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PSALM 119
The Torah (Instruction) of YHWH.
The Word of God.
INTRODUCTION
Psalm 119
is an anonymous writing, but many scholars believe it was written by one of the
Jewish exiles in Babylon – possibly Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah, Ezekiel
or Ezra.
It is a
unique psalm, composed as an alphabetic acrostic, and divided into 22 stanzas,
each with eight verses. The 22 stanzas are headed by one of the 22 consonants of
the Hebrew alphabet, in strict alphabetical order.
Each of
the eight verses in a stanza begin with the same Hebrew consonant. The first
stanza (vss 1-8), is under the first Hebrew consonant,
Aleph,
and so each of the eight verses begin with Aleph. The second stanza (vss 9-16)
is under
Beit,
and so the eight verses all begin with B, and so on.
Hebrew is
the language which God first chose to record His revealed truth – in the Old
Testament.
Psalm 119
conveys the message that the Word of God contains everything man needs to know.
Except for
verses 1-3 and 115, every verse is prayer to YHWH the LORD.
The
psalmist uses the key word torah (instruction/teaching) and ten other
words as synonyms for the Word of God. Every verse except 90, 121, 122 and 132
uses one of these words; and some verses use more than one:
Hebrew Meaning (h
is a guttural h)
torah
LAW / INSTRUCTION/ DIRECTION / Torah-TEACHING
edah /
edut
TESTIMONIES
(or PRECEPTS)
dereh
/orah
WAY / WAYS
pikudim
PRECEPTS
(or
ORDERS)
hok
STATUTES
(or
DECREES /LAWS)
mitzwah
COMMANDS
mishpat
JUDGMENTS (or
ORDINANCES)
davar
WORD
imrah
WORD
- utterance, saying or speech
These
synonyms are coloured blue throughout
this psalm.
At the top
of each stanza in this psalm, we feature the Hebrew consonant as given in most
Bibles, and the equivalent letter in English. Through this we encourage readers
to learn the Hebrew alef-beit (alphabet).
We hope to
introduce a Psalm 199 Hebrew Companion
in the near future. It will supply a number of Hebrew words, and various Hebrew
scriptures along with their transliteration into English, for those who would
like to learn a little of the language.
ALEPH
(pronounced, a-lef)
PSALM 119:1-8
1
How blessed are they who are perfect -
upright and blameless in the
way,
who walk in the
instruction of YHWH.
2
How blessed are they who observe and guard
His testimonies,
who seek Him
with all their heart.
3 Yes,
they do nothing unrighteous;
they
walk in His ways.
4
You have commanded us to guard
Your precepts
and to keep them diligently.
5 Oh
that my ways were steadfast
in
keeping Your
statutes!
6 Then
I would not be put to shame,
as I
look into all Your commands.
7
I will praise You
with an upright of heart,
as I
learn Your righteousness
judgments.
8 I
will guard Your
statutes;
oh, do not utterly forsake me!
BETH
(pronounced, bait)
PSALM 119 : 9-16
9 How
can a young man cleanse his way?
By
observing and living according to Your
Word.
10 With
all my heart I have sought You;
do
not let me stray from Your
commands.
11
I have hidden Your
words in my heart
that
I might not sin against You.
12
Blessed are You, O
YHWH;
Teach me Your
statutes.
13 With
my lips I have recounted
all
the judgments of
Your mouth.
14
I have rejoiced in the way of
Your testimonies,
as
over and above all riches.
15 I
meditate on Your
precepts,
and
meditate on Your
ways.
16
I delight in Your
laws;
I
will not forget Your
Word.
GIMEL
(pronounced, gim-mel)
PSALM 119 : 17-24
17 Deal
bountifully with Your servant,
That I may live; I will keep Your
Word.
18
Open my eyes that I may see
wonderful things from Your
Torah.
19 I am a
temporary resident on the earth;
do
not hide Your
commands from me.
20 My
soul is crushed with longing
for
Your judgments
at all times.
21
You rebuke the
arrogant, the cursed ones,
who are straying from
Your commands.
22 Take
away reproach and contempt from me,
for
I have kept Your
testimonies.
23
Princes also sat and spoke against me,
But Your servant meditates on
Your statutes.
24
Your testimonies
also are my delight;
they are my counsellors.
DALETH
(pronounced, dah-let)
PSALM 119 : 25-32
25
My soul has been clinging to the dust.
Oh revive me according to Your
Word.
26 I have
recounted my ways, and You
have answered me;
Teach me Your
statutes.
