Chapter 119

  [Aleph.] O the happiness of those perfect in the way, They are walking in the law of Jehovah,  

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  O the happiness of those keeping His testimonies, With the whole heart they seek Him.  

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  Yea, they have not done iniquity, In His ways they have walked.  

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  Thou hast commanded us Thy precepts to keep diligently,  

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  O that my ways were prepared to keep Thy statutes,  

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  Then I am not ashamed In my looking unto all Thy commands.  

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  I confess Thee with uprightness of heart, In my learning the judgments of Thy righteousness.  

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  Thy statutes I keep, leave me not utterly!  

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  [Beth.] With what doth a young man purify his path? To observe -- according to Thy word.  

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  With all my heart I have sought Thee, Let me not err from Thy commands.  

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  In my heart I have hid Thy saying, That I sin not before Thee.  

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  Blessed [art] Thou, O Jehovah, teach me Thy statutes.  

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  With my lips I have recounted All the judgments of Thy mouth.  

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  In the way of Thy testimonies I have joyed, As over all wealth.  

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  In Thy precepts I meditate, And I behold attentively Thy paths.  

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  In Thy statutes I delight myself, I do not forget Thy word.  

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  [Gimel.] Confer benefits on Thy servant, I live, and I keep Thy word.  

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  Uncover mine eyes, and I behold wonders out of Thy law.  

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  A sojourner I [am] on earth, Hide not from me Thy commands.  

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  Broken hath my soul for desire Unto Thy judgments at all times.  

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  Thou hast rebuked the cursed proud, Who are erring from Thy commands.  

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  Remove from me reproach and contempt, For Thy testimonies I have kept.  

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  Princes also sat -- against me they spoke, Thy servant doth meditate in Thy statutes,  

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  Thy testimonies also [are] my delight, The men of my counsel!  

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  [Daleth.] Cleaved to the dust hath my soul, Quicken me according to Thy word.  

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  My ways I have recounted, And Thou answerest me, teach me Thy statutes,  

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  The way of Thy precepts cause me to understand, And I meditate in Thy wonders.  

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  My soul hath dropped from affliction, Establish me according to Thy word.  

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  The way of falsehood turn aside from me And with Thy law favour me.  

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  The way of faithfulness I have chosen, Thy judgments I have compared,  

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  I have adhered to Thy testimonies, O Jehovah, put me not to shame.  

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  The way of Thy commands I run, For Thou dost enlarge my heart!  

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  [He.] Show me, O Jehovah, the way of Thy statutes, And I keep it -- [to] the end.  

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  Cause me to understand, and I keep Thy law, And observe it with the whole heart.  

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  Cause me to tread in the path of Thy commands, For in it I have delighted.  

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  Incline my heart unto Thy testimonies, And not unto dishonest gain.  

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  Remove mine eyes from seeing vanity, In Thy way quicken Thou me.  

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  Establish to Thy servant Thy saying, That [is] concerning Thy fear.  

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  Remove my reproach that I have feared, For Thy judgments [are] good.  

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  Lo, I have longed for Thy precepts, In Thy righteousness quicken Thou me,  

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  [Waw.] And meet me doth Thy kindness, O Jehovah, Thy salvation according to Thy saying.  

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  And I answer him who is reproaching me a word, For I have trusted in Thy word.  

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  And Thou takest not utterly away From my mouth the word of truth, Because for Thy judgment I have hoped.  

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  And I keep Thy law continually, To the age and for ever.  

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  And I walk habitually in a broad place, For Thy precepts I have sought.  

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  And I speak of Thy testimonies before kings, And I am not ashamed.  

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  And I delight myself in Thy commands, That I have loved,  

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  And I lift up my hands unto Thy commands, That I have loved, And I do meditate on Thy statutes!  

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  [Zain.] Remember the word to Thy servant, On which Thou hast caused me to hope.  

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  This [is] my comfort in mine affliction, That Thy saying hath quickened me.  

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  The proud have utterly scorned me, From Thy law I have not turned aside.  

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  I remembered Thy judgments of old, O Jehovah, And I comfort myself.  

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  Horror hath seized me, Because of the wicked forsaking Thy law.  

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  Songs have been to me Thy statutes, In the house of my sojournings.  

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  I have remembered in the night Thy name, O Jehovah, And I do keep Thy law.  

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  This hath been to me, That Thy precepts I have kept!  

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  [Cheth.] My portion [is] Jehovah; I have said -- to keep Thy words,  

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  I appeased Thy face with the whole heart, Favour me according to Thy saying.  

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  I have reckoned my ways, And turn back my feet unto Thy testimonies.  

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  I have made haste, And delayed not, to keep Thy commands.  

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  Cords of the wicked have surrounded me, Thy law I have not forgotten.  

