Psalm 119 (Tate & Brady)

ALEPH.

1 How blessed are they who always keep

the pure and perfect way;

Who never from the sacred paths

of God's commandments stray!

2 How blessed, who to his righteous laws

have still obedient been;

and have with fervent humble zeal

his favor sought to win!

3 Such men their utmost caution use

to shun each wicked deed:

But in the path which he directs

with constant care proceed.

4 Thou strictly hast enjoined us, Lord,

to learn thy sacred will;

And all our diligence employ

thy statutes to fulfil.

5 O then that thy most holy will

might o'er my ways preside!

And I the course of all my life

by thy direction guide!

6 Then with assurance should I walk,

from all confusion free;

Convinced, with joy, that all my ways

with thy commands agree.

7 My upright heart shall my glad mouth

with cheerful praises fill;

When, by thy righteous judgments taught,

I shall have learnt thy will.

8 So to thy sacred laws shall I

all due observance pay:

O then forsake me not, my God,

nor cast me quite away.

BETH.

9 How shall the young preserve their ways

from all pollution free?

By making still their course of life

with thy commands agree.

10 With hearty zeal for thee I seek,

to thee for succor pray;

O suffer not my careless steps

from thy right paths to stray,

11 Safe in my heart, and closely hid,

thy word, my treasure, lies;

To succor me with timely aid,

when sinful thoughts arise.

12 Secured by that my grateful soul,

shall ever bless thy Name:

O teach me then by thy just laws,

my future life to frame.

13 My lips, unlocked by pious zeal,

to others have declared,

How well the judgments of thy mouth

deserve our best regards.

14 Whilst in the way of thy commands

more solid joy I found,

Than had I been with vast increase

of envied riches crowned.

15 Therefore thy just and upright laws

shall always fill my mind;

And those sound rules which thou prescrib'st

all due respect shall find.

16 To keep thy statutes un-defaced

shall be my constant joy;

The strict remembrance of thy word

shall all my thoughts employ.

GIMEL.

17 Be gracious to thy servant, Lord,

do thou my life defend,

That I, according to thy word,

my future time may spend.

18 Enlighten both my eyes and mind,

that so I may discern

The wondrous things which they behold,

who thy just precepts learn.

19 Though like a stranger in the land

from place to place I stray,

Thy righteous judgments from my sight

remove not thou away.

20 My fainting soul is almost pined,

with earnest longing spent,

Whilst always on the eager search

of thy just will intent.

21 Thy sharp rebuke shall crush the proud,

whom still thy curse pursues;

Since they to walk in thy right ways

presumptuously refuse.

22 But far from me do thou, O Lord,

contempt and shame remove;

For I thy sacred laws affect

with undissembled love.

23 Though princes oft, in council met,

against thy servant spake;

Yet I thy statutes to observe

my constant business make.

24 For thy commands have always been

my comfort and delight;

By them I learn, with prudent care,

to guide my steps aright.

DALETH.

25 My soul, oppressed with deadly care,

close to the dust does cleave;

Revive me, Lord, and let me now

thy promised aid receive.

26 To thee I still declared my ways,

who didst incline thine ear:

O teach me then my future life

by thy just laws to steer.

27 If thou wilt make me know thy laws,

and by their guidance walk,

The wondrous works which thou hast done

shall be my constant talk.

28 But see, my soul within me sinks,

pressed down with weighty care;

Do thou, according to thy word,

my wasted strength repair.

29 Far, far from me be all false ways

and lying arts removed!

the path by thee approved.

But kindly grant I still may keep.

30 Thy faithful ways, thou God of truth,

my happy choice I've made;

Thy judgments, as my rule of life,

before me always laid.

31 My care has been to make my life

with thy commands agree;

from shame and ruin free.

O then preserve thy servant, Lord,

32 So in the way of thy commands

shall I with pleasure run,

And, with a heart enlarged with joy,

successfully go on.

HE.

33 Instruct me in thy statutes, Lord,

thy righteous paths display;

And I from them, through all my life,

will never go astray.

34 If thou true wisdom from above

wilt graciously impart,

To keep thy perfect laws I will

devote my zealous heart.

35 Direct me in the sacred ways

To which thy precepts lead;

Because my chief delight has been

thy righteous paths to tread.

36 Do thou to thy most just commands

incline my willing heart

Let no desire of worldly wealth

From thee my thoughts divert.

37 From those vain objects turn my eyes,

which this false world displays;

But give me lively pow'r and strength

to keep thy righteous ways.

38 Confirm the promise which thou mad'st,

and give thy servant aid,

Who to transgress thy sacred laws

is awfully afraid.

39 The foul disgrace I justly fear,

in mercy, Lord, remove;

For all the judgments thou ordain'st

are full of grace and love.

