Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet

Aleph

¹1 Blessed are those whose kway is blameless,

who lwalk in the law of the Lord!

²Blessed are those who mkeep his ntestimonies,

who oseek him with their whole heart,

³who also pdo no wrong,

but walk in his ways!

⁴You have commanded your qprecepts

to be kept diligently.

⁵Oh that my ways may rbe steadfast

in keeping your statutes!

⁶sThen I shall not be put to shame,

having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.

⁷I will praise you with an upright heart,

when I learn tyour righteous rules.2

⁸I will keep your statutes;

udo not utterly forsake me!

Beth

⁹How can va young man keep his way pure?

By guarding it according to your word.

¹⁰wWith my whole heart I seek you;

let me not xwander from your commandments!

¹¹I have ystored up your word in my heart,

that I might not sin against you.

¹²Blessed are you, O Lord;

zteach me your statutes!

¹³With my lips I adeclare

all the rules3 of your mouth.

¹⁴In the way of your testimonies I bdelight

as much as in all criches.

¹⁵I will dmeditate on your precepts

and fix my eyes on your eways.

¹⁶I will fdelight in your statutes;

I will not forget your word.

Gimel

¹⁷gDeal bountifully with your servant,

hthat I may live and keep your word.

¹⁸Open my eyes, that I may behold

wondrous things out of your law.

¹⁹I am ia sojourner on the earth;

jhide not your commandments from me!

²⁰My soul is consumed with klonging

for your rules4 at all times.

²¹You rebuke lthe insolent, maccursed ones,

who nwander from your commandments.

²²Take away from me oscorn and contempt,

pfor I have kept your testimonies.

²³Even though qprinces sit plotting against me,

your servant will rmeditate on your statutes.

²⁴Your testimonies are my sdelight;

they are my tcounselors.

Daleth

²⁵uMy soul clings to the dust;

vgive me life waccording to your word!

²⁶When xI told of my ways, you answered me;

yteach me your statutes!

²⁷zMake me understand the way of your precepts,

and I will ameditate on your wondrous works.

²⁸bMy soul melts away for sorrow;

strengthen me according to your word!

²⁹Put false ways far from me

and graciously cteach me your law!

³⁰I have chosen the way of faithfulness;

I dset your rules before me.

³¹I cling to your testimonies, O Lord;

elet me not be put to shame!

³²I will run in the way of your commandments

when you fenlarge my heart!5

He

³³gTeach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes;

and I will keep it hto the end.6

³⁴iGive me understanding, that I may keep your law

and observe it with my whole heart.

³⁵jLead me in the path of your commandments,

for I kdelight in it.

³⁶lIncline my heart to your testimonies,

and not to mselfish gain!

³⁷nTurn my eyes from looking at worthless things;

and ogive me life in your ways.

³⁸pConfirm to your servant your promise,

qthat you may be feared.

³⁹Turn away the rreproach that I dread,

for your rules are good.

⁴⁰Behold, I slong for your precepts;

tin your righteousness give me life!

Waw

⁴¹Let your usteadfast love come to me, O Lord,

your salvation vaccording to your promise;

⁴²then wshall I have an answer for him rwho taunts me,

for I trust in your word.

⁴³And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,

for my xhope is in your rules.

⁴⁴I will keep your law continually,

forever and ever,

⁴⁵and I shall walk yin a wide place,

for I have zsought your precepts.

⁴⁶I will also speak of your testimonies abefore kings

and shall not be put to shame,

⁴⁷for I bfind my delight in your commandments,

which I love.

⁴⁸I will clift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love,

and I will dmeditate on your statutes.

Zayin

⁴⁹Remember eyour word to your servant,

in which you have made me fhope.

⁵⁰This is gmy comfort in my affliction,

that your promise hgives me life.

⁵¹iThe insolent utterly deride me,

but I do not jturn away from your law.

⁵²When I think of your rules from of old,

I take comfort, O Lord.

⁵³kHot indignation seizes me because of the wicked,

who forsake your law.

⁵⁴Your statutes have been my songs

in the house of my lsojourning.

⁵⁵I mremember your name in the night, O Lord,

and keep your law.

⁵⁶This blessing has fallen to me,

that nI have kept your precepts.

Heth

⁵⁷oThe Lord is my portion;

I promise to keep your words.

⁵⁸I pentreat your favor with all my heart;

be gracious to me qaccording to your promise.

⁵⁹When I rthink on my ways,

I turn my feet to your testimonies;

⁶⁰I hasten and do not delay

to keep your commandments.

⁶¹Though sthe cords of the wicked ensnare me,

I do not tforget your law.

⁶²At umidnight I rise to praise you,

because of your vrighteous rules.

⁶³wI am a companion of all who fear you,

of those who keep your precepts.

