Psalm 119 - American Standard Version (ASV)

Meditations and prayers relating to the law of God.

א Aleph.

119 Blessed are they that are ^[a]perfect in the way,
Who walk in the law of Jehovah.
² Blessed are they that keep his testimonies,
That seek him with the whole heart.
³ Yea, they do no unrighteousness;
They walk in his ways.
⁴ Thou hast commanded us thy precepts,
That we should observe them diligently.
⁵ Oh that my ways were established
To observe thy statutes!
⁶ Then shall I not be put to shame,
When I have respect unto all thy commandments.
⁷ I will give thanks unto thee with uprightness of heart,
When I learn thy righteous judgments.
⁸ I will observe thy statutes:
Oh forsake me not utterly.

ב Beth.

⁹ Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed thereto according to thy word.
¹⁰ With my whole heart have I sought thee:
Oh let me not wander from thy commandments.
¹¹ Thy word have I laid up in my heart,
That I might not sin against thee.
¹² Blessed art thou, O Jehovah:
Teach me thy statutes.
¹³ With my lips have I declared
All the ordinances of thy mouth.
¹⁴ I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies,
As much as in all riches.
¹⁵ I will meditate on thy precepts,
And have respect unto thy ways.
¹⁶ I will delight myself in thy statutes:
I will not forget thy word.

ג Gimel.

¹⁷ Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live;
So will I observe thy word.
¹⁸ Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold
Wondrous things out of thy law.
¹⁹ I am a sojourner in the earth:
Hide not thy commandments from me.
²⁰ My soul breaketh for the longing
That it hath unto thine ordinances at all times.
²¹ Thou hast rebuked the proud ^[b]that are cursed,
That do wander from thy commandments.
²² Take away from me reproach and contempt;
For I have kept thy testimonies.
²³ Princes also sat and talked against me;
But thy servant did meditate on thy statutes.
²⁴ Thy testimonies also are my delight
And ^[c]my counsellors.

ד Daleth.

²⁵ My soul cleaveth unto the dust:
Quicken thou me according to thy word.
²⁶ I declared my ways, and thou answeredst me:
Teach me thy statutes.
²⁷ Make me to understand the way of thy precepts:
So shall I meditate on thy wondrous works.
²⁸ My soul ^[d]melteth for heaviness:
Strengthen thou me according unto thy word.
²⁹ Remove from me the way of falsehood;
And grant me thy law graciously.
³⁰ I have chosen the way of faithfulness:
Thine ordinances have I set before me.
³¹ I cleave unto thy testimonies:
O Jehovah, put me not to shame.
³² I will run the way of thy commandments,
When thou shalt enlarge my heart.

ה He.

³³ Teach me, O Jehovah, the way of thy statutes;
And I shall keep it unto the end.
³⁴ Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law;
Yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
³⁵ Make me to go in the path of thy commandments;
For therein do I delight.
³⁶ Incline my heart unto thy testimonies,
And not to covetousness.
³⁷ Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity,
And quicken me in thy ways.
³⁸ Confirm unto thy servant thy word,
^[e]Which is in order unto the fear of thee.
³⁹ Turn away my reproach whereof I am afraid;
For thine ordinances are good.
⁴⁰ Behold, I have longed after thy precepts:
Quicken me in thy righteousness.

ו Vav.

⁴¹ Let thy lovingkindnesses also come unto me, O Jehovah,
Even thy salvation, according to thy word.
⁴² So shall I have an answer for him that reproacheth me;
For I trust in thy word.
⁴³ And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth;
For I have hoped in thine ordinances.
⁴⁴ So shall I observe thy law continually
For ever and ever.
⁴⁵ And I shall walk at liberty;
For I have sought thy precepts.
⁴⁶ I will also speak of thy testimonies before kings,
And shall not be put to shame.
⁴⁷ And I will delight myself in thy commandments,
Which I have loved.
⁴⁸ I will lift up my hands also unto thy commandments, which I have loved;
And I will meditate on thy statutes.

ז Zayin.

