Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet

Aleph

¹1 Blessed are those whose way is blameless,

who walk in the law of the Lord!

²Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,

who seek him with their whole heart,

³who also do no wrong,

but walk in his ways!

⁴You have commanded your precepts

to be kept diligently.

⁵Oh that my ways may be steadfast

in keeping your statutes!

⁶Then 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 your righteous rules.2

⁸I will keep your statutes;

do not utterly forsake me!

Beth

⁹How can a young man keep his way pure?

By guarding it according to your word.

¹⁰With my whole heart I seek you;

let me not wander from your commandments!

¹¹I have stored up your word in my heart,

that I might not sin against you.

¹²Blessed are you, O Lord;

teach me your statutes!

¹³With my lips I declare

all the rules3 of your mouth.

¹⁴In the way of your testimonies I delight

as much as in all riches.

¹⁵I will meditate on your precepts

and fix my eyes on your ways.

¹⁶I will delight in your statutes;

I will not forget your word.

Gimel

¹⁷Deal bountifully with your servant,

that I may live and keep your word.

¹⁸Open my eyes, that I may behold

wondrous things out of your law.

¹⁹I am a sojourner on the earth;

hide not your commandments from me!

²⁰My soul is consumed with longing

for your rules4 at all times.

²¹You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones,

who wander from your commandments.

²²Take away from me scorn and contempt,

for I have kept your testimonies.

²³Even though princes sit plotting against me,

your servant will meditate on your statutes.

²⁴Your testimonies are my delight;

they are my counselors.

Daleth

²⁵My soul clings to the dust;

give me life according to your word!

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

teach me your statutes!

²⁷Make me understand the way of your precepts,

and I will meditate on your wondrous works.

²⁸My soul melts away for sorrow;

strengthen me according to your word!

²⁹Put false ways far from me

and graciously teach me your law!

³⁰I have chosen the way of faithfulness;

I set your rules before me.

³¹I cling to your testimonies, O Lord;

let me not be put to shame!

³²I will run in the way of your commandments

when you enlarge my heart!5

He

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

and I will keep it to the end.6

³⁴Give me understanding, that I may keep your law

and observe it with my whole heart.

³⁵Lead me in the path of your commandments,

for I delight in it.

³⁶Incline my heart to your testimonies,

and not to selfish gain!

³⁷Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;

and give me life in your ways.

³⁸Confirm to your servant your promise,

that you may be feared.

³⁹Turn away the reproach that I dread,

for your rules are good.

⁴⁰Behold, I long for your precepts;

in your righteousness give me life!

Waw

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

your salvation according to your promise;

⁴²then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me,

for I trust in your word.

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

for my hope is in your rules.

⁴⁴I will keep your law continually,

forever and ever,

⁴⁵and I shall walk in a wide place,

for I have sought your precepts.

⁴⁶I will also speak of your testimonies before kings

and shall not be put to shame,

⁴⁷for I find my delight in your commandments,

which I love.

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

and I will meditate on your statutes.

Zayin

⁴⁹Remember your word to your servant,

in which you have made me hope.

⁵⁰This is my comfort in my affliction,

that your promise gives me life.

⁵¹The insolent utterly deride me,

but I do not turn away from your law.

⁵²When I think of your rules from of old,

I take comfort, O Lord.

⁵³Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked,

who forsake your law.

⁵⁴Your statutes have been my songs

in the house of my sojourning.

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

and keep your law.

⁵⁶This blessing has fallen to me,

that I have kept your precepts.

Heth

⁵⁷The Lord is my portion;

I promise to keep your words.

⁵⁸I entreat your favor with all my heart;

be gracious to me according to your promise.

⁵⁹When I think on my ways,

I turn my feet to your testimonies;

⁶⁰I hasten and do not delay

to keep your commandments.

⁶¹Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me,

I do not forget your law.

⁶²At midnight I rise to praise you,

because of your righteous rules.

⁶³I am a companion of all who fear you,

of those who keep your precepts.

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

teach me your statutes!

Teth

⁶⁵You have dealt well with your servant,

O Lord, according to your word.

⁶⁶Teach me good judgment and knowledge,

for I believe in your commandments.

⁶⁷Before I was afflicted I went astray,

but now I keep your word.

⁶⁸You are good and do good;

teach me your statutes.

⁶⁹The insolent smear me with lies,

but with my whole heart I keep your precepts;

⁷⁰their heart is unfeeling like fat,

but I delight in your law.

⁷¹It is good for me that I was afflicted,

that I might learn your statutes.

⁷²The law of your mouth is better to me

than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Yodh

⁷³Your hands have made and fashioned me;

give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.

⁷⁴Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice,

because I have hoped in your word.

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

and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.

⁷⁶Let your steadfast love comfort me

according to your promise to your servant.

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

for your law is my delight.

⁷⁸Let the insolent be put to shame,

because they have wronged me with falsehood;

as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.

⁷⁹Let those who fear you turn to me,

that they may know your testimonies.

⁸⁰May my heart be blameless in your statutes,

that I may not be put to shame!

Kaph

⁸¹My soul longs for your salvation;

I hope in your word.

⁸²My eyes long for your promise;

I ask, “When will you comfort me?”

⁸³For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,

yet I have not forgotten your statutes.

⁸⁴How long must your servant endure?7

When will you judge those who persecute me?

⁸⁵The insolent have dug pitfalls for me;

they do not live according to your law.

⁸⁶All your commandments are sure;

they persecute me with falsehood; help me!

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

but I have not forsaken your precepts.

⁸⁸In your steadfast love give me life,

that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.

Lamedh

⁸⁹Forever, O Lord, your word

is firmly fixed in the heavens.

⁹⁰Your faithfulness endures to all generations;

you have established the earth, and it stands fast.

