Lamedh

89 Forever, O Lord, your (A)word
    is firmly fixed in the heavens.
90 Your (B)faithfulness endures to all generations;
    you have (C)established the earth, and it (D)stands fast.
91 By your (E)appointment they stand this day,
    for all things are your servants.
92 If your law had not been my (F)delight,
    I would have perished in my affliction.
93 I will never forget your precepts,
    for by them you have (G)given me life.
94 I am yours; save me,
    (H)for I have sought your precepts.
95 The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,
    but I consider your testimonies.
96 I have seen a limit to all perfection,
    but your commandment is exceedingly (I)broad.

Mem

97 Oh how (J)I love your law!
    It is my (K)meditation all the day.
98 Your commandment makes me (L)wiser than my enemies,
    for it is ever with me.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers,
    for (M)your testimonies are my meditation.
100 I understand more than (N)the aged,[a]
    for I (O)keep your precepts.
101 I (P)hold back my feet from every evil way,
    in order to keep your word.
102 I do not turn aside from your rules,
    for you have taught me.
103 How (Q)sweet are your words to my taste,
    sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 Through your precepts I get understanding;
    therefore (R)I hate every false way.

Nun

105 (S)Your word is a lamp to my feet
    and a light to my path.
106 I have (T)sworn an oath and confirmed it,
    to keep your (U)righteous rules.
107 I am severely (V)afflicted;
    (W)give me life, O Lord, according to your word!
108 Accept (X)my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord,
    and (Y)teach me your rules.
109 I hold my life (Z)in my hand continually,
    but I do not (AA)forget your law.
110 The wicked have laid (AB)a snare for me,
    but (AC)I do not stray from your precepts.
111 Your testimonies are (AD)my heritage forever,
    for they are (AE)the joy of my heart.
112 I (AF)incline my heart to perform your statutes
    forever, (AG)to the end.[b]

Samekh

113 I hate (AH)the double-minded,
    but I love (AI)your law.
114 You are my (AJ)hiding place and my (AK)shield;
    I (AL)hope in your word.
115 (AM)Depart from me, you evildoers,
    that I may (AN)keep the commandments of my God.
116 Uphold me (AO)according to your promise, that I may live,
    and let me not be (AP)put to shame in my (AQ)hope!
117 (AR)Hold me up, that I may be safe
    and have regard for your statutes continually!
118 You (AS)spurn all who (AT)go astray from your statutes,
    for their cunning is in vain.
119 All the wicked of the earth you discard like (AU)dross,
    therefore (AV)I love your testimonies.
120 My flesh (AW)trembles for fear of you,
    and I am afraid of your judgments.

Ayin

121 I have done what is just and right;
    do not leave me to my oppressors.
122 Give your servant (AX)a pledge of good;
    let not (AY)the insolent oppress me.
123 My (AZ)eyes long for your salvation
    and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.
124 Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love,
    and (BA)teach me your statutes.
125 I am your (BB)servant; (BC)give me understanding,
    that I may know your testimonies!
126 It is time for the Lord to act,
    for your law has been broken.
127 Therefore I (BD)love your commandments
    above gold, above fine gold.
128 Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right;
    I hate every (BE)false way.

Pe

129 Your testimonies are (BF)wonderful;
    therefore my soul (BG)keeps them.
130 The unfolding of your words gives light;
    it imparts (BH)understanding to the simple.
131 I (BI)open my mouth and (BJ)pant,
    because I (BK)long for your commandments.
132 (BL)Turn to me and be gracious to me,
    as is your way with those who love your name.
133 (BM)Keep steady my steps according to your promise,
    and let no iniquity (BN)get dominion over me.
134 (BO)Redeem me from man's oppression,
    that I may keep your precepts.
135 (BP)Make your face shine upon your servant,
    and (BQ)teach me your statutes.
136 My eyes (BR)shed streams of tears,
    because people (BS)do not keep your law.

Tsadhe

137 (BT)Righteous are you, O Lord,
    and right are your rules.
138 You have appointed your testimonies in (BU)righteousness
    and in all (BV)faithfulness.
139 My (BW)zeal consumes me,
    because my foes forget your words.
140 Your promise is well (BX)tried,
    and your servant (BY)loves it.
141 I am small and despised,
    yet I do not (BZ)forget your precepts.
142 Your righteousness is righteous forever,
    and your law is (CA)true.
143 Trouble and anguish have found me out,
    but your commandments are my (CB)delight.
144 Your testimonies are righteous forever;
    (CC)give me understanding that I may (CD)live.

