Meditations on the Excellencies of the Word of God
1 Blessedarethe undefiled in the way,
# Who walk in the law of theLord!
2 Blessedarethose who keep His testimonies,
# Who seek Him with thewhole heart!
3 They also do no iniquity;
They walk in His ways.
4 You have commandedus
To keep Your precepts diligently.
5 Oh, that my ways were directed
To keep Your statutes!
6 Then I would not be ashamed,
When I look into all Your commandments.
7 I will praise You with uprightness of heart,
When I learn Your righteous judgments.
8 I will keep Your statutes;
Oh, do not forsake me utterly!
9 How can a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your word.
10 With my whole heart I havesought You;
Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
11 Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You.
12 BlessedareYou, OLord!
Teach me Your statutes.
13 With my lips I havedeclared
All the judgments of Your mouth.
14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
Asmuchasin all riches.
15 I will meditate on Your precepts,
And contemplate Your ways.
16 I willdelight myself in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your word.
17 Deal bountifully with Your servant,
ThatI may live and keep Your word.
18 Open my eyes, that I may see
Wondrous things from Your law.
19 Iama stranger in the earth;
Do not hide Your commandments from me.
20 My soul breaks with longing
For Your judgments at all times.
21 You rebuke the proud—the cursed,
Who stray from Your commandments.
22 Remove from me reproach and contempt,
For I have kept Your testimonies.
23 Princes also sitandspeak against me,
ButYour servant meditates on Your statutes.
24 Your testimonies alsoaremy delight
Andmy counselors.
25 My soul clings to the dust;
# Revive me according to Your word.
26 I have declared my ways, and You answered me;
# Teach me Your statutes.
27 Make me understand the way of Your precepts;
# Soshall I meditate on Your wonderful works.
28 My soul melts from heaviness;
Strengthen me according to Your word.
29 Remove from me the way of lying,
And grant me Your law graciously.
30 I have chosen the way of truth;
Your judgments I have laidbeforeme.
31 I cling to Your testimonies;
OLord, do not put me to shame!
32 I will run the course of Your commandments,
# For You shallenlarge my heart.
33 Teach me, OLord, the way of Your statutes,
And I shall keep ittothe end.
34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law;
Indeed, I shall observe it withmywhole heart.
35 Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,
For I delight in it.
36 Incline my heart to Your testimonies,
# And not tocovetousness.
37 Turn away my eyes fromlooking at worthless things,
Andrevive me in Your way.
38 Establish Your word to Your servant,
Whoisdevotedto fearing You.
39 Turn away my reproach which I dread,
For Your judgmentsaregood.
40 Behold, I long for Your precepts;
Revive me in Your righteousness.
41 Let Your mercies come also to me, OLord—
Your salvation according to Your word.
42 So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me,
For I trust in Your word.
43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
For I have hoped in Your ordinances.
44 So shall I keep Your law continually,
Forever and ever.
45 And I will walk atliberty,
For I seek Your precepts.
46 I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings,
And will not be ashamed.
47 And I will delight myself in Your commandments,
Which I love.
48 My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments,
Which I love,
And I will meditate on Your statutes.
49 Remember the word to Your servant,
Upon which You have caused me to hope.
50 Thisismycomfort in my affliction,
For Your word has given me life.
51 The proud have me in great derision,
YetI do not turn aside from Your law.
52 I remembered Your judgments of old, OLord,
And have comforted myself.
53 Indignation 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 pilgrimage.
55 I remember Your name in the night, OLord,
And I keep Your law.
56 This has become mine,
Because I kept Your precepts.
57 Youaremy portion, OLord;
I have said that I would keep Your words.
58 I entreated Your favor withmywhole heart;
Be merciful to me according to Your word.
59 Ithought about my ways,
And turned my feet to Your testimonies.
60 I made haste, and did not delay
To keep Your commandments.
61 The cords of the wicked have bound me,
ButI have not forgotten Your law.
62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You,
Because of Your righteous judgments.