⁹¹By your appointment they stand this day,

for all things are your servants.

⁹²If your law had not been my delight,

I would have perished in my affliction.

⁹³I will never forget your precepts,

for by them you have given me life.

⁹⁴I am yours; save me,

for 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 broad.

Mem

⁹⁷Oh how I love your law!

It is my meditation all the day.

⁹⁸Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,

for it is ever with me.

⁹⁹I have more understanding than all my teachers,

for your testimonies are my meditation.

¹⁰⁰I understand more than the aged,8

for I keep your precepts.

¹⁰¹I hold 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 sweet are your words to my taste,

sweeter than honey to my mouth!

¹⁰⁴Through your precepts I get understanding;

therefore I hate every false way.

Nun

¹⁰⁵Your word is a lamp to my feet

and a light to my path.

¹⁰⁶I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,

to keep your righteous rules.

¹⁰⁷I am severely afflicted;

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

¹⁰⁸Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord,

and teach me your rules.

¹⁰⁹I hold my life in my hand continually,

but I do not forget your law.

¹¹⁰The wicked have laid a snare for me,

but I do not stray from your precepts.

¹¹¹Your testimonies are my heritage forever,

for they are the joy of my heart.

¹¹²I incline my heart to perform your statutes

forever, to the end.9

Samekh

¹¹³I hate the double-minded,

but I love your law.

¹¹⁴You are my hiding place and my shield;

I hope in your word.

¹¹⁵Depart from me, you evildoers,

that I may keep the commandments of my God.

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

and let me not be put to shame in my hope!

¹¹⁷Hold me up, that I may be safe

and have regard for your statutes continually!

¹¹⁸You spurn all who go astray from your statutes,

for their cunning is in vain.

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

therefore I love your testimonies.

¹²⁰My flesh trembles 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 a pledge of good;

let not the insolent oppress me.

¹²³My eyes long for your salvation

and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.

¹²⁴Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love,

and teach me your statutes.

¹²⁵I am your servant; give me understanding,

that I may know your testimonies!

¹²⁶It is time for the Lord to act,

for your law has been broken.

¹²⁷Therefore I love your commandments

above gold, above fine gold.

¹²⁸Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right;

I hate every false way.

Pe

¹²⁹Your testimonies are wonderful;

therefore my soul keeps them.

¹³⁰The unfolding of your words gives light;

it imparts understanding to the simple.

¹³¹I open my mouth and pant,

because I long for your commandments.

¹³²Turn to me and be gracious to me,

as is your way with those who love your name.

¹³³Keep steady my steps according to your promise,

and let no iniquity get dominion over me.

¹³⁴Redeem me from man's oppression,

that I may keep your precepts.

¹³⁵Make your face shine upon your servant,

and teach me your statutes.

¹³⁶My eyes shed streams of tears,

because people do not keep your law.

Tsadhe

¹³⁷Righteous are you, O Lord,

and right are your rules.

¹³⁸You have appointed your testimonies in righteousness

and in all faithfulness.

¹³⁹My zeal consumes me,

because my foes forget your words.

¹⁴⁰Your promise is well tried,

and your servant loves it.

¹⁴¹I am small and despised,

yet I do not forget your precepts.

¹⁴²Your righteousness is righteous forever,

and your law is true.

¹⁴³Trouble and anguish have found me out,

but your commandments are my delight.

¹⁴⁴Your testimonies are righteous forever;

give me understanding that I may live.

Qoph

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

I will keep your statutes.

¹⁴⁶I call to you; save me,

that I may observe your testimonies.

¹⁴⁷I rise before dawn and cry for help;

I hope in your words.

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

that I may meditate on your promise.

¹⁴⁹Hear my voice according to your steadfast love;

O Lord, according to your justice give me life.

¹⁵⁰They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose;

they are far from your law.

¹⁵¹But you are near, O Lord,

and all your commandments are true.

¹⁵²Long have I known from your testimonies

that you have founded them forever.

Resh

¹⁵³Look on my affliction and deliver me,

for I do not forget your law.

¹⁵⁴Plead my cause and redeem me;

give me life according to your promise!

¹⁵⁵Salvation is far from the wicked,

for they do not seek your statutes.

¹⁵⁶Great is your mercy, O Lord;

give me life according to your rules.

¹⁵⁷Many are my persecutors and my adversaries,

but I do not swerve from your testimonies.

¹⁵⁸I look at the faithless with disgust,

because they do not keep your commands.

¹⁵⁹Consider how I love your precepts!

Give me life according to your steadfast love.

¹⁶⁰The sum of your word is truth,

and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.

Sin and Shin

¹⁶¹Princes persecute me without cause,

but my heart stands in awe of your words.

¹⁶²I rejoice at your word

like one who finds great spoil.

¹⁶³I hate and abhor falsehood,

but I love your law.

¹⁶⁴Seven times a day I praise you

for your righteous rules.

¹⁶⁵Great peace have those who love your law;

nothing can make them stumble.

¹⁶⁶I hope for your salvation, O Lord,

and I do your commandments.

¹⁶⁷My soul keeps your testimonies;

I love them exceedingly.

¹⁶⁸I keep your precepts and testimonies,

for all my ways are before you.

Taw

¹⁶⁹Let my cry come before you, O Lord;

give me understanding according to your word!

¹⁷⁰Let my plea come before you;

deliver me according to your word.

¹⁷¹My lips will pour forth praise,

for you teach me your statutes.

¹⁷²My tongue will sing of your word,

for all your commandments are right.

¹⁷³Let your hand be ready to help me,

for I have chosen your precepts.

¹⁷⁴I long for your salvation, O Lord,

and your law is my delight.

¹⁷⁵Let my soul live and praise you,

and let your rules help me.

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

for I do not forget your commandments.