1Blessed are they that are perfect in the way , Who walk in the law of Jehovah . 2Blessed are they that keep his testimonies , That seek him with the whole heart . 3Yea, they do no unrighteousness ; They walk in his ways . 4Thou hast commanded us thy precepts , That we should observe them diligently . 5Oh that my ways were established To observe thy statutes ! 6Then shall I not be put to shame, When I have respect unto all thy commandments . 7I will give thanks unto thee with uprightness of heart , When I learn thy righteous judgments . 8I will observe thy statutes : Oh forsake me not utterly . ב BETH.
Affliction and Dependence on God's Law
9Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way ? By taking heed thereto according to thy word . 10With my whole heart have I sought thee: Oh let me not wander from thy commandments . 11Thy word have I laid up in my heart , That I might not sin against thee. 12Blessed art thou, O Jehovah : Teach me thy statutes . 13With my lips have I declared All the ordinances of thy mouth . 14I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies , As much as in all riches . 15I will meditate on thy precepts , And have respect unto thy ways. 16I will delight myself in thy statutes : I will not forget thy word . ג GIMEL.
Delight in God's Statutes
17Deal bountifully with thy servant , that I may live ; So will I observe thy word . 18Open thou mine eyes , that I may behold Wondrous things out of thy law . 19I am a sojourner in the earth: Hide not thy commandments from me . 20My soul breaketh for the longing That it hath unto thine ordinances at all times . 21Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, That do wander from thy commandments . 22Take away from me reproach and contempt ; For I have kept thy testimonies . 23Princes also sat and talked against me ; But thy servant did meditate on thy statutes . 24Thy testimonies also are my delight And my counsellors. ד DALETH.
Prayers for Understanding and Help
25My soul cleaveth unto the dust : Quicken thou me according to thy word . 26I declared my ways , and thou answeredst me : Teach me thy statutes . 27Make me to understand the way of thy precepts : So shall I meditate on thy wondrous works . 28My soul melteth for heaviness : Strengthen thou me according unto thy word . 29Remove from me the way of falsehood ; And grant me thy law graciously . 30I have chosen the way of faithfulness: Thine ordinances have I set before me . 31I cleave unto thy testimonies : O Jehovah , put me not to shame. 32I will run the way of thy commandments , When thou shalt enlarge my heart . ה HE.
God's Word as a Source of Hope
33Teach me, O Jehovah , the way of thy statutes ; And I shall keep it unto the end . 34Give me understanding , and I shall keep thy law ; Yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart . 35Make me to go in the path of thy commandments ; For therein do I delight . 36Incline my heart unto thy testimonies , And not to covetousness . 37Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity , And quicken me in thy ways . 38Confirm unto thy servant thy word, Which is in order unto the fear of thee. 39Turn away my reproach whereof I am afraid ; For thine ordinances are good . 40Behold , I have longed after thy precepts : Quicken me in thy righteousness . ו VAV.
Commitment to Obedience
41Let thy lovingkindnesses also come unto me, O Jehovah , Even thy salvation , according to thy word. 42So shall I have an answer for him that reproacheth me ; For I trust in thy word . 43And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth ; For I have hoped in thine ordinances . 44So shall I observe thy law continually For ever and ever . 45And I shall walk at liberty ; For I have sought thy precepts . 46I will also speak of thy testimonies before kings , And shall not be put to shame. 47And I will delight myself in thy commandments , Which I have loved. 48I will lift up my hands also unto thy commandments , which I have loved; And I will meditate on thy statutes . ז ZAYIN.
