Psalm CXIX

ALEPH 1.

Blessed are they that are sincere,
And pure in life and heart;
Who walk according to God's Law,
And not from it depart.

Blessed are they that give themselves
His statutes to observe;
Seeking the Lord with all their heart,
And never from him swerve.

Such men go not so far astray,
As wickedly to live;
But to walk in God's holy way
Themselves sincerely give.

It is thy will and just command,
That with attentive heed,
Thy holy and divine Precepts
We learn and keep indeed.

O that my ways were so reform'd
And guided all by thee;
That wholly thy statutes to keep
I might addicted be.

Then shall I not ashamed be,
Or lose my hop'd reward,
When to all thy Commands I have
Obedient regard.

Then will I praise with upright heart,
And magnifie thy name,
When I have learnt thy judgments just,
So as to keep the same.

Thy statutes I resolve to keep,
My Rule I will them make:
But I am weak, let not thy grace
Thy servant's soul forsake.

BETH. 2.

By what means may a young man best
His life learn to amend?
If he well mark and keep thy Word,
And do thereto attend.

Unfeignedly I have thee sought
With a devoted heart;
O let me not from the right way
Of thy Commands depart.

Within my heart and secret thoughts
Thy Word I have hid still;
That I might not at any time
Offend thy holy will.

Blessed art thou, most glorious God,
We magnifie thy name;
Teach me thy statutes, that I may
Love and observe the same.

All the pure judgments of thy mouth
I have abroad declar'd;
My lips to publish thy true Word
To others have not spar'd.

In thy pure testimony's ways
I have rejoyced more,
Than if of all the wealth on earth
I had the greatest store.

On thy Precepts I never will
To meditate neglect;
And ever to thy holy ways,
I will have chief respect.

And in thy statutes true and just,
My great delight I'le set;
I hope, O Lord, thy holy Word,
I never shall forget.

GIMEL. 3.

According to thy bounty great,
Deal with thy servant, Lord;
That I may live to do thy work,
And keep thy holy Word.

Open the eyes of my dark mind,
By thy revealing light;
That thy Law's wondrous mysteries,
May be as in my sight.

I am a stranger in this earth,
And need a certain guide;
Thy true and just commandements
Let nothing from me hide.

The daily longings of my soul
Do make it pant and break;
That thy just judgments I may know,
And of their light partake.

Proud wicked men thou hast rebuk'd;
They justly cursed are,
Who from thy true and righteous Laws,
Maliciously do err.

Contempt and false reproach of men,
Do thou from me remove,
Because thy Testimonies pure
I do observe and love.

Princes against me falsly spake,
When they in Counsel sate;
But I thy servant did upon
Thy statutes meditate.

My comfort and my great delight
Thy Testimonies be;
And they in all my doubts and streights
Are Counsellors to me.

DALETH. 4.

My life down to the dust declines,
So that I scarcely live;
According to thy holy Word,
Do thou my strength revive.

I open'd all my ways to thee,
Thou didst to me attend;
Teach me thy statutes, that I may
My sinful ways amend.

The way of thy divine Precepts
Make me to understand;
That all thy great and wondrous works
May my discourse command.

My soul with grief and heaviness
Doth melt and drop away;
Be thou according to thy word,
My strength, support, and stay.

The way of lying and deceit
Lord far from me remove;
Graciously grant that thy true Law
I may believe and love.

The way of undeceiving truth
My fixed choice I made;
Thy judgments sure to be my guide,
Before me I have laid.

It is to thy just Testimonies
That constantly I cleave;
To wicked men's unjust reproach
Do not thy servant leave.

The way of thy Commandements
I'le n with chearful speed;
When my restrained streighten'd heart
Thou hast enlarg'd and freed.

HE. 5.

Instruct me, Lord, to understand
Thy Precept's righteous ways;
That through thy grace I may observe
And keep them all my days.