63 Iama companion of all who fear You,
And of those who keep Your precepts.
64 The earth, OLord, is full of Your mercy;
Teach me Your statutes.
65 You have dealt well with Your servant,
OLord, according to Your word.
66 Teach me good judgment andknowledge,
For I believe Your commandments.
67 Before I wasafflicted I went astray,
But now I keep Your word.
68 Youaregood, and do good;
Teach me Your statutes.
69 The proud haveforged a lie against me,
ButI will keep Your precepts withmywhole heart.
70 Their heart is as fat as grease,
ButI delight in Your law.
71 Itisgood for me that I have been afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes.
72 The law of Your mouthisbetter to me
Than thousands ofcoinsofgold and silver.
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, OLord,that Your judgmentsareright,
Andthatin faithfulness You have afflicted me.
76 Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort,
According to Your word to Your servant.
77 Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live;
For Your lawismy delight.
78 Let the proudbe ashamed,
For they treated me wrongfully with falsehood;
ButI will meditate on Your precepts.
79 Let those who fear You turn to me,
Those who know Your testimonies.
80 Let my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes,
That I may not be ashamed.
81 My soul faints for Your salvation,
But I hope in Your word.
82 My eyes failfromsearchingYour word,
Saying, “When will You comfort me?”
83 ForI have become like a wineskin in smoke,
YetI do not forget Your statutes.
84 How manyarethe days of Your servant?
# When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me?
85 The proud have dug pits for me,
Whichisnot according to Your law.
86 All Your commandmentsarefaithful;
# They persecute mewrongfully;
Help me!
87 They almost made an end of me on earth,
But I did not forsake Your precepts.
88 Revive me according to Your lovingkindness,
So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.
89 Forever, OLord,
Your word is settled in heaven.
90 Your faithfulnessenduresto all generations;
You established the earth, and it abides.
91 They continue this day according toYour ordinances,
For allareYour servants.
92 Unless Your lawhadbeenmy delight,
I would then have perished in my affliction.
93 I will never forget Your precepts,
For by them You have given me life.
94 IamYours, save me;
For I have sought Your precepts.
95 The wicked wait for me to destroy me,
ButI will consider Your testimonies.
96 I have seen the consummation of all perfection,
ButYour commandmentisexceedingly broad.
97 Oh, how I love Your law!
# Itismy meditation all the day.
98 You, through Your commandments, make mewiser than my enemies;
For theyareever with me.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers,
# For Your testimoniesaremy meditation.
100 I understand more than the ancients,
Because I keep Your precepts.
101 I have restrained my feet from every evil way,
That I may keep Your word.
102 I have not departed from Your judgments,
For You Yourself have taught me.
103 How sweet are Your words to my taste,
Sweeterthan honey to my mouth!
104 Through Your precepts I get understanding;
Therefore I hate every false way.
105 Your wordisa lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.
106 I have sworn and confirmed
That I will keep Your righteous judgments.
107 I am afflicted very much;
Revive me, OLord, according to Your word.
108 Accept, I pray,the freewill offerings of my mouth, OLord,
And teach me Your judgments.
109 My lifeiscontinually in my hand,
Yet I do not forget Your law.
110 The wicked have laid a snare for me,
Yet I have not strayed from Your precepts.
111 Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever,
For theyarethe rejoicing of my heart.
112 I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes
Forever, to the very end.
113 I hate the double-minded,
But I love Your law.
114 Youaremy hiding place and my shield;
I hope in Your word.
115 Depart from me, you evildoers,
For I will keep the commandments of my God!
116 Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live;
# And do not let mebe ashamed of my hope.
117 Hold me up, and I shall be safe,
And I shall observe Your statutes continually.
118 You reject all those who stray from Your statutes,
For their deceitisfalsehood.
119 You put away all the wicked of the earthlikedross;
Therefore I love Your testimonies.
120 My flesh trembles for fear of You,
And I am afraid of Your judgments.
121 I have done justice and righteousness;
Do not leave me to my oppressors.
