Psalms

Aleph
Beati immaculati

¹Happy are they whose way is blameless, *
who walk in the law of the Lord!
²Happy are they who observe his decrees *
and seek him with all their hearts!
³Who never do any wrong, *
but always walk in his ways.
⁴You laid down your commandments, *
that we should fully keep them.
⁵Oh, that my ways were made so direct *
that I might keep your statutes!
⁶Then I should not be put to shame, *
when I regard all your commandments.
⁷I will thank you with an unfeigned heart, *
when I have learned your righteous judgments.
⁸I will keep your statutes; *
do not utterly forsake me.

Beth
In quo corrigit?

⁹How shall a young man cleanse his way? *
By keeping to your words.
¹⁰With my whole heart I seek you; *
let me not stray from your commandments.
¹¹I treasure your promise in my heart, *
that I may not sin against you.
¹²Blessed are you, O Lord; *
instruct me in your statutes.
¹³With my lips will I recite *
all the judgments of your mouth.
¹⁴I have taken greater delight in the way of your decrees *
than in all manner of riches.
¹⁵I will meditate on your commandments *
and give attention to your ways.
¹⁶My delight is in your statutes; *
I will not forget your word.

Gimel
Retribue servo tuo

¹⁷Deal bountifully with your servant, *
that I may live and keep your word.
¹⁸Open my eyes, that I may see *
the wonders of your law.
¹⁹I am a stranger here on earth; *
do not hide your commandments from me.
²⁰My soul is consumed at all times *
with longing for your judgments.
²¹You have rebuked the insolent; *
cursed are they who stray from your commandments!
²²Turn from me shame and rebuke, *
for I have kept your decrees.
²³Even though rulers sit and plot against me, *
I will meditate on your statutes.
²⁴For your decrees are my delight, *
and they are my counselors.

Daleth
Adhsit pavimento

²⁵My soul cleaves to the dust; *
give me life according to your word.
²⁶I have confessed my ways, and you answered me; *
instruct me in your statutes.
²⁷Make me understand the way of your commandments, *
that I may meditate on your marvelous works.
²⁸My soul melts away for sorrow; *
strengthen me according to your word.
²⁹Take from me the way of lying; *
let me find grace through your law.
³⁰I have chosen the way of faithfulness; *
I have set your judgments before me.
³¹I hold fast to your decrees; *
O Lord, let me not be put to shame.
³²I will run the way of your commandments, *
for you have set my heart at liberty.

Zayin
Memor esto verbi tui

⁴⁹Remember your word to your servant, *
because you have given me hope.
⁵⁰This is my comfort in my trouble, *
that your promise gives me life.
⁵¹The proud have derided me cruelly, *
but I have not turned from your law.
⁵²When I remember your judgments of old, *
O Lord, I take great comfort.
⁵³I am filled with a burning rage, *
because of the wicked who forsake your law.
⁵⁴Your statutes have been like songs to me *
wherever I have lived as a stranger.
⁵⁵I remember your Name in the night, O Lord, *
and dwell upon your law.
⁵⁶This is how it has been with me, *
because I have kept your commandments.

Heth
Portio mea, Domine

⁵⁷You only are my portion, O Lord; *
I have promised to keep your words.
⁵⁸I entreat you with all my heart, *
be merciful to me according to your promise.
⁵⁹I have considered my ways *
and turned my feet toward your decrees.
⁶⁰I hasten and do not tarry *
to keep your commandments.
⁶¹Though the cords of the wicked entangle me, *
I do not forget your law.
⁶²At midnight I will rise to give you thanks, *
because of your righteous judgments.
⁶³I am a companion of all who fear you; *
and of those who keep your commandments.
⁶⁴The earth, O Lord, is full of your love; *
instruct me in your statutes.

Teth
Bonitatem fecisti

⁶⁵O Lord, you have dealt graciously with your servant, *
according to your word.
⁶⁶Teach me discernment and knowledge, *
for I have believed in your commandments.
⁶⁷Before I was afflicted I went astray, *
but now I keep your word.
⁶⁸You are good and you bring forth good; *
instruct me in your statutes.
⁶⁹The proud have smeared me with lies, *
but I will keep your commandments with my whole heart.
⁷⁰Their heart is gross and fat, *
but my delight is in your law.
⁷¹It is good for me that I have been afflicted, *
that I might learn your statutes.
⁷²The law of your mouth is dearer to me *
than thousands in gold and silver.