Give me an understanding heart
To keep thy Law aright;
And I shall strictly it observe
With all my heart and might.

In the right paths of thy Precepts
Thy conduct I require;
They are the pleasure of my soul,
Which I do most desire.

Incline my heart thy testimonies
To love and still observe;
From wordly covetous desires
Turn it, and me preserve.

Govern and turn away mine eyes
From sights of vanity;
And quicken thou my backward heart
In thy most holy way.

Stablish that blessed word of thine,
Which thou hast bid me hear,
Unto thy servant, who is fast
Devoted to thy fear.

Turn by the slanders and reproach
Of which I am afraid;
For thou wilt justly judge for them
Who on thy Word are stay'd.

Thou know'st how greatly I have long'd
Thy judgments to enjoy;
Quicken me in thy righteousness,
That I may them obey.

VAU. 6.

Thy mercies great and manifold
Let me obtain, O Lord;
Thy saving health let me enjoy,
According to thy word.

So shall I stop the slandrous mouths
Of lewd men and unjust;
For in thy sure and sacred Word,
I place my hope and trust.

And never let the word of Truth,
Out of my mouth depart;
For in thy judgments I have set,
My only hope and heart.

And while it pleaseth thee on earth,
My frail life to preserve;
Even while I have a day to live,
Thy Law will I observe.

Enlarged from restraints and fears,
I'le walk at liberty;
Because to know and keep thy Laws,
My heart I do apply.

Thy Testimonies I will plead,
And daily them proclaim,
Unto the face of mortal Kings,
Without all fear or shame.

Thy sure and just Commandements,
Guiding my ways aright;
Which I have dearly lov'd and kept,
Shall be my great delight.

To thy belov'd Commandements,
My hands I'll elevate,
And in thy sacred Status I,
Will daily meditate.

ZAIN 7.

Thy promise to thy Servant made,
O never do forget,
For upon it thou caused'st me,
My hope and trust to set:

In all my various sufferings,
My comfort this shall be,
Thy holy Spirit by this word,
Renew'd and quicken'd me.

The proud, and such as God contemn
Have made me long their scorn;
Yet did I not thy Law forsake,
Nor service have forborn.

I lookt back on the days of old,
Thy judgments I did mind;
In this review of former things,
I did great comfort find.

Horror hath taken hold on me,
When I mens evil saw;
How obstinately wicked men,
Hate and forsake thy Law.

The World hath been my pilgrimage;
And as I past along,
Thy sure conducting Statutes were,
My guide, my joy and song.

Thy name I have remembred Lord,
By night instead of sleep,
And meditated in thy Law,
Which I resolve to keep.

This sweet employment and delight,
By thee I did enjoy,
Because to mind and keep thy Laws,
I did my Soul employ.

CHETH. 8.

My chosen portion and my lot,
Thou only art, O Lord;
I have resolved and profest,
That I will keep thy word.

My Soul did earnestly intreat
Thy face to shine on me:
Give me according to thy word,
Thy mercies great and free.

I did consider seriously
My ways I thought upon;
I to thy testimonies turn'd,
In which I since have gone;

When once convinc'd I did make haste,
And did no longer stay,
To keep all thy Commandements,
I did no more delay.

The troups of wicked militants
Did rob me at their will;
But thy supporting holy love
I did remember still.

At midnight I will wake and rise,
To render thanks to thee,
Because thy word and judgments all
So good and righteous be.

I choose the company of such
As fear thee in their heart,
Who neither will for love or fear
From thy Commands depart.

O Lord, thy mercies rich and great,
The earth throughout do fill;
O teach me to believe and do,
Thy statutes and thy will.

TETH 9.

Thy dealings with thy servant have
Been always good, O Lord;
For all have proved good to me,
And have made good thy word.

Teach me with skill and jugdment how
My ways I order must,
For I in thy Commandements
Place my belief and trust.

