Psalms 119 — English Amplified

1BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, to be envied) are the undefiled (the upright, truly sincere, and blameless) in the way [of the revealed will of God], who walk (order their conduct and conversation) in the law of the Lord (the whole of God's revealed will).

7I will praise and give thanks to You with uprightness of heart when I learn [by sanctified experiences] Your righteous judgments [Your decisions against and punishments for particular lines of thought and conduct].

8I will keep Your statutes; O forsake me not utterly.

9How shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed and keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to it].

10With my whole heart have I sought You, inquiring for and of You and yearning for You; Oh, let me not wander or step aside [either in ignorance or willfully] from Your commandments. [II Chron. 15:15.]

11Your word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

12Blessed are You, O Lord; teach me Your statutes.

13With my lips have I declared and recounted all the ordinances of Your mouth.

14I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies as much as in all riches.

15I will meditate on Your precepts and have respect to Your ways [the paths of life marked out by Your law]. [Ps. 104:34.]

16I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.

17Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live; and I will observe Your word [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it]. [Ps. 119:97-101.]

18Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law.

19I am a stranger and a temporary resident on the earth; hide not Your commandments from me. [Gen. 47:9; I Chron. 29:15; Ps. 39:12; II Cor. 5:6; Heb. 11:13.]

20My heart is breaking with the longing that it has for Your ordinances and judgments at all times.

21You rebuke the proud and arrogant, the accursed ones, who err and wander from Your commandments.

22Take away from me reproach and contempt, for I keep Your testimonies.

23Princes also sat and talked against me, but Your servant meditated on Your statutes.

24Your testimonies also are my delight and my counselors.

25My earthly life cleaves to the dust; revive and stimulate me according to Your word! [Ps. 143:11.]

26I have declared my ways and opened my griefs to You, and You listened to me; teach me Your statutes.

27Make me understand the way of Your precepts; so shall I meditate on and talk of Your wondrous works. [Ps. 145:5, 6.]

28My life dissolves and weeps itself away for heaviness; raise me up and strengthen me according to [the promises of] Your word.

29Remove from me the way of falsehood and unfaithfulness [to You], and graciously impart Your law to me.

30I have chosen the way of truth and faithfulness; Your ordinances have I set before me.

31I cleave to Your testimonies; O Lord, put me not to shame!

32I will [not merely walk, but] run the way of Your commandments, when You give me a heart that is willing.

33Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, and I will keep it to the end [steadfastly].

34Give me understanding, that I may keep Your law; yes, I will observe it with my whole heart. [Prov. 2:6; James 1:5.]

35Make me go in the path of Your commandments, for in them do I delight.

36Incline my heart to Your testimonies and not to covetousness (robbery, sensuality, unworthy riches). [Ezek. 33:31; Mark 7:21, 22; I Tim. 6:10; Heb. 13:5.]

37Turn away my eyes from beholding vanity (idols and idolatry); and restore me to vigorous life and health in Your ways.

38Establish Your word and confirm Your promise to Your servant, which is for those who reverently fear and devotedly worship You. [Deut. 10:12; Ps. 96:9.]

39Turn away my reproach which I fear and dread, for Your ordinances are good.

40Behold, I long for Your precepts; in Your righteousness give me renewed life.

41Let Your mercy and loving-kindness come also to me, O Lord, even Your salvation according to Your promise;

42Then shall I have an answer for those who taunt and reproach me, for I lean on, rely on, and trust in Your word.

43And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for I hope in Your ordinances.

44I will keep Your law continually, forever and ever [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it].

45And I will walk at liberty and at ease, for I have sought and inquired for [and desperately required] Your precepts.

46I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings and will not be put to shame. [Ps. 138:1; Matt. 10:18, 19; Acts 26:1, 2.]

47For I will delight myself in Your commandments, which I love.

48My hands also will I lift up [in fervent supplication] to Your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on Your statutes.

49Remember [fervently] the word and promise to Your servant, in which You have caused me to hope.

50This is my comfort and consolation in my affliction: that Your word has revived me and given me life. [Rom. 15:4.]

51The proud have had me greatly in derision, yet have I not declined in my interest in or turned aside from Your law.

52When I have [earnestly] recalled Your ordinances from of old, O Lord, I have taken comfort.

53Burning indignation, terror, and sadness seize upon me because of the wicked, who forsake Your law.

54Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.

55I have [earnestly] remembered Your name, O Lord, in the night, and I have observed Your law.

56This I have had [as the gift of Your grace and as my reward]: that I have kept Your precepts [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them].

57You are my portion, O Lord; I have promised to keep Your words.

58I entreated Your favor with my whole heart; be merciful and gracious to me according to Your promise.

59I considered my ways; I turned my feet to [obey] Your testimonies.

60I made haste and delayed not to keep Your commandments.

61Though the cords of the wicked have enclosed and ensnared me, I have not forgotten Your law.

62At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You because of Your righteous ordinances.

