PsalmsChapter 119

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Show structure22 stanzas according to the Hebrew alphabet

The Bible's longest chapter is a masterpiece: 22 stanzas with 8 verses each, arranged according to the Hebrew alphabet. Each stanza begins with its letter, and almost every verse mentions God's word using various synonyms.

א Alef (v.1-8)

Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD.

v.1

ב Bet (v.9-16)

How can a young man keep his path pure? By guarding it according to your word.

v.9

ג Gimel (v.17-24)

Deal generously with your servant, that I may live and keep your word.

v.17

ד Dalet (v.25-32)

My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word.

v.25

ה He (v.33-40)

Teach me, LORD, the way of your statutes, and I will keep it to the end.

v.33

ו Vav (v.41-48)

Let your mercies come to me, LORD, your salvation according to your promise,

v.41

ז Zajin (v.49-56)

Remember your word to your servant, on which you have made me hope.

v.49

ח Khet (v.57-64)

The LORD is my portion; I have promised to keep your words.

v.57

ט Tet (v.65-72)

You have dealt well with your servant, LORD, according to your word.

v.65

י Jod (v.73-80)

Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding, that I may learn your commandments.

v.73

כ Kaf (v.81-88)

My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word.

v.81

ל Lamed (v.89-96)

Forever, LORD, your word stands firm in the heavens.

v.89

מ Mem (v.97-104)

How I love your law! All day long it is my meditation.

v.97

נ Nun (v.105-112)

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light on my path.

v.105

ס Samek (v.113-120)

I hate those with a divided heart, but I love your law.

v.113

ע Ajin (v.121-128)

I have done what is just and right; do not abandon me to my oppressors.

v.121

פ Pe (v.129-136)

Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them.

v.129

צ Tsade (v.137-144)

You are righteous, LORD, and your judgments are upright.

v.137

ק Qof (v.145-152)

I call with all my heart—answer me, LORD; I will keep your statutes.

v.145

ר Resj (v.153-160)

Look on my affliction and rescue me, for I have not forgotten your law.

v.153

ש Sjin (v.161-168)

Rulers persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your word.

v.161

ת Tav (v.169-176)

Let my cry come before you, LORD; give me understanding according to your word.

v.169

Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD.

Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with all their heart.

Indeed, they do no wrong; they walk in his ways.

You have laid down your precepts, to be kept with care.

Oh, that my ways were steady in keeping your statutes!

Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commandments.

I will thank you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous judgments.

I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me.

How can a young man keep his path pure? By guarding it according to your word.

With all my heart I seek you; do not let me stray from your commandments.

I have stored up your word in my heart, so that I may not sin against you.

Blessed are you, LORD; teach me your statutes.

With my lips I recount all the judgments of your mouth.

In the way of your testimonies I rejoice as over all riches.

I will ponder your precepts and fix my eyes on your paths.

I delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.

Deal generously with your servant, that I may live and keep your word.

Open my eyes, that I may see the wonders of your law.

I am a stranger on the earth; do not hide your commandments from me.

My soul is consumed with longing for your judgments at all times.

You rebuke the arrogant, the accursed, who stray from your commandments.

Take scorn and contempt away from me, for I have kept your testimonies.

Even when rulers sit and plot against me, your servant will ponder your statutes.

Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.

My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word.

I laid out my ways before you, and you answered me; teach me your statutes.

Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will ponder your wonders.

My soul melts away with grief; strengthen me according to your word.

Keep the way of falsehood far from me, and graciously grant me your law.

I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set your judgments before me.

I cling to your testimonies, LORD; do not let me be put to shame.

I will run the way of your commandments, for you set my heart free.

Teach me, LORD, the way of your statutes, and I will keep it to the end.

Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with all my heart.

Lead me along the path of your commandments, for in it I delight.

Turn my heart toward your testimonies, and not toward selfish gain.

Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; give me life in your way.

Confirm your promise to your servant, the promise for those who fear you.

Take away the disgrace I dread, for your judgments are good.

See how I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life.

Let your mercies come to me, LORD, your salvation according to your promise,

then I will have an answer for the one who taunts me, for I trust in your word.

Never take the word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your judgments.

I will keep your law always, forever and ever.

I will walk in freedom, for I seek your precepts.

I will speak of your testimonies before kings and will not be ashamed.

I delight in your commandments, which I love.

I lift up my hands to your commandments, which I love, and I will ponder your statutes.

Remember your word to your servant, on which you have made me hope.

This is my comfort in my affliction: your promise gives me life.

The arrogant mock me relentlessly, but I do not turn away from your law.

I remember your judgments from ages past, LORD, and I am comforted.

Burning anger seizes me because of the wicked, who abandon your law.

Your statutes have been my songs in the house where I live as a stranger.

In the night I remember your name, LORD, and I keep your law.

This has fallen to me: that I keep your precepts.

The LORD is my portion; I have promised to keep your words.

With all my heart I seek your favor; be gracious to me according to your promise.

I have weighed my ways and turned my feet to your testimonies.

I hurried and did not delay to keep your commandments.

The cords of the wicked entangle me, but I do not forget your law.

At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous judgments.

I am a friend to all who fear you, to those who keep your precepts.

The earth is full of your mercy, LORD; teach me your statutes.

You have dealt well with your servant, LORD, according to your word.

Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I trust your commandments.

Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.

You are good, and you do good; teach me your statutes.

The arrogant smear me with lies, but I keep your precepts with all my heart.

Their hearts are dull and unfeeling, but I delight in your law.

It was good for me to be afflicted, so that I might learn your statutes.

