Meditations and Prayers Relating to the Law of God. 1How blessed and favored by God are those whose way is blameless [those with personal integrity, the upright, the guileless], Who walk in the law [and who are guided by the precepts and revealed will] of the LORD.
2Blessed and favored by God are those who keep His testimonies, And who [consistently] seek Him and long for Him with all their heart.
3They do no unrighteousness; They walk in His ways.
4You have ordained Your precepts, That we should follow them with [careful] diligence.
5Oh, that my ways may be established To observe and keep Your statutes [obediently accepting and honoring them]!
6Then I will not be ashamed When I look [with respect] to all Your commandments [as my guide].
7I will give thanks to You with an upright heart, When I learn [through discipline] Your righteous judgments [for my transgressions].
8I shall keep Your statutes; Do not utterly abandon me [when I fail].
9How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to Your precepts].
10With all my heart I have sought You, [inquiring of You and longing for You]; Do not let me wander from Your commandments [neither through ignorance nor by willful disobedience].
11Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart, That I may not sin against You.
12Blessed and reverently praised are You, O LORD; Teach me Your statutes.
13With my lips I have told of 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 [thoughtfully] regard Your ways [the path of life established by Your precepts].
16I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.
17Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word [treasuring it and being guided by it day by day].
18Open my eyes [to spiritual truth] so that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law.
19I am a stranger on the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me.
20My soul is crushed with longing For Your ordinances at all times.
21You rebuke the presumptuous and arrogant, the cursed ones, Who wander from Your commandments.
22Take reproach and contempt away from me, For I observe Your testimonies.
23Even though princes sit and talk to one another against me, Your servant meditates on Your statutes.
24Your testimonies also are my delight And my counselors.
25My earthly life clings to the dust; Revive and refresh me according to Your word.
26I have told of my ways, and You have answered me; Teach me Your statutes.
27Make me understand the way of Your precepts, So that I will meditate (focus my thoughts) on Your wonderful works.
28My soul dissolves because of grief; Renew and strengthen me according to [the promises of] Your word.
29Remove from me the way of falsehood and unfaithfulness, And graciously grant me Your law.
30I have chosen the faithful way; I have placed Your ordinances before me.
31I cling tightly to Your testimonies; O LORD, do not put me to shame!
32I will run the way of Your commandments [with purpose], For You will give me a heart that is willing.
33Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, And I will [steadfastly] observe it to the end.
34Give me understanding [a teachable heart and the ability to learn], that I may keep Your law; And observe it with all my heart.
35Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, For I delight in it.
36Incline my heart to Your testimonies And not to dishonest gain and envy.
37Turn my eyes away from vanity [all those worldly, meaningless things that distract--let Your priorities be mine], And restore me [with renewed energy] in Your ways.
38Establish Your word and confirm Your promise to Your servant, As that which produces [awe-inspired] reverence for You.
39Turn away my reproach which I dread, For Your ordinances are good.
40I long for Your precepts; Renew me through Your righteousness.
41May Your lovingkindness also come to me, O LORD, Your salvation according to Your promise;
42So I will have an answer for the one who taunts me, For I trust [completely] in Your word [and its reliability].
43And do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, For I wait for Your ordinances.
44I will keep Your law continually, Forever and ever [writing Your precepts on my heart].
45And I will walk at liberty, For I seek and deeply long for Your precepts.
46I will also speak of Your testimonies before kings And shall not be ashamed.
47For I shall delight in Your commandments, Which I love.
48And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments, Which I love; And I will meditate on Your statutes.
49Remember [always] the word and promise to Your servant, In which You have made me hope.
50This is my comfort in my affliction, That Your word has revived me and given me life.
51The arrogant utterly ridicule me, Yet I do not turn away from Your law.
52I have remembered [carefully] Your ancient ordinances, O LORD, And I have taken comfort.
53Burning indignation has seized me because of the wicked, Who [b]reject Your law.
54Your statutes are my songs In the house of my pilgrimage.
55O LORD, I remember Your name in the night, And keep Your law.
56This has become mine [as the gift of Your grace], That I observe Your precepts [accepting them with loving obedience].
57The LORD is my portion; I have promised to keep Your words.
58I sought Your favor with all my heart; Be merciful and gracious to me according to Your promise.
59I considered my ways And turned my feet to [follow and obey] Your testimonies.
60I hurried and did not delay |