63I am a companion of all those who fear, revere, and worship You, and of those who observe and give heed to Your precepts.

64The earth, O Lord, is full of Your mercy and loving-kindness; teach me Your statutes.

65You have dealt well with Your servant, O Lord, according to Your promise.

66Teach me good judgment, wise and right discernment, and knowledge, for I have believed (trusted, relied on, and clung to) Your commandments.

67Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now Your word do I keep [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it].

68You are good and kind and do good; teach me Your statutes.

69The arrogant and godless have put together a lie against me, but I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart.

70Their hearts are as fat as grease [their minds are dull and brutal], but I delight in Your law.

71It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes.

72The law from Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

73Your hands have made me, cunningly fashioned and established me; give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.

74Those who reverently and worshipfully fear You will see me and be glad, because I have hoped in Your word and tarried for it.

75I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right and righteous, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me. [Heb. 12:10.]

76Let, I pray You, Your merciful kindness and steadfast love be for my comfort, according to Your promise to Your servant.

77Let Your tender mercy and loving-kindness come to me that I may live, for Your law is my delight!

78Let the proud be put to shame, for they dealt perversely with me without a cause; but I will meditate on Your precepts.

79Let those who reverently and worshipfully fear You turn to me, and those who have known Your testimonies.

80Let my heart be sound (sincere and wholehearted and blameless) in Your statutes, that I may not be put to shame.

81My soul languishes and grows faint for Your salvation, but I hope in Your word.

82My eyes fail, watching for [the fulfillment of] Your promise. I say, When will You comfort me?

83For I have become like a bottle [a wineskin blackened and shriveled] in the smoke [in which it hangs], yet do I not forget Your statutes.

84How many are the days of Your servant [which he must endure]? When will You judge those who pursue and persecute me? [Rev. 6:10.]

85The godless and arrogant have dug pitfalls for me, men who do not conform to Your law.

86All Your commandments are faithful and sure. [The godless] pursue and persecute me with falsehood; help me [Lord]!

87They had almost consumed me upon earth, but I forsook not Your precepts.

88According to Your steadfast love give life to me; then I will keep the testimony of Your mouth [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it].

89Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven [stands firm as the heavens]. [Ps. 89:2; Matt. 24:34, 35; I Pet. 1:25.]

90Your faithfulness is from generation to generation; You have established the earth, and it stands fast.

91All [the whole universe] are Your servants; therefore they continue this day according to Your ordinances. [Jer. 33:25.]

92Unless Your law had been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.

93I will never forget Your precepts, [how can I?] for it is by them You have quickened me (granted me life).

94I am Yours, therefore save me [Your own]; for I have sought (inquired of and for) Your precepts and required them [as my urgent need]. [Ps. 42:1.]

95The wicked wait for me to destroy me, but I will consider Your testimonies.

96I have seen that everything [human] has its limits and end [no matter how extensive, noble, and excellent]; but Your commandment is exceedingly broad and extends without limits [into eternity]. [Rom. 3:10-19.]

97Oh, how love I Your law! It is my meditation all the day. [Ps. 1:2.]

98You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies, for [Your words] are ever before me.

99I have better understanding and deeper insight than all my teachers, because Your testimonies are my meditation. [II Tim. 3:15.]

100I understand more than the aged, because I keep Your precepts [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them].

101I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep Your word [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it]. [Prov. 1:15.]

102I have not turned aside from Your ordinances, for You Yourself have taught me.

103How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! [Ps. 19:10; Prov. 8:11.]

104Through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.

105Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. [Prov. 6:23.]

106I have sworn [an oath] and have confirmed it, that I will keep Your righteous ordinances [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them]. [Neh. 10:29.]

107I am sorely afflicted; renew and quicken me [give me life], O Lord, according to Your word!

108Accept, I beseech You, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me Your ordinances. [Hos. 14:2; Heb. 13:15.]

109My life is continually in my hand, yet I do not forget Your law.

110The wicked have laid a snare for me, yet I do not stray from Your precepts.

111Your testimonies have I taken as a heritage forever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart. [Deut. 33:4.]

112I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes forever, even to the end.

113I hate the thoughts of undecided [in religion], double-minded people, but Your law do I love.

114You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word. [Ps. 32:7; 91:1.]

115Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them]. [Ps. 6:8; 139:19; Matt. 7:23.]

116Uphold me according to Your promise, that I may live; and let me not be put to shame in my hope! [Ps. 25:2; Rom. 5:5; 9:33; 10:11.]

117Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for Your statutes continually!

118You spurn and set at nought all those who stray from Your statutes, for their own lying deceives them and their tricks are in vain.

119You put away and count as dross all the wicked of the earth [for there is no true metal in them]; therefore I love Your testimonies.

120My flesh trembles and shudders for fear and reverential, worshipful awe of You, and I am afraid and in dread of Your judgments.

121I have done justice and righteousness; leave me not to those who would oppress me.

