1Happy whose way is blameless,ℵ
who walk in the LORD’s teaching.
2Happy who keep His precepts,
with a whole heart they seek Him.
3Yes, they did no wrong,
in His ways they have walked.
4You ordained Your decrees
to be strictly observed.
5Would that my ways be firm
to observe Your statutes.
6Then I would not be shamed
when I look upon all Your commands.
7I shall acclaim You with an honest heart
as I learn Your righteous laws.
8Your statutes I shall observe.
Do not utterly forsake me.
9 How shall a lad make his path worthyב
to observe as befits Your word.
10With all my heart I sought You.
Make me not stray from Your commands.
11In my heart I kept Your utterance
so that I would not offend against You.
12Blessed are You, O LORD.
Teach me Your statutes.
13With my lips I recounted
all the laws You pronounced.
14I rejoiced in the way of Your precepts
as over all kinds of wealth.
15Let me dwell on Your decrees
and let me look upon Your paths.
16In Your statutes I delight,
I shall not forget Your word.
17Requite Your servant—I shall live,ג
and let me observe Your word.
18Unveil my eyes that I may look
upon the wonders of Your teaching.
19A sojourner am I in the land.
Do not hide from me Your commands.
20I pine away desiring
Your laws in every hour.
21You blast the cursed arrogant
who stray from Your commands.
22Take away from me scorn and disgrace
for Your precepts I have kept.
23Even when princes sat to scheme against me,
Your servant dwelled on Your statutes.
24Yes, Your precepts are my delight,
25My being cleaves to the dust.ד
Give me life as befits Your word.
26My ways I recounted and You answered me.
Teach me Your statutes.
27The way of Your decrees let me grasp,
that I may dwell on Your wonders.
28My being dissolves in anguish.
Sustain me as befits Your word.
29The way of lies remove from me,
and in Your teaching grant me grace.
30The way of trust I have chosen.
Your laws I have set before me.
31I have clung to Your precepts.
O LORD, do not shame me.
32On the way of Your commands I run,
for You make my heart capacious.
33Instruct me, LORD, in the way of Your statutes,ה
that I may keep it without fail.
34 Give me insight that I may keep Your teaching
and observe it with a whole heart.
35Guide me on the track of Your commands,
for in it I delight.
36Incline my heart to Your precepts
and not to gain.
37Avert my eyes from seeing falsehood.
Through Your ways give me life.
38Fulfill for Your servant Your utterance,
which is for those who fear You.
39Avert my disgrace that I feared,
for Your laws are good.
40Look, I have desired Your decrees.
In Your bounty give me life.
41And let Your favors befall me, LORD,ו
Your rescue as befits Your utterance,
42that I may give answer to those who taunt me,
for I have trusted in Your word.
43 And do not take the least word of truth from my mouth,
for I have hoped for Your laws.
44And let me observe Your teaching always,
forevermore.
45 And let me walk about in an open space,
for Your decrees I have sought.
46And let me speak of Your precepts
before kings without being shamed.
47And let me delight in Your commands
that I have loved.
48 And let me lift up my palms to Your commands
that I have loved, and dwell on Your statutes.
49Recall the word to Your servantז
for which You made me hope.
50This is my consolation in my affliction,
that Your utterance gave me life.
51The arrogant mocked me terribly—
from Your teaching I did not turn.
52I recalled Your laws forever,
O LORD, and I was consoled.
53Rage from the wicked seized me,
from those who forsake Your teaching.
54Songs were Your statutes to me,
in the house of my sojourning.
55I recalled in the night Your name, O LORD,
and I observed Your teaching.
56This did I possess,
for Your decrees I kept.
57The LORD is my portion, I said,ח
to observe Your words.
58I entreated You with a whole heart,
grant me grace as befits Your utterance.
59I have reckoned my ways,
and turned back my feet to Your precepts.
60I hastened, and did not linger,
to observe Your commands.
61The cords of the wicked ensnared me—
Your teaching I did not forget.
62At midnight I rose to acclaim You
for Your righteous laws.
63A friend am I to all who fear You,
and to those who observe Your decrees.
64With Your kindness, LORD, the earth is filled.
Teach me Your statutes.
65Good You have done for Your servant,ט
O LORD, as befits Your word.
66Good insight and knowledge teach me,
for in Your commands I trust.
67Before I was afflicted, I went astray,
but now Your utterance I observe.
68You are good and do good.
Teach me Your statutes.
69The arrogant plaster me with lies—
I with whole heart keep Your decrees.
70Their heart grows dull like fat—
as for me, in Your teaching I delight.
