¹א (Alef) How blessed are those whose actions are blameless, who obey the law of the Lord.²How blessed are those who observe his rules and seek him with all their heart, ³who, moreover, do no wrong, but follow in his footsteps. ⁴You demand that your precepts be carefully kept.⁵If only I were predisposed to keep your statutes. ⁶Then I would not be ashamed, if I were focused on all your commands. ⁷I will give you sincere thanks when I learn your just regulations. ⁸I will keep your statutes. Do not completely abandon me.⁹ב (Bet) How can a young person maintain a pure life? By guarding it according to your instructions. ¹⁰With all my heart I seek you. Do not allow me to stray from your commands. ¹¹In my heart I store up your words, so I might not sin against you.¹²You deserve praise, O Lord. Teach me your statutes. ¹³With my lips I proclaim all the regulations you have revealed. ¹⁴I rejoice in the lifestyle prescribed by your rules as if they were riches of all kinds. ¹⁵I will meditate on your precepts and focus on your behavior. ¹⁶I find delight in your statutes; I do not forget your instructions. ¹⁷ג (Gimel) Be kind to your servant. Then I will live and keep your instructions. ¹⁸Open my eyes so I can truly see the marvelous things in your law. ¹⁹I am a resident foreigner in this land. Do not hide your commands from me.²⁰I desperately long to know your regulations at all times. ²¹You reprimand arrogant people. Those who stray from your commands are doomed. ²²Spare me shame and humiliation, for I observe your rules. ²³Though rulers plot and slander me, your servant meditates on your statutes. ²⁴Yes, I find delight in your rules; they give me guidance. ²⁵ד (Dalet) I collapse in the dirt. Revive me with your word. ²⁶I told you about my ways and you answered me. Teach me your statutes. ²⁷Help me to understand what your precepts mean. Then I can meditate on your marvelous teachings. ²⁸I collapse from grief. Sustain me by your word. ²⁹Remove me from the path of deceit. Graciously give me your law. ³⁰I choose the path of faithfulness; I am committed to your regulations. ³¹I hold fast to your rules. O Lord, do not let me be ashamed. ³²I run along the path of your commands, for you enable me to do so.³³ה (He) Teach me, O Lord, the lifestyle prescribed by your statutes so that I might observe it continually. ³⁴Give me understanding so that I might observe your law and keep it with all my heart. ³⁵Guide me in the path of your commands, for I delight to walk in it.³⁶Give me a desire for your rules, rather than for wealth gained unjustly. ³⁷Turn my eyes away from what is worthless. Revive me with your word.³⁸Confirm to your servant your promise, which you made to the one who honors you.³⁹Take away the insults that I dread. Indeed, your regulations are good. ⁴⁰Look, I long for your precepts. Revive me with your deliverance. ⁴¹ו (Vav) May I experience your loyal love, O Lord, and your deliverance, as you promised. ⁴²Then I will have a reply for the one who insults me, for I trust in your word. ⁴³Do not completely deprive me of a truthful testimony, for I await your justice. ⁴⁴Then I will keep your law continually now and for all time. ⁴⁵I will be secure, for I seek your precepts. ⁴⁶I will speak about your regulations before kings and not be ashamed. ⁴⁷I will find delight in your commands, which I love. ⁴⁸I will lift my hands to your commands, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes. ⁴⁹ז (Zayin) Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. ⁵⁰This is what comforts me in my trouble, for your promise revives me.⁵¹Arrogant people do nothing but scoff at me. Yet I do not turn aside from your law. ⁵²I remember your ancient regulations, O Lord, and console myself.⁵³Rage takes hold of me because of the wicked, those who reject your law. ⁵⁴Your statutes have been my songs in the house where I live. ⁵⁵I remember your name during the night, O Lord, and I will keep your law. ⁵⁶This has been my practice, for I observe your precepts. ⁵⁷ח (Khet) The Lord is my source of security. I have determined to follow your instructions. ⁵⁸I seek your favor with all my heart. Have mercy on me as you promised. ⁵⁹I consider my actions and follow your rules. ⁶⁰I keep your commands eagerly and without delay. ⁶¹The ropes of the wicked tighten around me, but I do not forget your law. ⁶²In the middle of the night I arise to thank you for your just regulations. ⁶³I am a friend to all your loyal followers and to those who keep your precepts. ⁶⁴O Lord, your loyal love fills the earth. Teach me your statutes! ⁶⁵ט (Tet) You are good to your servant, O Lord, just as you promised.