40 Thou know'st how after thy commands

my longing heart does pant;

O then make haste to raise me up,

and promised succor grant.

VAU.

41 Thy constant blessing, Lord, bestow

to cheer my drooping heart;

To me, according to thy word,

thy saving health impart.

42 So shall I, when my foes upbraid,

this ready answer make;

"In God I trust, who never will

his faithful promise break."

43 Then let not quite the word of truth

be from my mouth removed;

Since still my ground of steadfast hope

thy just decrees have proved.

44 So I to keep thy righteous laws

will all my study bend;

From age to age my time to come

in their observance spend.

45 Ere long I trust to walk at large,

from all encumbrance free;

Since I resolve to make my life

with thy commands agree.

46 Thy laws shall be my constant talk,

and princes shall attend,

Whilst I the justice of thy ways

with confidence defend.

47 My longing heart and ravished soul

shall both o'erflow with joy,

When in thy loved commandments I

my happy hours employ.

48 Then will I to thy just decrees

lift up my willing hands;

My care and business then shall be

to study thy commands.

ZAIN.

49 According to thy promised grace,

thy favor, Lord, extend:

Make good to me the word, on which

thy servant's hopes depend.

50 That only comfort in distress

did all my griefs control;

Thy word, when troubles hemmed me round,

revived my fainting soul.

51 Insulting foes did proudly mock,

and all my hopes deride;

Yet from thy law not all their scoffs

could make me turn aside.

52 Thy judgments then of ancient date

I quickly called to mind,

Till, ravished with such thoughts, my soul

did speedy comfort find.

53 Sometimes I stand amazed like one

with deadly horror struck,

To think how all my sinful foes

have thy just laws forsook.

54 But I thy statutes and decrees

my cheerful anthems made;

Whilst through strange lands and desert wilds

I like a pilgrim strayed.

55 Thy Name, that cheered my heart by day,

has filled my thoughts by night;

I then resolved by thy just laws

to guide my steps aright.

56 That peace of mind, which has my soul

in deep distress sustained,

By strict obedience to thy will

I happily obtained.

CHETH.

57 O Lord, my God, my portion thou

and sure possession art;

Thy words I steadfastly resolve

to treasure in my heart.

58 With all the strength of warm desires

I did thy grace implore;

Disclose, according to thy word,

thy mercy's boundless store.

59 With due reflection and strict care

on all my ways I thought;

And so, reclaimed to thy just paths,

my wand'ring steps I brought.

60 I lost no time, but made great haste,

resolved without delay

To watch, that I might never more

from thy commandments stray.

61 Though num'rous troops of sinful men

to rob me have combined,

Yet I thy pure and righteous laws

have ever kept in mind.

62 In dead of night I will arise

to sing thy solemn praise;

Convinced how much I always ought

to love thy righteous ways.

63 To such as fear thy holy Name

myself I closely join;

To all who their obedient wills

to thy commands resign.

64 O'er all the earth thy mercy, Lord,

abundantly is shed;

O make me then exactly learn

thy sacred paths to tread.

TETH.

65 With me, thy servant, thou hast dealt

most graciously, O Lord;

Repeated benefits bestowed,

according to thy word.

66 Teach me the sacred skill, by which

right judgment is attained,

Who in belief of thy commands

have steadfastly remained.

67 Before affliction stopped my course,

my footsteps went astray;

But I have since been disciplined

thy precepts to obey.

68 Thou art, O Lord, supremely good,

and all thou dost is so;

On me, thy statutes to discern,

thy saving skill bestow.

69 The proud have forged malicious lies,

my spotless fame to stain;

But my fixed heart, without reserve,

thy precepts shall retain.

70 While pampered they, with prosp'rous ills,

in sensual pleasures live,

My soul can relish no delight

but what thy precepts give.

71 'Tis good for me that I have felt

affliction's chast'ning rod,

That I might duly learn and keep

the statutes of my God.

72 The law that from thy mouth proceeds

of more esteem I hold

Than untouched mines, than thousand mines

of silver and of gold.

JOD.

73 To me, who am the workmanship

of thy Almighty hands,

The heav'nly understanding give

to learn thy just commands.

74 My preservation to thy saints

strong comfort will afford,

To see success attend my hopes,

who trusted in thy word.

75 That fight thy judgments are, I now

by sure experience see;

And that in faithfulness, O Lord,

thou hast afflicted me.

76 O let thy tender mercy now

afford me needful aid;

According to thy promise, Lord,

to me, thy servant, made.

77 To me thy saving grace restore,

that I again may live;

Whose soul can relish no delight

but what thy precepts give.

78 Defeat the proud, who, unprovoked,

to ruin me have sought,

Who only on thy sacred laws

employ my harmless thought.

