Psalms 119:97-176

¶Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. [Ps 1:2] Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, For Your words are always with me. I have better understanding and deeper insight than all my teachers [because of Your word], For Your testimonies are my meditation. [2 Tim 3:15] I understand more than the aged [who have not observed Your precepts], Because I have observed and kept Your precepts. I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word. [Prov 1:15] I have not turned aside from Your ordinances, For You Yourself have taught me. How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! [Ps 19:10; Prov 8:11] From Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. ¶Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. [Prov 6:23] I have sworn [an oath] and have confirmed it, That I will keep Your righteous ordinances. [Neh 10:29] I am greatly afflicted; Renew and revive me [giving me life], O LORD, according to Your word. Accept and take pleasure in the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, And teach me Your ordinances. [Hos 14:2; Heb 13:15] My life is continually in my hand, Yet I do not forget Your law. The wicked have laid a snare for me, Yet I do not wander from Your precepts. I have taken Your testimonies as a heritage forever, For they are the joy of my heart. [Deut 33:4] I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes Forever, even to the end. ¶I hate those who are double-minded, But I love and treasure Your law. 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] I hope and wait [with complete confidence] for Your salvation, O LORD, And I do Your commandments. [Gen 49:18] My soul keeps Your testimonies [hearing and accepting and obeying them]; I love them greatly. I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies, For all my ways are [fully known] before You. ¶Let my [mournful] cry come before You, O LORD; Give me understanding [the ability to learn and a teachable heart] according to Your word [of promise]. Let my supplication come before You; Deliver me according to Your word. Let my lips speak praise [with thanksgiving], For You teach me Your statutes. Let my tongue sing [praise for the fulfillment] of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteous. Let Your hand be ready to help me, For I have chosen Your precepts. I long for Your salvation, O LORD, And Your law is my delight. Let my soul live that it may praise You, And let Your ordinances help me. I have gone astray like a lost sheep; Seek Your servant, for I do not forget Your commandments. [Is 53:6; Luke 15:4; 1 Pet 2:25]