S2 EP 15 Guided Grace: Psalm 119

The Iron Women

Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet

119

Blessed are those whose way is blameless,

who walk in the law of the Lord!

2

Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,

who seek him with their whole heart,

3

who also do no wrong,

but walk in his ways!

4

You have commanded your precepts

to be kept diligently.

5

Oh that my ways may be steadfast

in keeping your statutes!

6

Then I shall not be put to shame,

having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.

7

I will praise you with an upright heart,

when I learn your righteous rules.[b]

8

I will keep your statutes;

do not utterly forsake me!

Beth

9

How can a young man keep his way pure?

By guarding it according to your word.

10

With my whole heart I seek you;

let me not wander from your commandments!

11

I have stored up your word in my heart,

that I might not sin against you.

12

Blessed are you, O Lord;

teach me your statutes!

13

With my lips I declare

all the rules[c] of your mouth.

14

In the way of your testimonies I delight

as much as in all riches.

15

I will meditate on your precepts

and fix my eyes on your ways.

16

I will delight in your statutes;

I will not forget your word.

Gimel

17

Deal bountifully with your servant,

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 a sojourner on the earth;

hide not your commandments from me!

20

My soul is consumed with longing

for your rules[d] at all times.

21

You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones,

who wander from your commandments.

22

Take away from me scorn and contempt,

for I have kept your testimonies.

23

Even though princes sit plotting against me,

your servant will meditate on your statutes.

24

Your testimonies are my delight;

they are my counselors.

Daleth

25

My soul clings to the dust;

give me life according to your word!

26

When I told of my ways, you answered me;

teach me your statutes!

27

Make me understand the way of your precepts,

and I will meditate on your wondrous works.

28

My soul melts away for sorrow;

strengthen me according to your word!

29

Put false ways far from me

and graciously teach me your law!

30

I have chosen the way of faithfulness;

I set your rules before me.

31

I cling to your testimonies, O Lord;

let me not be put to shame!

32

I will run in the way of your commandments

when you enlarge my heart![e]

He

33

Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes;

and I will keep it to the end.[f]

34

Give me understanding, that I may keep your law

and observe it with my whole heart.

35

Lead me in the path of your commandments,

for I delight in it.

36

Incline my heart to your testimonies,

and not to selfish gain!

37

Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;

and give me life in your ways.

38

Confirm to your servant your promise,

that you may be feared.

39

Turn away the reproach that I dread,

for your rules are good.

40

Behold, I long for your precepts;

in your righteousness give me life!

Waw

41

Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord,

your salvation according to your promise;

42

then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me,

for I trust in your word.

43

And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,

for my hope is in your rules.

44

I will keep your law continually,

forever and ever,

45

and I shall walk in a wide place,

for I have sought your precepts.

46

I will also speak of your testimonies before kings

and shall not be put to shame,

47

for I find my delight in your commandments,

which I love.

48

I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love,

and I will meditate on your statutes.

Zayin

49

Remember your word to your servant,

in which you have made me hope.

50

This is my comfort in my affliction,

that your promise gives me life.

51

The insolent utterly deride me,

but I do not turn away from your law.

52

When I think of your rules from of old,

I take comfort, O Lord.

53

Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked,

who forsake your law.

54

Your statutes have been my songs

in the house of my sojourning.

55

I remember your name in the night, O Lord,

and keep your law.

56

This blessing has fallen to me,

that I have kept your precepts.

Heth

57

The Lord is my portion;

I promise to keep your words.

58

I entreat your favor with all my heart;

be gracious to me according to your promise.

59

When I think on my ways,

I turn my feet to your testimonies;

60

I hasten and do not delay

to keep your commandments.

61

Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me,

I do not forget your law.

62

At midnight I rise to praise you,

because of your righteous rules.

63

I am a companion of all who fear you,

of those who keep your precepts.

64

The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love;

teach me your statutes!

Teth

65

You have dealt well with your servant,

O Lord, according to your word.