27 Make
me understand the way of Your
precepts,
that
I might meditate on Your wonders.
28
My soul melts because of heaviness;
strengthen me according to Your
Word.
29 Remove
the way of falsehood from me,
and
favour me with Your instruction.
30
I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
I
have set Your
judgments before me.
31 I have
clung to Your
testimonies;
O YHWH, do not put me to shame!
32 I will
run in the way of
Your commands,
for
You enlarge my heart.
HE
(pronounced, hey)
PSALM 119 : 33-40
33 Teach
me, O YHWH, the way of
Your statutes,
and
I will keep it to the end.
34
Give me understanding, that I may guard Your
Torah,
and
keep it with all my heart.
35 Cause
me to walk in the path of Your
commands,
for
I have delighted in it.
36
Incline my heart to Your
testimonies,
and
not to covetousness and gain.
37 Turn
away my eyes from looking at worthless things,
and
revive me in Your
ways.
38
Establish Your Word
to Your servant,
that
which is concerning the awe of
You.
39 Turn
away my reproach which I dread,
for
Your judgments
are good.
40 See
how I have longed for Your
precepts.
Oh revive me in Your righteousness.
VAV
(pronounced, vahv)
PSALM 119 : 41-48
41 Let
Your mercy and lovingkindness come to
me, O YHWH -
Your salvation
according to Your
Word;
42 that I
may answer him who reproaches me;
for
I have trusted in Your
Word.
43 Do not
take the Word of truth completely from my mouth,
for
I have hoped in Your
judgments.
44 I will
guard Your
instruction continually,
forever and ever.
45 I will
walk at liberty,
for
I have sought Your
precepts.
46 I will
speak of Your
testimonies before kings,
and
will not be ashamed.
47
I will delight in
Your commands,
which I have loved.
48
I will lift up my hands also to
Your commands
which I love;
and
I will meditate on Your
statutes.
ZAYIN
(pronounced, zah-yin)
PSALM 119 : 49-56
49
Remember the word to
Your servant,
on
which You have caused me to hope.
50
This is my comfort in my affliction:
That
Your Word has
revived and given me life.
51 The
proud have absolutely derided me,
Yet I have not turned aside from Your
instruction.
52 I
remembered Your ancient
judgments, O YHWH,
and
I comfort myself in them.
53
Indignation has gripped me
because of the wicked who forsake Your
Torah.
54
Your statutes
have been songs for me
wherever I lodge.
55
O YHWH, I have remembered
Your Name in the night,
and
I guard Your
instruction.
56
This has been a blessing to me,
because I have kept Your
precepts.
 HETH
(pronounced,
het
–
guttural
h)
PSALM 119 : 57-64
57
YHWH is my portion;
I
have promised to keep Your
words.
58 I have
sought Your Face with all my heart;
Show
me favour according to Your
Word.
59 I have
considered my ways,
and
turned my feet to Your
testimonies.
60 I
hurried and did not delay
to
keep Your commands.
61 The
cords of the wicked have encircled me,
but
I have not forgotten Your
instruction.
62 At
midnight I rise to give thanks to You
because of Your righteous
judgments.
63 I
am a companion of all those who fear You,
and of
those guarding Your
precepts.
64 The
earth is full of Your
lovingkindness, O
YHWH.
Teach me Your
statutes.
TETH
(pronounced, tet)
PSALM 119 : 65-72
65
You have dealt well with
Your servant,
O YHWH, according to
Your Word.
66 Teach
me good discernment and knowledge,
for
I have believed in Your
commands.
67 Before
I was afflicted I was going astray,
but
now I have guarded Your
Word.
68
You are good, and what
You are doing is good.
Teach me Your
statutes.
69 The
proud have forged falsehood against me,
and
smeared me with lies;
but I will keep Your
precepts with all my heart.
70 Their
heart has become like fat, without feeling,
but as for me, I have delighted
in Your
Torah.
71 It was
good for me that I was afflicted,
that
I may learn Your
statutes.
72
The instruction of
Your mouth is better to me
than
thousands of gold and silver pieces.
YODH
(pronounced, yod)
PSALM 119 : 73-80
73
Your hands made me and formed me;
give
me understanding, that I may learn Your
commands.
74 Those
who fear You see me and rejoice,
because I have put my hope in Your
Word.
75 I
know, O YHWH, that
Your judgments
are righteous,
and
that in faithfulness You
have afflicted me.
76 O let
Your lovingkindness be a comfort to me,
according to Your
Word to Your servant.
