Psalm 119

Complete Jewish Bible

119 How happy are those whose way of life is blameless,
who live by the Torah of Adonai!
² How happy are those who observe his instruction,
who seek him wholeheartedly!
³ They do nothing wrong
but live by his ways.
⁴ You laid down your precepts
for us to observe with care.
⁵ May my ways be steady
in observing your laws.
⁶ Then I will not be put to shame,
since I will have fixed my sight on all your mitzvot.
⁷ I thank you with a sincere heart
as I learn your righteous rulings.
⁸ I will observe your laws;
don’t completely abandon me!

⁹ How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
¹⁰ I seek you with all my heart;
don’t let me stray from your mitzvot.
¹¹ I treasure your word in my heart,
so that I won’t sin against you.
¹² Blessed are you, Adonai!
Teach me your laws.
¹³ I proclaim with my mouth
all the rulings you have spoken.
¹⁴ I rejoice in the way of your instruction
more than in any kind of wealth.
¹⁵ I will meditate on your precepts
and keep my eyes on your ways.
¹⁶ I will find my delight in your regulations.
I will not forget your word.

¹⁷ Deal generously with your servant;
then I will live and observe your word.
¹⁸ Open my eyes, so that I will see
wonders from your Torah.
¹⁹ Though I’m just a wanderer on the earth,
don’t hide your mitzvot from me.
²⁰ I am continually consumed
with longing for your rulings.
²¹ You rebuke the proud, the cursed,
who stray from your mitzvot.
²² Remove scorn and contempt from me,
because I observe your instruction.
²³ Even when princes sit and plot against me,
your servant meditates on your laws.
²⁴ Also your instructions are my delight;
they are my counselors.

²⁵ I lie prostrate in the dust;
revive me, in keeping with your word.
²⁶ I told you of my ways, and you answered me;
teach me your laws.
²⁷ Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wonders.
²⁸ I am melting away from anxiety and grief;
renew my strength, in keeping with your word.
²⁹ Keep deceitful ways far from me,
and favor me with your Torah.
³⁰ I choose the way of trust;
I set your rulings [before me].
³¹ I cling to your instruction;
Adonai, don’t let me be put to shame!
³² I will run the way of your mitzvot,
for you have broadened my understanding.

³³ Teach me, Adonai, the way of your laws;
keeping them will be its own reward for me.
³⁴ Give me understanding; then I will keep your Torah;
I will observe it with all my heart.
³⁵ Guide me on the path of your mitzvot,
for I take pleasure in it.
³⁶ Bend my heart toward your instructions
and not toward selfish gain.
³⁷ Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
with your ways, give me life.
³⁸ Fulfill your promise, which you made to your servant,
which you made to those who fear you.
³⁹ Avert the disgrace which I dread,
for your rulings are good.
⁴⁰ See how I long for your precepts;
in your righteousness, give me life!

⁴¹ May your grace come to me, Adonai,
your salvation, as you promised;
⁴² then I will have an answer for those who taunt me;
for I trust in your word.
⁴³ Don’t take away completely my power to speak the truth;
for I put my hope in your rulings;
⁴⁴ and I will keep your Torah always,
forever and ever.
⁴⁵ I will go wherever I like,
for I have sought your precepts.
⁴⁶ I will speak of your instructions even to kings
without being ashamed.
⁴⁷ I will delight myself in your mitzvot,
which I have loved.
⁴⁸ I will lift my hands to your mitzvot, which I love;
and I will meditate on your laws.

⁴⁹ Remember your promise to your servant,
through which you have given me hope.
⁵⁰ In my distress my comfort is this:
that your promise gives me life.
⁵¹ Though the arrogant scorn me completely,
I have not turned away from your Torah.
⁵² Adonai, I keep in mind your age-old rulings;
in them I take comfort.
⁵³ Fury seizes me when I think of the wicked,
because they abandon your Torah.
⁵⁴ Your laws have become my songs
wherever I make my home.
⁵⁵ I remember your name, Adonai, at night;
and I observe your Torah.
⁵⁶ This [comfort] has come to me,
because I observe your precepts.

⁵⁷ Adonai, I say that my task
is to observe your words.
⁵⁸ I beg your favor with my whole heart;
show pity to me, in keeping with your promise.
⁵⁹ I thought about my ways
and turned my feet toward your instruction.
⁶⁰ I hurry, I don’t delay,
to observe your mitzvot.
⁶¹ Even when the cords of the wicked close around me,
I don’t forget your Torah.
⁶² At midnight I rise to give you thanks
because of your righteous rulings.
⁶³ I am a friend of all who fear you,
of those who observe your precepts.
⁶⁴ The earth, Adonai, is full of your grace;
teach me your laws.

