BrTr PSA chapter 118

Blessed are the blameless in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. 2 Blessed are they that search out his testimonies: they will diligently seek him with the whole heart. 3 For they that work iniquity have not walked in his ways. 4 Thou hast commanded us diligently to keep thy precepts. 5 O that my ways were directed to keep thine ordinances. 6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect to all thy commandments. 7 I will give thee thanks with uprightness of heart, when I have learnt the judgments of thy righteousness. 8 I will keep thine ordinances: O forsake me not greatly.

9 Wherewith shall a young man direct his way? by keeping thy words. 10 With my whole heart have I diligently sought thee: cast me not away from thy commandments. 11 I have hidden thine oracles in my heart, that I might not sin against thee. 12 Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thine ordinances. 13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. 14 I have delighted in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate on thy commandments, and consider thy ways. 16 I will meditate on thine ordinances: I will not forget thy words.

17 Render a recompence to thy servant: so shall I live, and keep thy words. 18 Unveil thou mine eyes, and I shall perceive wondrous things out of thy law. 19 I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me. 20 My soul has longed exceedingly for thy judgments at all times. 21 Thou hast rebuked the proud: cursed are they that turn aside from thy commandments. 22 Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have sought out thy testimonies. 23 For princes sat and spoke against me: but thy servant was meditating on thine ordinances. 24 For thy testimonies are my meditation, and thine ordinances are my counsellors.

25 My soul has cleaved to the ground; quicken thou me according to thy word. 26 I declared my ways, and thou didst hear me; teach me thine ordinances. 27 Instruct me in the way of thine ordinances; and I will meditate on thy wondrous works. 28 My soul has slumbered for sorrow; strengthen thou me with thy words. 29 Remove from me the way of iniquity; and be merciful to me [fn]by thy law. 30 I have chosen the way of truth; and have not forgotten thy judgments. 31 I have cleaved to thy testimonies, O Lord; put me not to shame. 32 I ran the way of thy commandments, when thou didst enlarge my heart.

33 [fn]Teach me, O Lord, the way of thine ordinances, and I will seek it out continually. 34 Instruct me, and I will search out thy law, and will keep it with my whole heart. 35 Guide me in the path of thy commandments; for I have delighted in it. 36 Incline mine heart to thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. 37 Turn away mine eyes that I may not behold vanity: quicken thou me in thy way. 38 Confirm thine oracle to thy servant, that he may fear thee. 39 Take away my reproach which I have feared: for thy judgments are good. 40 Behold, I have desired thy commandments: quicken me in thy righteousness.

41 And let thy mercy come upon me, O Lord; even thy salvation, according to thy word. 42 And so I shall render an answer to them that reproach me: for I have trusted in thy words. 43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments. 44 So shall I keep thy law continually, for ever and ever. 45 I walked also at large: for I sought out thy commandments. 46 And I spoke of thy testimonies before kings, and was not ashamed. 47 And I [fn]meditated on thy commandments, which I loved exceedingly. 48 And I lifted up my hands to thy commandments which I loved; and I meditated in thine ordinances.

49 Remember thy words to thy servant, wherein thou hast made me hope. 50 This has comforted me in mine affliction: for thine oracle has quickened me. 51 The proud have transgressed exceedingly; but I swerved not from thy law. 52 I remembered thy judgments of old, O Lord; and was comforted. 53 Despair took hold upon me, because of the sinners who forsake thy law. 54 Thine ordinances were my songs in the place of my sojourning. 55 I remembered thy name, O Lord, in the night, and kept thy law. 56 This I had, because I diligently sought thine ordinances.

57 Thou art my portion, O Lord: I said that I would keep thy law. 58 I besought thy [fn]favour with my whole heart: have mercy upon me according to thy word. 59 I thought on thy ways, and turned my feet to thy testimonies. 60 I prepared myself, (and was not terrified,) to keep thy commandments. 61 The snares of sinners entangled me: but I forgot not thy law. 62 At midnight I arose, to give thanks to thee for the judgments of thy righteousness. 63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy commandments. 64 O Lord, the earth is full of thy mercy: teach me thine ordinances.