77 Let
Your tender
mercies come to me that I may live,
for
Your instruction
is my delight.
78 Let
the proud be put to shame,
for
with lies they dealt corruptly with me;
but I meditate on Your
precepts.
79 Let
those who fear You turn to me,
and
those who know Your testimonies.
80 Let my
heart be perfect - blameless in Your
statutes,
so
that I may not be put to shame.
KAPH
(pronounced kaf and
haf)
PSALM 119 : 81-88
81 My
soul has languished for Your
salvation;
for
I have put my hope in Your
Word.
82 My
eyes have pined away with longing for Your
Word,
asking, "When will it comfort me?"
83 Though
I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,
I
have not forgotten Your
statutes.
84 How
many are the days of Your servant?
When
will You execute
judgment on those who persecute me?
85 The
proud have dug pits for me,
which are contrary to Your
instruction.
86 All
Your commands
are trustworthy;
They
have persecuted me with lies. Help me!
87 They
have almost consumed me on earth,
But
I, yes I did not forsake Your
precepts.
88
Revive me according to
Your lovingkindness,
So
that I may keep the testimony of
Your mouth.
LAMEDH
(pronounced, lah-med)
PSALM 119 : 89-96
89
Forever, O YHWH,
Your Word is
settled in heaven.
90
Your faithfulness
endures throughout all generations;
You established the earth, and it stands
fast.
91 They
- the heavenly host - stand this day according to
Your decrees,
for all are Your servants.
92 If
Your instruction
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 me.
94 I am
Yours, save
me;
for
I have sought Your
precepts.
95 The
wicked have waited for me to destroy me,
but I will ponder and understand Your
testimonies.
96 I have
seen an end - the limit - of all perfection;
but Your command
is exceedingly wide - without limits.
MEM
(pronounced, mem)
PSALM 119 : 97-104
97 O how
I love Your Torah
– Your instruction!
It
is my meditation all the day.
98
Your commands
make me wiser than my enemies,
for
they are ever before me.
99 I have
more insight than all my teachers,
for
Your testimonies
are my meditation.
100 I
understand more than the elders,
because I have kept Your
precepts.
101 I have
restrained my feet from every evil way,
that I may keep Your
Word.
102 I have
not turned aside from Your
judgments,
for
You Yourself have taught me.
103
How sweet Your Word
has been to my taste!
Sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 From
Your precepts
I gain understanding;
therefore I have hated every false way.
NUN
(pronounced, noon)
PSALM 119 : 105-112
105
Your Word is
a lamp to my feet,
and
a light to my path.
106 I have
taken an oath, and I confirm
that I will keep Your righteous
judgments.
107 I have
been afflicted very much;
revive me, O YHWH, according to
Your Word.
108 I
beseech You, O YHWH,
accept the freewill offerings of my mouth,
and
teach me Your
judgments.
109 My
life is continually in my hand - in danger,
yet
I do not forget Your
instruction.
110 The
wicked have laid a snare for me,
yet
I have not gone astray from Your
precepts.
111
Your testimonies
are my inheritance forever,
for they are the joy of my heart.
112 I have
inclined my heart to keep Your
statutes
forever, to the very end.
SAMEKH
(pronounced, sah-meh)
PSALM 119 : 113-120
113 I have
hated doubting and double-minded men
but
I have loved Your
Torah.
114
You are my Hiding
Place and my Shield;
I
have hoped in Your
Word.
115 Depart
from me, you evildoers,
for
I keep the commands of my
God.
116
Support me according to Your Word, that I may live;
and
do not put me to shame because of my hope.
117 Hold
me up that I might be saved,
and
I will look to Your
statutes continually.
118 You
have trodden down all who go astray from Your
statutes.
for
falsehood is their deceit.
119 You
have removed all the wicked of the earth like dross;
therefore I have loved Your
testimonies.
120 My
flesh has trembled for fear of You,
And
I have been in awe of Your
judgments.
 AYIN
(pronounced, ah-yin)
PSALM 119 : 121-128
121 I have
done justice and righteousness;
do
not leave me to my oppressors.
122 Ensure
Your servant's well-being;
do
not let the proud oppress me.
123 My
eyes fail, looking for Your
salvation,
and
for Your righteous
Word.
124 Deal
with Your servant according to
Your lovingkindness,
and
teach me Your
statutes.
125
I am Your servant; give me understanding,
that I may know Your
testimonies.
126 It is
time for YHWH to act,
for
they have broken Your
Torah.
127
Therefore I have loved Your
commands
more than gold, even fine gold.