⁶⁴xThe earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love;

yteach me your statutes!

Teth

⁶⁵You have dealt well with your servant,

O Lord, zaccording to your word.

⁶⁶Teach me agood judgment and knowledge,

for I believe in your commandments.

⁶⁷bBefore I was afflicted I went astray,

but now I keep your word.

⁶⁸cYou are good and do good;

dteach me your statutes.

⁶⁹eThe insolent fsmear me with lies,

but with my whole heart I gkeep your precepts;

⁷⁰their heart is unfeeling hlike fat,

but I idelight in your law.

⁷¹It is jgood for me that I was afflicted,

that I might learn your statutes.

⁷²kThe law of your mouth is better to me

than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Yodh

⁷³lYour hands have made and fashioned me;

mgive me understanding that I may learn your commandments.

⁷⁴Those who fear you shall see me and nrejoice,

because I have ohoped in your word.

⁷⁵I know, O Lord, that your rules are prighteous,

and that in qfaithfulness you have afflicted me.

⁷⁶Let your steadfast love comfort me

according to your promise to your servant.

⁷⁷Let your rmercy come to me, that I may live;

for your law is my sdelight.

⁷⁸Let tthe insolent be put to ushame,

because they have vwronged me with falsehood;

as for me, I will wmeditate on your precepts.

⁷⁹Let those who fear you xturn to me,

that they may know your testimonies.

⁸⁰May my heart be yblameless in your statutes,

zthat I may not be put to shame!

Kaph

⁸¹My soul alongs for your salvation;

I bhope in your word.

⁸²My ceyes long for your promise;

I ask, d“When will you comfort me?”

⁸³For I have ebecome like a fwineskin in the smoke,

yet I have not forgotten your statutes.

⁸⁴gHow long must your servant endure?7

hWhen will you judge those who persecute me?

⁸⁵iThe insolent have jdug pitfalls for me;

they do not live according to your law.

⁸⁶All your commandments are ksure;

they persecute me lwith falsehood; mhelp me!

⁸⁷They have almost made an end of me on earth,

but I have not forsaken your precepts.

⁸⁸In your steadfast love ngive me life,

that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.

Lamedh

⁸⁹Forever, O Lord, your oword

is firmly fixed in the heavens.

⁹⁰Your pfaithfulness endures to all generations;

you have qestablished the earth, and it rstands fast.

⁹¹By your sappointment they stand this day,

for all things are your servants.

⁹²If your law had not been my tdelight,

I would have perished in my affliction.

⁹³I will never forget your precepts,

for by them you have ugiven me life.

⁹⁴I am yours; save me,

vfor I have sought your precepts.

⁹⁵The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,

but I consider your testimonies.

⁹⁶I have seen a limit to all perfection,

but your commandment is exceedingly wbroad.

Mem

⁹⁷Oh how xI love your law!

It is my ymeditation all the day.

⁹⁸Your commandment makes me zwiser than my enemies,

for it is ever with me.

⁹⁹I have more understanding than all my teachers,

for ayour testimonies are my meditation.

¹⁰⁰I understand more than bthe aged,8

for I ckeep your precepts.

¹⁰¹I dhold back my feet from every evil way,

in order to keep your word.

¹⁰²I do not turn aside from your rules,

for you have taught me.

¹⁰³How esweet are your words to my taste,

sweeter than honey to my mouth!

¹⁰⁴Through your precepts I get understanding;

therefore fI hate every false way.

Nun

¹⁰⁵gYour word is a lamp to my feet

and a light to my path.

¹⁰⁶I have hsworn an oath and confirmed it,

to keep your irighteous rules.

¹⁰⁷I am severely jafflicted;

kgive me life, O Lord, according to your word!

¹⁰⁸Accept lmy freewill offerings of praise, O Lord,

and mteach me your rules.

¹⁰⁹I hold my life nin my hand continually,

but I do not oforget your law.

¹¹⁰The wicked have laid pa snare for me,

but qI do not stray from your precepts.

¹¹¹Your testimonies are rmy heritage forever,

for they are sthe joy of my heart.

¹¹²I tincline my heart to perform your statutes

forever, uto the end.9

Samekh

¹¹³I hate vthe double-minded,

but I love wyour law.

¹¹⁴You are my xhiding place and my yshield;

I zhope in your word.

¹¹⁵aDepart from me, you evildoers,

that I may bkeep the commandments of my God.

¹¹⁶Uphold me caccording to your promise, that I may live,

and let me not be dput to shame in my ehope!

¹¹⁷fHold me up, that I may be safe

and have regard for your statutes continually!

¹¹⁸You gspurn all who hgo astray from your statutes,

for their cunning is in vain.