Before affliction call'd me back
I err'd and went astray,
But now I keep thy holy word,
And by it guide my way;

Thou art essential Love and Good,
All good proceeds from thee,
Thy Statutes to believe and keep;
O throughly teach thou me.

The proud and wicked men have forg'd
Against me many a lye,
But I with my whole heart will keep
Thy Precepts constantly.

Their hearts are fat with pride and wealth;
They live in mirth and ease,
But in thy Law do I delight,
And thee my God to please.

It proved very good for me,
That thou didst me correct,
To understand and keep thy Law
Thy rod did me direct:

The good word of thy mouth to me
Is better manifold.
Then Worldlings wealth and thousands be
Of Silver and of Gold.

JOD 10.

Thy hands have made and fashioned me,
It's thee by whom I live,
That thy Commandments I may learn,
Me understanding give;

They that thy mercy to me see,
Who fear thee, will be glad,
Encouraged, because thy word
My hope and trust I made.

I know, O Lord, that thy judgments,
All good and righteous be,
And that in love and faithfulness,
Thou hast afflicted me;

To me thy merciful kindness,
I pray thee now afford,
To comfort this thy Servant's Soul,
According to thy word.

Thy tender mercies pour on me,
That I to thee may live,
For holy comfort and delight,
Thy Law to me doth give.

Confound the proud, who dealt with me
Perversly without cause;
But still I'll meditate upon,
And keep thy holy Laws.

Let those that fear thee come to me,
And see what thou hast done,
And let them join in thanks that have,
Thy testimonies known.

And in thy righteous Statutes all
Let my heart still be sound,
And then no guilt or Mens reproach,
With shame shall me confound.

CAPH 11.

My Soul for thy Salvation faints,
Till I do it obtain;
But still thy sure and faithful word,
With hope doth me sustain:

Mine eyes do fail, while on thy word,
I wait and daily say,
When wilt thou comfort me, O Lord?
O make no more delay.

Like a dry'd bottle in the smoak,
With grief I am become;
Yet do I not thy sacred word
Forget to think upon.

How many are thy Servant's days?
O might I live to see,
That thou wilt judgment do on them,
That persecutors be.

The proud malicious sort of men,
Who do oppose thy Law,
Have digged pits and laid their snares,
As if they thought none saw.

Thy holy Laws (which they oppose)
All faithful are and just,
They persecute me wrongfully,
Be thou my help and trust.

Hunting and wasting me on earth,
They scarce alive me leave;
Yet I forsake not thy Precepts,
But ever to them cleave.

After thy loving kindness yet,
Revive me and restore,
So shall I keep thy holy word,
And trust it more and more.

LAMED 12.

Thy word and thy decree, O Lord,
For ever shall endure;
Its settled in the Heav'ns above,
Established and sure.

Thy faithfulness to ages all
Doth certainly extend;
Thou hast established the earth,
And it doth firmly stand.

According to thine ordinance
They all remain this day;
For all thy Works and Servants are,
And do thy will obey;

Unless thy good and faithful word
Had been my Soul's delight,
In my affliction I had sunk,
Despair'd and perisht quite.

Thy holy Precepts never shall
By me forgotten be,
For thou in my dejected state
By them didst quicken me;

By holy Covenant I am thine;
Therefore thy Servant save,
For with desire and diligence
Thy Precepts sought I have.

Ungodly men have lain in wait
My Life for to destroy;
But I thy testimonies all
Will think upon with joy.

Of all that earth perfection calls
I have perceived an end;
But thy Commandments to all time
And places do extend.

MEM 13.

How greatly do I love thy Law;
It hath been all the day.
My serious Meditation,
And my delight and joy.

Through thy Commandments thou didst make
Me wiser than my foes;
Where ere I am, what ere I do,
It ever with me goes.

I greater understanding have
Than all my Teachers far,
Because thy testimonies still
My meditation are:

In understanding I exceed
Them that did older live,
Because in keeping thy Precepts
Thou didst more Wisdom give.