The law of your mouth is worth more to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.

Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding, that I may learn your commandments.

Those who fear you see me and rejoice, for I have hoped in your word.

I know, LORD, that your judgments are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.

Let your mercy be my comfort, as you promised your servant.

Let your compassion come to me, that I may live, for your law is my delight.

Let the arrogant be put to shame, for they wrong me with lies; but I will ponder your precepts.

Let those who fear you turn to me, those who know your testimonies.

May my heart be blameless in your statutes, so that I am not put to shame.

My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word.

My eyes grow weary watching for your promise; I ask, "When will you comfort me?"

Though I have become like a wineskin dried in the smoke, I have not forgotten your statutes.

How many are the days of your servant? When will you bring judgment on those who hunt me down?

The arrogant have dug pits for me, in defiance of your law.

All your commandments are faithful. They persecute me with lies—help me!

They have almost wiped me from the earth, but I have not abandoned your precepts.

In your mercy give me life, and I will keep the testimony of your mouth.

Forever, LORD, your word stands firm in the heavens.

Your faithfulness endures through all generations; you established the earth, and it stands.

By your judgments all things stand to this day, for all of them are your servants.

If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.

I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life.

I am yours; save me, for I seek your precepts.

The wicked lie in wait to destroy me, but I ponder your testimonies.

I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is boundless.

How I love your law! All day long it is my meditation.

Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is always with me.

I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your testimonies.

I understand more than the elders, for I keep your precepts.

I have held my feet back from every evil path, so that I may keep your word.

I have not turned away from your judgments, for you yourself have taught me.

How sweet your promise is to my taste—sweeter than honey in my mouth.

From your precepts I gain understanding; therefore I hate every path of falsehood.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light on my path.

I have sworn an oath and confirmed it: to keep your righteous judgments.

I have been afflicted beyond measure; LORD, give me life according to your word.

Accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, LORD, and teach me your judgments.

I carry my life in my hands continually, yet I have not forgotten your law.

The wicked have set a snare for me, but I have not strayed from your precepts.

Your testimonies are my inheritance forever, for they are the joy of my heart.

I have set my heart to carry out your statutes forever, to the very end.

I hate those with a divided heart, but I love your law.

You are my shelter and my shield; I put my hope in your word.

Get away from me, you evildoers, so that I may keep the commandments of my God.

Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live, and do not let my hope end in shame.

Hold me up, and I will be safe; I will always look to your statutes.

You reject all who wander from your statutes, for their scheming is a lie.

You discard all the wicked of the earth like dross; therefore I love your testimonies.

My flesh shudders in dread of you; I stand in awe of your judgments.

I have done what is just and right; do not abandon me to my oppressors.

Be surety for your servant's good; do not let the arrogant oppress me.

My eyes grow weary looking for your salvation and for your righteous promise.

Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, and teach me your statutes.

I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies.

It is time for the LORD to act, for they have broken your law.

Therefore I love your commandments more than gold, more than the purest gold.

Therefore I hold all your precepts to be right in every way; I hate every path of falsehood.

Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them.

The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.

I open my mouth wide and pant, longing for your commandments.

Turn to me and be gracious to me, as you always are toward those who love your name.

Steady my steps by your promise, and let no sin rule over me.

Redeem me from human oppression, that I may keep your precepts.

Make your face shine on your servant, and teach me your statutes.

Streams of tears run down from my eyes, because people do not keep your law.

You are righteous, LORD, and your judgments are upright.

You have laid down your testimonies in righteousness and in perfect faithfulness.

My zeal consumes me, because my foes have forgotten your words.

Your promise has been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves it.

I am small and despised, yet I have not forgotten your precepts.

Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and your law is truth.

Trouble and distress have found me, yet your commandments are my delight.

Your testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding, that I may live.

I call with all my heart—answer me, LORD; I will keep your statutes.

I call to you—save me, and I will keep your testimonies.

I rise before dawn and cry for help; I put my hope in your word.

My eyes are open before the night watches, to meditate on your promise.

Hear my voice according to your steadfast love; LORD, give me life according to your justice.

Those who chase after wickedness are closing in; they are far from your law.

You are near, LORD, and all your commandments are truth.

Long ago I learned from your testimonies that you established them forever.

Look on my affliction and rescue me, for I have not forgotten your law.

Plead my case and redeem me; give me life according to your promise.

Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek your statutes.

Great is your compassion, LORD; give me life according to your judgments.

Many are those who pursue and oppose me, yet I have not turned from your testimonies.

I look at the faithless with loathing, because they do not keep your promise.

See how I love your precepts; LORD, give me life according to your steadfast love.

The sum of your word is truth, and all your righteous judgments stand forever.

Rulers persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your word.

I rejoice over your promise like one who finds great spoil.

I hate and detest falsehood, but I love your law.

Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous judgments.

Great peace belongs to those who love your law, and nothing makes them stumble.

I wait for your salvation, LORD, and I follow your commandments.

My soul keeps your testimonies, and I love them deeply.

I keep your precepts and your testimonies, for all my ways lie open before you.

Let my cry come before you, LORD; give me understanding according to your word.

Let my plea reach you; deliver me according to your promise.

Let my lips pour out praise, for you teach me your statutes.

Let my tongue sing of your word, for all your commandments are righteous.

Let your hand be there to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.

I long for your salvation, LORD, and your law is my delight.

Let me live, that I may praise you, and let your judgments be my help.

I have strayed like a lost sheep; seek out your servant, for I have not forgotten your commandments.