Psalm 1
Blessed is the man
who has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly
: nor followed the way of sinners,
nor taken his seat amongst the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord
: and on that law will he ponder day and night.
He is like a tree planted beside streams of water
: that yields its fruit in due season.
Its leaves also shall not wither
: and look, whatever he does, it shall prosper.
As for the ungodly, it is not so with them
: they are like the chaff which the wind scatters.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand up at the judgement
: nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
For the Lord cares for the way of the righteous
: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Psalm 119
Blessed are those whose way is blameless
: who walk in the law of the Lord.
Blessed are those who keep his commands
: and seek him with their whole heart;
Those who do no wrong
: but walk in the ways of our God.
For you, Lord, have commanded us
: to persevere in all your precepts.
If only my ways were unerring
: towards the keeping of your statutes!
Then I should not be ashamed
: when I looked on all your commandments.
I will praise you with sincerity of heart
: as I learn your righteous judgements.
I will keep your statutes
: O forsake me not utterly.
How shall a young man’s path be pure
: unless he keep to your word?
I have sought you with my whole heart
: let me not stray from your commandments.
I have treasured your words in my heart
: that I might not sin against you.
Blessed are you, Lord God
: O teach me your statutes.
With my lips I have been telling
: all the judgements of your mouth;
And I find more joy in the way of your commands
: than in all manner of riches.
I will meditate on your precepts
: and give heed to your ways;
For my delight is wholly in your statutes
: and I will not forget your word.
O be bountiful to your servant that I may live
: in obedience to your word.
Take away the veil from my eyes
: that I may see the wonders of your law.
I am but a stranger on the earth
: do not hide your commandments from me.
My soul is consumed with longing
: for your judgements day and night.
You have rebuked the proud
: and cursed are those who stray from your commandments;
Turn away from me their reproach and scorn
: for I have kept your commands.
Though princes sit and plot together against me
: your servant shall meditate on your statutes;
For your commands are my delight
: and they are counsellors in my defence.
I am humbled to the dust
: O give me life according to your word.
If I examine my ways
: surely you will answer me
O teach me your statutes!
Make me to understand the way of your precepts :
and I shall meditate on your marvellous works.
My soul pines away for sorrow :
O raise me up according to your word.
Keep me far from the way of deception :
and grant me the grace of your law.
I have chosen the way of truth :
and have set your judgements before me.
I hold fast to your commands :
O Lord, let me never be confounded.
Let me run the way of your commandments :
for you will liberate my heart.
Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes :
and I will honour it to the end.
Give me understanding, that I may keep your law :
that I may keep it with my whole heart.
Guide me in the path of your commandments :
for therein is my delight.
Incline my heart to your commands :
and not to selfish gain.
Turn away my eyes from looking on vanities :
as I walk in your way give me life.
Make good your promise to your servant :
the promise that endures for all who fear you.
Turn aside the taunts that I dread :
for your judgements are very good.
Lord, I long for your precepts :
in your righteousness give me life.
Let your loving mercy come to me, O Lord :
and your salvation, according to your word.
Then I shall have an answer for those who reproach me :
for I trust in your word.
Do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth :
for in your judgements is my hope.
Let me keep your law continually :
O let me keep it for ever.
And so I shall walk at liberty :
because I have sought your precepts.
I shall speak of your commands before kings :
and shall not be put to shame.
My delight shall be in your commandments :
which I have greatly loved;
I shall worship you with outstretched hands :
and I shall meditate on your statutes.
Remember your word to your servant :
on which you have built my hope.
This has been my comfort in my affliction :
for your word has brought me life.
Though the proud have laughed me to scorn :
I have not turned aside from your law;
But I called to mind, O Lord, your judgements of old :
and in them I have found consolation.
I am seized with indignation at the wicked :
for they have forsaken your law.
But your statutes have become my songs :
in the house of my pilgrimage.
I think on your name, O Lord, in the night :
and I observe your law;
This has been my reward :
because I have kept your precepts.
The Lord is my portion :
I have promised to keep your words.
I have sought your favour with my whole heart :
O be gracious to me according to your word.
I have taken stock of my ways :
and have turned back my feet to your commands.
I made haste and did not delay :
to keep your commandments.
The snares of the wicked encompassed me :
but I did not forget your law;
At midnight I rise to give you thanks :
for the righteousness of your judgements.
I am a friend to all who fear you :
to those who keep your precepts.
The earth, O Lord, is full of your loving mercy :
O teach me your statutes.
Lord, you have done good to your servant :
in accordance with your word.
O teach me right judgement and knowledge :
for I trust in your commandments.
Before I was afflicted I went astray :
but now I keep your word.
You are good, and you do good :
O teach me your statutes.
The proud have smeared me with lies :
but I will keep your precepts with my whole heart.
Their hearts are gross like fat :
but my delight is in your law.
It is good for me that I was afflicted :
so I might learn your statutes.
The law of your mouth is dearer to me :
than a wealth of gold and silver.
Your hands have made me and fashioned me :
O give me understanding, that I may learn your commandments.
Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice :
for my hope is in your word.
I know, Lord, that your judgements are right :
and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
Let your merciful kindness be my comfort :
according to your promise to your servant.
O let your mercy come to me that I may live :
for your law is my delight.
Let the proud be shamed who steal my rights through their lies :
but I will meditate on your precepts.
Let those who fear you turn to me :
and they shall know your commands.
O let my heart be sound in your statutes :
that I may never be put to shame.
My soul languishes for your salvation :
but my hope is in your word;
My eyes fail with watching for your promise :
saying ‘O when will you comfort me?’
I am parched as a wineskin in the smoke :
yet I do not forget your statutes.
How many are the days of your servant :
and when will you judge my persecutors?
The proud have dug pitfalls for me :
in defiance of your law.