And I my feet refrained have
From every evil way,
That I may keep thy holy word,
And ever it obey.

From thy sure word and judgments just
I never will depart;
For thou art he that teachest me,
And speakest to the Heart.

How sweet unto my relish are
Thy words of saving truth!
The sweetest honey never was
So pleasant to my mouth.

By serious study of thy word,
I understanding gat,
Which made me turn from Vanity,
And every false way hate.

NUN 14.

Thy Word is unto me a Lamp,
And unto me a Light,
Through this dark and deceitful world.
To guide my way aright

I covenanted and vow'd to thee,
And it perform I will,
That I will keep thy righteous Laws,
And strive them to fulfil.

My various afflictions,
Are very sharp and sore,
According to thy faithful word,
Revive and me restore.

The free will offering of my mouth,
Accept I thee beseech,
And unto me thy Servant Lord,
Thy judgments clearly teach.

My mortal life continually
I carry in my hands;
Yet do I not in dangers great,
Forget thy just Commands.

The wicked for my envy'd life,
Have laid a secret snare,
But I will not for fear or hope,
From thy Commandments err.

Thy Statutes are the heritage,
Of which I have made choice
To my last day; for it is they,
That make my heart rejoice;

My heart inclined by thy grace,
Doth fixedly intend,
Thy sacred Statutes to obey,
And keep unto the end.

SAMECH 15.

False thoughts and vanity I hate,
But love thy Statutes just;

Thou art my shield and hiding place,
Upon thy word I trust.

All ye that evil doers are,
Depart from me away,
For the Commandments of my God,
I purpose to obey.

According to thy faithful word,
Uphold and stablish me,
That I may live and of my hope,
Never ashamed be.

Hold thou me up, and I shall be,
In peace and safety kept,
And to thy perfect guiding word,
I'll ever have respect.

All those who from thy Statutes err,
Thou treadest down as vile,
Their false deceits do but themselves,
And other men beguile.

Lewd men like dross thou casts away,
Therefore I love thy word;

For fear of thee my flesh doth quake,
I dread thy judgments Lord.

AIN 16.

I faithfully have practised
Judgment and righteousness;
O leave me not to those mens wrath,
Who me by might oppress:

Be surety for thy Servants good,
Let not the proud oppress,

Mine eyes for thy Salvation fail,
And word of righteousness.

According to thy Mercy great,
With me thy Servant deal,
And thy instructing Statutes all,
Clearly to me reveal.

I am thy Servant; Wisdom give,
That I thy Laws may know,

Its time for thee, O Lord, to work,
For men make void thy Law.

Therefore I love thy word, and it
In estimation hold
Better than Gold and worldly Wealth,
Yea than the finest Gold:

All that thy Law determineth
I judge to be most right;
And all mens false deceiving ways
Are hateful in my sight.

PE 17.

Wonderful are thy Testimonies;
My Soul keeps them with care:

The entrance of thy word gives light
To them that simple are.

My thirsty Soul with strong desire,
Doth pant with open mouth,
Because I long'd to know and keep
Thy words of saving Truth.

Look on me, and be merciful,
Bestow on me the same,
Which thou accustom'd art to give
To those that love thy Name;

Let all my steps by thy just word
Exactly ordered be,
That no iniquity may have
Dominion over me.

Save me from mine oppressours all,
And I will keep thy word;

O let thy face upon me shine,
Thy Statutes teach me Lord.

Rivers of water from mine eyes
Ran down when as I saw,
How wicked men go on in sin,
And will not keep thy Law.

TZADDI 18.

Righteous art thou, O Lord, and all
Thy judgments upright be,

Righteous and faithful are thy Laws,
Which thou commandest me.

My zeal hath even consumed me,
Because mine enemies
Thy holy Word forgotten have,
And thy just Laws despise.

