Aleph.
1 Blessed [are] the perfect in the way, that walk in Jehovah’s law.
2 Blessed [are] they that observe his testimonies, that seek him with a whole heart.
3 Yea, they practice no wrong, in his ways they walk.
4 Thou hast commanded thy precepts, to keep [them] diligently.
5 O that my ways were established to keep thy statutes!
6 Then shall I not be ashamed in my looking to all thy commandments.
7 I will give thee thanks with uprightness of heart, in my learning the judgments of thy righteousness.
8 Thy statutes I will keep: forsake me not utterly.
Beth.
9 By what shall a youth cleanse his path? By taking heed (to keep it) according to thy word.
10 With my whole heart have I sought thee; let me not wander from thy commandments.
11 In my heart have I laid up thy saying, that I might not sin against thee.
12 Blessed [art] thou, Jehovah: teach me thy statutes.
13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
14 In the way of thy testimonies have I rejoiced as over all wealth.
15 On thy precepts I will meditate and regard thy paths.
16 In thy statutes I will delight myself; I will not forget thy word.
Gimel.
17 Grant unto thy servant I may live, and I will keep thy word.
18 Open mine eyes, and I shall behold wondrous things out of thy law.
19 For me I [am] a sojourner in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.
20 My soul breaketh with longing for thy judgments at every time.
21 Thou hast rebuked proud [men], accursed, that wander from thy commandments.
22 Roll from me reproach and contempt, for thy testimonies I have observed.
23 Princes also sat [and] at me talked; thy servant doth meditate in thy statutes.
24 Thy testimonies also [are] my delights, my counsellors (lit. men of my counsel).
Daleth.
25 My soul cleaveth unto dust: quicken me according to thy word.
26 My ways I declared, and thou answeredst me: teach me thy statutes.
27 The way of thy precepts make me understand, and I will meditate on thy wonders.
28 My soul droppeth for sorrow: raise me up according to thy word.
29 Way of falsehood remove from me, and thy law grant me graciously.
30 Way of faithfulness I have chosen; thy judgments have I held (or set [before me]).
31 I have cleaved unto thy testimonies: Jehovah, put me not to shame.
32 The way of thy commandments I will run, for (or when) thou wilt enlarge my heart.
He.
33 Teach me, Jehovah, the way of thy statutes, and I will observe it [unto the] end.
34 Make me understand, and I will observe thy law and will keep [it] with a whole heart.
35 Make me go in the path of thy commandments; for therein I delight.
36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to gain,
37 Turn away mine eyes from seeing vanity; in thy way quicken me.
38 Set up thy saying for thy servant, who [is devoted] to thy fear.
39 Turn away my reproach of which I am afraid, for thy judgments [are] good.
40 Behold, I have longed for thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.
Vav.
41 And let thy mercy, Jehovah, come to me, thy salvation according to thy saying.
42 And I will have what to answer my reviler; for I confide in thy word.
43 And take not out of my mouth the word of truth utterly, for I have hoped in thy judgments.
44 And I will observe thy law continually for ever and ever.
45 And I will walk at large; for thy precepts have I sought.
46 And I will speak of thy testimonies before kings, and will not be ashamed.
47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments which I have loved,
48 And I will lift up my hands to thy commandments which I loved, and I will meditate in thy statutes.
Zain.
49 Remember for thy servant the word on which thou hast made me hope.
50 This [is] my comfort in mine affliction, for thy saying hath quickened me.
51 Proud [men] deride me exceedingly: from thy law I swerve not.
52 I remembered thy judgments of old, Jehovah, and have comforted myself.
53 Indignation seizeth me because of wicked [men] forsaking thy law.
54 Thy statutes were songs in the house of my sojournings.
55 I remember in the night thy name, Jehovah, and observe thy law.
56 This hath been to me, because thy precepts I observed.
Cheth.
57 My portion, Jehovah, I have said, [is] that I will keep thy words.
58 I have sought thy face with a whole heart: be gracious to me according to thy saying.
59 I have thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
60 I hasted and delayed not to keep thy commandments.
61 Cords of wicked [men] surrounded me: thy law I have not forgotten.
62 At midnight I rise to give thanks unto thee because of the judgments of thy righteousness.
63 A companion [am] I to all who fear thee, and to those who keep thy precepts.
64 Of thy mercy, Jehovah, the earth [is] full: thy statutes teach me.
Teth.