⁴⁹ Remember the word unto thy servant,
^[f]Because thou hast made me to hope.
⁵⁰ This is my comfort in my affliction;
^[g]For thy word hath quickened me.
⁵¹ The proud have had me greatly in derision:
Yet have I not swerved from thy law.
⁵² I have remembered thine ordinances of old, O Jehovah,
And have comforted myself.
^{53 [h]}Hot indignation hath taken hold upon me,
Because of the wicked that forsake thy law.
⁵⁴ Thy statutes have been my songs
In the house of my pilgrimage.
⁵⁵ I have remembered thy name, O Jehovah, in the night,
And have observed thy law.
⁵⁶ This I have had,
^[i]Because I have kept thy precepts.

ח Hheth.

^{57 [j]}Jehovah is my portion:
I have said that I would observe thy words.
⁵⁸ I entreated thy favor with my whole heart:
Be merciful unto me according to thy word.
⁵⁹ I thought on my ways,
And turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
⁶⁰ I made haste, and delayed not,
To observe thy commandments.
⁶¹ The cords of the wicked have wrapped me round;
But I have not forgotten thy law.
⁶² At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee
Because of thy righteous ordinances.
⁶³ I am a companion of all them that fear thee,
And of them that observe thy precepts.
⁶⁴ The earth, O Jehovah, is full of thy lovingkindness:
Teach me thy statutes.

ט Teth.

⁶⁵ Thou hast dealt well with thy servant,
O Jehovah, according unto thy word.
⁶⁶ Teach me good judgment and knowledge;
For I have believed in thy commandments.
⁶⁷ Before I was afflicted I went astray;
But now I observe thy word.
⁶⁸ Thou art good, and doest good;
Teach me thy statutes.
⁶⁹ The proud have forged a lie against me:
With my whole heart will I keep thy precepts.
⁷⁰ Their heart is as fat as grease;
But I delight in thy law.
⁷¹ It is good for me that I have been afflicted;
That I may learn thy statutes.
⁷² The law of thy mouth is better unto me
Than thousands of gold and silver.

י Yodh.

⁷³ Thy hands have made me and ^[k]fashioned me:
Give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.
⁷⁴ They that fear thee shall see me and be glad,
Because I have hoped in thy word.
⁷⁵ I know, O Jehovah, that thy judgments are righteous,
And that in faithfulness thou hast afflicted me.
⁷⁶ Let, I pray thee, thy lovingkindness be for my comfort,
According to thy word unto thy servant.
⁷⁷ Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live;
For thy law is my delight.
⁷⁸ Let the proud be put to shame;
for they have overthrown me ^[l]wrongfully:
But I will meditate on thy precepts.
⁷⁹ Let those that fear thee turn unto me;
^[m]And they shall know thy testimonies.
⁸⁰ Let my heart be perfect in thy statutes,
That I be not put to shame.

כ Kaph.

⁸¹ My soul fainteth for thy salvation;
But I hope in thy word.
⁸² Mine eyes fail for thy word,
While I say, When wilt thou comfort me?
⁸³ For I am become like a wine-skin in the smoke;
Yet do I not forget thy statutes.
⁸⁴ How many are the days of thy servant?
When wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?
⁸⁵ The proud have digged pits for me,
Who are not according to thy law.
⁸⁶ All thy commandments are faithful:
They persecute me ^[n]wrongfully; help thou me.
⁸⁷ They had almost consumed me upon earth;
But I forsook not thy precepts.
⁸⁸ Quicken me after thy lovingkindness;
So shall I observe the testimony of thy mouth.

ל Lamedh.

⁸⁹ For ever, O Jehovah,
Thy word is settled in heaven.
⁹⁰ Thy faithfulness is unto all generations:
Thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.
^{91 [o]}They abide this day according to thine ordinances;
For all things are thy servants.
⁹² Unless thy law had been my delight,
I should then have perished in mine affliction.
⁹³ I will never forget thy precepts;
For with them thou hast quickened me.
⁹⁴ I am thine, save me;
For I have sought thy precepts.
⁹⁵ The wicked have waited for me, to destroy me;
But I will consider thy testimonies.
⁹⁶ I have seen an end of all perfection;
But thy commandment is exceeding broad.

מ Mem.

