1 Aleph
1 Blessed are those whose way is pure, ♦
who walk in the law of the Lord.
2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies ♦
and seek him with their whole heart,
3 Those who do no wickedness, ♦
but walk in his ways.
4 You, O Lord, have charged ♦
that we should diligently keep your commandments.
5 O that my ways were made so direct ♦
that I might keep your statutes.
6 Then should I not be put to shame, ♦
because I have regard for all your commandments.
7 I will thank you with an unfeigned heart, ♦
when I have learned your righteous judgements.
8 I will keep your statutes; ♦
O forsake me not utterly.
9 How shall young people cleanse their way ♦
to keep themselves according to your word?
10 With my whole heart have I sought you; ♦
O let me not go astray from your commandments.
11 Your words have I hidden within my heart, ♦
that I should not sin against you.
12 Blessed are you, O Lord; ♦
O teach me your statutes.
13 With my lips have I been telling ♦
of all the judgements of your mouth.
14 I have taken greater delight in the way of your testimonies ♦
than in all manner of riches.
15 I will meditate on your commandments ♦
and contemplate your ways.
16 My delight shall be in your statutes ♦
and I will not forget your word.
3 Gimel
17 O do good to your servant that I may live, ♦
and so shall I keep your word.
18 Open my eyes, that I may see ♦
the wonders of your law.
19 I am a stranger upon earth; ♦
hide not your commandments from me.
20 My soul is consumed at all times ♦
with fervent longing for your judgements.
21 You have rebuked the arrogant; ♦
cursed are those who stray from your commandments.
22 Turn from me shame and rebuke, ♦
for I have kept your testimonies.
23 Rulers also sit and speak against me, ♦
but your servant meditates on your statutes.
24 For your testimonies are my delight; ♦
they are my faithful counsellors.
25 My soul cleaves to the dust; ♦
O give me life according to your word.
26 I have acknowledged my ways and you have answered me; ♦
O teach me your statutes.
27 Make me understand the way of your commandments, ♦
and so shall I meditate on your wondrous works.
28 My soul melts away in tears of sorrow; ♦
raise me up according to your word.
29 Take from me the way of falsehood; ♦
be gracious to me through your law.
30 I have chosen the way of truth ♦
and your judgements have I laid before me.
31 I hold fast to your testimonies; ♦
O Lord, let me not be put to shame.
32 I will run the way of your commandments, ♦
when you have set my heart at liberty.
5 He
33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes ♦
and I shall keep it to the end.
34 Give me understanding and I shall keep your law; ♦
I shall keep it with my whole heart.
35 Lead me in the path of your commandments, ♦
for therein is my delight.
36 Incline my heart to your testimonies ♦
and not to unjust gain.
37 Turn away my eyes lest they gaze on vanities; ♦
O give me life in your ways.
38 Confirm to your servant your promise, ♦
which stands for all who fear you.
39 Turn away the reproach which I dread, ♦
because your judgements are good.
40 Behold, I long for your commandments; ♦
in your righteousness give me life.
41 Let your faithful love come unto me, O Lord, ♦
even your salvation, according to your promise.
42 Then shall I answer those who taunt me, ♦
for my trust is in your word.
43 O take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, ♦
for my hope is in your judgements.
44 So shall I always keep your law; ♦
I shall keep it for ever and ever.
45 I will walk at liberty, ♦
because I study your commandments.
46 I will tell of your testimonies, even before kings, ♦
and will not be ashamed.
47 My delight shall be in your commandments, ♦
which I have greatly loved.
48 My hands will I lift up to your commandments,
which I love, ♦
and I will meditate on your statutes.
7 Zayin
49 Remember your word to your servant, ♦
on which you have built my hope.
50 This is my comfort in my trouble, ♦
that your promise gives me life.
51 The proud have derided me cruelly, ♦
but I have not turned aside from your law.
52 I have remembered your everlasting judgements, O Lord, ♦
and have been comforted.
53 I am seized with indignation at the wicked, ♦
for they have forsaken your law.
54 Your statutes have been like songs to me ♦
in the house of my pilgrimage.
55 I have thought on your name in the night, O Lord, ♦
and so have I kept your law.
56 These blessings have been mine, ♦
for I have kept your commandments.
57 You only are my portion, O Lord; ♦
I have promised to keep your words.
58 I entreat you with all my heart, ♦
be merciful to me according to your promise.
59 I have considered my ways ♦
and turned my feet back to your testimonies.
60 I made haste and did not delay ♦
to keep your commandments.
