Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet

Aleph

119 [a] Blessed are those whose (A)way is blameless,
    who (B)walk in the law of the Lord!
Blessed are those who (C)keep his (D)testimonies,
    who (E)seek him with their whole heart,
who also (F)do no wrong,
    but walk in his ways!
You have commanded your (G)precepts
    to be kept diligently.
Oh that my ways may (H)be steadfast
    in keeping your statutes!
(I)Then I shall not be put to shame,
    having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
I will praise you with an upright heart,
    when I learn (J)your righteous rules.[b]
I will keep your statutes;
    (K)do not utterly forsake me!

Beth

How can (L)a young man keep his way pure?
    By guarding it according to your word.
10 (M)With my whole heart I seek you;
    let me not (N)wander from your commandments!
11 I have (O)stored up your word in my heart,
    that I might not sin against you.
12 Blessed are you, O Lord;
    (P)teach me your statutes!
13 With my lips I (Q)declare
    all the rules[c] of your mouth.
14 In the way of your testimonies I (R)delight
    as much as in all (S)riches.
15 I will (T)meditate on your precepts
    and fix my eyes on your (U)ways.
16 I will (V)delight in your statutes;
    I will not forget your word.

Gimel

17 (W)Deal bountifully with your servant,
    (X)that I may live and keep your word.
18 Open my eyes, that I may behold
    wondrous things out of your law.
19 I am (Y)a sojourner on the earth;
    (Z)hide not your commandments from me!
20 My soul is consumed with (AA)longing
    for your rules[d] at all times.
21 You rebuke (AB)the insolent, (AC)accursed ones,
    who (AD)wander from your commandments.
22 Take away from me (AE)scorn and contempt,
    (AF)for I have kept your testimonies.
23 Even though (AG)princes sit plotting against me,
    your servant will (AH)meditate on your statutes.
24 Your testimonies are my (AI)delight;
    they are my (AJ)counselors.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 119:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem of twenty-two stanzas, following the letters of the Hebrew alphabet; within a stanza, each verse begins with the same Hebrew letter
  2. Psalm 119:7 Or your just and righteous decrees; also verses 62, 106, 160, 164
  3. Psalm 119:13 Or all the just decrees
  4. Psalm 119:20 Or your just decrees; also verses 30, 39, 43, 52, 75, 102, 108, 137, 156, 175

Psalm 119[a]

א Aleph

Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,(A)
    who walk(B) according to the law of the Lord.(C)
Blessed(D) are those who keep his statutes(E)
    and seek him(F) with all their heart—(G)
they do no wrong(H)
    but follow his ways.(I)
You have laid down precepts(J)
    that are to be fully obeyed.(K)
Oh, that my ways were steadfast
    in obeying your decrees!(L)
Then I would not be put to shame(M)
    when I consider all your commands.(N)
I will praise you with an upright heart
    as I learn your righteous laws.(O)
I will obey your decrees;
    do not utterly forsake me.(P)

ב Beth

How can a young person stay on the path of purity?(Q)
    By living according to your word.(R)
10 I seek you with all my heart;(S)
    do not let me stray from your commands.(T)
11 I have hidden your word in my heart(U)
    that I might not sin(V) against you.
12 Praise be(W) to you, Lord;
    teach me(X) your decrees.(Y)
13 With my lips I recount
    all the laws that come from your mouth.(Z)
14 I rejoice in following your statutes(AA)
    as one rejoices in great riches.
15 I meditate on your precepts(AB)
    and consider your ways.
16 I delight(AC) in your decrees;
    I will not neglect your word.

ג Gimel

17 Be good to your servant(AD) while I live,
    that I may obey your word.(AE)
18 Open my eyes that I may see
    wonderful things in your law.
19 I am a stranger on earth;(AF)
    do not hide your commands from me.
20 My soul is consumed(AG) with longing
    for your laws(AH) at all times.
21 You rebuke the arrogant,(AI) who are accursed,(AJ)
    those who stray(AK) from your commands.
22 Remove from me their scorn(AL) and contempt,
    for I keep your statutes.(AM)
23 Though rulers sit together and slander me,
    your servant will meditate on your decrees.
24 Your statutes are my delight;
    they are my counselors.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 119:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the stanzas of which begin with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet; moreover, the verses of each stanza begin with the same letter of the Hebrew alphabet.