65 Thou hast wrought kindly with thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word. 66 Teach me kindness, and instruction, and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments. 67 Before I was afflicted, I transgressed; therefore have I kept thy word. 68 Good art thou, O Lord; therefore in thy goodness teach me thine ordinances. 69 The injustice of the proud has been multiplied against me: but I will search out thy commandments with all my heart. 70 Their heart has been curdled like milk; but I have meditated on thy law. 71 It is good for me that thou hast afflicted me; that I might learn thine ordinances. 72 The law of thy mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver.

73 Thy hands have made me, and fashioned me: instruct me, that I may learn thy commandments. 74 They that fear thee will see me and rejoice: for I have hoped in thy words. 75 I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are righteousness, and that thou in truthfulness hast afflicted me. 76 Let, I pray thee, thy mercy be to comfort me, according to thy word to thy servant. 77 Let thy compassions come to me, that I may live: for thy law is my meditation. 78 Let the proud be ashamed; for they transgressed against me unjustly: but I will meditate in thy commandments. 79 Let those that fear thee, and those that know thy testimonies, turn to me. 80 Let mine heart be blameless in thine ordinances, that I may not be ashamed.

81 My soul faints for thy salvation: I have hoped in thy words. 82 Mine eyes failed in waiting for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me? 83 For I am become as a bottle in the frost: yet I have not forgotten thine ordinances. 84 How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment for me on them that persecute me? 85 Transgressors told me idle tales; but not according to thy law, O Lord. 86 All thy commandments are truth; they persecuted me unjustly; help thou me. 87 They nearly made an end of me in the earth; but I forsook not thy commandments. 88 Quicken me according to thy mercy; so shall I keep the testimonies of thy mouth.

89 Thy word, O Lord, abides in heaven for ever. 90 Thy truth endures to all generations; thou hast founded the earth, and it abides. 91 The day continues by thy arrangement; for all things are thy servants. 92 Were it not that thy law is my meditation, then I should have perished in mine affliction. 93 I will never forget thine ordinances; for with them thou hast quickened me. 94 I am thine, save me; for I have sought out thine ordinances. 95 Sinners laid wait for me to destroy me; but I understood thy testimonies. 96 I have seen an end of all perfection; but thy commandment is very broad.

97 How I have loved thy law, O Lord! it is my meditation all the day. 98 Thou hast made me wiser than mine enemies in thy commandment; for it is mine for ever. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers; for thy testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the aged; because I have sought out thy commandments. 101 I have kept back my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy words. 102 I have not declined from thy judgments; for thou hast [fn]instructed me.

103 How sweet are thine oracles to my throat! more so than honey to my mouth! 104 I gain understanding by thy commandments: therefore I have hated every way of unrighteousness.

105 Thy law is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my paths. 106 I have sworn and determined to keep the judgments of thy righteousness. 107 I have been very greatly afflicted, O Lord: quicken me, according to thy word. 108 Accept, I pray thee, O Lord, the freewill-offerings of my mouth, and teach me thy judgments. 109 My soul is continually in [fn]thine hands; and I have not forgotten thy law. 110 Sinners spread a snare for me; but I erred not from thy commandments. 111 I have inherited thy testimonies for ever; for they are the joy of my heart. 112 I have inclined my heart to perform thine ordinances for ever, [fn]in return for thy mercies.

113 I have hated transgressors; but I have loved thy law. 114 Thou art my helper and my supporter; I have hoped in thy words. 115 Depart from me, ye evil-doers; for I will search out the commandments of my God. 116 Uphold me according to thy word, and quicken me; and make me not ashamed of my expectation. 117 Help me, and I shall be saved; and I will meditate in thine ordinances continually. 118 Thou hast brought to nought all that depart from thine ordinances; for their inward thought is unrighteous. 119 I have reckoned all the sinners of the earth as transgressors; therefore have I loved thy testimonies. 120 Penetrate my flesh with thy fear; for I am afraid of thy judgments.