61 Though the cords of the wicked entangle me, ♦
I do not forget your law.
62 At midnight I will rise to give you thanks, ♦
because of your righteous judgements.
63 I am a companion of all those who fear you, ♦
those who keep your commandments.
64 The earth, O Lord, is full of your faithful love; ♦
instruct me in your statutes.
9 Teth
65 You have dealt graciously with your servant, ♦
according to your word, O Lord.
66 O teach me true understanding and knowledge, ♦
for I have trusted in your commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, ♦
but now I keep your word.
68 You are gracious and do good; ♦
O Lord, teach me your statutes.
69 The proud have smeared me with lies, ♦
but I will keep your commandments with my whole heart.
70 Their heart has become gross with fat, ♦
but my delight is in your law.
71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, ♦
that I may learn your statutes.
72 The law of your mouth is dearer to me ♦
than a hoard of gold and silver.
73 Your hands have made me and fashioned me; ♦
give me understanding, that I may learn your commandments.
74 Those who fear you will be glad when they see me, ♦
because I have hoped in your word.
75 I know, O Lord, that your judgements are right, ♦
and that in very faithfulness you caused me to be troubled.
76 Let your faithful love be my comfort, ♦
according to your promise to your servant.
77 Let your tender mercies come to me, that I may live, ♦
for your law is my delight.
78 Let the proud be put to shame, for they wrong me with lies; ♦
but I will meditate on your commandments.
79 Let those who fear you turn to me, ♦
even those who know your testimonies.
80 Let my heart be sound in your statutes, ♦
that I may not be put to shame.
11 Kaph
81 My soul is pining for your salvation; ♦
I have hoped in your word.
82 My eyes fail with watching for your word, ♦
while I say, ‘O when will you comfort me?’
83 I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, ♦
yet I do not forget your statutes.
84 How many are the days of your servant? ♦
When will you bring judgement on those who persecute me?
85 The proud have dug pits for me ♦
in defiance of your law.
86 All your commandments are true; ♦
help me, for they persecute me with falsehood.
87 They had almost made an end of me on earth, ♦
but I have not forsaken your commandments.
88 Give me life according to your loving-kindness; ♦
so shall I keep the testimonies of your mouth.
89 O Lord, your word is everlasting; ♦
it ever stands firm in the heavens.
90 Your faithfulness also remains from one generation to another; ♦
you have established the earth and it abides.
91 So also your judgements stand firm this day, ♦
for all things are your servants.
92 If your law had not been my delight, ♦
I should have perished in my trouble.
93 I will never forget your commandments, ♦
for by them you have given me life.
94 I am yours, O save me! ♦
For I have sought your commandments.
95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me, ♦
but I will meditate on your testimonies.
96 I have seen an end of all perfection, ♦
but your commandment knows no bounds.
13 Mem
97 Lord, how I love your law! ♦
All the day long it is my study.
98 Your commandments have made me wiser than my enemies, ♦
for they are ever with me.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, ♦
for your testimonies are my meditation.
100 I am wiser than the aged, ♦
because I keep your commandments.
101 I restrain my feet from every evil way, ♦
that I may keep your word.
102 I have not turned aside from your judgements, ♦
for you have been my teacher.
103 How sweet are your words on my tongue! ♦
They are sweeter than honey to my mouth.
104 Through your commandments I get understanding; ♦
therefore I hate all lying ways.
105 Your word is a lantern to my feet ♦
and a light upon my path.
106 I have sworn and will fulfil it, ♦
to keep your righteous judgements.
107 I am troubled above measure; ♦
give me life, O Lord, according to your word.
108 Accept the freewill offering of my mouth, O Lord, ♦
and teach me your judgements.
109 My soul is ever in my hand, ♦
yet I do not forget your law.
110 The wicked have laid a snare for me, ♦
but I have not strayed from your commandments.
111 Your testimonies have I claimed as my heritage for ever; ♦
for they are the very joy of my heart.
112 I have applied my heart to fulfil your statutes: ♦
always, even to the end.
15 Samekh
113 I hate those who are double-minded, ♦
but your law do I love.
114 You are my hiding place and my shield ♦
and my hope is in your word.
115 Away from me, you wicked! ♦
I will keep the commandments of my God.
116 Sustain me according to your promise, that I may live, ♦
and let me not be disappointed in my hope.
117 Hold me up and I shall be saved, ♦
and my delight shall be ever in your statutes.
118 You set at nought those who depart from your statutes, ♦
for their deceiving is in vain.