Because thy word is try'd and pure,
Thy Servant loveth it;

Small and despis'd I am, but yet
Thy Laws do not forget.

Thy righteousness most steadfast is,
And ever doth endure;
Thy holy Law is truth it self,
Confirmed truth and sure.

Trouble and anguish have me found,
And taken hold on me;
Yet in this trouble my delight,
Thy just Commandments be;

Thy testimonies righteousness
Even everlasting is,
Cause me to know them that they may
Bring me to life and bliss.

KOPH 19.

With my whole heart I poured forth
My cries to thee, O Lord;
Hear and deliver me, that I
May keep thy holy word.

In trouble I do cry to thee,
Thy Servant hear and save,
And then to keep thy testimonies,
Fully resolv'd I have.

The dawning of the morning I,
Prevented with my cry;
For on thy true and faithful word,
My hope did all rely.

My waking eyes betime prevent,
The watches of the night,
That in thy comfortable word,
Then meditate I might.

After thy loving kindness hear,
My voice and answer give;
In mercy great with quick'ning grace
Do thou my Soul revive.

The wicked hunters do draw nigh
Who after mischief run;
Thy holy Law they do forsake,
And far from it are gone.

But thou, O Lord, art alway nigh,
Their mischiefs to repel,
And all thy word thou wilt make good,
Which doth in truth excel.

As for thy testimonies all,
Of old I know full sure,
That thou hast firmly founded them,
For ever to endure.

RESH 20.

Consider my affliction great,
And me in safety set,
By thy deliverance, for I
Thy Law do not forget.

Plead my just cause, and it defend,
Deliver me, O Lord;
Revive and comfort me again,
According to thy word.

Salvation's far from wicked men,
It's far from their intents,
To seek it in the only way
Of thy Commandements.

Many and very great, O Lord,
Thy tender mercies be;
According to thy Judgments just,
Restore and quicken me.

Many my persecutors are,
And foes who do combine;
Yet from thy testimonies pure,
My soul doth not decline.

When I beheld transgressors ways
I grieved; and abhorr'd
Their opposition to thy Laws,
Who would not keep thy word.

Consider how on thy Precepts
My heart with love is set;
Quicken me, Lord, according to
Thy loving kindness great.

From the beginning all thy word
Hath been most true and sure;
And all thy righteous judgments shall
For evermore endure.

SCHIN. 21.

Princes have persecuted me
Unjustly without cause;
But thy authority and word
My heart and Conscience awes.

I in thy word rejoice as one
That findeth riches great;

I love thy Laws, but Lying all
I do abhor and hate.

Seven times a day in holy praise
My Soul ascends to thee,
Because thy judgments and thy ways
All good and righteous be.

Great peace have these confirmed Souls,
Thy Laws who truly love,
No fears or scandal shall these men
From God and Truth remove.

For thy Salvation I have hop'd,
And thy Commandments done;

My Soul thy Testimonies kept,
And lov'd them every one;

Thy Testimonies and Commands
I kept with constant care,
For all my ways and works I know
Before thee open are.

TAU 22.

O Let my daily suit and cry
Before thee come, O Lord,
To me sound understanding give
According to thy word.

And let my supplication
Before thee daily come,
My fears according to thy word
Deliver thou me from.

From a full heart my thankful lips
Shall utter joyful praise,
When thou hast made me know and keep
Thy statutes and thy ways.

My tongue shall of thy word discourse,
Its goodness I'll express,
Because all thy Commandements
Are truth and righteousness.

In all streights let thy mighty hand
With succour me relieve;
For I by choice have made thy Laws
The Rule by which I live.

Lord, for thy sure salvation
My soul doth daily long;
Thy Law is still my heart's delight,
Its praises are my song.

O let my drooping soul yet live,
And it shall give thee praise;
And let thy judgments succour me,
And be my help always

I like a lost sheep went astray,
Thy servant seek and find;
I yet forget not thy Commands,
Still print them on my mind.