79 Let those that fear thy Name espouse

my cause, and those alone,

Who have by strict and pious search

thy sacred precepts known.

80 In thy blest statutes let my heart

continue always sound;

That guilt and shame, the sinner's lot,

may never me confound.

CAPH.

81 My soul with long expectance faints

to see thy saving grace;

Yet still on thy unerring word

my confidence I place.

82 My very eyes consume and fail

with waiting for thy word;

O when wilt thou thy kind relief

and promised aid afford.

83 My skin like shriveled parchment shows,

that long in smoke is set,

Yet no affliction me can force

thy statutes to forget.

84 How many days must I endure

of sorrow and distress?

When wilt thou judgment execute

on them who me oppress?

85 The proud have digged a pit for me,

that have no other foes,

But such as are averse to thee,

and thy just laws oppose.

86 With sacred truth's eternal laws

all thy commands agree:

Men persecute me without cause;

thou, Lord, my helper be.

87 With close designs against my life

they had almost prevailed;

But in obedience to thy will

my duty never failed.

88 Thy wonted kindness, Lord, restore,

my drooping heart to cheer;

That, by thy righteous statutes, I

my life's whole course may steer.

LAMED.

89 For ever, and for ever, Lord,

unchanged thou dost remain:

Thy word established in the heav'ns

does all their orbs sustain.

90 Through circling ages, Lord, thy truth

immovable shall stand,

As doth the earth, which thou uphold'st

by thy Almighty hand.

91 All things the course by thee ordained

e'en to this day fulfil;

They are the faithful subjects all,

and servants of thy will.

92 Unless thy sacred law had been

my comfort and delight,

I must have fainted and expired

in dark affliction's night.

93 Thy precepts therefore from my thoughts

shall never, Lord, depart;

For thou by them hast to new life

restored my dying heart.

94 As I am thine, entirely thine,

protect me, Lord, from harm;

Who have thy precepts sought to know,

and carefully perform.

95 The wicked have their ambush laid

my guiltless life to take;

But in the midst of danger I

thy word my study make.

96 I've seen an end of what we call

perfection here below:

But thy commandments, like thyself,

no change or period know.

MEM.

97 The love that to thy laws I bear

no language can display;

They with fresh wonders entertain

my ravished thoughts all day.

98 Through thy commands I wiser grow

than all my subtle foes;

For thy sure word doth me direct,

and all my ways dispose.

99 From me my former teachers now

may abler counsel take,

Because thy sacred precepts I

my constant study make.

100 In understanding I excel

the sages of our days;

Because by thy unerring rules

I order all my ways.

101 My feet with care I have refrained

from ev'ry sinful way,

That to thy sacred word I might

entire obedience pay.

102 I have not from thy judgments strayed,

by vain desires misled;

For, Lord, thou hast instructed me

thy righteous paths to tread.

103 How sweet are all thy words to me !

O what divine repast!

How much more grateful to my soul

than honey to my taste!

104 Taught by thy sacred precepts, I

with heav'nly skill am blest:

Through which the treach'rous ways of sin

I utterly detest.

NUN.

105 Thy word is to my feet a lamp,

the way of truth to show;

A watch-light to point out the path

in which I ought to go.

106 I sware, (and from my solemn oath

will never start aside,)

That in thy righteous judgments I

will steadfastly abide.

107 Since I with griefs am so oppressed,

that I can bear no more,

According to thy word do thou

my fainting soul restore.

108 Let still my sacrifice of praise

with thee acceptance find;

And in thy righteous judgements, Lord,

instruct my willing mind.

109 Though ghastly dangers me surround,

my soul they cannot awe;

Nor with continual terrors keep

from thinking on thy law.

110 My wicked and invet'rate foes

for me their snares have laid;

Yet I have kept the upright path,

nor from thy precepts strayed.

111 Thy testimonies I have made

my heritage and choice;

For they, when other comforts fail,

my drooping heart rejoice.

112 My heart with early zeal began

thy statutes to obey;

And, till my course of life is done,

shall keep thy upright way.

SAMECH.

113 Deceitful thoughts and practices

I utterly detest;

But to thy law affection bear

too great to be expressed.

114 My hiding-place, my refuge-tow'r,

and shield art thou, O Lord;

I firmly anchor all my hopes

on thy unerring word.

115 Hence ye that trade in wickedness,

approach not my abode;

For firmly I resolve to keep

the precepts of my God.

116 According to thy gracious word

from danger set me free;

Nor make me of those hopes ashamed

that I repose on thee.

117 Uphold me, so shall I be safe,

and rescued from distress;

To thy decrees continually

my just respect address.

118 The wicked thou hast trod to earth,

who from thy statutes strayed;

Their vile deceit the just reward

of their own falsehood made.