65 Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, Jehovah, according to thy word.
66 Goodness of judgment and knowledge teach me, for in thy commandments I believe.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, and now thy saying I keep.
68 Good [art] thou and doing good; teach me thy statutes.
69 Proud [men] have forged falsehood against me; with a whole heart I will observe thy precepts.
70 Fat as the grease [is] their heart: I delight myself in thy law.
71 [It is] good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes.
72 The law of thy mouth [is] better to me than thousands of gold and silver.
Yod.
73 Thy hands made me and fashioned me make me understand, and I will learn thy commandments.
74 Thy fearers will see me and be glad; for I have hoped in thy word.
75 I know, Jehovah, that thy judgments [are] righteousness, and [in] faithfulness thou hast afflicted me.
76 Let, I pray, thy mercy be for my comfort according to thy saying to thy servant.
77 Let thy compassions come to me, and I shall live; for thy law [is] my delights.
78 Let proud men be ashamed; for [with] falsehood they perverted one: I will meditate in thy precepts.
79 Let those turn unto me that fear thee and know thy testimonies.
80 Let my heart be perfect in thy statutes, that I be not ashamed.
Caph.
81 My soul fainteth for thy salvation; in thy word do I hope.
82 Mine eyes fail for thy saying, so that I say (saying), When wilt thou comfort me?
83 For I am become like a wine-skin in smoke; thy statutes I forget not.
84 How many (lit. Like what) [are] thy servant’s days? When wilt thou execute judgment on my persecutors?
85 Proud [men] dig for me pits, which [is, or who are] not according to thy law.
86 All thy commandments [are] faithfulness: [with] falsehood do they persecute me. Help me.
87 They had almost consumed me in the earth (or land); but I did not forsake thy precepts.
88 According to thy mercy quicken me: I will keep the testimony of thy mouth.
Lamed.
89 For ever, Jehovah, thy word [is] settled in the heavens.
90 To generation and generation [is] thy faithful, ness. Thou hast established the earth, and it standeth.
91 By thine ordinances they stand today, for thy servants [are] the whole (or universe).
92 Unless thy law [had been] my delights, then should I have perished in mine affliction.
93 Never will I forget thy precepts, for by them thou hast quickened me.
94 I [am] thine: save me, for thy precepts I have sought.
95 For me have waited wicked [men] to destroy me: thy testimonies I attend to.
96 To all perfection I have seen an end: exceeding broad [is] thy commandment.
Mem.
97 How I love thy law! all the day it is my meditation.
98 Thy commandments make me wiser than mine enemies, for they [are] ever mine.
99 More than all my teachers I have understanding: for thy testimonies [are] my meditation.
100 More than aged [men] I understand, for thy precepts I have observed.
101 From every evil path I withheld my feet, that I might keep thy word.
102 From thy judgments I have not departed, for thou hast taught me.
103 How sweet to my palate are thy sayings, [more] than honey to my mouth!
104 From thy precepts I understand; therefore I hate every path of falsehood.
Nun.
105 A lamp to my feet [is] thy word, and a light to my path.
106 I have sworn, and will perform, to keep thy righteous judgments.
107 I was afflicted exceedingly: Jehovah, quicken me according to thy word.
108 Accept, I pray, Jehovah, the free-will offerings of my mouth, and teach me thy judgments.
109 My soul [is.] in my hand continually, yet (and) I do not forget thy law.
110 Wicked [men] laid a snare for me, yet (and) from thy precepts I strayed not.
111 I inherit thy testimonies for ever, for they [are] my heart’s rejoicing.
112 I incline my heart to do thy statutes for ever [to] the end.
Samech.
