Chapter 119

  ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.  

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  Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.  

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  They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.  

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  Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.  

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  O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!  

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  Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect to all thy commandments.  

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  I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.  

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  I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.  

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  BETH. Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed to it, according to thy word.  

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  With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.  

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  Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.  

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  Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.  

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  With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.  

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  I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.  

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  I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect to thy ways.  

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  I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.  

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  GIMEL. Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.  

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  Open thou my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.  

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  I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.  

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  My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath to thy judgments at all times.  

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  Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, who do err from thy commandments.  

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  Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.  

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  Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.  

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  Thy testimonies also are my delight, and my counselors.  

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  DALETH. My soul cleaveth to the dust: revive thou me according to thy word.  

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  I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.  

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  Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.  

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  My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according to thy word.  

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  Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.  

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  I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.  

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  I have adhered to thy testimonies: O LORD, put me not to shame.  

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  I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.  

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  HE. Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it to the end.  

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  Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yes, I shall observe it with my whole heart.  

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  Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for in that do I delight.  

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  Incline my heart to thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.  

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  Turn away my eyes from beholding vanity; and revive thou me in thy way.  

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  Establish thy word to thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.  

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  Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good.  

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  Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: revive me in thy righteousness.  

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  VAU. Let thy mercies come also to me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.  

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  So shall I have with which to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.  

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  And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.  

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  So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.  

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  And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.  

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  I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.  

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  And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.  

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  My hands also will I lift to thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.  

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  ZAIN. Remember the word to thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.  

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  This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath revived me.  

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  The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet I have not declined from thy law.  

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  I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself.  

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  Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.  

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  Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.  

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  I have remembered thy name, O LORD, in the night, and have kept thy law.  

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  This I had, because I kept thy precepts.  

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  CHETH. Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.  

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  I entreated thy favor with my whole heart: be merciful to me according to thy word.  

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  I thought on my ways, and turned my feet to thy testimonies.  

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  I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.  

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  The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.  

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  At midnight I will rise to give thanks to thee, because of thy righteous judgments.  

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  I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.  

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  The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.  

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  TETH. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according to thy word.  

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  Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.  

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  Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.  

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  Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.  

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  The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.  

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  Their heart is as gross as fat; but I delight in thy law.  

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  It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.  

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  The law of thy mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver.  

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  JOD. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.  

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  They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.  

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  I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.  

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  Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word to thy servant.  

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  Let thy tender mercies come to me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.  

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  Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.  

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  Let those that fear thee turn to me, and those that have known thy testimonies.  

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  Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I may not be ashamed.  

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  CAPH. My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.  

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  My eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?  

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  For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet I do not forget thy statutes.  

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  How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?  

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  The proud have digged pits for me, which are not according to thy law.  

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  All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.  

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  They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.  

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  Revive me after thy loving-kindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.  

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  LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.  

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  Thy faithfulness is to all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.  

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  They continue this day according to thy ordinances: for all are thy servants.  

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  Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in my affliction.  

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  I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast revived me.  

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  I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.  

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  The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.  

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  I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.  

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  MEM. O how I love thy law! it is my meditation all the day.  

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  Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than my enemies: for they are ever with me.  

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  I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.  

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  I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.  

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  I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.  

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  I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.  

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  How sweet are thy words to my taste! yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!  

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  Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.  

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  NUN. Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.  

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  I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.  

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  I am afflicted very much: revive me, O LORD, according to thy word.  

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  Accept, I beseech thee, the free-will-offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.  

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  My soul is continually in my hand: yet I do not forget thy law.  

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  The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.  

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  Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.  

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  I have inclined my heart to perform thy statutes always, even to the end.  

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  SAMECH. I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.  

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  Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.  

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  Depart from me, ye evil-doers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.  

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  Uphold me according to thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.  

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  Support me, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect to thy statutes continually.  

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  Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: for their deceit is falsehood.  

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  Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies.  

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  My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.  

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  AIN. I have done judgment and justice; leave me not to my oppressors.  

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  Be surety for thy servant for good: let not the proud oppress me.  

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  My eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness.  

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  Deal with thy servant according to thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes.  

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  I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.  

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  It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law.  

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  Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yes, above fine gold.  

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  Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.  

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  PE. Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.  

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  The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding to the simple.  

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  I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.  

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  Look thou upon me, and be merciful to me, as thou usest to do to those that love thy name.  

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  Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.  

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  Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts.  

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  Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: and teach me thy statutes.  

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  Rivers of waters run down my eyes, because they keep not thy law.  

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  TSADDI. Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments.  

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  Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.  

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  My zeal hath consumed me; because my enemies have forgotten thy words.  

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  Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.  

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  I am small and despised: yet I do not forget thy precepts.  

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  Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.  

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  Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.  

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  The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.  

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  KOPH. I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes.  

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  I cried to thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.  

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  I came before the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.  

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  My eyes anticipated the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.  

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  Hear my voice, according to thy loving-kindness: O LORD, revive me according to thy judgment.  

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  They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law.  

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  Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth.  

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  Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.  

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  RESH. Consider my affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.  

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  Plead my cause, and deliver me: revive me according to thy word.  

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  Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.  

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  Great are thy tender mercies, O LORD: revive me according to thy judgments.  

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  Many are my persecutors and my enemies; yet I do not decline from thy testimonies.  

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  I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.  

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  Consider how I love thy precepts: revive me, O LORD, according to thy loving-kindness.  

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  Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.  

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  SCHIN. Princes have persecuted me without a cause; but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.  

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  I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.  

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  I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.  

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  Seven times a day do I praise thee, because of thy righteous judgments.  

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  Great peace have they who love thy law: and nothing shall cause them to stumble.  

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  LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and performed thy commandments.  

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  My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.  

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  I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.  

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  TAU. Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word.  

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  Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word.  

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  My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.  

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  My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.  

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  Let thy hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts.  

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  I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight.  

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  Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.  

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  I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.  

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