Psalms 119:49-96

¶Remember [always] the word and promise to Your servant, In which You have made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, That Your word has revived me and given me life. [Rom 15:4] The arrogant utterly ridicule me, Yet I do not turn away from Your law. I have remembered [carefully] Your ancient ordinances, O LORD, And I have taken comfort. Burning indignation has seized me because of the wicked, Who reject Your law. Your statutes are my songs In the house of my pilgrimage. O LORD, I remember Your name in the night, And keep Your law. This has become mine [as the gift of Your grace], That I observe Your precepts [accepting them with loving obedience]. ¶The LORD is my portion; I have promised to keep Your words. I sought Your favor with all my heart; Be merciful and gracious to me according to Your promise. I considered my ways And turned my feet to [follow and obey] Your testimonies. I hurried and did not delay To keep Your commandments. The cords of the wicked have encircled and ensnared me, But I have not forgotten Your law. At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You Because of Your righteous ordinances. I am a companion of all who [reverently] fear You, And of those who keep and honor Your precepts. The earth, O LORD, is full of Your lovingkindness and goodness; Teach me Your statutes. ¶You have dealt well with Your servant, O LORD, according to Your promise. Teach me good judgment (discernment) and knowledge, For I have believed and trusted and relied on Your commandments. Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep and honor Your word [with loving obedience]. You are good and do good; Teach me Your statutes. The arrogant have forged a lie against me, But I will keep Your precepts with all my heart. Their heart is insensitive like fat [their minds are dull and brutal], But I delight in Your law. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes. The law from Your mouth is better to me Than thousands of gold and silver pieces. ¶Your hands have made me and established me; Give me understanding and a teachable heart, that I may learn Your commandments. May those who [reverently] fear You see me and be glad, Because I wait for Your word. I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are fair, And that in faithfulness You have disciplined me. [Heb 12:10] O may Your lovingkindness and graciousness comfort me, According to Your word (promise) to Your servant. Let Your compassion come to me that I may live, For Your law is my delight. Let the arrogant be ashamed and humiliated, for they sabotage me with a lie; But I will meditate on Your precepts. May those who fear You [with submissive wonder] turn to me, Even those who have known Your testimonies. May my heart be blameless in Your statutes, So that I will not be ashamed. ¶My soul languishes and grows weak for Your salvation; I wait for Your word. My eyes fail [with longing, watching] for [the fulfillment of] Your promise, Saying, “When will You comfort me?” For I have become like a wineskin [blackened and shriveled] in the smoke [in which it hangs], Yet I do not forget Your statutes. How many are the days of Your servant [which he must endure]? When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me? [Rev 6:10] The arrogant (godless) have dug pits for me, Men who do not conform to Your law. All Your commandments are faithful and trustworthy. They have persecuted me with a lie; help me [LORD]! They had almost destroyed me on earth, But as for me, I did not turn away from Your precepts. According to Your steadfast love refresh me and give me life, So that I may keep and obey the testimony of Your mouth. ¶Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven [standing firm and unchangeable]. [Ps 89:2; Matt 24:34, 35; 1 Pet 1:25] Your faithfulness continues from generation to generation; You have established the earth, and it stands [securely]. They continue this day according to Your ordinances, For all things [all parts of the universe] are Your servants. [Jer 33:25] If Your law had not been my delight, Then I would have perished in my time of trouble. I will never forget Your precepts, For by them You have revived me and given me life. I am Yours, save me [as Your own]; For I have [diligently] sought Your precepts and required them [as my greatest need]. [Ps 42:1] The wicked wait for me to destroy me, But I will consider Your testimonies. I have seen that all [human] perfection has its limits [no matter how grand and perfect and noble]; Your commandment is exceedingly broad and extends without limits [into eternity]. [Rom 3:10-19]