Psalms

Chapter 119

Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet

ALEPH

1 Blessed [a] are those whose way is blameless,

who walk in the Law of the LORD.

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2 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies

and seek Him with all their heart.

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3 They do no iniquity;

they walk in His ways.

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4 You have ordained Your precepts,

that we should keep them diligently.

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5 Oh, that my ways were committed

to keeping Your statutes!

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6 Then I would not be ashamed

when I consider all Your commandments.

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7 I will praise You with an upright heart

when I learn Your righteous judgments.

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8 I will keep Your statutes;

do not utterly forsake me.

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BETH

9 How can a young man keep his way pure?

By guarding it according to Your word.

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10 With all my heart I have sought You;

do not let me stray from Your commandments.

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11 I have hidden Your word in my heart

that I might not sin against You.

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12 Blessed are You, O LORD;

teach me Your statutes.

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13 With my lips I proclaim

all the judgments of Your mouth.

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14 I rejoice in the way of Your testimonies

as much as in all riches.

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15 I will meditate on Your precepts

and regard Your ways.

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16 I will delight in Your statutes;

I will not forget Your word.

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GIMEL

17 Deal bountifully with Your servant,

that I may live and keep Your word.

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18 Open my eyes that I may see

wondrous things from Your law.

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19 I am a stranger on the earth;

do not hide Your commandments from me.

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20 My soul is consumed with longing

for Your judgments at all times.

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21 You rebuke the arrogant—

the cursed who stray from Your commandments.

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22 Remove my scorn and contempt,

for I have kept Your testimonies.

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23 Though rulers sit and slander me,

Your servant meditates on Your statutes.

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24 Your testimonies are indeed my delight;

they are my counselors.

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DALETH

25 My soul cleaves to the dust;

revive me according to Your word.

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26 I recounted my ways, and You answered me;

teach me Your statutes.

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27 Make clear to me the way of Your precepts;

then I will meditate on Your wonders.

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28 My soul melts with sorrow;

strengthen me according to Your word.

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29 Remove me from the path of deceit

and graciously grant me Your law.

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30 I have chosen the way of truth;

I have set Your ordinances before me.

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31 I cling to Your testimonies, O LORD;

let me not be put to shame.

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32 I run in the path of Your commandments,

for You will enlarge my heart.

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HE

33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes,

and I will keep them to the end. [b]

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34 Give me understanding that I may obey Your law,

and follow it with all my heart.

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35 Direct me in the path of Your commandments,

for there I find delight.

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36 Turn my heart to Your testimonies

and not to covetous gain.

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37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things;

revive me with Your word. [c]

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38 Establish Your word to Your servant,

to produce reverence for You.

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39 Turn away the disgrace I dread,

for Your judgments are good.

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40 How I long for Your precepts!

Revive me in Your righteousness.

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WAW

41 May Your loving devotion come to me, O LORD,

Your salvation, according to Your promise.

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42 Then I can answer him who taunts,

for I trust in Your word.

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43 Never take Your word of truth from my mouth,

for I hope in Your judgments.

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44 I will always obey Your law,

forever and ever.

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45 And I will walk in freedom,

for I have sought Your precepts.

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46 I will speak of Your testimonies before kings,

and I will not be ashamed.

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47 I delight in Your commandments

because I love them.

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48 I lift up my hands to Your commandments, which I love,

and I meditate on Your statutes.

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ZAYIN

49 Remember Your word to Your servant,

upon which You have given me hope.

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50 This is my comfort in affliction,

that Your promise has given me life.

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51 The arrogant utterly deride me,

but I do not turn from Your law.

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52 I remember Your judgments of old, O LORD,

and in them I find comfort.

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53 Rage has taken hold of me

because of the wicked who reject Your law.

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54 Your statutes are songs to me

in the house of my pilgrimage.

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55 In the night, O LORD, I remember Your name,

that I may keep Your law.

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56 This is my practice,

for I obey Your precepts.

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HETH

57 The LORD is my portion;

I have promised to keep Your words.

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58 I have sought Your face with all my heart;

be gracious to me according to Your promise.

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59 I considered my ways

and turned my steps to Your testimonies.

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60 I hurried without hesitating

to keep Your commandments.