71It was good for me that I was afflicted,
so that I might learn Your statutes.
72Better for me Your mouth’s teaching
than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.
73Your hands made me and set me firm.י
Give me insight, that I may learn Your commands.
74Those who fear You see me and rejoice,
for I hope for Your word.
75I know, LORD, that Your laws are just,
and in faithfulness You did afflict me.
76May Your kindness, pray, console me,
as befits Your utterance to Your servant.
77May Your mercies befall me, that I may live,
for Your teaching is my delight.
78May the arrogant be shamed, for with lies they distorted my name.
As for me, I shall dwell on Your decrees.
79May those who fear You turn back to me,
and those who know Your precepts.
80May my heart be blameless in Your statutes,
so that I be not shamed.
81My being longs for Your rescue,כ
for Your word I hope.
82My eyes pine for Your utterance,
saying, “When will You console me?”
83Though I was like a skin-flask in smoke,
Your statutes I did not forget.
84How many are the days of Your servant?
When will You exact justice from my pursuers?
85The arrogant have dug pitfalls for me,
which are not according to Your teaching.
86All Your commands are trustworthy,
For no reason they pursued me—help me!
87They nearly put an end to me on earth,
yet I forsook not Your decrees.
88As befits Your kindness give me life,
that I may observe Your mouth’s precept.
89Forever, O LORD,ל
Your word stands high in the heavens.
90For all generations Your faithfulness.
You made the earth firm and it stood.
91By Your laws they stand this day,
for all are Your servants.
92Had not Your teaching been my delight,
I would have perished in my affliction.
93Never shall I forget Your decrees,
for through them You gave me life.
94I am Yours, O rescue me,
for Your decrees I have sought.
95Me did the wicked hope to destroy.
I gained insight from Your precepts.
96For each finite thing I saw an end—
but Your command is exceedingly broad.
97How I loved Your teaching.מ
All day long it was my theme.
98Your command makes me wiser than my enemies,
for it is mine forever.
99I have understood more than all my teachers
for Your precepts became my theme.
All paths of lies I have hated.
100I gained insight more than the elders
for Your decrees I kept.
101From all evil paths I held back my feet,
so that I might observe Your word.
102From Your laws I did not swerve,
for You Yourself instructed me.
103How sweet to my palate Your utterance,
more than honey to my mouth.
104From Your decrees I gained insight,
therefore I hated all paths of lies.
105A lamp to my feet is Your word נ
and a light to my path.
106I swore and I will fulfill it—
to observe Your just laws.
107I have been sorely afflicted.
O LORD, give me life, as befits Your word.
108Accept my mouth’s free offerings, LORD,
and teach me Your laws.
109My life is at risk at all times,
yet Your teaching I do not forget.
110The wicked set a trap for me,
yet from Your decrees I did not stray.
111I inherit Your precepts forever,
for they are my heart’s joy.
112I inclined my heart to do Your statutes
113The perverted I hated ס
and Your teaching I loved.
114My shelter and shield are You.
For Your word I have hoped.
115Turn away from me, evildoers,
that I may keep the commands of my God.
116Support me as befits Your utterance, that I may live,
and do not shame me in my expectation.
117Uphold me that I may be rescued
to regard Your statutes at all times.
118You spurned all who stray from Your statutes,
for their deception is but a lie.
119Like dross You destroy all the earth’s wicked;
therefore I love Your precepts.
120My flesh shudders from the fear of You,
and of Your laws I am in awe.
121I have done justice and righteousness;ע
do not yield me to my oppressors.
122Vouch for Your servant for good.
Let not the arrogant oppress me.
123My eyes pined for Your rescue
and for Your righteous utterance.
124Do for Your servant as befits Your kindness
and teach me Your statutes.
125Your servant I am, grant me insight,
that I may know Your precepts.
126It is time to act for the LORD—
they have violated Your teaching.
127Therefore I love Your commands
more than gold, and more than fine gold.
128Therefore by all Your ordinances I walked a straight line.
All paths of lies I have hated.
129Wondrous Your precepts,פ
therefore did I keep them.
130The portal of Your words sends forth light,
makes the simple understand.
131I opened my mouth wide and panted,
for Your commands I craved.
132Turn to me, grant me grace,
as is fit for those who love Your name.
133Make firm my footsteps through Your utterance,
and let no wrongdoing rule over me.
134Ransom me from human oppression,
that I may observe Your statutes.
135Shine Your face upon Your servant
and teach me Your statutes.
136Streams of water my eyes have shed
because men did not observe Your teaching.
137Just are You, O LORD,צ
and upright are Your laws.
