observe your behest.

159 See, because I love your mandates;

Jehovah, give me life in accordance with your friendship.

160 The sum of your word is truth

and all your righteous laws are forever.

161 Chieftains have been persecuting me without provocation,

but it is of your word my heart stands in dread.

162 I rejoice in your promise

as does one who finds great booty.

163 I hate and abhor falsehood;

I love your instructions.

164 Seven times a day I praise you

for your righteous laws.

165 Great peace have those who love your law,

and nothing to stumble over.

166 I rely on your salvation, Jehovah,

and live up to your commandments.

167 My soul observes your lessons

and I greatly love them.

168 I observe your mandates and lessons

because all my courses are before you.

169 Let my appeal come near before you, Jehovah:

give me understanding in accordance with your word.

170 Let my plea come in before you;

deliver me in accordance with your promise.

171 My lips shall pour out praise

because you teach me your precepts.

172 My tongue shall sing of your behest,

for all your commandments are right.

173 May your hand be for my help

because I have chosen your mandates.

174 I am wishing your salvation, Jehovah,

and your instructions are my pleasure.

175 Let my soul have life and praise you,

and your judgments give me help.

176 I am astray like a lost sheep; look your servant up,

because I have not forgotten your commandments.