The Joy and Certainty of God's Word
49Remember the word unto thy servant , Because thou hast made me to hope . 50This is my comfort in my affliction ; For thy word hath quickened me . 51The proud have had me greatly in derision : Yet have I not swerved from thy law . 52I have remembered thine ordinances of old , O Jehovah , And have comforted myself . 53Hot indignation hath taken hold upon me , Because of the wicked that forsake thy law . 54Thy statutes have been my songs In the house of my pilgrimage . 55I have remembered thy name , O Jehovah , in the night , And have observed thy law . 56This I have had , Because I have kept thy precepts . ח HHETH. 57Jehovah is my portion : I have said that I would observe thy words . 58I entreated thy favor with my whole heart : Be merciful unto me according to thy word. 59I thought on my ways , And turned my feet unto thy testimonies . 60I made haste , and delayed not , To observe thy commandments . 61The cords of the wicked have wrapped me round; But I have not forgotten thy law . 62At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee Because of thy righteous ordinances . 63I am a companion of all them that fear thee, And of them that observe thy precepts . 64The earth, O Jehovah , is full of thy lovingkindness : Teach me thy statutes . ט TETH. 65Thou hast dealt well with thy servant , O Jehovah , according unto thy word . 66Teach me good judgment and knowledge ; For I have believed in thy commandments . 67Before I was afflicted I went astray ; But now I observe thy word. 68Thou art good , and doest good ; Teach me thy statutes . 69The proud have forged a lie against me : With my whole heart will I keep thy precepts . 70Their heart is as fat as grease ; But I delight in thy law . 71It is good for me that I have been afflicted ; That I may learn thy statutes . 72The law of thy mouth is better unto me Than thousands of gold and silver . י YODH. 73Thy hands have made me and fashioned me : Give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments . 74They that fear thee shall see me and be glad , Because I have hoped in thy word . 75I know , O Jehovah , that thy judgments are righteous , And that in faithfulness thou hast afflicted me . 76Let , I pray thee , thy lovingkindness be for my comfort , According to thy word unto thy servant . 77Let thy tender mercies come unto me , that I may live ; For thy law is my delight . 78Let the proud be put to shame; for they have overthrown me wrongfully : But I will meditate on thy precepts . 79Let those that fear thee turn unto me ; And they shall know thy testimonies . 80Let my heart be perfect in thy statutes , That I be not put to shame. כ KAPH. 81My soul fainteth for thy salvation ; But I hope in thy word . 82Mine eyes fail for thy word, While I say, When wilt thou comfort me ? 83For I am become like a wine-skin in the smoke ; Yet do I not forget thy statutes . 84How many are the days of thy servant ? When wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me ? 85The proud have digged pits for me , Who are not according to thy law . 86All thy commandments are faithful: They persecute me wrongfully ; help thou me . 87They had almost consumed me upon earth; But I forsook not thy precepts . 88Quicken me after thy lovingkindness ; So shall I observe the testimony of thy mouth . ל LAMEDH. 89For ever , O Jehovah , Thy word is settled in heaven . 90Thy faithfulness is unto all generations : Thou hast established the earth, and it abideth . 91They abide this day according to thine ordinances ; For all things are thy servants . 92Unless thy law had been my delight , I should then have perished in mine affliction . 93I will never forget thy precepts ; For with them thou hast quickened me . 94I am thine, save me ; For I have sought thy precepts . 95The wicked have waited for me, to destroy me; But I will consider thy testimonies . 96I have seen an end of all perfection ; But thy commandment is exceeding broad . מ MEM. 97Oh how love I thy law ! It is my meditation all the day . 98Thy commandments make me wiser than mine enemies; For they are ever with me . 99I have more understanding than all my teachers ; For thy testimonies are my meditation . 100I understand more than the aged , Because I have kept thy precepts . 101I have refrained my feet from every evil way , That I might observe thy word . 102I have not turned aside from thine ordinances ; For thou hast taught me . 103How sweet are thy words unto my taste ! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth ! 104Through thy precepts I get understanding: Therefore I hate every false way . נ NUN. 105Thy word is a lamp unto my feet , And light unto my path . 106I have sworn , and have confirmed it , That I will observe thy righteous ordinances . 107I am afflicted very much : Quicken me , O Jehovah , according unto thy word . 108Accept , I beseech thee , the freewill-offerings of my mouth , O Jehovah , And teach me thine ordinances . 109My soul is continually in my hand ; Yet do I not forget thy law . 110The wicked have laid a snare for me ; Yet have I not gone astray from thy precepts . 111Thy testimonies have I taken as a heritage for ever ; For they are the rejoicing of my heart . 112I have inclined my heart to perform thy statutes For ever , even unto the end . ס SAMEKH. 