Qoph

145 With my (CE)whole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord!
    I will (CF)keep your statutes.
146 I call to you; save me,
    that I may observe your testimonies.
147 I rise before (CG)dawn and cry for help;
    I (CH)hope in your words.
148 My eyes are awake before (CI)the watches of the night,
    that I may meditate on your promise.
149 Hear my voice according to your steadfast love;
    O Lord, (CJ)according to your justice (CK)give me life.
150 They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose;
    they are far from your law.
151 But (CL)you are near, O Lord,
    and all your commandments are (CM)true.
152 Long have I known from your testimonies
    that you have (CN)founded them forever.

Resh

153 Look on my (CO)affliction and deliver me,
    for (CP)I do not forget your law.
154 (CQ)Plead my cause and redeem me;
    (CR)give me life according to your promise!
155 (CS)Salvation is far from the wicked,
    (CT)for they do not seek your statutes.
156 (CU)Great is your mercy, O Lord;
    (CV)give me life according to your rules.
157 (CW)Many are my persecutors and my adversaries,
    but I do not (CX)swerve from your testimonies.
158 I look at (CY)the faithless with (CZ)disgust,
    because they do not keep your commands.
159 Consider how I (DA)love your precepts!
    (DB)Give me life according to your steadfast love.
160 (DC)The sum of your word is (DD)truth,
    and every one of your (DE)righteous rules endures forever.

Sin and Shin

161 (DF)Princes persecute me (DG)without cause,
    but my heart (DH)stands in awe of your words.
162 I (DI)rejoice at your word
    like one who (DJ)finds great spoil.
163 I hate and abhor falsehood,
    but I love (DK)your law.
164 Seven times a day I praise you
    for your (DL)righteous rules.
165 Great (DM)peace have those who love your law;
    (DN)nothing can make them stumble.
166 I (DO)hope for your salvation, O Lord,
    and I do your commandments.
167 My soul keeps your testimonies;
    I (DP)love them exceedingly.
168 I keep your precepts and testimonies,
    (DQ)for all my ways are before you.

Taw

169 Let my (DR)cry come before you, O Lord;
    (DS)give me understanding (DT)according to your word!
170 Let my plea come before you;
    (DU)deliver me according to your word.
171 My lips will (DV)pour forth praise,
    for you (DW)teach me your statutes.
172 My tongue will sing of your word,
    for (DX)all your commandments are right.
173 Let your hand be ready to help me,
    for I have (DY)chosen your precepts.
174 I (DZ)long for your salvation, O Lord,
    and your law is my (EA)delight.
175 Let my soul live and praise you,
    and let your rules help me.
176 I have (EB)gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant,
    for I do not (EC)forget your commandments.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 119:100 Or the elders
  2. Psalm 119:112 Or statutes; the reward is eternal

Our Heavenly Dwelling

For we know that if (A)the tent that is (B)our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, (C)a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent (D)we groan, longing to (E)put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on[a] we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal (F)may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, (G)who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

So we are always of good courage. We know that (H)while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for (I)we walk by faith, not (J)by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we (K)would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to (L)please him. 10 For (M)we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, (N)so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

11 Therefore, knowing (O)the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But (P)what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 (Q)We are not commending ourselves to you again but (R)giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For if we (S)are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ (T)controls us, because we have concluded this: that (U)one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, (V)that those who live might no longer live for themselves but (W)for him who for their sake died and was raised.

16 From now on, therefore, (X)we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is (Y)in Christ, he is (Z)a new creation.[b] (AA)The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, (AB)who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us (AC)the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling[c] the world to himself, (AD)not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us (AE)the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, (AF)we are ambassadors for Christ, (AG)God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 (AH)For our sake he made him to be sin (AI)who knew no sin, so that in him we might become (AJ)the righteousness of God.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 5:3 Some manuscripts putting it off
  2. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Or creature
  3. 2 Corinthians 5:19 Or God was in Christ, reconciling

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