Psalm 119

Modern English Version

¹ Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
    who walk in the law of the Lord.
² Blessed are those who keep His testimonies,
    and who seek Him with all their heart.
³ They also do no wrong;
    they walk in His ways.
⁴ You have commanded us
    to keep Your precepts diligently.
⁵ Oh, that my ways were established
    to keep Your statutes!
⁶ Then I shall not be ashamed,
    when I have my focus on all Your commandments.
⁷ I will praise You with an upright heart,
    when I have learned Your righteous judgments.
⁸ I will keep Your statutes;
    do not completely abandon me.

⁹ How shall a young man keep his way pure?
    By keeping it according to Your word.
¹⁰ With my whole heart I seek You;
    do not allow me to wander from Your commandments.
¹¹ Your word I have hidden in my heart,
    that I might not sin against You.
¹² Blessed are You, O Lord;
    teach me Your statutes.
¹³ With my lips I declare
    all the decrees of Your mouth.
¹⁴ I rejoice in the way of Your testimonies,
    as much as in all riches.
¹⁵ I will meditate on Your precepts
    and keep my eyes on Your ways.
¹⁶ I will delight in Your statutes;
    I will not forget Your word.

¹⁷ Deal kindly with Your servant, that I may live
    and keep Your word.
¹⁸ Open my eyes, that I may behold
    wondrous things from Your law.
¹⁹ I am a sojourner in the land;
    do not hide Your commandments from me.
²⁰ My soul is consumed all the time
    with a longing for Your decrees.
²¹ You have rebuked the proud, those cursed,
    who depart from Your commandments.
²² Remove from me reproach and contempt,
    for I have kept Your testimonies.
²³ Even if princes sit and conspire against me,
    Your servant will meditate on Your statutes.
²⁴ Your testimonies are my delight
    and my counselors.

²⁵ My soul clings to the dust;
    revive me according to Your word.
²⁶ I have declared my ways, and You heard me;
    teach me Your statutes.
²⁷ Make me to understand the way of Your precepts;
    then I shall contemplate on Your wondrous works.
²⁸ My soul collapses on account of grief;
    strengthen me according to Your word.
²⁹ Remove from me the way of falsehood,
    and graciously grant me Your law.
³⁰ I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
    Your judgments I have laid before me.
³¹ I have stayed with Your testimonies, O Lord;
    may I not be put to shame.
³² I will run in the way of Your commandments,
    when You set my heart free.

³³ Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes,
    and I shall keep it to the end.
³⁴ Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law
    and observe it with my whole heart.
³⁵ Lead me in the path of Your commandments,
    for I delight in them.
³⁶ Incline my heart unto Your testimonies,
    and not for unjust gain.
³⁷ Turn away my eyes from beholding worthlessness,
    and revive me in Your way.
³⁸ Establish Your word to Your servant,
    so that You are feared.
³⁹ Turn away my reproach that I dread,
    for Your judgments are good.
⁴⁰ Behold, I have a longing for Your precepts;
    revive me in Your righteousness.

⁴¹ Let Your mercies come to me, O Lord,
    even Your deliverance according to Your word.
⁴² So I shall have an answer for him who reproaches me,
    for I trust in Your word.
⁴³ Do not take the word of truth out of my mouth,
    for I have hoped in Your judgments.
⁴⁴ So I shall keep Your law continually,
    forever and ever.
⁴⁵ I will walk in an open space,
    for I seek Your precepts.
⁴⁶ I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings
    and will not be ashamed.
⁴⁷ I will delight in Your commandments,
    which I have loved.
⁴⁸ My hands I will lift up unto Your commandments, which I have loved;
    I will meditate on Your statutes.

⁴⁹ Remember Your word to Your servant,
    on which You have caused me to hope.
⁵⁰ This is my comfort in my affliction,
    for Your word revives me.
⁵¹ The proud ones have derided me,
    yet I have not forsaken Your law.
⁵² I remembered Your judgments of old, O Lord,
    and I have comforted myself.
⁵³ Fury has taken hold of me because of the wicked
    who forsake Your law.
⁵⁴ Your statutes have been my songs
    in the house of my temporary dwelling.
⁵⁵ I have remembered Your name, O Lord, in the night,
    and have kept Your law.
⁵⁶ This is my blessing,
    because I have kept Your precepts.

⁵⁷ You are my portion, O Lord;
    I have said that I would keep Your words.
⁵⁸ I seek Your favor with my whole heart;
    be merciful to me according to Your word.
⁵⁹ I consider my ways,
    and I turn my feet to Your testimonies.
⁶⁰ I made haste, and I did not delay
    to keep Your commandments.
⁶¹ The bands of the wicked have trapped me,
    but I have not forgotten Your law.
⁶² At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You,
    because of Your righteous judgments.
⁶³ I am a companion of all who fear You,
    and of those who keep Your precepts.
⁶⁴ The earth, O Lord, is full of Your mercy;
    teach me Your statutes.