⁶⁵ You have treated your servant well,
Adonai, in keeping with your word.
⁶⁶ Teach me good judgment and knowledge,
because I trust in your mitzvot.
⁶⁷ Before I was humbled, I used to go astray;
but now I observe your word.
⁶⁸ You are good, and you do good;
teach me your laws.
⁶⁹ The arrogant are slandering me,
but I will wholeheartedly keep your precepts.
⁷⁰ Their hearts are as thick as fat,
but I take delight in your Torah.
⁷¹ It is for my good that I have been humbled;
it was so that I would learn your laws.
⁷² The Torah you have spoken means more to me
than a fortune in gold and silver.

⁷³ Your hands made and formed me;
give me understanding, so I can learn your mitzvot.
⁷⁴ Those who fear you rejoice at the sight of me,
because I put my hope in your word.
⁷⁵ I know, Adonai, that your rulings are righteous,
that even when you humble me you are faithful.
⁷⁶ Let your grace comfort me,
in keeping with your promise to your servant.
⁷⁷ Show me pity, and I will live,
for your Torah is my delight.
⁷⁸ Let the proud be ashamed, because they wrong me with lies;
as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.
⁷⁹ Let those who fear you turn to me,
along with those who know your instruction.
⁸⁰ Let my heart be pure in your laws,
so that I won’t be put to shame.

⁸¹ I am dying to know your salvation;
my hope is in your word.
⁸² My eyes fail from watching for your promise;
I ask, “When will you comfort me?”
⁸³ For I have shriveled like a wineskin in a smoky room;
still, I don’t forget your laws.
⁸⁴ How long can your servant stay alive?
When will you bring judgment on my persecutors?
⁸⁵ The arrogant have dug pits for me to fall in;
this is not in keeping with your Torah!
⁸⁶ All your mitzvot [show your] faithfulness;
they are hounding me with lies; help me!
⁸⁷ They have nearly ended my life on earth,
but I have not abandoned your precepts.
⁸⁸ In keeping with your grace, revive me;
and I will observe your spoken instructions.

⁸⁹ Your word continues forever, Adonai,
firmly fixed in heaven;
⁹⁰ your faithfulness through all generations;
you established the earth, and it stands.
⁹¹ Yes, it stands today, in keeping with your rulings;
for all things are your servants.
⁹² If your Torah had not been my delight,
I would have perished in my distress.
⁹³ I will never forget your precepts,
for with them you have made me alive.
⁹⁴ I am yours; save me
because I seek your precepts.
⁹⁵ The wicked hope to destroy me,
but I focus on your instruction.
⁹⁶ I see the limits of all perfection,
but your mitzvah has no bounds.

⁹⁷ How I love your Torah!
I meditate on it all day.
⁹⁸ I am wiser than my foes,
because your mitzvot are mine forever.
⁹⁹ I have more understanding than all my teachers,
because I meditate on your instruction.
¹⁰⁰ I understand more than my elders,
because I keep your precepts.
¹⁰¹ I keep my feet from every evil way,
in order to observe your word.
¹⁰² I don’t turn away from your rulings,
because you have instructed me.
¹⁰³ How sweet to my tongue is your promise,
truly sweeter than honey in my mouth!
¹⁰⁴ From your precepts I gain understanding;
this is why I hate every false way.

¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp for my foot
and light on my path.
¹⁰⁶ I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,
that I will observe your righteous rulings.
¹⁰⁷ I am very much distressed;
Adonai, give me life, in keeping with your word.
¹⁰⁸ Please accept my mouth’s voluntary offerings, Adonai;
and teach me your rulings.
¹⁰⁹ I am continually taking my life in my hands,
yet I haven’t forgotten your Torah.
¹¹⁰ The wicked have set a trap for me,
yet I haven’t strayed from your precepts.
¹¹¹ I take your instruction as a permanent heritage,
because it is the joy of my heart.
¹¹² I have resolved to obey your laws
forever, at every step.

¹¹³ I hate doubleminded people,
but I love your Torah.
¹¹⁴ You are my hiding-place and shield;
I put my hope in your word.
¹¹⁵ Leave me alone, you evildoers,
so that I can keep my God’s mitzvot.
¹¹⁶ Uphold me, as you promised; and I will live;
don’t disappoint me in my hope.
¹¹⁷ Support me; and I will be saved,
always putting my attention on your laws.
¹¹⁸ You reject all who stray from your laws,
for what they deceive themselves with is false.
¹¹⁹ You discard the wicked of the earth like slag;
this is why I love your instruction.
¹²⁰ My body trembles for fear of you;
your rulings make me afraid.