119 The wicked from thy holy land

thou dost like dross remove;

I therefore, with such justice charmed,

thy testimonies love.

120 Yet with that love they make me dread,

lest I should so offend,

When on transgressors I behold

thy judgments thus descend.

AIN.

121 Judgment and justice I have loved;

O therefore, Lord, engage

In my defense, nor give me up

to my oppressors' rage.

122 Do thou be surety, Lord, for me,

and so shall this distress

Prove good for me; nor shall the proud

my guiltless soul oppress.

123 My eyes, alas! begin to fail,

in long expectance held;

Till thy salvation they behold,

and righteous word fulfilled.

124 To me, thy servant in distress,

thy wonted grace display,

And discipline my willing heart

thy statutes to obey.

125 On me, devoted to thy fear,

thy sacred skill bestow,

That of thy testimonies I

the full extent may know.

126 'Tis time, high time, for thee, O Lord,

thy vengeance to employ,

When men with open violence

thy sacred law destroy.

127 Yet their contempt of thy commands

but makes their value rise

In my esteem, who purest gold

compared with them despise.

128 Thy precepts therefore I account

in all respects divine;

They teach me to discern the right,

and all false ways decline.

PE.

129 The wonders which thy laws contain

no words can represent;

Therefore to learn and practice them

my zealous heart is bent.

130 The very entrance to thy word

celestial light displays;

And knowledge of true happiness

to simplest minds conveys.

131 With eager hopes I waiting stood,

and fainted with desire,

That of thy wise commands I might

the sacred skill acquire.

132 With favor, Lord, look down on me,

who thy relief implore;

As thou art wont to visit those

who thy blessed name adore.

133 Directed by thy heav'nly word

let all my footsteps be;

Nor wickedness of any kind

dominion have o'er me.

134 Release, entirely set me free

from persecuting hands,

That, unmolested, I may learn

and practice thy commands.

135 On me, devoted to thy fear,

Lord, make thy face to shine:

Thy statutes both to know and keep

my heart with zeal incline.

136 My eyes to weeping fountains turn,

whence briny rivers flow,

To see mankind against thy laws

in bold defiance go.

TSADDI.

137 Thou art the righteous Judge, in whom

wronged innocence may trust;

And, like thyself, thy judgments, Lord,

in all respects are just.

138 Most just and true those statutes were,

Which thou didst first decree;

And all with faithfulness performed

succeeding times shall see.

139 With zeal my flesh consumes away,

my soul with anguish frets,

To see my foes contemn at once

thy promises and threats.

140 Yet each neglected word of thine

howe'er by them despised

Is pure, and for eternal truth

by me, thy servant, prized.

141 Brought, for thy sake, to low estate,

contempt from all I find;

Yet no affronts or wrongs can drive

thy precepts from my mind.

142 Thy righteousness shall then endure,

when time itself is past;

Thy law is truth itself, that truth

which shall for ever last.

143 Tho' trouble, anguish, doubts, and dread,

to compass me unite;

Beset with danger, still I make

thy precepts my delight.

144 Eternal and unerring rules

thy testimonies give;

Teach me the wisdom that Will make

my soul for ever live.

KOPH.

145 With my whole heart to God I called,

Lord, hear my earnest cry;

And I thy statutes to perform

will all my care apply.

146 Again more fervently I prayed,

O save me, that I may

Thy testimonies thoroughly know,

and steadfastly obey.

147 My earlier pray'r the dawning day

prevented, while I cried

To him, on whose engaging word

my hope alone relied.

148 With zeal have I awaked before

the midnight watch was set,

That I of thy mysterious word

might perfect knowledge get.

149 Lord, hear my supplicating voice,

and wonted favor show;

O quicken me, and so approve

thy judgments ever true.

150 My persecuting foes advance,

and hourly nearer draw;

What treatment can I hope from them

who violate thy law?

151 Though they draw nigh, my comfort is,

thou, Lord, art yet more near;

Thou, whose commands are righteous all,

thy promises sincere.

152 Concerning thy divine decrees

my soul has known of old,

That they were true, and shall their truth

to endless ages hold.

RESCH.

153 Consider my affliction, Lord,

and me from bondage draw;

Think on thy servant in distress,

who ne'er forgets thy law.

154 Plead thou my cause; to that and me

thy timely aid afford;

With beams of mercy quicken me

according to thy word.

155 From hardened sinners thou remov'st

salvation far away;

'Tis just thou should'st withdraw from them

who from thy statutes stray.

156 Since great thy tender mercies are

to all who thee adore;

According to thy judgments, Lord,

my fainting hopes restore.

157 A num'rous host of spiteful foes

against my life combine;

But all too few to force my soul

thy statutes to decline.

158 Those bold transgressors I beheld,

and was with grief oppressed,

To see with what audacious pride