You are my hiding place and my shield;
I wait for Your word. [Ps 32:7; 91:1]
Leave me, you evildoers,
That I may keep the commandments of my God [honoring and obeying them]. [Ps 6:8; 139:19; Matt 7:23]
Uphold me according to Your word [of promise], so that I may live;
And do not let me be ashamed of my hope [in Your great goodness]. [Ps 25:2; Rom 5:5; 9:33; 10:11]
Uphold me that I may be safe,
That I may have regard for Your statutes continually.
You have turned Your back on all those who wander from Your statutes,
For their deceitfulness is useless.
You have removed all the wicked of the earth like dross [for they have no value];
Therefore I love Your testimonies.
My flesh trembles in [reverent] fear of You,
And I am afraid and in awe of Your judgments.
¶I have done justice and righteousness;
Do not leave me to those who oppress me.
Be the guarantee for Your servant for good [as Judah was the guarantee for Benjamin];
Do not let the arrogant oppress me. [Gen 43:9]
My eyes fail [with longing, watching] for [the fulfillment of] Your salvation,
And for [the fulfillment of] Your righteous word.
Deal with Your servant according to Your [gracious] lovingkindness,
And teach me Your statutes.
I am Your servant; give me understanding [the ability to learn and a teachable heart]
That I may know Your testimonies.
It is time for the LORD to act;
They have broken Your law.
Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold,
Yes, more than refined gold.
Therefore I esteem as right all Your precepts concerning everything;
I hate every false way.
¶Your testimonies are wonderful;
Therefore my soul keeps them.
The unfolding of Your [glorious] words give light;
Their unfolding gives understanding to the simple (childlike).
I opened my mouth and panted [with anticipation],
Because I longed for Your commandments.
Turn to me and be gracious to me and show me favor,
As is Your way to those who love Your name.
Establish my footsteps in [the way of] Your word;
Do not let any human weakness have power over me [causing me to be separated from You].
Redeem me from the oppression of man;
That I may keep Your precepts. [Luke 1:74]
Make Your face shine [with pleasure] upon Your servant,
And teach me Your statutes. [Ps 4:6]
My eyes weep streams of water
Because people do not keep Your law.
¶Righteous are You, O LORD,
And upright are Your judgments.
You have commanded Your testimonies in righteousness
And in great faithfulness.
My zeal has [completely] consumed me,
Because my enemies have forgotten Your words.
Your word is very pure (refined);
Therefore Your servant loves it.
I am small and despised,
But I do not forget Your precepts.
Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
And Your law is truth. [Ps 19:9; John 17:17]
Trouble and anguish have found me,
Yet Your commandments are my delight and my joy.
Your righteous testimonies are everlasting;
Give me understanding [the ability to learn and a teachable heart] that I may live.
¶I cried with all my heart; answer me, O LORD!
I will observe Your statutes.
I cried to You; save me
And I will keep Your testimonies.
I rise before dawn and cry [in prayer] for help;
I wait for Your word.
My eyes anticipate the night watches and I awake before the call of the watchman,
That I may meditate on Your word.
Hear my voice according to Your [steadfast] lovingkindness;
O LORD, renew and refresh me according to Your ordinances.
Those who follow after wickedness approach;
They are far from Your law.
You are near, O LORD,
And all Your commandments are truth.
Of old I have known from Your testimonies
That You have founded them forever. [Luke 21:33]
¶Look upon my agony and rescue me,
For I do not forget Your law.
Plead my cause and redeem me;
Revive me and give me life according to [the promise of] Your word.
Salvation is far from the wicked,
For they do not seek Your statutes.
Great are Your tender mercies and steadfast love, O LORD;
Revive me and give me life according to Your ordinances.
Many are my persecutors and my adversaries,
Yet I do not turn away from Your testimonies.
I see the treacherous and loathe them,
Because they do not respect Your law.
Consider how I love Your precepts;
Revive me and give me life, O LORD, according to Your lovingkindness.
The sum of Your word is truth [the full meaning of all Your precepts],
And every one of Your righteous ordinances endures forever.
¶Princes persecute me without cause,
But my heart stands in [reverent] awe of Your words [so I can expect You to help me]. [1 Sam 24:11, 14; 26:18]
I rejoice at Your word,
As one who finds great treasure.
I hate and detest falsehood,
But I love Your law.
Seven times a day I praise You,
Because of Your righteous ordinances.
Those who love Your law have great peace;
Nothing makes them stumble. [Prov 3:2; Is 32:17]