¹¹⁹All the wicked of the earth you discard like idross,

therefore jI love your testimonies.

¹²⁰My flesh ktrembles for fear of you,

and I am afraid of your judgments.

Ayin

¹²¹I have done what is just and right;

do not leave me to my oppressors.

¹²²Give your servant la pledge of good;

let not mthe insolent oppress me.

¹²³My neyes long for your salvation

and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.

¹²⁴Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love,

and oteach me your statutes.

¹²⁵I am your pservant; qgive me understanding,

that I may know your testimonies!

¹²⁶It is time for the Lord to act,

for your law has been broken.

¹²⁷Therefore I rlove your commandments

above gold, above fine gold.

¹²⁸Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right;

I hate every sfalse way.

Pe

¹²⁹Your testimonies are twonderful;

therefore my soul ukeeps them.

¹³⁰The unfolding of your words gives light;

it imparts vunderstanding to the simple.

¹³¹I wopen my mouth and xpant,

because I ylong for your commandments.

¹³²zTurn to me and be gracious to me,

as is your way with those who love your name.

¹³³aKeep steady my steps according to your promise,

and let no iniquity bget dominion over me.

¹³⁴cRedeem me from man's oppression,

that I may keep your precepts.

¹³⁵dMake your face shine upon your servant,

and eteach me your statutes.

¹³⁶My eyes fshed streams of tears,

because people gdo not keep your law.

Tsadhe

¹³⁷hRighteous are you, O Lord,

and right are your rules.

¹³⁸You have appointed your testimonies in irighteousness

and in all jfaithfulness.

¹³⁹My kzeal consumes me,

because my foes forget your words.

¹⁴⁰Your promise is well ltried,

and your servant mloves it.

¹⁴¹I am small and despised,

yet I do not nforget your precepts.

¹⁴²Your righteousness is righteous forever,

and your law is otrue.

¹⁴³Trouble and anguish have found me out,

but your commandments are my pdelight.

¹⁴⁴Your testimonies are righteous forever;

qgive me understanding that I may rlive.

Qoph

¹⁴⁵With my swhole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord!

I will tkeep your statutes.

¹⁴⁶I call to you; save me,

that I may observe your testimonies.

¹⁴⁷I rise before udawn and cry for help;

I vhope in your words.

¹⁴⁸My eyes are awake before wthe watches of the night,

that I may meditate on your promise.

¹⁴⁹Hear my voice according to your steadfast love;

O Lord, xaccording to your justice ygive me life.

¹⁵⁰They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose;

they are far from your law.

¹⁵¹But zyou are near, O Lord,

and all your commandments are atrue.

¹⁵²Long have I known from your testimonies

that you have bfounded them forever.

Resh

¹⁵³Look on my caffliction and deliver me,

for dI do not forget your law.

¹⁵⁴ePlead my cause and redeem me;

fgive me life according to your promise!

¹⁵⁵gSalvation is far from the wicked,

hfor they do not seek your statutes.

¹⁵⁶iGreat is your mercy, O Lord;

fgive me life according to your rules.

¹⁵⁷jMany are my persecutors and my adversaries,

but I do not kswerve from your testimonies.

¹⁵⁸I look at lthe faithless with mdisgust,

because they do not keep your commands.

¹⁵⁹Consider how I nlove your precepts!

fGive me life according to your steadfast love.

¹⁶⁰oThe sum of your word is ptruth,

and every one of your qrighteous rules endures forever.

Sin and Shin

¹⁶¹rPrinces persecute me swithout cause,

but my heart tstands in awe of your words.

¹⁶²I trejoice at your word

like one who ufinds great spoil.

¹⁶³I hate and abhor falsehood,

but I love vyour law.

¹⁶⁴Seven times a day I praise you

for your qrighteous rules.

¹⁶⁵Great wpeace have those who love your law;

xnothing can make them stumble.

¹⁶⁶I yhope for your salvation, O Lord,

and I do your commandments.

¹⁶⁷My soul keeps your testimonies;

I vlove them exceedingly.

¹⁶⁸I keep your precepts and testimonies,

zfor all my ways are before you.

Taw

¹⁶⁹Let my acry come before you, O Lord;

bgive me understanding caccording to your word!

¹⁷⁰Let my plea come before you;

ddeliver me according to your word.

¹⁷¹My lips will epour forth praise,

for you fteach me your statutes.

¹⁷²My tongue will sing of your word,

for gall your commandments are right.

¹⁷³Let your hand be ready to help me,

for I have hchosen your precepts.

¹⁷⁴I ilong for your salvation, O Lord,

and your law is my jdelight.

¹⁷⁵Let my soul live and praise you,

and let your rules help me.

¹⁷⁶I have kgone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant,

for I do not lforget your commandments.