Psalm 119

Evangelical Heritage Version

¹ How blessed are those who are blameless in their way,
who walk in the law^[b] of the Lord.
² How blessed are those who keep^[c] his testimonies.
With all their heart they seek him.
³ Indeed, they do no wrong.
They walk in his ways.
⁴ You have commanded that your precepts^[d] be kept completely.
⁵ If only my ways were unwavering in keeping your statutes!^[e]
6 Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands.
⁷ I will thank you with an upright heart
    as I learn your righteous judgments.^[f]
8 I will keep your statutes.
Do not abandon me completely.

⁹ How can a young man keep his path pure?
By guarding it with your words.^[g]
10 With all my heart I seek you.
Do not let me stray from your commands.
¹¹ I have hidden your sayings^[h] in my heart,
    so that I may not sin against you.
¹² Blessed are you, O Lord!
Teach me your statutes.
¹³ With my lips I tell about all the judgments
    that come from your mouth.
¹⁴ I rejoice in the way that is taught by your testimonies
    as much as I delight in all riches.
¹⁵ I will meditate on your precepts,
and I will consider your paths.
¹⁶ In your statutes I delight.
I will not forget your words.

¹⁷ Reward your servant.
Then I will live, and I will keep your words.
¹⁸ Uncover my eyes, and I will behold wonders from your law.
¹⁹ I am an alien on earth.
Do not hide your commandments from me.
²⁰ My soul is overwhelmed by desire for your judgments at all times.
²¹ You rebuke the arrogant, who are cursed,
those who stray from your commandments.
²² Remove scorn and contempt from me,
for I guard your testimonies.
²³ Though officials sit together and speak against me,
your servant will meditate on your statutes.
²⁴ Yes, your testimonies are my delights.
They are my advisors.

²⁵ My soul^[i] is stuck in the dust.
Revive my life according to your words.
²⁶ I told you about my ways and you answered me.
Teach me your statutes.
²⁷ Make me understand the meaning of your precepts.
Then I will meditate on your wonders.
²⁸ My soul melts with sorrow.
By your words make me stand firm.
²⁹ Turn me away from false ways,
and be gracious to me through your law.
³⁰ I have chosen the way of truth.
I accept^[j] your judgments.
³¹ I cling to your testimonies, O Lord.
Do not let me be put to shame.
³² I run the way of your commandments,
for you have strengthened my heart.^[k]

³³ Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes.
Then I will guard it to the end.
³⁴ Give me understanding, and I will guard your law.
I will keep it with all my heart.
³⁵ Make me walk on the path of your commandments,
for I take pleasure in it.
³⁶ Direct my heart toward your testimonies
and not toward material gain.
³⁷ Keep my eyes from looking at worthless things.
Give me life according to your ways.^[l]
38 Confirm your sayings to your servant,
so that you may be feared.
³⁹ Take away my disgrace which I dread,
for your judgments are good.
⁴⁰ How I long for your precepts!
Give me life in your righteousness.

⁴¹ So let your mercies come to me, O Lord,
and let your salvation come according to your sayings.
⁴² Then I will give an answer to those who insult me,
    because I trust in your words.
⁴³ But do not tear away the word of truth from my mouth,
    because I wait confidently for your judgments.
⁴⁴ Then I will continually keep your law forever and ever.
⁴⁵ Then I will walk around freely,
because I have sought your precepts.
⁴⁶ Then I will speak of your testimonies before kings,
and I will not be put to shame.
⁴⁷ For I delight in your commandments, which I love.
⁴⁸ I lift up my hands to your commandments, which I love,
and I meditate on your statutes.

⁴⁹ Remember your word to your servant,
because you have given me hope.
⁵⁰ This is my comfort in my suffering:
that your saying gives me life.
⁵¹ The arrogant mock me constantly,
but I do not fall away from your law.
⁵² I remember your judgments from of old, Lord,
and I comfort myself with them.
⁵³ Indignation grips me because of the wicked, who forsake your laws.
⁵⁴ Your statutes are songs for me in the house where I am staying.
⁵⁵ I remember your name during the night, O Lord,
and I will keep your laws.
⁵⁶ This I have done: I guard your precepts.

⁵⁷ You are my portion, O Lord.
I said I would keep your words.
⁵⁸ I have sought your favor with all my heart.
Be gracious to me according to your sayings.
⁵⁹ I have considered my ways,^[m]
and I have turned my feet to your testimonies.
⁶⁰ I will hurry. I will not delay.
I will keep your commandments.
⁶¹ The ropes of the wicked bind me,
but I do not forget your law.
⁶² At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous judgments.
⁶³ I am a companion to all who fear you,
that is, to all who keep your precepts.
⁶⁴ Your mercy, Lord, fills the earth.
Teach me your statutes.