138You ordained Your just precepts,
and they are most trustworthy.
139My zeal devastated me,
for my foes forgot Your words.
140Your utterance is most pure,
and Your servant has loved it.
141Puny am I and despised,
yet Your decrees I have not forgotten.
142Your righteousness forever is right,
and Your teaching is truth.
143Straits and distress have found me—
Your commands are my delight.
144Right are Your precepts forever.
Grant me insight that I may live.
145I called out with a whole heart.ק
Answer me, LORD. Your statutes I would keep.
146I called to You—rescue me,
that I may observe Your precepts.
147I greeted the dawn and cried out,
for Your word did I hope.
148My eyes greeted the night-watches
to dwell on Your utterance.
149Hear my voice as befits Your kindness.
O LORD, as befits Your law, give me life.
150The pursuers of the loathsome draw near,
from Your teaching they have gone far away.
151You are near, O LORD,
and all Your commands are truth.
152Of old I have known of Your precepts,
because You have fixed them forever.
153See my affliction and free me,ר
for Your teaching I have not forgotten.
154Argue my cause and redeem me,
through Your utterance give me life.
155Far from the wicked is rescue,
for Your statutes they have not sought.
156Your mercies are great, O LORD,
as befits Your laws give me life.
157Many are my pursuers and my foes,
yet from Your decrees I have not swerved.
158I have seen traitors and quarreled with them,
who did not observe Your utterance.
159See that I love Your decrees.
O LORD, as befits Your kindness give me life.
160The chief of Your words is truth,
and forever all Your righteous laws.
161Princes pursued me without cause, ש
yet my heart has feared Your word.
162I rejoice over Your utterance
as one who finds great spoils.
163Lies I have hated, despised.
Your teaching I have loved.
164Seven times daily I praised You
because of Your righteous laws.
165Great well-being to the lovers of Your teaching,
and no stumbling block for them.
166I yearned for Your rescue, O LORD,
and Your commands I performed.
167I observed Your precepts
and loved them very much.
168I observed Your decrees and Your precepts,
for all my ways are before You.
169Let my song of prayer come before You, LORD.ת
As befits Your word, give me insight.
170Let my supplication come before You,
as befits Your utterance, save me.
171Let my lips utter praise,
for You taught me Your statutes.
172Let my tongue speak out Your utterance,
for all Your commands are just.
173May Your hand become my help,
for Your decrees I have chosen.
174I desired Your rescue, O LORD,
and Your teaching is my delight.
175Let my being live on and praise You,
and may Your laws help me.
176I have wandered like a lost sheep.
Seek Your servant, for Your commands I did not forget.
PSALM 119 NOTES
Click here to advance to the next section of the text.
1. Happy whose way is blameless. The first Hebrew word, ʾashrey, with an initial aleph marks the beginning of what we may call the long acrostic—an alphabetic acrostic in which each of the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet begins eight lines of poetry. The result is the longest psalm in the collection and the longest chapter in the Hebrew Bible, 176 verses or lines of poetry. Perhaps this extravagant mnemonic was deemed appropriate because of the manifestly didactic nature of the poem. The edifying truth of unflagging loyalty to God’s word was intended to be inculcated in those who recited the text, inscribed in their memory.
way . . . / teaching. Both these terms—the “way” as an image of the right ordering of life (and the psalm uses three synonyms for it) and “teaching,” torah—are characteristic of Wisdom literature. It is not entirely certain whether torah refers to an actual book or simply to God’s instruction to man, though there is some likelihood that the former sense may be used here. This stress on torah suggests that the psalm was composed after the promulgation of Deuteronomy in 621 B.C.E., and many scholars date this text to the post-exilic period. Given both the eightfold acrostic and the didactic purpose, it is understandable that the psalm should swarm with synonyms—torah, ʿedut (“precept”), piqudim(“decrees”), ʾimrah (“utterance”), davar (“word”), ḥoq (“statute”), mishpat (“law”). In this poetic context, the terms appear to overlap and not to express technical distinctions. One must concede that the poetic language is highly formulaic and rather routine, although occasionally a striking line appears (for example, verse 54, “Songs were Your statutes to me, / in the house of my sojourning,” or the unusual simile for suffering of a leather water skin cured over a smoking fire in verse 83, “I was like a skin-flask in smoke”). It also should be said that some of the acrostic composition is mechanical. The most egregious instance is the letter waw, which is also the Hebrew particle that means “and.” There are very few other Hebrew words that begin with this letter (in the biblical corpus, no more than three), so the poet simply begins each of the eight lines of the waw stanza with “and.” Because of the repetitiousness and the use of stereotypical language, the brief comments that follow do not engage in poetic analysis and mainly are limited to explaining difficulties in the text. The lines are rhythmically compact, usually having three accented syllables in the first verset and two in the second. The translation tries wherever possible to replicate this rhythm, but often there is one extra accent in the English.