All your commandments are true :
but they persecute me with lies O come to my help!
They have almost made an end of me on the earth :
but I have not forsaken your precepts.
In your merciful goodness give me life :
that I may keep the commands of your mouth.
Lord, your word is for ever :
it stands firm in the heavens.
Your faithfulness abides from one generation to another :
firm as the earth which you have made.
As for your judgements, they stand fast this day :
for all things are your servants.
If your law had not been my delight :
I would have perished in my affliction.
I will never forget your precepts :
for by them you have given me life.
I am yours, O save me :
for I have sought your precepts.
The wicked have lain in wait for me to destroy me :
but I think on your commands.
I have seen that all perfection comes to an end :
only your commandment has no bounds.
Lord, how I love your law :
it is my meditation all the day long.
Your commandments have made me wiser than my enemies :
for they remain with me for ever.
I have more understanding than all my teachers :
for I study your commands.
I am wiser than the aged :
because I have kept your precepts.
I have held back my feet from every evil path :
that I might keep your word;
I have not turned aside from your judgements :
for you yourself are my teacher.
How sweet are your words to my tongue :
sweeter than honey to my mouth.
Through your precepts I get understanding :
therefore I hate all lying ways.
Your word is a lantern to my feet :
and a light to my path.
I have vowed and sworn an oath :
to keep your righteous judgements.
I have been afflicted beyond measure :
Lord, give me life according to your word.
Accept, O Lord, the freewill offerings of my mouth :
and teach me your judgements.
I take my life in my hands continually :
yet I do not forget your law.
The wicked have laid a snare for me :
but I have not strayed from your precepts.
Your commands are my inheritance for ever :
they are the joy of my heart.
I have set my heart to fulfil your statutes :
always, even to the end.
I loathe those who are double-minded :
but your law do I love.
You are my shelter and my shield :
and in your word is my hope.
Away from me, all you that do evil :
I will keep the commandments of my God.
Be my stay, according to your word, that I may live :
and do not disappoint me in my hope.
Hold me up, and I shall be safe :
and I will ever delight in your statutes.
You scorn all those who swerve from your statutes :
for their calumnies against me are lies;
All the ungodly of the earth you count as dross :
therefore I love your commands.
My flesh shrinks for fear of you :
and I am afraid of your judgements.
I have done what is just and right :
O do not give me over to my oppressors.
Stand surety for your servant’s good :
let not the proud oppress me.
My eyes fail with watching for your salvation :
for the fulfilment of your righteous word.
O deal with your servant according to your loving mercy :
and teach me your statutes.
I am your servant, O give me understanding :
that I may know your commands.
It is time for the Lord to act :
for they violate your law.
Therefore I love your commandments :
more than gold, more than the finest gold;
Therefore I straighten my paths by all your precepts :
and I hate all lying ways.
Wonderful are your commands :
and therefore my soul keeps them.
The unfolding of your word gives light :
it gives understanding to the simple.
I open my mouth and draw in my breath :
for I yearn for your commandments.
O turn to me and be merciful to me :
as is your way with those who love your name.
Order my steps according to your word :
that no evil may get mastery over me.
Deliver me from man’s oppression :
that I may keep your precepts.
Make your face shine upon your servant :
and teach me your statutes.
My eyes gush out with streams of water :
because they pay no heed to your law.
Righteous are you, Lord God :
and just are your judgements;
The commands that you have commanded :
are exceedingly righteous and true.
Zeal and indignation have choked my mouth :
because my enemies have forgotten your words.
Your word has been tried in the fire :
and therefore your servant loves it.
I am small and of no account :
but I have not forgotten your precepts.
Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness :
and your law is the truth.
Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me :
but your commandments are my delight.
The righteousness of your commands is everlasting :
O give me understanding, and I shall live.
I call with my whole heart :
hear me, O Lord, I will keep your statutes.
I cry out to you; O save me :
and I will heed your commands.
Before the morning light I rise and I call :
for in your word is my hope.
Before the night watch my eyes wake :
that I may meditate upon your words.
Hear my voice, O Lord, in your loving mercy :
and according to your judgements, give me life.
They draw near to me who maliciously persecute me :
but they are far from your law.
You, Lord, are close at hand :
and all your commandments are true.
I have known long since from your commands :
that you have founded them for ever.
Consider my affliction and deliver me :
for I do not forget your law.
Plead my cause and set me free :
O give me life, according to your word.
Salvation is far from the wicked :
for they do not seek your statutes.
Numberless, O Lord, are your tender mercies :
according to your judgements, give me life.
Many there are that persecute me and trouble me :
but I have not swerved from your commands.
I am cut to the heart when I see the faithless :
for they do not keep your word.
Consider, O Lord, how I love your precepts :
and in your mercy, give me life.
The sum of your word is truth :
and all your righteous judgements stand for ever.
Princes have persecuted me without a cause :
but my heart stands in awe of your word.
I am as glad of your word :
as one who finds rich spoil.
Lies I hate and abhor :
but your law do I love.
Seven times a day I praise you :
because of your righteous judgements.
Great is the peace of those who love your law :
and nothing shall make them stumble.
Lord, I have waited for your salvation :
and I have done your commandments.
My soul has heeded your commands :
and I love them beyond measure.
I have kept your precepts and commands :
for all my ways are open before you.
Let my cry come to you, O Lord :
O give me understanding, according to your word.
Let my supplication come before you :
and deliver me according to your promise.
My lips shall pour forth your praise :
because you teach me your statutes;
My tongue shall sing of your word :
for all your commandments are righteousness.
Let your hand be swift to help me :
for I have chosen your precepts.
Lord, I have longed for your salvation :
and your law is my delight.
O let my soul live, that I may praise you :
and let your judgements be my help.
I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost :
O seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.