Psalms 119:1-40

How blessed and favored by God are those whose way is blameless [those with personal integrity, the upright, the guileless], Who walk in the law [and who are guided by the precepts and revealed will] of the LORD. Blessed and favored by God are those who keep His testimonies, And who [consistently] seek Him and long for Him with all their heart. They do no unrighteousness; They walk in His ways. [1 John 3:9; 5:18] You have ordained Your precepts, That we should follow them with [careful] diligence. Oh, that my ways may be established To observe and keep Your statutes [obediently accepting and honoring them]! Then I will not be ashamed When I look [with respect] to all Your commandments [as my guide]. I will give thanks to You with an upright heart, When I learn [through discipline] Your righteous judgments [for my transgressions]. I shall keep Your statutes; Do not utterly abandon me [when I fail]. ¶How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to Your precepts]. With all my heart I have sought You, [inquiring of You and longing for You]; Do not let me wander from Your commandments [neither through ignorance nor by willful disobedience]. [2 Chr 15:15] Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart, That I may not sin against You. Blessed and reverently praised are You, O LORD; Teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have told of All the ordinances of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts And [thoughtfully] regard Your ways [the path of life established by Your precepts]. [Ps 104:34] I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word. ¶Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word [treasuring it and being guided by it day by day]. [Ps 119:97-101] Open my eyes [to spiritual truth] so that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law. I am a stranger on the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me. [Gen 47:9; 1 Chr 29:15; Ps 39:12; 2 Cor 5:6; Heb 11:13] My soul is crushed with longing For Your ordinances at all times. You rebuke the presumptuous and arrogant, the cursed ones, Who wander from Your commandments. Take reproach and contempt away from me, For I observe Your testimonies. Even though princes sit and talk to one another against me, Your servant meditates on Your statutes. Your testimonies also are my delight And my counselors. ¶My earthly life clings to the dust; Revive and refresh me according to Your word. [Ps 143:11] I have told of my ways, and You have answered me; Teach me Your statutes. Make me understand the way of Your precepts, So that I will meditate (focus my thoughts) on Your wonderful works. [Ps 145:5, 6] My soul dissolves because of grief; Renew and strengthen me according to [the promises of] Your word. Remove from me the way of falsehood and unfaithfulness, And graciously grant me Your law. I have chosen the faithful way; I have placed Your ordinances before me. I cling tightly to Your testimonies; O LORD, do not put me to shame! I will run the way of Your commandments [with purpose], For You will give me a heart that is willing. ¶Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, And I will [steadfastly] observe it to the end. Give me understanding [a teachable heart and the ability to learn], that I may keep Your law; And observe it with all my heart. [Prov 2:6; James 1:5] Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, For I delight in it. Incline my heart to Your testimonies And not to dishonest gain and envy. [Ezek 33:31; Mark 7:21, 22; 1 Tim 6:10; Heb 13:5] Turn my eyes away from vanity [all those worldly, meaningless things that distract—let Your priorities be mine], And restore me [with renewed energy] in Your ways. Establish Your word and confirm Your promise to Your servant, As that which produces [awe-inspired] reverence for You. [Deut 10:12; Ps 96:9] Turn away my reproach which I dread, For Your ordinances are good. I long for Your precepts; Renew me through Your righteousness.