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61 Though the ropes of the wicked bind me,

I do not forget Your law.

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62 At midnight I rise to give You thanks

for Your righteous judgments.

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63 I am a friend to all who fear You,

and to those who keep Your precepts.

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64 The earth is filled with Your loving devotion, O LORD;

teach me Your statutes.

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TETH

65 You are good to Your servant, O LORD,

according to Your word.

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66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge,

for I believe in Your commandments.

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67 Before I was afflicted, I went astray;

but now I keep Your word.

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68 You are good, and You do what is good;

teach me Your statutes.

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69 Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies,

I keep Your precepts with all my heart.

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70 Their hearts are hard [d] and callous,

but I delight in Your law.

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71 It was good for me to be afflicted,

that I might learn Your statutes.

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72 The law from Your mouth is more precious to me

than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.

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YODH

73 Your hands have made me and fashioned me;

give me understanding to learn Your commandments.

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74 May those who fear You see me and rejoice,

for I have hoped in Your word.

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75 I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are righteous,

and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.

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76 May Your loving devotion comfort me, I pray,

according to Your promise to Your servant.

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77 May Your compassion come to me, that I may live,

for Your law is my delight.

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78 May the arrogant be put to shame for subverting me with a lie;

I will meditate on Your precepts.

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79 May those who fear You turn to me,

those who know Your testimonies.

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80 May my heart be blameless in Your statutes,

that I may not be put to shame.

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KAPH

81 My soul faints for Your salvation;

I wait for Your word.

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82 My eyes fail, looking for Your promise;

I ask, “When will You comfort me?”

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83 Though I am like a wineskin dried up by smoke,

I do not forget Your statutes.

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84 How many days must Your servant wait? [e]

When will You execute judgment on my persecutors?

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85 The arrogant have dug pits for me

in violation of Your law.

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86 All Your commandments are faithful;

I am persecuted without cause—help me!

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87 They almost wiped me from the earth,

but I have not forsaken Your precepts.

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88 Revive me according to Your loving devotion,

that I may obey the testimony of Your mouth.

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LAMEDH

89 Your word, O LORD, is everlasting;

it is firmly fixed in the heavens.

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90 Your faithfulness continues through all generations;

You established the earth, and it endures.

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91 Your ordinances stand to this day, [f]

for all things are servants to You.

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92 If Your law had not been my delight,

then I would have perished in my affliction.

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93 I will never forget Your precepts,

for by them You have revived me.

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94 I am Yours; save me,

for I have sought Your precepts.

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95 The wicked wait to destroy me,

but I will ponder Your testimonies.

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96 I have seen a limit to all perfection,

but Your commandment is without limit.

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MEM

97 Oh, how I love Your law!

All day long it is my meditation.

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98 Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies,

for they are always with me.

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99 I have more insight than all my teachers,

for Your testimonies are my meditation.

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100 I discern more than the elders,

for I obey Your precepts.

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101 I have kept my feet from every evil path,

that I may keep Your word.

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102 I have not departed from Your ordinances,

for You Yourself have taught me.

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103 How sweet are Your words to my taste—

sweeter than honey in my mouth!

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104 I gain understanding from Your precepts;

therefore I hate every false way.

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NUN

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet

and a light to my path.

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106 I have sworn and confirmed

that I will keep Your righteous judgments.

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107 I am severely afflicted, O LORD;

revive me through Your word.

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108 Accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD,

and teach me Your judgments.

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109 I constantly take my life in my hands,

yet I do not forget Your law.

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110 The wicked have set a snare for me,

but I have not strayed from Your precepts.

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111 Your testimonies are my heritage forever,

for they are the joy of my heart.

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112 I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes,

even to the very end.

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SAMEKH

113 The double-minded I despise,

but Your law I love.

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114 You are my hiding place and my shield;

I put my hope in Your word.

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115 Depart from me, you evildoers,

that I may obey the commandments of my God.

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116 Sustain me as You promised, that I may live;

let me not be ashamed of my hope.

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117 Uphold me, and I will be saved,

that I may always regard Your statutes.

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118 You reject all who stray from Your statutes,

for their deceitfulness is in vain.