113I hate them that are of a double mind; But thy law do I love. 114Thou art my hiding-place and my shield : I hope in thy word . 115Depart from me , ye evil-doers, That I may keep the commandments of my God. 116Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live ; And let me not be ashamed of my hope . 117Hold thou me up , and I shall be safe , And shall have respect unto thy statutes continually . 118Thou hast set at nought all them that err from thy statutes ; For their deceit is falsehood . 119Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross : Therefore I love thy testimonies . 120My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; And I am afraid of thy judgments . ע AYIN. 121I have done justice and righteousness : Leave me not to mine oppressors . 122Be surety for thy servant for good : Let not the proud oppress me . 123Mine eyes fail for thy salvation , And for thy righteous word. 124Deal with thy servant according unto thy lovingkindness , And teach me thy statutes . 125I am thy servant ; give me understanding, That I may know thy testimonies . 126It is time for Jehovah to work ; For they have made void thy law . 127Therefore I love thy commandments Above gold , yea, above fine gold . 128Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right ; And I hate every false way . פ PE. 129Thy testimonies are wonderful ; Therefore doth my soul keep them . 130The opening of thy words giveth light; It giveth understanding unto the simple . 131I opened wide my mouth , and panted ; For I longed for thy commandments . 132Turn thee unto me , and have mercy upon me , As thou usest to do unto those that love thy name . 133Establish my footsteps in thy word; And let not any iniquity have dominion over me . 134Redeem me from the oppression of man: So will I observe thy precepts . 135Make thy face to shine upon thy servant ; And teach me thy statutes . 136Streams of water run down mine eyes , Because they observe not thy law . צ TSADHE. 137Righteous art thou, O Jehovah , And upright are thy judgments . 138Thou hast commanded thy testimonies in righteousness And very faithfulness. 139My zeal hath consumed me , Because mine adversaries have forgotten thy words . 140Thy word is very pure ; Therefore thy servant loveth it . 141I am small and despised; Yet do I not forget thy precepts . 142Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness , And thy law is truth. 143Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me ; Yet thy commandments are my delight . 144Thy testimonies are righteous for ever : Give me understanding, and I shall live . ק QOPH. 145I have called with my whole heart ; answer me , O Jehovah : I will keep thy statutes . 146I have called unto thee; save me , And I shall observe thy testimonies . 147I anticipated the dawning of the morning , and cried : I hoped in thy words . 148Mine eyes anticipated the night-watches, That I might meditate on thy word. 149Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness : Quicken me , O Jehovah , according to thine ordinances . 150They draw nigh that follow after wickedness ; They are far from thy law . 151Thou art nigh , O Jehovah ; And all thy commandments are truth. 152Of old have I known from thy testimonies , That thou hast founded them for ever . ר RESH. 153Consider mine affliction , and deliver me ; For I do not forget thy law . 154Plead thou my cause , and redeem me : Quicken me according to thy word. 155Salvation is far from the wicked ; For they seek not thy statutes . 156Great are thy tender mercies , O Jehovah : Quicken me according to thine ordinances . 157Many are my persecutors and mine adversaries ; Yet have I not swerved from thy testimonies . 158I beheld the treacherous, and was grieved , Because they observe not thy word. 159Consider how I love thy precepts : Quicken me , O Jehovah , according to thy lovingkindness . 160The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever . ש SHIN. 161Princes have persecuted me without a cause ; But my heart standeth in awe of thy words . 162I rejoice at thy word, As one that findeth great spoil . 163I hate and abhor falsehood ; But thy law do I love. 164Seven times a day do I praise thee, Because of thy righteous ordinances . 165Great peace have they that love thy law ; And they have no occasion of stumbling . 166I have hoped for thy salvation , O Jehovah , And have done thy commandments . 167My soul hath observed thy testimonies ; And I love them exceedingly . 168I have observed thy precepts and thy testimonies ; For all my ways are before thee . ת TAV. 169Let my cry come near before thee , O Jehovah : Give me understanding according to thy word . 170Let my supplication come before thee : Deliver me according to thy word. 171Let my lips utter praise ; For thou teachest me thy statutes . 172Let my tongue sing of thy word ; For all thy commandments are righteousness . 173Let thy hand be ready to help me ; For I have chosen thy precepts . 174I have longed for thy salvation , O Jehovah ; And thy law is my delight . 175Let my soul live , and it shall praise thee; And let thine ordinances help me . 176I have gone astray like a lost sheep ; seek thy servant ; For I do not forget thy commandments .