66

Teach me good judgment and knowledge,

for I believe in your commandments.

67

Before I was afflicted I went astray,

but now I keep your word.

68

You are good and do good;

teach me your statutes.

69

The insolent smear me with lies,

but with my whole heart I keep your precepts;

70

their heart is unfeeling like fat,

but I delight in your law.

71

It is good for me that I was afflicted,

that I might learn your statutes.

72

The law of your mouth is better to me

than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Yodh

73

Your hands have made and fashioned me;

give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.

74

Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice,

because I have hoped in your word.

75

I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous,

and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.

76

Let your steadfast love comfort me

according to your promise to your servant.

77

Let your mercy come to me, that I may live;

for your law is my delight.

78

Let the insolent be put to shame,

because they have wronged me with falsehood;

as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.

79

Let those who fear you turn to me,

that they may know your testimonies.

80

May my heart be blameless in your statutes,

that I may not be put to shame!

Kaph

81

My soul longs for your salvation;

I hope in your word.

82

My eyes long for your promise;

I ask, “When will you comfort me?”

83

For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,

yet I have not forgotten your statutes.

84

How long must your servant endure?[g]

When will you judge those who persecute me?

85

The insolent have dug pitfalls for me;

they do not live according to your law.

86

All your commandments are sure;

they persecute me with falsehood; help me!

87

They have almost made an end of me on earth,

but I have not forsaken your precepts.

88

In your steadfast love give me life,

that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.

Lamedh

89

Forever, O Lord, your word

is firmly fixed in the heavens.

90

Your faithfulness endures to all generations;

you have established the earth, and it stands fast.

91

By your appointment they stand this day,

for all things are your servants.

92

If your law had not been my delight,

I would have perished in my affliction.

93

I will never forget your precepts,

for by them you have given me life.

94

I am yours; save me,

for I have sought your precepts.

95

The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,

but I consider your testimonies.

96

I have seen a limit to all perfection,

but your commandment is exceedingly broad.

Mem

97

Oh how I love your law!

It is my meditation all the day.

98

Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,

for it is ever with me.

99

I have more understanding than all my teachers,

for your testimonies are my meditation.

100

I understand more than the aged,[h]

for I keep your precepts.

101

I hold back my feet from every evil way,

in order to keep your word.

102

I do not turn aside from your rules,

for you have taught me.

103

How sweet are your words to my taste,

sweeter than honey to my mouth!

104

Through your precepts I get understanding;

therefore I hate every false way.

Nun

105

Your word is a lamp to my feet

and a light to my path.

106

I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,

to keep your righteous rules.

107

I am severely afflicted;

give me life, O Lord, according to your word!

108

Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord,

and teach me your rules.

109

I hold my life in my hand continually,

but I do not forget your law.

110

The wicked have laid a snare for me,

but I do not stray from your precepts.

111

Your testimonies are my heritage forever,

for they are the joy of my heart.

112

I incline my heart to perform your statutes

forever, to the end.[i]

Samekh

113

I hate the double-minded,

but I love your law.

114

You are my hiding place and my shield;

I hope in your word.

115

Depart from me, you evildoers,

that I may keep the commandments of my God.

116

Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live,

and let me not be put to shame in my hope!

117

Hold me up, that I may be safe

and have regard for your statutes continually!

118

You spurn all who go astray from your statutes,

for their cunning is in vain.

119

All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross,

therefore I love your testimonies.

120

My flesh trembles for fear of you,

and I am afraid of your judgments.

Ayin

121

I have done what is just and right;

do not leave me to my oppressors.

122

Give your servant a pledge of good;

let not the insolent oppress me.

123

My eyes long for your salvation

and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.

124

Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love,

and teach me your statutes.

125

I am your servant; give me understanding,

that I may know your testimonies!

126

It is time for the Lord to act,

for your law has been broken.

127

Therefore I love your commandments

above gold, above fine...