⁹⁷ Oh how love I thy law!
It is my meditation all the day.
^{98 [p]}Thy commandments make me wiser than mine enemies;
For they are ever with me.
⁹⁹ I have more understanding than all my teachers;
For thy testimonies are my meditation.
¹⁰⁰ I understand more than the aged,
Because I have kept thy precepts.
¹⁰¹ I have refrained my feet from every evil way,
That I might observe thy word.
¹⁰² I have not turned aside from thine ordinances;
For thou hast taught me.
¹⁰³ How sweet are thy words unto my ^[q]taste!
Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
¹⁰⁴ Through thy precepts I get understanding:
Therefore I hate every false way.

נ Nun.

¹⁰⁵ Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,
And light unto my path.
¹⁰⁶ I have sworn, and have confirmed it,
That I will observe thy righteous ordinances.
¹⁰⁷ I am afflicted very much:
Quicken me, O Jehovah, according unto thy word.
¹⁰⁸ Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill-offerings of my mouth, O Jehovah,
And teach me thine ordinances.
¹⁰⁹ My soul is continually in my hand;
Yet do I not forget thy law.
¹¹⁰ The wicked have laid a snare for me;
Yet have I not gone astray from thy precepts.
¹¹¹ Thy testimonies have I taken as a heritage for ever;
For they are the rejoicing of my heart.
¹¹² I have inclined my heart to perform thy statutes
For ever, even unto the end.

ס Samekh.

¹¹³ I hate them that are of a double mind;
But thy law do I love.
¹¹⁴ Thou art my hiding-place and my shield:
I hope in thy word.
¹¹⁵ Depart from me, ye evil-doers,
That I may keep the commandments of my God.
¹¹⁶ Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live;
And let me not be ashamed of my hope.
¹¹⁷ Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe,
And shall have respect unto thy statutes continually.
¹¹⁸ Thou hast set at nought all them that err from thy statutes;
For their deceit is ^[r]falsehood.
¹¹⁹ Thou ^[s]puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross:
Therefore I love thy testimonies.
¹²⁰ My flesh trembleth for fear of thee;
And I am afraid of thy judgments.

ע Ayin.

¹²¹ I have done justice and righteousness:
Leave me not to mine oppressors.
¹²² Be surety for thy servant for good:
Let not the proud oppress me.
¹²³ Mine eyes fail for thy salvation,
And for thy righteous word.
¹²⁴ Deal with thy servant according unto thy lovingkindness,
And teach me thy statutes.
¹²⁵ I am thy servant; give me understanding,
That I may know thy testimonies.
¹²⁶ It is time for Jehovah to work;
For they have made void thy law.
¹²⁷ Therefore I love thy commandments
Above gold, yea, above fine gold.
¹²⁸ Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right;
And I hate every false way.

פ Pe.

¹²⁹ Thy testimonies are wonderful;
Therefore doth my soul keep them.
¹³⁰ The opening of thy words giveth light;
It giveth understanding unto the simple.
¹³¹ I opened wide my mouth, and panted;
For I longed for thy commandments.
¹³² Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me,
As thou usest to do unto those that love thy name.
¹³³ Establish my footsteps in thy word;
And let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
¹³⁴ Redeem me from the oppression of man:
So will I observe thy precepts.
¹³⁵ Make thy face to shine upon thy servant;
And teach me thy statutes.
¹³⁶ Streams of water run down mine eyes,
Because they observe not thy law.

צ Tsadhe.

¹³⁷ Righteous art thou, O Jehovah,
And upright ^[t]are thy judgments.
¹³⁸ Thou hast commanded thy testimonies in righteousness
And very faithfulness.
¹³⁹ My zeal hath ^[u]consumed me,
Because mine adversaries have forgotten thy words.
¹⁴⁰ Thy word is very ^[v]pure;
Therefore thy servant loveth it.
¹⁴¹ I am small and despised;
Yet do I not forget thy precepts.
¹⁴² Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
And thy law is truth.
¹⁴³ Trouble and anguish have ^[w]taken hold on me;
Yet thy commandments are my delight.
¹⁴⁴ Thy testimonies are righteous for ever:
Give me understanding, and I shall live.

ק Qoph.