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119 All the wicked on earth You discard like dross;

therefore I love Your testimonies.

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120 My flesh trembles in awe of You;

I stand in fear of Your judgments.

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AYIN

121 I have done what is just and right;

do not leave me to my oppressors.

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122 Ensure Your servant’s well-being;

do not let the arrogant oppress me.

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123 My eyes fail, looking for Your salvation,

and for Your righteous promise.

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124 Deal with Your servant according to Your loving devotion,

and teach me Your statutes.

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125 I am Your servant; give me understanding,

that I may know Your testimonies.

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126 It is time for the LORD to act,

for they have broken Your law.

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127 Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold,

even the purest gold.

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128 Therefore I admire all Your precepts

and hate every false way.

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PE

129 Wonderful are Your testimonies;

therefore I obey them.

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130 The unfolding of Your words gives light;

it informs the simple.

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131 I open my mouth and pant,

longing for Your commandments.

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132 Turn to me and show me mercy,

as You do to those who love Your name.

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133 Order my steps in Your word;

let no sin rule over me.

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134 Redeem me from the oppression of man,

that I may keep Your precepts.

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135 Make Your face shine upon Your servant,

and teach me Your statutes.

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136 My eyes shed streams of tears

because Your law is not obeyed.

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TZADE

137 Righteous are You, O LORD,

and upright are Your judgments.

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138 The testimonies You have laid down are righteous

and altogether faithful.

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139 My zeal has consumed me

because my foes forget Your words.

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140 Your promise is completely pure;

therefore Your servant loves it.

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141 I am lowly and despised,

but I do not forget Your precepts.

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142 Your righteousness is everlasting

and Your law is true.

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143 Trouble and distress have found me,

but Your commandments are my delight.

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144 Your testimonies are righteous forever.

Give me understanding, that I may live.

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KOPH

145 I call with all my heart; answer me, O LORD!

I will obey Your statutes.

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146 I call to You; save me,

that I may keep Your testimonies.

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147 I rise before dawn and cry for help;

in Your word I have put my hope.

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148 My eyes anticipate the watches of night,

that I may meditate on Your word.

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149 Hear my voice, O LORD, according to Your loving devotion;

give me life according to Your justice.

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150 Those who follow after wickedness draw near;

they are far from Your law.

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151 You are near, O LORD,

and all Your commandments are true.

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152 Long ago I learned from Your testimonies

that You have established them forever.

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RESH

153 Look upon my affliction and rescue me,

for I have not forgotten Your law.

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154 Defend my cause and redeem me;

revive me according to Your word.

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155 Salvation is far from the wicked

because they do not seek Your statutes.

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156 Great are Your mercies, O LORD;

revive me according to Your ordinances.

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157 Though my persecutors and foes are many,

I have not turned from Your testimonies.

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158 I look on the faithless with loathing

because they do not keep Your word.

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159 Consider how I love Your precepts, O LORD;

give me life according to Your loving devotion.

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160 The entirety of Your word is truth,

and all Your righteous judgments endure forever.

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SIN and SHIN

161 Rulers persecute me without cause,

but my heart fears only Your word.

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162 I rejoice in Your promise

like one who finds great spoil.

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163 I hate and abhor falsehood,

but Your law I love.

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164 Seven times a day I praise You

for Your righteous judgments.

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165 Abundant peace belongs to those who love Your instruction;

nothing can make them stumble.

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166 I wait for Your salvation, O LORD,

and I carry out Your commandments.

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167 I obey Your testimonies

and love them greatly.

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168 I obey Your precepts and Your testimonies,

for all my ways are before You.

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TAW

169 May my cry come before You, O LORD;

give me understanding according to Your word.

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170 May my plea come before You;

rescue me according to Your promise.

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171 My lips pour forth praise,

for You teach me Your statutes.

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172 My tongue sings of Your word,

for all Your commandments are righteous.

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173 May Your hand be ready to help me,

for I have chosen Your precepts.

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174 I long for Your salvation, O LORD,

and Your law is my delight.

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175 Let me live to praise You;

may Your judgments sustain me.

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176 I have strayed like a lost sheep;

seek Your servant, for I have not forgotten Your commandments.

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Footnotes