122 Besurety for Your servant for good;
Do not let the proud oppress me.
123 My eyes failfromseekingYour salvation
And Your righteous word.
124 Deal with Your servant according to Your mercy,
And teach me Your statutes.
125 IamYour servant;
Give me understanding,
That I may know Your testimonies.
126 Itistime forYouto act, OLord,
Forthey have regarded Your law as void.
127 Therefore I love Your commandments
More than gold, yes, than fine gold!
128 Therefore allYourpreceptsconcerningallthings
I considertoberight;
I hate every false way.
129 Your testimonies are wonderful;
Therefore my soul keeps them.
130 The entrance of Your words gives light;
# It gives understanding to thesimple.
131 I opened my mouth andpanted,
For I longed for Your commandments.
132 Look upon me and be merciful to me,
As Your customistoward those who love Your name.
133 Direct my steps by Your word,
# Andlet no iniquity have dominion over me.
134 Redeem me from the oppression of man,
That I may keep Your precepts.
135 Make Your face shine upon Your servant,
And teach me Your statutes.
136 Rivers of water run down from my eyes,
Becausemendo not keep Your law.
137 RighteousareYou, OLord,
And uprightareYour judgments.
138 Your testimonies,whichYou have commanded,
Arerighteous and very faithful.
139 My zeal has consumed me,
Because my enemies have forgotten Your words.
140 Your wordisvery pure;
Therefore Your servant loves it.
141 Iamsmall and despised,
YetI do not forget Your precepts.
142 Your righteousnessisan everlasting righteousness,
# And Your lawistruth.
143 Trouble and anguish have overtaken me,
YetYour commandmentsaremy delights.
144 The righteousness of Your testimoniesiseverlasting;
Give me understanding, and I shall live.
145 I cry out withmywhole heart;
Hear me, OLord!
I will keep Your statutes.
146 I cry out to You;
Save me, and I will keep Your testimonies.
147 I rise before the dawning of the morning,
And cry for help;
I hope in Your word.
148 My eyes are awake through thenightwatches,
That I may meditate on Your word.
149 Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness;
OLord, revive me according to Your justice.
150 They draw near who follow after wickedness;
They are far from Your law.
151 Youarenear, OLord,
And all Your commandmentsaretruth.
152 Concerning Your testimonies,
# I have known of old that You have founded themforever.
153 Consider my affliction and deliver me,
For I do not forget Your law.
154 Plead my cause and redeem me;
Revive me according to Your word.
155 Salvationisfar from the wicked,
For they do not seek Your statutes.
156 GreatareYour tender mercies, OLord;
Revive me according to Your judgments.
157 Manyaremy persecutors and my enemies,
# YetI do notturn from Your testimonies.
158 I see the treacherous, andam disgusted,
Because they do not keep Your word.
159 Consider how I love Your precepts;
Revive me, OLord, according to Your lovingkindness.
160 The entirety of Your wordistruth,
And every one of Your righteous judgmentsenduresforever.
161 Princes persecute me without a cause,
But my heart stands in awe of Your word.
162 I rejoice at Your word
As one who finds great treasure.
163 I hate and abhor lying,
ButI love Your law.
164 Seven times a day I praise You,
Because of Your righteous judgments.
165 Great peace have those who love Your law,
And nothing causes them to stumble.
166 Lord, I hope for Your salvation,
And I do Your commandments.
167 My soul keeps Your testimonies,
And I love them exceedingly.
168 I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies,
# For all my waysarebefore You.
169 Let my cry come before You, OLord;
# Give me understanding according to Your word.
170 Let my supplication come before You;
Deliver me according to Your word.
171 My lips shall utter praise,
For You teach me Your statutes.
172 My tongue shall speak of Your word,
For all Your commandmentsarerighteousness.
173 Let Your hand become my help,
# ForI have chosen Your precepts.
174 I long for Your salvation, OLord,
# AndYour lawismy delight.
175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise You;
And let Your judgments help me.
176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep;
Seek Your servant,
For I do not forget Your commandments.