121 I have done judgment and justice; deliver me not up to them that injure me. 122 Receive thy servant for good: let not the proud accuse me falsely. 123 Mine eyes have failed for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness. 124 Deal with thy servant according to thy mercy, and teach me thine ordinances. 125 I am thy servant; instruct me, and I shall know thy testimonies. 126 It is time for the Lord to work: they have utterly broken thy law. 127 Therefore have I loved thy commandments more than gold, or the topaz. 128 Therefore I directed myself according to all thy commandments: I have hated every unjust way.

129 Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore my soul has sought them out. 130 The manifestation of thy words will enlighten, and instruct the simple. 131 I opened my mouth, and drew breath: for I earnestly longed after thy commandments. 132 Look upon me and have mercy upon me, after the manner of them that love thy name. 133 Order my steps according to thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. 134 Deliver me from the false accusation of men: so will I keep thy commandments. 135 Cause thy face to shine upon thy servant: and teach me thine ordinances. 136 Mine eyes have been bathed in streams of water, because I kept not thy law.

137 Righteous art thou, O Lord, and upright are thy judgments. 138 Thou hast commanded righteousness and perfect truth, as thy testimonies. 139 Thy zeal has quite wasted me: because mine enemies have forgotten thy words. 140 Thy word has been very fully tried; and thy servant loves it. 141 I am young and despised: yet I have not forgotten thine ordinances. 142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is truth. 143 Afflictions and distresses found me: but thy commandments were my meditation. 144 Thy testimonies are an everlasting righteousness: instruct me, and I shall live.

145 I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O Lord: I will search out thine ordinances. 146 I cried to thee; save me, and I will keep thy testimonies. 147 I arose before the dawn, and cried: I hoped in thy words. 148 Mine eyes prevented the dawn, that I might meditate on thine oracles. 149 Hear my voice, O Lord, according to thy mercy; quicken me according to thy judgment. 150 They have drawn nigh who persecuted me unlawfully; and they are far removed from thy law. 151 Thou art near, O Lord; and all thy [fn]ways are truth. 152 I have known of old [fn]concerning thy testimonies, that thou hast founded them for ever.

153 Look upon mine affliction, and rescue me; for I have not forgotten thy law. 154 Plead my cause, and ransom me: quicken me because of thy word. 155 Salvation is far from sinners: for they have not searched out thine ordinances. 156 Thy mercies, O Lord, are many: quicken me according to thy judgment. 157 Many are they that persecute me and oppress me: but I have not declined from thy testimonies. 158 I beheld men acting foolishly, and I pined away; for they kept not thine oracles. 159 Behold, I have loved thy commandments, O Lord: quicken me in thy mercy. 160 The beginning of thy words is truth; and all the judgments of thy righteousness endure for ever.

161 Princes persecuted me without a cause, but my heart feared because of thy words. 162 I will exult because of thine oracles, as one that finds much spoil. 163 I hate and abhor unrighteousness; but I love thy law. 164 Seven times in a day have I praised thee because of the judgments of thy righteousness. 165 Great peace have they that love thy law: and there is no stumbling-block to them. 166 I waited for thy salvation, O Lord, and have loved thy commandments. 167 My soul has kept thy testimonies, and loved them exceedingly. 168 I have kept thy commandments and thy testimonies; for all my ways are before thee, O Lord.

169 Let my supplication come near before thee, O Lord; instruct me according to thine oracle. 170 Let my petition come in before thee, O Lord; deliver me according to thine oracle. 171 Let my lips utter a hymn, when thou shalt have taught me thine ordinances. 172 Let my tongue utter thine oracles; for all thy commandments are righteous. 173 Let thine hand be prompt to save me; for I have chosen thy commandments. 174 I have longed after thy salvation, O Lord; and thy law is my meditation. 175 My soul shall live, and shall praise thee; and thy judgments shall help me. 176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I have not forgotten thy commandments.

118:29 q. d. in teaching me thy law.

118:33 sc. as a lawgiver.

118:47 Or, exercised myself in.

118:58 Gr. presence, or, countenance.

118:102 That is, as a lawgiver.

118:109 Heb. and Alex. my.

118:112 See Heb.

118:151 Alex. ἐντολαί, commands.

118:152 Gr. of.

BrTr PSA Chapter 118