⁶⁶Teach me proper discernment and understanding. For I consider your commands to be reliable. ⁶⁷Before I was afflicted I used to stray off, but now I keep your instructions. ⁶⁸You are good and you do good. Teach me your statutes. ⁶⁹Arrogant people smear my reputation with lies, but I observe your precepts with all my heart. ⁷⁰Their hearts are calloused, but I find delight in your law. ⁷¹It was good for me to suffer so that I might learn your statutes. ⁷²The law you have revealed is more important to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver. ⁷³י (Yod) Your hands made me and formed me. Give me understanding so that I might learn your commands. ⁷⁴Your loyal followers will be glad when they see me, for I find hope in your word. ⁷⁵I know, Lord, that your regulations are just. You disciplined me because of your faithful devotion to me.⁷⁶May your loyal love console me, as you promised your servant. ⁷⁷May I experience your compassion so I might live. For I find delight in your law. ⁷⁸May the arrogant be humiliated, for they have slandered me. But I meditate on your precepts. ⁷⁹May your loyal followers turn to me, those who know your rules. ⁸⁰May I be fully committed to your statutes, so that I might not be ashamed. ⁸¹כ (Kaf) I desperately long for your deliverance. I find hope in your word. ⁸²My eyes grow tired as I wait for your promise to be fulfilled. I say, “When will you comfort me?”⁸³For I am like a wineskin dried up in smoke. I do not forget your statutes. ⁸⁴How long must your servant endure this? When will you judge those who pursue me?⁸⁵The arrogant dig pits to trap me, which violates your law. ⁸⁶All your commands are reliable. I am pursued without reason. Help me!⁸⁷They have almost destroyed me here on the earth, but I do not reject your precepts. ⁸⁸Revive me with your loyal love that I might keep the rules you have revealed. ⁸⁹ל (Lamed) O Lord, your instructions endure; they stand secure in heaven. ⁹⁰You demonstrate your faithfulness to all generations. You established the earth and it stood firm.⁹¹Today they stand firm by your decrees, for all things are your servants. ⁹²If I had not found encouragement in your law, I would have died in my sorrow. ⁹³I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have revived me. ⁹⁴I belong to you. Deliver me! For I seek your precepts. ⁹⁵The wicked prepare to kill me, yet I concentrate on your rules. ⁹⁶I realize that everything has its limits, but your commands are beyond full comprehension. ⁹⁷מ (Mem) O how I love your law! All day long I meditate on it.⁹⁸Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for I am always aware of them.⁹⁹I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your rules. ¹⁰⁰I am more discerning than those older than I, for I observe your precepts. ¹⁰¹I stay away from every evil path, so that I might keep your instructions. ¹⁰²I do not turn aside from your regulations, for you teach me.¹⁰³Your words are sweeter in my mouth than honey! ¹⁰⁴Your precepts give me discernment. Therefore I hate all deceitful actions. ¹⁰⁵נ (Nun) Your word is a lamp to walk by and a light to illumine my path. ¹⁰⁶I have vowed and solemnly sworn to keep your just regulations. ¹⁰⁷I am suffering terribly. O Lord, revive me with your word. ¹⁰⁸O Lord, please accept the freewill offerings of my praise. Teach me your regulations. ¹⁰⁹My life is in continual danger, but I do not forget your law. ¹¹⁰The wicked lay a trap for me, but I do not wander from your precepts. ¹¹¹I claim your rules as my permanent possession, for they give me joy. ¹¹²I am determined to obey your statutes at all times, to the very end. ¹¹³ס (Samek) I hate people with divided loyalties, but I love your law. ¹¹⁴You are my hiding place and my shield. I find hope in your word. ¹¹⁵Turn away from me, you evil men, so that I can observe the commands of my God. ¹¹⁶Sustain me as you promised, so that I will live. Do not disappoint me.