113 Double-minded [men] I hate, and thy law I love.
114 My hiding place and my shield [art] thou: in thy word I hope.
115 Depart from me, evil-doers; and I will observe the commandments of my God.
116 Uphold me according to thy saying, and I shall live, and let me not be ashamed of my waiting.
117 Uphold me, and I shall be saved, and I will look in thy statutes continually.
118 Thou settest at nought all wanderers from thy statutes; for a lie [is] their deceit.
119 [As] dross thou causest to cease all earth’s wicked ones: therefore I love thy testimonies.
120 My flesh shuddereth for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy judgments.
Ain.
121 I have done judgment and righteousness: leave me not to mine oppressors.
122 Be surety for thy servant for good: let not proud [men] oppress me.
123 Mine eyes fail for thy salvation and for thy righteous saying.
124 Do with thy servant according to thy mercy, and thy statutes teach me.
125 Thy servant [am] I; give me understanding, and I shall know thy testimonies.
126 [It is] time for Jehovah to act: they make void thy law.
127 Therefore I love thy commandments above gold and above fine gold.
128 Therefore all precepts [as to] all I count right; every path of falsehood I hate.
Pe.
129 Wonderful [are] thy testimonies: therefore doth my soul observe them.
130 The opening of thy words enlighteneth, giving understanding to simple ones.
131 I opened my mouth wide, and panted, for I longed for thy commandments.
132 Turn unto me and be gracious to me, as thou art wont to lovers of thy name.
133 Establish my steps in thy saying, and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
134 Redeem me from man’s oppression: and I will keep thy precepts.
135 Let thy face shine on thy servant, and teach me thy statutes.
136 With streams of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.
Tzade.
137 Righteous [art] thou, Jehovah, and upright thy judgments.
138 Thou hast commanded thy testimonies [in] righteousness and exceeding faithfulness.
139 My zeal destroyeth me, because my adversaries have forgotten thy words.
140 Thy saying [is] exceedingly pure; and thy servant loveth it.
141 Little [am] I, and despised; thy precepts I do not forget.
142 Thy righteousness [is] an everlasting righteousness, and thy law truth.
143 Distress and anguish seized me; thy commandments [are] my delights.
144 Righteousness [are] thy testimonies for ever: give me, understanding, and I shall live.
Koph.
145 I have called with a whole heart: answer me, Jehovah; thy statutes I will observe.
146 I have called on thee: save me; and I will keep thy testimonies.
147 I anticipated the twilight [of dawn] and cried; for thy words do I wait.
148 Mine eyes anticipate the watches to meditate in thy saying.
149 Hear my voice according to thy mercy; Jehovah, according to thy judgment quicken me:
150 Pursuers of mischief are nigh; from thy law they are far off.
151 Near [art] thou, Jehovah, and all thy commandments [are] truth.
152 Of old have I known from thy testimonies that thou hast founded them for ever.
Resh.
153 See mine affliction and deliver me; for thy law I do not forget.
154 Plead my cause and redeem me; as to thy saying quicken me.
155 Far from wicked [men is] salvation, for thy statutes they seek not.
156 Thy tender mercies [are] many, Jehovah; according to thy judgments quicken me.
157 Many [are] my persecutors and mine oppressors; from thy testimonies I decline not.
158 I have seen treacherous dealers and was disgusted, because they kept not thy saying.
159 See how I love thy precepts; Jehovah, according to thy mercy quicken me.
160 The sum (head) of thy word [is] truth; and every judgment of thy righteousness [is] for ever.
Schin.
161 Princes persecuted me without cause, but at thy words my heart is in awe.
162 For me, I [am] joyful over thy saying as a finder of great spoil.
163 Falsehood I hate and abhor; thy law I love.
164 Seven [times] a day do I praise thee for the judgments of thy righteousness.
165 Great peace have the lovers of thy law, and they have no stumbling-block.
166 I hope for thy salvation, Jehovah, and thy commandments I do.
167 My soul keepeth thy testimonies, and I love them exceedingly.
168 I keep thy precepts and thy testimonies, for all my ways [are] before thee.
Tau.
169 Let my cry come near before thee, Jehovah; according to thy word give me understanding.
170 Let my supplication come before thee; according to thy saying deliver me.
171 My lips shall utter praise, for thou dost teach me thy statutes.
172 Let my tongue answer thy saying, for all thy commandments [are] righteousness.
173 Let thy hand be for my help, for I have chosen thy precepts.
174 I have longed for thy salvation, Jehovah; and thy law [is] my delight.
175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.