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  At midnight I rise to give thanks to Thee, For the judgments of Thy righteousness.  

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  A companion I [am] to all who fear Thee, And to those keeping Thy precepts.  

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  Of Thy kindness, O Jehovah, the earth is full, Thy statutes teach Thou me!  

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  [Teth.] Good Thou didst with Thy servant, O Jehovah, According to Thy word.  

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  The goodness of reason and knowledge teach me, For in Thy commands I have believed.  

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  Before I am afflicted, I -- I am erring, And now Thy saying I have kept.  

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  Good Thou [art], and doing good, Teach me Thy statutes.  

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  Forged against me falsehood have the proud, I with the whole heart keep Thy precepts.  

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  Insensate as fat hath been their heart, I -- in Thy law I have delighted.  

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  Good for me that I have been afflicted, That I might learn Thy statutes.  

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  Better to me [is] the law of Thy mouth Than thousands of gold and silver!  

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  [Yod.] Thy hands made me and establish me, Cause me to understand, and I learn Thy commands.  

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  Those fearing Thee see me and rejoice, Because for Thy word I have hoped.  

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  I have known, O Jehovah, That righteous [are] Thy judgments, And [in] faithfulness Thou hast afflicted me.  

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  Let, I pray Thee, Thy kindness be to comfort me, According to Thy saying to Thy servant.  

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  Meet me do Thy mercies, and I live, For Thy law [is] my delight.  

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  Ashamed are the proud, For [with] falsehood they dealt perversely with me. I meditate in Thy precepts.  

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  Those fearing Thee turn back to me, And those knowing Thy testimonies.  

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  My heart is perfect in Thy statutes, So that I am not ashamed.  

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  [Kaph.] Consumed for Thy salvation hath been my soul, For Thy word I have hoped.  

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  Consumed have been mine eyes for Thy word, Saying, 'When doth it comfort me?'  

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  For I have been as a bottle in smoke, Thy statutes I have not forgotten.  

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  How many [are] the days of Thy servant? When dost Thou execute Against my pursuers judgment?  

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  The proud have digged for me pits, That [are] not according to Thy law.  

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  All Thy commands [are] faithfulness, [With] falsehood they have pursued me, Help Thou me.  

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  Almost consumed me on earth have they, And I -- I have not forsaken Thy precepts.  

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  According to Thy kindness quicken Thou me, And I keep the testimony of Thy mouth!  

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  [Lamed.] To the age, O Jehovah, Thy word is set up in the heavens.  

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  To all generations Thy faithfulness, Thou didst establish earth, and it standeth.  

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  According to Thine ordinances They have stood this day, for the whole [are] Thy servants.  

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  Unless Thy law [were] my delights, Then had I perished in mine affliction.  

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  To the age I forget not Thy precepts, For by them Thou hast quickened me.  

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  I [am] Thine, save Thou me, For Thy precepts I have sought.  

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  Thy wicked waited for me to destroy me, Thy testimonies I understand.  

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  Of all perfection I have seen an end, Broad [is] Thy command -- exceedingly!  

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  [Mem.] O how I have loved Thy law! All the day it [is] my meditation.  

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  Than mine enemies Thy command maketh me wiser, For it [is] before me to the age.  

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  Above all my teachers I have acted wisely. For Thy testimonies [are] my meditation.  

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  Above elders I understand more, For Thy precepts I have kept.  

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  From every evil path I restrained my feet, So that I keep Thy word.  

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  From Thy judgments I turned not aside, For Thou -- Thou hast directed me.  

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  How sweet to my palate hath been Thy saying, Above honey to my mouth.  

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  From Thy precepts I have understanding, Therefore I have hated every false path!  

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  [Nun.] A lamp to my foot [is] Thy word, And a light to my path.  

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  I have sworn, and I confirm [it], To keep the judgments of Thy righteousness.  

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  I have been afflicted very much, O Jehovah, quicken me, according to Thy word.  

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  Free-will-offerings of my mouth, Accept, I pray Thee, O Jehovah, And Thy judgments teach Thou me.  

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  My soul [is] in my hand continually, And Thy law I have not forgotten.  

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  The wicked have laid a snare for me, And from thy precepts I wandered not.  

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  I have inherited Thy testimonies to the age, For the joy of my heart [are] they.  

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  I have inclined my heart To do Thy statutes, to the age -- [to] the end!  

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  [Samech.] Doubting ones I have hated, And Thy law I have loved.  

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  My hiding place and my shield [art] Thou, For Thy word I have hoped.  

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  Turn aside from me, ye evil-doers, And I keep the commands of my God.  

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  Sustain me according to Thy saying, And I live, and Thou puttest me not to shame Because of my hope.  

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  Support Thou me, and I am saved, And I look on Thy statutes continually.  