¹²¹ I have done what is just and right;
don’t abandon me to my oppressors.
¹²² Guarantee your servant’s well-being;
don’t let the arrogant oppress me.
¹²³ My eyes fail from watching for your salvation
and for [the fulfillment of] your righteous promise.
¹²⁴ Deal with your servant in accordance with your grace,
and teach me your laws.
¹²⁵ I am your servant; give me understanding,
so that I can know your instruction.
¹²⁶ The time has come for Adonai to act,
because they are breaking your Torah.
¹²⁷ Therefore I love your mitzvot
more than gold, more than fine gold.
¹²⁸ Thus I direct my steps by [your] precepts;
every false way I hate.

¹²⁹ Your instruction is a wonder;
this is why I follow it.
¹³⁰ Your words are a doorway that lets in light,
giving understanding to the thoughtless.
¹³¹ My mouth is wide open, as I pant
with longing for your mitzvot.
¹³² Turn to me, and show me your favor;
in keeping with [your] judgment for those who love your name.
¹³³ Guide my footsteps by your word;
don’t let any kind of sin rule me.
¹³⁴ Redeem me from human oppression,
and I will observe your precepts.
¹³⁵ Make your face shine on your servant,
and teach me your laws.
¹³⁶ Rivers of tears flow down from my eyes,
because they don’t observe your Torah.

¹³⁷ You are righteous, Adonai;
and your rulings are upright.
¹³⁸ You have commanded your instructions
in righteousness and great faithfulness.
¹³⁹ My zeal is destroying me,
because my foes have forgotten your words.
¹⁴⁰ Your word is refined to complete purity,
and your servant loves it.
¹⁴¹ I may be small and despised,
but I do not forget your precepts.
¹⁴² Your righteousness is eternal righteousness,
and your Torah is truth.
¹⁴³ Trouble and distress have overtaken me,
but your mitzvot are my delight.
¹⁴⁴ Your instruction is righteous forever;
give me understanding, and I will live.

¹⁴⁵ Wholeheartedly I am calling on you;
answer me, Adonai; I will keep your laws.
¹⁴⁶ I am calling on you; save me;
and I will observe your instruction.
¹⁴⁷ I rise before dawn and cry for help;
I put my hope in your word.
¹⁴⁸ My eyes are open before the night watches,
so that I can meditate on your promise.
¹⁴⁹ In your grace, hear my voice;
Adonai, in keeping with your justice, revive me.
¹⁵⁰ The pursuers of carnality are getting close;
they are distancing themselves from your Torah.
¹⁵¹ You are close by, Adonai;
and all your mitzvot are truth.
¹⁵² Long ago I learned from your instruction
that you established it forever.

¹⁵³ Look at my distress, and rescue me,
for I do not forget your Torah.
¹⁵⁴ Plead my cause, and redeem me;
in keeping with your promise, revive me.
¹⁵⁵ Salvation is far away from the wicked,
because they don’t seek your laws.
¹⁵⁶ Great is your compassion, Adonai;
in keeping with your rulings, revive me.
¹⁵⁷ Although my persecutors and foes are many,
I have not turned away from your instruction.
¹⁵⁸ I look at traitors with disgust,
because they don’t keep your word.
¹⁵⁹ See how I love your precepts, Adonai;
in keeping with your grace, revive me.
¹⁶⁰ The main thing about your word is that it’s true;
and all your just rulings last forever.

¹⁶¹ Princes persecute me for no reason,
but my heart stands in awe of your words.
¹⁶² I take joy in your promise,
like someone who finds much booty.
¹⁶³ I hate falsehood, I detest it;
but I love your Torah.
¹⁶⁴ I praise you seven times a day
because of your righteous rulings.
¹⁶⁵ Those who love your Torah have great peace;
nothing makes them stumble.
¹⁶⁶ I hope for your deliverance, Adonai;
I obey your mitzvot.
¹⁶⁷ My soul observes your instruction,
and I love it so much!
¹⁶⁸ I observe your precepts and instruction,
for all my ways lie open before you.

¹⁶⁹ Let my cry come before you, Adonai;
in keeping with your word, give me understanding.
¹⁷⁰ Let my prayer come before you;
in keeping with your promise, rescue me.
¹⁷¹ Let my lips speak praise,
because you teach me your laws.
¹⁷² Let my tongue sing of your promise,
because all your mitzvot are righteous.
¹⁷³ Let your hand be ready to help me,
because I choose your precepts.
¹⁷⁴ I long for your deliverance, Adonai;
and your Torah is my delight.
¹⁷⁵ Let me live, and I will praise you;
let your rulings help me.
¹⁷⁶ I strayed like a lost sheep; seek out your servant;
for I do not forget your mitzvot.