119 You consider all the wicked as dross; ♦
therefore I love your testimonies.
120 My flesh trembles for fear of you ♦
and I am afraid of your judgements.
121 I have done what is just and right; ♦
O give me not over to my oppressors.
122 Stand surety for your servant’s good; ♦
let not the proud oppress me.
123 My eyes fail with watching for your salvation ♦
and for your righteous promise.
124 O deal with your servant according to your faithful love ♦
and teach me your statutes.
125 I am your servant; O grant me understanding, ♦
that I may know your testimonies.
126 It is time for you to act, O Lord, ♦
for they frustrate your law.
127 Therefore I love your commandments ♦
above gold, even much fine gold.
128 Therefore I direct my steps by all your precepts, ♦
and all false ways I utterly abhor.
17 Pe
129 Your testimonies are wonderful; ♦
therefore my soul keeps them.
130 The opening of your word gives light; ♦
it gives understanding to the simple.
131 I open my mouth and draw in my breath, ♦
as I long for your commandments.
132 Turn to me and be gracious to me, ♦
as is your way with those who love your name.
133 Order my steps by your word, ♦
and let no wickedness have dominion over me.
134 Redeem me from earthly oppressors ♦
so that I may keep your commandments.
135 Show the light of your countenance upon your servant ♦
and teach me your statutes.
136 My eyes run down with streams of water, ♦
because the wicked do not keep your law.
137 Righteous are you, O Lord, ♦
and true are your judgements.
138 You have ordered your decrees in righteousness ♦
and in great faithfulness.
139 My indignation destroys me, ♦
because my adversaries forget your word.
140 Your word has been tried to the uttermost ♦
and so your servant loves it.
141 I am small and of no reputation, ♦
yet do I not forget your commandments.
142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness ♦
and your law is the truth.
143 Trouble and heaviness have taken hold upon me, ♦
yet my delight is in your commandments.
144 The righteousness of your testimonies is everlasting; ♦
O grant me understanding and I shall live.
19 Qoph
145 I call with my whole heart; ♦
answer me, O Lord, that I may keep your statutes.
146 To you I call, O save me! ♦
And I shall keep your testimonies.
147 Early in the morning I cry to you, ♦
for in your word is my trust.
148 My eyes are open before the night watches, ♦
that I may meditate on your word.
149 Hear my voice, O Lord, according to your faithful love; ♦
according to your judgement, give me life.
150 They draw near that in malice persecute me, ♦
who are far from your law.
151 You, O Lord, are near at hand, ♦
and all your commandments are true.
152 Long have I known of your testimonies, ♦
that you have founded them for ever.
153 O consider my affliction and deliver me, ♦
for I do not forget your law.
154 Plead my cause and redeem me; ♦
according to your promise, give me life.
155 Salvation is far from the wicked, ♦
for they do not seek your statutes.
156 Great is your compassion, O Lord; ♦
give me life, according to your judgements.
157 Many there are that persecute and oppress me, ♦
yet do I not swerve from your testimonies.
158 It grieves me when I see the treacherous, ♦
for they do not keep your word.
159 Consider, O Lord, how I love your commandments; ♦
give me life according to your loving-kindness.
160 The sum of your word is truth, ♦
and all your righteous judgements endure for evermore.
21 Shin
161 Princes have persecuted me without a cause, ♦
but my heart stands in awe of your word.
162 I am as glad of your word ♦
as one who finds great spoils.
163 As for lies, I hate and abhor them, ♦
but your law do I love.
164 Seven times a day do I praise you, ♦
because of your righteous judgements.
165 Great peace have they who love your law; ♦
nothing shall make them stumble.
166 Lord, I have looked for your salvation ♦
and I have fulfilled your commandments.
167 My soul has kept your testimonies ♦
and greatly have I loved them.
168 I have kept your commandments and testimonies, ♦
for all my ways are before you.
169 Let my cry come before you, O Lord; ♦
give me understanding, according to your word.
170 Let my supplication come before you; ♦
deliver me, according to your promise.
171 My lips shall pour forth your praise, ♦
when you have taught me your statutes.
172 My tongue shall sing of your word, ♦
for all your commandments are righteous.
173 Let your hand reach out to help me, ♦
for I have chosen your commandments.
174 I have longed for your salvation, O Lord, ♦
and your law is my delight.
175 Let my soul live and it shall praise you, ♦
and let your judgements be my help.
176 I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost; ♦
O seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.
Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which is included here,
is copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2000 and published by Church House Publishing.
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