¹¹⁷Support me so that I will be delivered. Then I will focus on your statutes continually. ¹¹⁸You despise all who stray from your statutes, for such people are deceptive and unreliable. ¹¹⁹You remove all the wicked of the earth like slag. Therefore I love your rules. ¹²⁰My body trembles because I fear you; I am afraid of your judgments. ¹²¹ע (Ayin) I do what is fair and right. Do not abandon me to my oppressors. ¹²²Guarantee the welfare of your servant. Do not let the arrogant oppress me.¹²³My eyes grow tired as I wait for your deliverance, for your reliable promise to be fulfilled. ¹²⁴Show your servant your loyal love. Teach me your statutes. ¹²⁵I am your servant. Give me insight, so that I can understand your rules. ¹²⁶It is time for the Lord to act— they break your law. ¹²⁷For this reason I love your commands more than gold, even purest gold. ¹²⁸For this reason I carefully follow all your precepts. I hate all deceitful actions. ¹²⁹פ (Pe) Your rules are marvelous. Therefore I observe them.¹³⁰Your instructions are a doorway through which light shines. They give insight to the untrained. ¹³¹I open my mouth and pant, because I long for your commands. ¹³²Turn toward me and extend mercy to me, as you typically do to your loyal followers. ¹³³Direct my steps by your word. Do not let any sin dominate me.¹³⁴Deliver me from oppressive men, so that I can keep your precepts. ¹³⁵Smile on your servant. Teach me your statutes! ¹³⁶Tears stream down from my eyes, because people do not keep your law. ¹³⁷צ (Tsade) You are just, O Lord, and your judgments are fair. ¹³⁸The rules you impose are just and absolutely reliable. ¹³⁹My zeal consumes me, for my enemies forget your instructions. ¹⁴⁰Your word is absolutely pure, and your servant loves it.¹⁴¹I am insignificant and despised, yet I do not forget your precepts. ¹⁴²Your justice endures, and your law is reliable. ¹⁴³Distress and hardship confront me, yet I find delight in your commands. ¹⁴⁴Your rules remain just. Give me insight so that I can live. ¹⁴⁵ק (Qof) I cried out with all my heart, “Answer me, O Lord! I will observe your statutes.” ¹⁴⁶I cried out to you, “Deliver me, so that I can keep your rules.” ¹⁴⁷I am up before dawn crying for help. I find hope in your word. ¹⁴⁸My eyes anticipate the nighttime hours so that I can meditate on your word. ¹⁴⁹Listen to me because of your loyal love. O Lord, revive me, as you typically do.¹⁵⁰Those who are eager to do wrong draw near; they are far from your law. ¹⁵¹You are near, O Lord, and all your commands are reliable. ¹⁵²I learned long ago that you ordained your rules to last. ¹⁵³ר (Resh) See my pain and rescue me. For I do not forget your law. ¹⁵⁴Fight for me and defend me. Revive me with your word. ¹⁵⁵The wicked have no chance for deliverance, for they do not seek your statutes. ¹⁵⁶Your compassion is great, O Lord. Revive me, as you typically do.¹⁵⁷The enemies who chase me are numerous. Yet I do not turn aside from your rules. ¹⁵⁸I take note of the treacherous and despise them, because they do not keep your instructions. ¹⁵⁹See how I love your precepts. O Lord, revive me with your loyal love. ¹⁶⁰Your instructions are totally reliable; all your just regulations endure. ¹⁶¹שׂ/שׁ (Sin/Shin) Rulers pursue me for no reason, yet I am more afraid of disobeying your instructions. ¹⁶²I rejoice in your instructions, like one who finds much plunder. ¹⁶³I hate and despise deceit; I love your law. ¹⁶⁴Seven times a day I praise you because of your just regulations. ¹⁶⁵Those who love your law are completely secure; nothing causes them to stumble. ¹⁶⁶I hope for your deliverance, O Lord, and I obey your commands. ¹⁶⁷I keep your rules; I love them greatly. ¹⁶⁸I keep your precepts and rules, for you are aware of everything I do.¹⁶⁹ת (Tav) Listen to my cry for help, O Lord. Give me insight by your word. ¹⁷⁰Listen to my appeal for mercy. Deliver me, as you promised. ¹⁷¹May praise flow freely from my lips, for you teach me your statutes. ¹⁷²May my tongue sing about your instructions, for all your commands are just. ¹⁷³May your hand help me, for I choose to obey your precepts. ¹⁷⁴I long for your deliverance, O Lord; I find delight in your law. ¹⁷⁵May I live and praise you. May your regulations help me.¹⁷⁶I have wandered off like a lost sheep. Come looking for your servant, for I do not forget your commands.