⁶⁵ You have done good for your servant, O Lord,
    according to your words.
⁶⁶ Teach me good judgment and knowledge,
for I believe in your commandments.
⁶⁷ Before I was afflicted I strayed,
but now I keep your saying.
⁶⁸ You are good, and you do good.
Teach me your statutes.
⁶⁹ The arrogant have smeared me with lies.
I guard your precepts with all my heart.
⁷⁰ Their calloused hearts^[n] feel nothing,
but I delight in your law.
⁷¹ It was good for me that I was afflicted,
so that I might learn your statutes.
⁷² Better for me is the law from your mouth
    than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.

⁷³ Your hands made me and established me.
Give me understanding.
Then I will learn your commandments.
⁷⁴ May those who fear you see me and rejoice,
because I wait confidently for your word.
⁷⁵ I know, Lord, that your judgments are righteous.
In faithfulness you have afflicted me.
⁷⁶ Please let your mercy be my comfort,
    according to your saying to your servant.
⁷⁷ Let your abundant compassion come to me that I may live,
because your law is my delight.
⁷⁸ Let the arrogant be put to shame,
because they have wronged me with lies.
As for me, I will meditate on your precepts.
⁷⁹ Let those who fear you turn to me,
and those who know your testimonies.
⁸⁰ Let my heart be blameless regarding your statutes,
so that I may not be put to shame.

⁸¹ My soul is worn out, as I wait for your salvation.
I wait confidently for your word.
⁸² My eyes are worn out, as I look for your sayings.
I say, “When will you comfort me?”
⁸³ Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke,
I do not forget your statutes.
⁸⁴ How many days does your servant have?
When will you inflict judgment on my persecutors?
⁸⁵ The arrogant dig pits for me.
This is against your laws.
⁸⁶ All your commandments are trustworthy.
The arrogant persecute me wrongfully. Help me.
⁸⁷ They almost put an end to me here on earth,
but I have not forsaken your precepts.
⁸⁸ Give me life according to your mercy,
and I will obey the testimony from your mouth.

⁸⁹ To eternity, O Lord, your word is fixed firmly in the heavens.
⁹⁰ For generation after generation, your faithfulness remains.
You established the earth, and it stands.
⁹¹ As for your judgments, they stand to this day,
because all things are your servants.
⁹² Unless your law had been my delight,
I would have perished in my affliction.
⁹³ To eternity I will not forget your precepts,
because by them you have given me life.
⁹⁴ I am yours. Save me,
because I have sought your precepts.
⁹⁵ The wicked are lying in wait for me to kill me,
but I will ponder your testimonies.
⁹⁶ I see a limit to all perfection,
but your commandment has no limits.

⁹⁷ How I love your laws!
I meditate on them all day long.
⁹⁸ Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,
because it is always with me.
⁹⁹ I have more wisdom than all my teachers,
because your testimonies are my meditation.
¹⁰⁰ I have more understanding than the elders,
    because I guard your precepts.
¹⁰¹ I have kept my feet off every evil path
    in order to keep your words.
¹⁰² I have not turned from your judgments,
    because you yourself have instructed me.
¹⁰³ How sweet are your sayings to my taste,
    sweeter than honey to my mouth!
¹⁰⁴ From your precepts I gain understanding.
    Therefore, I hate every false road.

¹⁰⁵ Your words are a lamp for my feet
    and a light for my path.
¹⁰⁶ I have sworn and affirmed
    that I will keep your righteous judgments.
¹⁰⁷ I have suffered much.
    Lord, give me life according to your words.
¹⁰⁸ Lord, please accept the willing praise from my mouth,
    and teach me your judgments.
¹⁰⁹ I take my life in my hands constantly,
    but I will not forget your law.
¹¹⁰ The wicked have set a snare for me,
    but I have not wandered from your precepts.
¹¹¹ I have inherited your testimonies forever.
    Yes, they are the joy of my heart.
¹¹² I turn my heart to do your statutes,
    forever, right to the end.

¹¹³ I hate the doubleminded, but I love your law.
¹¹⁴ You are my hiding place and my shield.
    I wait confidently for your word.
¹¹⁵ Get away from me, you evildoers,
    so that I may guard the commandments of my God!
¹¹⁶ Sustain me according to your sayings, and I will live.
    Do not let me be ashamed of my hope.
¹¹⁷ Hold me up, and I will be saved.
    Then I will always have regard for your statutes.
¹¹⁸ You reject all who stray from your statutes,
    because their deceitfulness is built on a lie.^[o]
119 You discard all the wicked of the earth like slag.
    Therefore, I love your testimonies.
¹²⁰ My flesh trembles because I am afraid of you,
    because I fear your judgments.