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  Thou hast trodden down All going astray from Thy statutes, For falsehood [is] their deceit.  

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  Dross! Thou hast caused to cease All the wicked of the earth; Therefore I have loved Thy testimonies.  

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  Trembled from Thy fear hath my flesh, And from Thy judgments I have been afraid!  

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  [Ain.] I have done judgment and righteousness, Leave me not to mine oppressors.  

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  Make sure Thy servant for good, Let not the proud oppress me.  

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  Mine eyes have been consumed for Thy salvation. And for the saying of Thy righteousness.  

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  Do with Thy servant according to Thy kindness. And Thy statutes teach Thou me.  

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  Thy servant [am] I -- cause me to understand, And I know Thy testimonies.  

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  Time for Jehovah to work! they have made void Thy law.  

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  Therefore I have loved Thy commands Above gold -- even fine gold.  

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  Therefore all my appointments I have declared wholly right, Every path of falsehood I have hated!  

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  [Pe.] Wonderful [are] Thy testimonies, Therefore hath my soul kept them.  

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  The opening of Thy words enlighteneth, Instructing the simple.  

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  My mouth I have opened, yea, I pant, For, for Thy commands I have longed.  

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  Look unto me, and favour me, As customary to those loving Thy name.  

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  My steps establish by Thy saying, And any iniquity doth not rule over me.  

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  Ransom me from the oppression of man, And I observe Thy precepts,  

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  Thy face cause to shine on Thy servant, And teach me Thy statutes.  

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  Rivulets of waters have come down mine eyes, Because they have not kept Thy law!  

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  [Tzade.] Righteous [art] Thou, O Jehovah, And upright [are] Thy judgments.  

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  Thou hast appointed Thy testimonies, Righteous and exceeding faithful,  

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  Cut me off hath my zeal, For mine adversaries forgot Thy words.  

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  Tried [is] thy saying exceedingly, And Thy servant hath loved it.  

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  Small I [am], and despised, Thy precepts I have not forgotten.  

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  Thy righteousness [is] righteousness to the age, And Thy law [is] truth.  

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  Adversity and distress have found me, Thy commands [are] my delights.  

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  The righteousness of Thy testimonies [is] to Cause me to understand, and I live!  

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  [Koph.] I have called with the whole heart, Answer me, O Jehovah, Thy statutes I keep,  

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  I have called Thee, save Thou me, And I do keep Thy testimonies.  

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  I have gone forward in the dawn, and I cry, For Thy word I have hoped.  

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  Mine eyes have gone before the watches, To meditate in Thy saying.  

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  My voice hear, according to Thy kindness, Jehovah, according to Thy judgment quicken me.  

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  Near have been my wicked pursuers, From Thy law they have been far off.  

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  Near [art] Thou, O Jehovah, And all Thy commands [are] truth.  

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  Of old I have known Thy testimonies, That to the age Thou hast founded them!  

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  [Resh.] See my affliction, and deliver Thou me, For Thy law I have not forgotten.  

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  Plead my plea, and redeem me, According to Thy saying quicken me.  

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  Far from the wicked [is] salvation, For Thy statutes they have not sought.  

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  Thy mercies [are] many, O Jehovah, According to Thy judgments quicken me.  

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  Many [are] my pursuers, and adversaries, From Thy testimonies I have not turned aside.  

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  I have seen treacherous ones, And grieve myself, Because Thy saying they have not kept.  

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  See, for thy precepts I have loved, Jehovah, According to Thy kindness quicken me.  

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  The sum of Thy word [is] truth, And to the age [is] every judgment of Thy righteousness!  

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  [Shin.] Princes have pursued me without cause, And because of Thy words was my heart afraid.  

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  I do rejoice concerning Thy saying, As one finding abundant spoil.  

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  Falsehood I have hated, yea I abominate [it], Thy law I have loved.  

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  Seven [times] in a day I have praised Thee, Because of the judgments of Thy righteousness.  

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  Abundant peace have those loving Thy law, And they have no stumbling-block.  

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  I have waited for Thy salvation, O Jehovah, And Thy commands I have done.  

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  Kept hath my soul Thy testimonies, And I do 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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  [Taw.] My loud cry cometh near before Thee, O Jehovah; According to Thy word cause me to understand.  

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  My supplication cometh in before Thee, According to Thy saying deliver Thou me.  

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  My lips do utter praise, For Thou dost teach me Thy statutes.  

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  My tongue doth sing of Thy saying, For all Thy commands [are] righteous.  

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  Thy hand is for a help to me, For Thy commands I have chosen.  

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  I have longed for Thy salvation, O Jehovah, And Thy law [is] my delight.  

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  My soul liveth, and it doth praise Thee, And Thy judgments do help me.  

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  I wandered as a lost sheep, seek Thy servant, For Thy precepts I have not forgotten!  

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