⁶⁵ You have been good to Your servant,
    O Lord, according to Your word.
⁶⁶ Teach me good discernment and knowledge,
    for I have believed Your commandments.
⁶⁷ Before I was afflicted I wandered,
    but now I keep Your word.
⁶⁸ You are good and do good;
    teach me Your statutes.
⁶⁹ The proud have spoken lies against me,
    but I keep Your precepts with my whole heart.
⁷⁰ Their heart is as thick as fat,
    but I delight in Your law.
⁷¹ It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
    that I might learn Your statutes.
⁷² The law from Your mouth is better to me
    than thousands of gold and silver coins.

⁷³ Your hands have made me and fashioned me;
    give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.
⁷⁴ Those who fear You will be glad when they see me,
    because I have hoped in Your word.
⁷⁵ I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right,
    and that You in faithfulness have afflicted me.
⁷⁶ Let Your merciful kindness comfort me,
    according to Your word to Your servant.
⁷⁷ Let Your compassion come to me, that I may live,
    for Your law is my delight.
⁷⁸ Let the proud be ashamed, for they have been wicked to me in falsehood,
    but I will meditate on Your precepts.
⁷⁹ Let those who fear You turn to me,
    that they might know Your testimonies.
⁸⁰ Let my heart be blameless in Your statutes,
    that I may not be ashamed.

⁸¹ My soul longs for Your deliverance,
    but I hope in Your word.
⁸² My eyes are weary for Your word,
    saying, “When will You comfort me?”
⁸³ For I have become like a wineskin dried in the smoke,
    yet I have not forgotten Your statutes.
⁸⁴ How many days are given to Your servant?
    When will You provide judgment on those who persecute me?
⁸⁵ The proud have dug pits for me,
    and they do not live in accordance to Your law.
⁸⁶ All Your commandments are faithful;
    I am persecuted without cause; help me!
⁸⁷ They have almost consumed me on the earth,
    but I have not abandoned Your precepts.
⁸⁸ Revive me according to Your lovingkindness,
    that I may keep the testimony from Your mouth.

⁸⁹ Forever, O Lord, Your word
    is established in heaven.
⁹⁰ Your faithfulness is for all generations;
    You have established the earth, and it is firm.
⁹¹ They continue this day according to Your ordinance,
    for all are Your servants.
⁹² Unless Your law had been my delight,
    I would have perished in my affliction.
⁹³ I will never forget Your precepts,
    for with them You have revived me.
⁹⁴ I am Yours; deliver me,
    for I have sought Your precepts.
⁹⁵ The wicked have waited to destroy me,
    but I will consider Your testimonies.
⁹⁶ I have seen that all perfection has an end,
    but Your commandment is quite broad.

⁹⁷ Oh, how I love Your law!
    It is my meditation all the day.
⁹⁸ Your commandments have made me wiser than my enemies,
    for they are continually with me.
⁹⁹ I have more understanding than all my teachers,
    for Your testimonies are my meditation.
¹⁰⁰ I understand more than the elders,
    because I keep Your precepts.
¹⁰¹ I have restrained my feet from every evil way,
    that I might keep Your word.
¹⁰² I have not departed from Your judgments,
    for You have taught me.
¹⁰³ How sweet are Your words to the taste of my mouth!
    Sweeter than honey to my mouth!
¹⁰⁴ Through Your precepts I receive understanding;
    therefore I hate every false way.

¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to my feet
    and a light to my path.
¹⁰⁶ I have sworn, and I will perform it,
    that I will keep Your righteous judgments.
¹⁰⁷ I am greatly afflicted;
    revive me, O Lord, according to Your word.
¹⁰⁸ Accept the freewill offerings of my praise, O Lord,
    and teach me Your judgments.
¹⁰⁹ My soul is continually in my hand,
    yet I do not forget Your law.
¹¹⁰ The wicked have laid a trap for me,
    yet I do not depart from Your precepts.
¹¹¹ Your testimonies are my inheritance forever,
    for they are the rejoicing of my heart.
¹¹² I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes always,
    even unto the end.

¹¹³ I hate those who are double-minded,
    but I love Your law.
¹¹⁴ You are my hiding place and my shield,
    I hope in Your word.
¹¹⁵ Depart from me, you who are wicked,
    for I keep the commandments of my God.
¹¹⁶ Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live,
    and let me not be ashamed with my hope.
¹¹⁷ Hold me up, and I shall be safe,
    and I will have respect for Your statutes continually.
¹¹⁸ You have rejected all those who stray from Your statutes,
    for their deceit is falsehood.
¹¹⁹ You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross;
    therefore I love Your testimonies.
¹²⁰ My body trembles for fear of You,
    and I am afraid of Your judgments.