128
Therefore I have declared all Your
precepts as totally right;
I
have hated every false way.
PE
(pronounced, pey / fey)
PSALM 119 : 129-136
129
Your testimonies
are wonderful;
therefore my soul has kept them.
130
The unfolding of
Your words
gives light;
and gives understanding to the simple.
131 I have
opened my mouth; yes, I have panted,
for
I have longed for Your
commands.
132 Look
upon me and be gracious to me,
after Your manner with those who love
Your Name.
133
Establish my footsteps by Your
Word,
and
let no wickedness rule over me.
134
Redeem me from the oppression of man,
that I may keep Your
precepts.
135 Make
Your Face shine upon
Your servant,
and
teach me Your
statutes.
136
Streams of water flow down from my eyes,
because the people do not keep Your
instruction.
 TZADI
(pronounced, tzah-dee)
PSALM 119 : 137-144
137
Righteous are You, O YHWH,
and
upright are Your
judgments.
138 You
have commanded and appointed Your
testimonies;
they are righteous and fully trustworthy.
139 My
zeal has consumed me,
because my adversaries have forgotten Your
words.
140
Your Word has
been thoroughly tested,
and
Your servant has loved it.
141 I am
small and despised,
yet I have not forgotten Your
precepts.
142
Your righteousness is an everlasting
righteousness,
and
Your instruction
is truth.
143
Trouble and anguish have taken hold of me;
yet Your
commands are my delight.
144
Your testimonies
are righteous forever;
Give me understanding that I may live.
KOPH
(often
written as
Qoph)
(pronounced, kohf)
PSALM 119 : 145-152
145 I have called with all my
heart; answer me, O YHWH!
I
will keep Your
statutes.
146 I have
called to You;
save me,
and
I will keep Your
testimonies.
147 I
anticipate the dawn and cry for help;
I
have hoped in Your
Word.
148 My
eyes anticipate the night watches,
that I may meditate on Your
Word.
149 Hear
my voice according to Your lovingkindness;
revive me, O YHWH, according to
Your judgment.
150 They
who pursue wickedness draw near;
they are far from Your instruction.
151 You
are near, O YHWH,
and
all Your commands
are truth.
152 For a
long time I have known Your
testimonies;
that You have founded them forever.
RESH
(pronounced, reysh)
PSALM 119 : 153-160
153 See my
affliction and rescue
me,
for
I have not forgotten Your
instruction.
154 Plead
my cause and redeem me;
revive me according to Your
Word.
155
Salvation is far from the wicked,
for
they do not seek Your
statutes.
156
Your mercies are many,
O YHWH;
revive me according to Your
judgments.
157 Many
are my persecutors and my adversaries,
yet I do not turn aside from Your
testimonies.
158 I have
seen the treacherous and I am grieved,
because they have not kept Your
Word.
159 See
me, for I have loved Your
precepts;
revive me, O YHWH, according to
Your lovingkindness.
160 The
sum total of Your Word is truth;
and
every one of Your righteous judgments is
everlasting.
 SHIN/SIN
(pronounced, sheen/seen)
PSALM 119 : 161-168
161
Princes have persecuted me without cause,
but
my heart stands in awe of Your
words.
162 I
rejoice at Your Word,
as
one who finds great spoil or treasure.
163 I hate
and loathe falsehood,
but I have loved Your
instruction.
164
Seven times a day I have praised
You,
because of Your righteous
judgments.
165
Great peace have they who love
Your Torah,
and for them there is no stumbling-block.
166 I have
waited for Your
salvation, O YHWH,
and
have done Your
commands.
167 My
soul has kept Your
testimonies,
and
I love them exceedingly.
168 I have
kept Your precepts
and Your testimonies,
for
all my ways are before You.
TAV
(pronounced, tahv)
PSALM 119 : 169-176
169 Let my
cry come before You, O YHWH;
give me understanding according to Your
Word.
170 Let my
supplication come before You;
and deliver me according to Your
Word.
171 My
lips give forth praise,
for
You teach me Your
statutes.
172 My
tongue sings of Your
Word,
for
all Your commands
are righteousness.
173
Your Hand is a help
to me,
for
I have chosen Your precepts.
174 I have
longed for Your
salvation, O YHWH,
and
Your instruction
is my delight.
175
My soul lives, and it praises
You,
and Your
judgments help me.
176 I have
strayed like a lost sheep; seek Your servant,
for
I have not forgotten Your commands.
END OF PSALMS BOOK FIVE – Part 2 of 3
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