9. a lad. This somewhat surprising term probably reflects the Wisdom character of the psalm. At a number of points in Proverbs, a “lad” or an innocent young man needing instruction in the ways of the world is introduced.
18. Unveil my eyes that I may look / upon the wonders of Your teaching. Throughout the psalm, the speaker not only affirms his adherence to God’s teaching but prays for the capacity to understand it. This desire for insight may suggest that what is at issue is a text to be read and interpreted.
19. A sojourner am I in the land. This could also be rendered as “A sojourner am I on earth.” In any case, the idea is that the speaker’s existence is transient and vulnerable, and therefore he needs the guide of God’s commands to show him how to make his way through his fleeting life.
20. I pine away. The verb garas occurs only here in the biblical corpus; hence the meaning is conjectural, though backed by scholarly consensus.
24. my constant councillors. The literal sense of the Hebrew is “the men of my counsel.”
32. You make my heart capacious. The poet clearly refers here to the biblical notion of the heart as the seat of understanding.
33. without fail. The Hebrew word ʿeqev has puzzled interpreters. As a noun it means “heel.” As a subordinate conjunction, it means “because” or “in consequence” (probably because the heel is an image of following after something). The word appears to serve here as an adverb, so it might have the sense of acting consequentially or without fail.
43. the least word of truth. The Hebrew says literally, “a word of truth very much.”
45. in an open space. This is the antithesis of the recurrent “straits,” as in verse 143.
48. lift up my palms. As elsewhere, this is a gesture of prayer.
71. It was good for me that I was afflicted. This is, suffering impels reflection, which in turn leads the sufferer to embrace God’s teaching as the guide to turning his life around.
78. distorted my name. The Hebrew merely says “distorted me,” which does not work as an English idiom.
84. How many are the days of Your servant? The logic is similar to that repeatedly invoked by Job: if my life is so brief, why does not God grant me justice before it is over?
91. By Your laws they stand. The switch to the plural is slightly disorienting, but the implied antecedent is probably “all created things” or “heaven and earth.”
108. my mouth’s free offerings. The reference is not to the voluntary pledge of a sacrifice but to the words of prayer, which serve instead of sacrifice.
109. My life is at risk. The literal sense of the Hebrew idiom is “my life is in my palm.”
112. without fail. See the comment on this expression in verse 33.
119. Like dross You destroy. The Hebrew says simply “dross You destroy.” Some scholars emend hishbata, “You destroyed,” to ḥashavta, “You considered.”
126. It is time to act for the LORD— / they have violated Your teaching. The first clause might also be construed as, “It is time for the LORD to act.” This entire verse became proverbial in Hebrew, although understandings of what it meant varied. One common if quite unlikely construction: in a time of emergency when one must act for the LORD, it is permissible to abrogate the Torah.
128. I walked a straight line. The Hebrew text, which may be doubtful at this point, says literally, “Therefore Your ordinances of all I made straight.”
130. The portal of Your words sends forth light. Could Kafka have been remembering this verse when, in “Before the Law,” he imagined the closed gate in the parable opening to reveal a brilliant light shining from within?
136. men did not observe. The Hebrew says only “they,” but “men” is introduced here to avoid the possibility that the plural pronoun might refer to “eyes” or even to “streams of water.”
147. greeted. The Hebrew verb here, qidem, and also in verse 148, can equally mean “to anticipate,” “to go before.” Hence the King James Version renders it as “prevent,” using that English verb with precisely this meaning, which is now obsolete.
148. night-watches. This verse and the preceding one present us, in reverse chronological order, the picture of a supplicant who spends the whole night in a prayer vigil that lasts until daybreak.
150. The pursuers of the loathsome. This phrase, given the different uses of the construct state in Hebrew, could mean either “those who pursue loathsome things” or “loathsome pursuers.”
152. Of old I have known of Your precepts. The implicit idea is that God’s precepts are built into the very order of creation (“because You have fixed them forever”). Rabbinic Judaism would develop out of such hints the concept of an eternal Torah that preexisted creation.
160. The chief of Your words is truth. Some understand this to mean “the first of Your words is truth.”
169. Let my song of prayer come before You. These words, which initiate the last group of eight lines, each beginning with the letter taw, mark the concluding segment as a formal coda in which the speaker asks, in each of the eight lines, that God accept the prayer he has uttered in this psalm.