¹²¹ I have done what is right and just;
    do not abandon me to my oppressors.
¹²² Be true to Your servant for good;
    let not the proud ones oppress me.
¹²³ My eyes long for Your deliverance
    and for the promise of Your righteousness.
¹²⁴ Deal with Your servant according to Your mercy,
    and teach me Your statutes.
¹²⁵ I am Your servant; grant me understanding,
    that I may know Your testimonies.
¹²⁶ It is time for You, O Lord, to act,
    for they have broken Your law.
¹²⁷ Therefore I love Your commandments
    above gold, even fine gold.
¹²⁸ For I follow all Your precepts to be right,
    and I hate every false way.

¹²⁹ Your testimonies are wonderful;
    therefore my soul keeps them.
¹³⁰ The giving of Your words gives light;
    it grants understanding to the simple.
¹³¹ I opened my mouth and panted,
    for I long for Your commandments.
¹³² Look upon me, and be merciful to me,
    as You are for those who love Your name.
¹³³ Order my steps according to Your word,
    and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
¹³⁴ Deliver me from the oppression of man,
    so I will keep Your precepts.
¹³⁵ Make Your face to shine upon Your servant,
    and teach me Your statutes.
¹³⁶ Rivers of waters run down my eyes,
    because people do not keep Your law.

¹³⁷ You are righteous, O Lord,
    and upright are Your judgments.
¹³⁸ You have set Your testimonies in righteousness
    and faithfulness.
¹³⁹ My zeal has consumed me,
    because my enemies have forgotten Your words.
¹⁴⁰ Your word is pure and true;
    therefore Your servant loves it.
¹⁴¹ I am small and despised,
    yet I do not forget Your precepts.
¹⁴² Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
    and Your law is true.
¹⁴³ Trouble and anguish have discovered me,
    but Your commandments are my delight.
¹⁴⁴ The righteousness of Your testimonies is everlasting;
    grant me understanding, and I shall live.

¹⁴⁵ I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O Lord,
    I will keep Your statutes.
¹⁴⁶ I cried unto You; deliver me,
    and I shall keep Your testimonies.
¹⁴⁷ I arose before the dawn of the morning and cried for help;
    I hope in Your words.
¹⁴⁸ My eyes are awake before the night watches,
    that I might meditate on Your word.
¹⁴⁹ Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness, O Lord;
    revive me according to Your judgment.
¹⁵⁰ They draw close, those who persecute me with evil;
    they are far from Your law.
¹⁵¹ But You are near, O Lord,
    and all Your commandments are true.
¹⁵² I have known of old
    that You have established Your testimonies forever.

¹⁵³ Consider my affliction, and deliver me,
    for I do not forget Your law.
¹⁵⁴ Plead my cause, and defend me;
    revive me according to Your word.
¹⁵⁵ Salvation is far from the wicked,
    for they do not seek Your statutes.
¹⁵⁶ Great are Your compassions, O Lord;
    revive me according to Your judgments.
¹⁵⁷ Many are my persecutors and my enemies,
    yet I do not turn from Your testimonies.
¹⁵⁸ I behold the transgressors with disgust,
    because they have not kept Your word.
¹⁵⁹ Consider how I love Your precepts;
    revive me, O Lord, according to Your lovingkindness.
¹⁶⁰ Your word is true from the beginning,
    and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.

¹⁶¹ Princes have persecuted me without a cause,
    but my heart stands in awe of Your words.
¹⁶² I rejoice at Your word,
    as one who finds great plunder.
¹⁶³ I hate and abhor lying,
    but I love Your law.
¹⁶⁴ Seven times a day I praise You,
    because of Your righteous judgments.
¹⁶⁵ Those who love Your law have great peace,
    and nothing shall cause them to stumble.
¹⁶⁶ Lord, I have hoped for Your deliverance,
    and I carry out Your commandments.
¹⁶⁷ My soul has kept Your testimonies,
    and I love them greatly.
¹⁶⁸ I have kept Your precepts and Your testimonies,
    for all my ways are before You.

¹⁶⁹ Let my cry come near before You, O Lord;
    give me understanding according to Your word.
¹⁷⁰ Let my supplication come before You;
    deliver me according to Your word.
¹⁷¹ My lips shall declare praise,
    for You have taught me Your statutes.
¹⁷² My tongue shall speak of Your word,
    for all Your commandments are right.
¹⁷³ Let Your hand help me,
    for I have chosen Your precepts.
¹⁷⁴ I have longed for Your salvation, O Lord,
    and Your law is my delight.
¹⁷⁵ Let my soul live and praise You,
    and let Your judgments come to my aid.
¹⁷⁶ I have wandered like a lost sheep;
    seek Your servant,
    for I do not forget Your commandments.