176 I have wandered like a lost sheep: seek thy servant, for thy commandments I do not forget.
Notes on Psalm 119
This psalm is not more remarkable in its structure than in its moral beauty—the expression of the law written on Israel’s heart, after God’s intervention to restore them to the land, yet before their complete deliverance. Each section consists of eight verses marked successively by each letter of the Hebrew alphabet in due order, all dwelling on the virtues of divine revelation as made known to the chosen people: law, testimonies, ways, precepts, statutes, commandments, and word generally.
Aleph. All here is introductory and general: the return after wandering and sorrowful experience; Jehovah’s law or doctrine written within under the new covenant.
Beth. Here is the washing of water by the word, God purifying the heart by faith; in moral death to natural energy just where it might be strongest.
Gimel. Jehovah’s goodness is asked according to and in His word, the delight and guide of the Israel of God, whosoever might despise.
Daleth. The heart prefers abasement from and with God to ease without Him, but looks for enlargement to do His will with alacrity.
He. The need of Jehovah’s teaching, in order to obey and be kept, is here spread before Him.
Vau. The taste of the grace of Jehovah, of His salvation as here expressed, is next craved for courage and fidelity.
Zain. “The word” is owned as hope and comfort in the midst of pride and ungodliness; “the name” gives motive to obey.
Cheth. Here the heart rises to Jehovah Himself; so that wicked men’s bands were powerless to make the law forgotten, or His mercy unseen everywhere.
Teth. It is a soul profiting by affliction, and confiding all the more in Jehovah, to learn His statutes, better than thousands of gold and silver.
Yod. Jehovah is looked to as a faithful Creator, and those that fear Him counted on. As He afflicted for good, so would He show lovingkindness.
Caph. Here the prayer is instant, as the iniquity grows apace, and weakness is realized in the severest trial. It is not the hope of the Christian, who like Christ are to go on high; but deliverance, as Israel expect and shall have, by judgments executed manifestly on the enemy.
Lamed. The stability of Jehovah is seen on high; His purpose emanates thence infallibly, but establishes earth too, the universe being His servant. Then its moral power is owned, and by it the conviction that the soul is His, attending in the midst of malice to His testimonies, and in the sense of total failure feeling the all-embracing value of what expresses His mind.
Mem. Here it is love of Jehovah’s law, leading to meditation, and with blessed results in wisdom and moral ways.
Nun. In this stanza the light of the word for himself is acknowledged, and its judgments for wickedness.
Samech. Wavering and evil-doing are deprecated as heartily as Jehovah’s law is loved. But the need of being sustained is expressed, as on the other hand Jehovah’s summary dealings with the deceitful and wicked; for indeed He is to be feared.
Ain. Hence he looks for Jehovah to act, not only on His servant’s behalf but in vindication of His law.
Pe. The intrinsic and real efficacy of Jehovah’s revelation is here expressed, with the spiritual desire created by it.
Tzade. Here the righteousness of Jehovah’s judgments and testimonies predominates, which he forgot not, if others did.
Koph. Dependence is the great resource in the evil day, and indeed always, with confidence in Jehovah, but according to His word.
Resh. If persecutors are more felt, so are Jehovah’s judgments on behalf of faithfulness as well as life in power.
Schin. This stanza goes farther: awe at Jehovah’s word, yet joy in what He says. Fruit of loving the expression of divine authority, praise rises fully, and peace without stumbling. Obedience is deepened by having all our ways out before Him.
Tau. It is the worthy end of a psalm most instructive in experience for the individual and the nation: a brief summary.
The next group is clearly defined, the fifteen psalms of degrees or the goings up. That of (or by) Solomon occupies the central place, two on either side are expressly of David, as others perhaps such as Psalm 132 where it is not said. Some conjecture a late date for most, or all, because they are supposed suitable to be sung during the return from Babylon. The truth is that they look onward to the restoration of Israel in the latter day and are thus truly prophetic; the language, as the hope, is far beyond anything realized in the post-exilic return.