¹⁴⁵ I have called with my whole heart; answer me, O Jehovah:
I will keep thy statutes.
¹⁴⁶ I have called unto thee; save me,
And I shall observe thy testimonies.
¹⁴⁷ I anticipated the dawning of the morning, and cried:
I hoped in thy words.
¹⁴⁸ Mine eyes anticipated the night-watches,
That I might meditate on thy word.
¹⁴⁹ Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness:
Quicken me, O Jehovah, ^[x]according to thine ordinances.
¹⁵⁰ They draw nigh ^[y]that follow after wickedness;
They are far from thy law.
¹⁵¹ Thou art nigh, O Jehovah;
And all thy commandments are truth.
¹⁵² Of old have I known from thy testimonies,
That thou hast founded them for ever.

ר Resh.

¹⁵³ Consider mine affliction, and deliver me;
For I do not forget thy law.
¹⁵⁴ Plead thou my cause, and redeem me:
Quicken me according to thy word.
¹⁵⁵ Salvation is far from the wicked;
For they seek not thy statutes.
¹⁵⁶ Great are thy tender mercies, O Jehovah:
Quicken me according to thine ordinances.
¹⁵⁷ Many are my persecutors and mine adversaries;
Yet have I not swerved from thy testimonies.
¹⁵⁸ I beheld the treacherous, and ^[z]was grieved,
Because they observe not thy word.
¹⁵⁹ Consider how I love thy precepts:
Quicken me, O Jehovah, according to thy lovingkindness.
¹⁶⁰ The sum of thy word is truth;
And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever.

ש Shin.

¹⁶¹ Princes have persecuted me without a cause;
But my heart standeth in awe of thy words.
¹⁶² I rejoice at thy word,
As one that findeth great spoil.
¹⁶³ I hate and abhor falsehood;
But thy law do I love.
¹⁶⁴ Seven times a day do I praise thee,
Because of thy righteous ordinances.
¹⁶⁵ Great peace have they that love thy law;
And they have no occasion of stumbling.
¹⁶⁶ I have hoped for thy salvation, O Jehovah,
And have done thy commandments.
¹⁶⁷ My soul hath observed thy testimonies;
And I love them exceedingly.
¹⁶⁸ I have observed thy precepts and thy testimonies;
For all my ways are before thee.

ת Tav.

¹⁶⁹ Let my cry come near before thee, O Jehovah:
Give me understanding according to thy word.
¹⁷⁰ Let my supplication come before thee:
Deliver me according to thy word.
¹⁷¹ Let my lips utter praise;
For thou teachest me thy statutes.
¹⁷² Let my tongue sing of thy word;
For all thy commandments are righteousness.
¹⁷³ Let thy hand be ready to help me;
For I have chosen thy precepts.
¹⁷⁴ I have longed for thy salvation, O Jehovah;
And thy law is my delight.
¹⁷⁵ Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee;
And let thine ordinances help me.
¹⁷⁶ I have gone astray like a lost sheep;
seek thy servant;
For I do not forget thy commandments.

Footnotes

1. Psalm 119:1 Or, upright in way
2. Psalm 119:21 Or, Cursed are they that etc.
3. Psalm 119:24 Hebrew the men of my counsel.
4. Psalm 119:28 Hebrew droppeth.
5. Psalm 119:38 Or, Who is devoted to
6. Psalm 119:49 Or, Wherein
7. Psalm 119:50 Or, That
8. Psalm 119:53 Or, Horror
9. Psalm 119:56 Or, That
10. Psalm 119:57 Or, Jehovah is my portion, have I said: That I may observe etc.
11. Psalm 119:73 Or, established
12. Psalm 119:78 Or, with falsehood
13. Psalm 119:79 Another reading is, Even they that know.
14. Psalm 119:86 Or, with falsehood
15. Psalm 119:91 Or, As for thine ordinances, they abide this day
16. Psalm 119:98 Or, Thou through thy commandments makest
17. Psalm 119:103 Hebrew palate.
18. Psalm 119:118 Or, vain
19. Psalm 119:119 Hebrew causest to cease.
20. Psalm 119:137 Or, in thy judgments
21. Psalm 119:139 Hebrew cut me off.
22. Psalm 119:140 Hebrew tried, or, refined.
23. Psalm 119:143 Or, found me
24. Psalm 119:149 Or, as thou art wont
25. Psalm 119:150 Or, that persecute me with wickedness
26. Psalm 119:158 Or, loathed them