¹²¹ I have carried out what is just and right.
    Do not leave me to my oppressors.
¹²² Guarantee good for your servant.
    Do not let the arrogant oppress me.
¹²³ My eyes wear out,
    as I watch for your salvation and your righteousness.
¹²⁴ Deal with your servant according to your mercy,
    and teach me your statutes.
¹²⁵ I am your servant. Give me discernment,
    so that I may know your testimonies.
¹²⁶ Lord, it is time to do something!
    They have broken your laws.
¹²⁷ Because I love your commandments more than gold,
    more than pure gold,
¹²⁸ because I value everything in all your precepts,
    I hate every wrong road.

¹²⁹ Your testimonies are wonders.
    That is why my soul guards them.
¹³⁰ The doorway to your words lets in light.
    It gives understanding to the inexperienced.
¹³¹ I open wide my mouth and I gasp,
    because I long for your commandments.
¹³² Turn to me and give me grace.
    This is your judgment for those who love your name.^[p]
133 Keep my footsteps steady by your sayings,
    and do not let any evil rule over me.
¹³⁴ Redeem me from oppressive people,
    and I will keep your precepts.
¹³⁵ Make your face shine on your servant,
    and teach me your statutes.
¹³⁶ Streams of water run down from my eyes,
    because they do not keep your laws.

¹³⁷ You are righteous, O Lord,
    and your judgments are right.
¹³⁸ You have commanded your testimonies.
    They are righteous and very trustworthy.
¹³⁹ My zeal wears me out,
    because my foes forget your words.
¹⁴⁰ Your saying has been thoroughly refined,
    and your servant loves it.
¹⁴¹ I am insignificant and despised,
    but I do not forget your precepts.
¹⁴² Your righteousness is righteous forever,
    and your law is truth.
¹⁴³ Distress and anguish have found me,
    but your commandments are my delights.
¹⁴⁴ Your testimonies are right forever.
    Give me understanding, and I will live.

¹⁴⁵ I call with all my heart.
    Answer me, O Lord.
    I will guard your statutes.
¹⁴⁶ I call to you. Save me,
    and I will keep your testimonies.
¹⁴⁷ I get up before dawn, and I cry for help.
    I wait confidently for your word.
¹⁴⁸ My eyes look forward to the night watches
    when I can meditate on your sayings.
¹⁴⁹ Hear my voice according to your mercy.
    Lord, give me life based on your judgments.
¹⁵⁰ Those who pursue evil plans are near,
    but they are far from your law.
¹⁵¹ You are near, O Lord,
    and all your commandments are truth.
¹⁵² Long ago I knew from your testimonies
    that you established them to endure forever.

¹⁵³ See my affliction and deliver me,
    because I have not forgotten your law.
¹⁵⁴ Argue my case and redeem me.
    Give me life according to your saying.
¹⁵⁵ Salvation is far away from the wicked,
    because they do not pursue your statutes.
¹⁵⁶ Your compassions are many, O Lord.
    Give me life according to your judgments.
¹⁵⁷ Many are my persecutors and my foes,
    but I have not turned from your testimonies.
¹⁵⁸ I look at the hypocrites and I loathe them,
    because they do not keep your saying.
¹⁵⁹ See how I love your precepts.
    Lord, according to your mercy, give me life.
¹⁶⁰ The sum of your word is truth.
    All your righteous judgment is eternal.

¹⁶¹ Officials persecute me without cause,
    but my heart trembles at your word.
¹⁶² I rejoice over your sayings,
    like one who finds much plunder.
¹⁶³ I hate and detest falsehood,
    but I love your law.
¹⁶⁴ Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous judgments.
¹⁶⁵ Great peace belongs to those who love your law,
    and nothing is a stumbling block for them.
¹⁶⁶ I wait for your salvation, O Lord,
    and I obey your commandments.
¹⁶⁷ My soul keeps your testimonies.
    I love them greatly.
¹⁶⁸ I keep your precepts and your testimonies,
    because all my ways are before you.

¹⁶⁹ May my loud cry come before you, Lord.
    Give me understanding through your word.
¹⁷⁰ May my plea for mercy come before you.
    Deliver me according to your saying.
¹⁷¹ May my lips overflow with praise,
    because you teach me your statutes.
¹⁷² May my tongue sing of your saying,
    because all your commandments are righteousness.
¹⁷³ May your hand be ready to help me,
    because I have chosen your precepts.
¹⁷⁴ I long for your salvation, O Lord,
    and your law is my delight.
¹⁷⁵ Let my soul live and praise you,
    and may your judgments help me.
¹⁷⁶ I have strayed like a perishing sheep.
    Seek your servant,
    because I have not forgotten your commandments.