122Be surety for Your servant for good [as Judah was surety for the safety of Benjamin]; let not the proud oppress me. [Gen. 43:9.]

123My eyes fail, watching for Your salvation and for the fulfillment of Your righteous promise.

124Deal with Your servant according to Your mercy and loving-kindness, and teach me Your statutes.

125I am Your servant; give me understanding (discernment and comprehension), that I may know (discern and be familiar with the character of) Your testimonies.

126It is time for the Lord to act; they have frustrated Your law.

127Therefore I love Your commandments more than [resplendent] gold, yes, more than [perfectly] refined gold.

128Therefore I esteem as right all, yes, all Your precepts; I hate every false way.

129Your testimonies are wonderful [far exceeding anything conceived by man]; therefore my [penitent] self keeps them [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them].

130The entrance and unfolding of Your words give light; their unfolding gives understanding (discernment and comprehension) to the simple.

131I opened my mouth and panted [with eager desire], for I longed for Your commandments.

132Look upon me, be merciful unto me, and show me favor, as is Your way to those who love Your name.

133Establish my steps and direct them by [means of] Your word; let not any iniquity have dominion over me.

134Deliver me from the oppression of man; so will I keep Your precepts [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them]. [Luke 1:74.]

135Make Your face shine [with pleasure] upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes. [Ps. 4:6.]

136Streams of water run down my eyes, because men do not keep Your law [they hear it not, nor receive it, love it, or obey it].

137[Rigidly] righteous are You, O Lord, and upright are Your judgments and all expressions of Your will.

138You have commanded and appointed Your testimonies in righteousness and in great faithfulness.

139My zeal has consumed me and cut me off, because my adversaries have forgotten Your words.

140Your word is very pure (tried and well refined); therefore Your servant loves it.

141I am small (insignificant) and despised, but I do not forget Your precepts.

142Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your law is truth. [Ps. 19:9; John 17:17.]

143Trouble and anguish have found and taken hold on me, yet Your commandments are my delight.

144Your righteous testimonies are everlasting and Your decrees are binding to eternity; give me understanding and I shall live [give me discernment and comprehension and I shall not die].

145I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O Lord; I will keep Your statutes [I will hear, receive, love, and obey them].

146I cried to You; save me, that I may keep Your testimonies [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them].

147I anticipated the dawning of the morning and cried [in childlike prayer]; I hoped in Your word.

148My eyes anticipate the night watches and I am awake before the cry of the watchman, that I may meditate on Your word.

149Hear my voice according to Your steadfast love; O Lord, quicken me and give me life according to Your [righteous] decrees.

150They draw near who follow after wrong thinking and persecute me with wickedness; they are far from Your law.

151You are near, O Lord [nearer to me than my foes], and all Your commandments are truth.

152Of old have I known Your testimonies, and for a long time, [therefore it is a thoroughly established conviction] that You have founded them forever. [Luke 21:33.]

153Consider my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget Your law.

154Plead my cause and redeem me; revive me and give me life according to Your word.

155Salvation is far from the wicked, for they seek not nor hunger for Your statutes.

156Great are Your tender mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord; give me life according to Your ordinances.

157Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, yet I do not swerve from Your testimonies.

158I behold the treacherous and am grieved and loathe them, because they do not respect Your law [neither hearing, receiving, loving, nor obeying it].

159Consider how I love Your precepts; revive me and give life to me, O Lord, according to Your loving-kindness!

160The sum of Your word is truth [the total of the full meaning of all Your individual precepts]; and every one of Your righteous decrees endures forever.

161Princes pursue and persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of Your words [dreading violation of them far more than the force of prince or potentate]. [I Sam. 24:11, 14; 26:18.]

162I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great spoil.

163I hate and abhor falsehood, but Your law do I love.

164Seven times a day and all day long do I praise You because of Your righteous decrees.

165Great peace have they who love Your law; nothing shall offend them or make them stumble. [Prov. 3:2; Isa. 32:17.]

166I am hoping and waiting [eagerly] for Your salvation, O Lord, and I do Your commandments. [Gen. 49:18.]

167Your testimonies have I kept [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them]; I love them exceedingly!

168I have observed Your precepts and Your testimonies, for all my ways are [fully known] before You.

169Let my mournful cry and supplication come [near] before You, O Lord; give me understanding (discernment and comprehension) according to Your word [of assurance and promise].

170Let my supplication come before You; deliver me according to Your word!

171My lips shall pour forth praise [with thanksgiving and renewed trust] when You teach me Your statutes.

172My tongue shall sing [praise for the fulfillment] of Your word, for all Your commandments are righteous.

173Let Your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen Your precepts.

174I have longed for Your salvation, O Lord, and Your law is my delight.

175Let me live that I may praise You, and let Your decrees help me.

176I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek, inquire for, and demand Your servant, for I do not forget Your commandments. [Isa. 53:6; Luke 15:4; I Pet. 2:25.]