Yodh
Manus tu fecerunt me

⁷³Your hands have made me and fashioned me; *
give me understanding, that I may learn your
commandments.
⁷⁴Those who fear you will be glad when they see me, *
because I trust in your word.
⁷⁵I know, O Lord, that your judgments are right *
and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
⁷⁶Let your loving-kindness be my comfort, *
as you have promised to your servant.
⁷⁷Let your compassion come to me, that I may live, *
for your law is my delight.
⁷⁸Let the arrogant be put to shame, for they wrong me
with lies; *
but I will meditate on your commandments.
⁷⁹Let those who fear you turn to me, *
and also those who know your decrees.
⁸⁰Let my heart be sound in your statutes, *
that I may not be put to shame.

Kaph
Defecit in salutare

⁸¹My soul has longed for your salvation; *
I have put my hope in your word.
⁸²My eyes have failed from watching for your promise, *
and I say, "When will you comfort me?"
⁸³I have become like a leather flask in the smoke, *
but I have not forgotten your statutes.
⁸⁴How much longer must I wait? *
when will you give judgment against those who
persecute me?
⁸⁵The proud have dug pits for me; *
they do not keep your law.
⁸⁶All your commandments are true; *
help me, for they persecute me with lies.
⁸⁷They had almost made an end of me on earth, *
but I have not forsaken your commandments.
⁸⁸In your loving-kindness, revive me, *
that I may keep the decrees of your mouth.

Lamedh
In ternum, Domine

⁸⁹O Lord, your word is everlasting; *
it stands firm in the heavens.
⁹⁰Your faithfulness remains from one generation to another; *
you established the earth, and it abides.
⁹¹By your decree these continue to this day, *
for all things are your servants.
⁹²If my delight had not been in your law, *
I should have perished in my affliction.
⁹³I will never forget your commandments, *
because by them you give me life.
⁹⁴I am yours; oh, that you would save me! *
for I study your commandments.
⁹⁵Though the wicked lie in wait for me to destroy me, *
I will apply my mind to your decrees.
⁹⁶I see that all things come to an end, *
but your commandment has no bounds.

Mem
Quomodo dilexi!

⁹⁷Oh, how I love your law! *
all the day long it is in my mind.
⁹⁸Your commandment has made me wiser than my enemies, *
and it is always with me.
⁹⁹I have more understanding than all my teachers, *
for your decrees are my study.
¹⁰⁰I am wiser than the elders, *
because I observe your commandments.
¹⁰¹I restrain my feet from every evil way, *
that I may keep your word.
¹⁰²I do not shrink from your judgments, *
because you yourself have taught me.
¹⁰³How sweet are your words to my taste! *
they are sweeter than honey to my mouth.
¹⁰⁴Through your commandments I gain understanding; *
therefore I hate every lying way.

Nun
Lucerna pedibus meis

¹⁰⁵Your word is a lantern to my feet *
and a light upon my path.
¹⁰⁶I have sworn and am determined *
to keep your righteous judgments.
¹⁰⁷I am deeply troubled; *
preserve my life, O Lord, according to your word.
¹⁰⁸Accept, O Lord, the willing tribute of my lips, *
and teach me your judgments.
¹⁰⁹My life is always in my hand, *
yet I do not forget your law.
¹¹⁰The wicked have set a trap for me, *
but I have not strayed from your commandments.
¹¹¹Your decrees are my inheritance for ever; *
truly, they are the joy of my heart.
¹¹²I have applied my heart to fulfill your statutes *
for ever and to the end.

Samekh
Iniquos odio habui

¹¹³I hate those who have a divided heart, *
but your law do I love.
¹¹⁴You are my refuge and shield; *
my hope is in your word.
¹¹⁵Away from me, you wicked! *
I will keep the commandments of my God.
¹¹⁶Sustain me according to your promise, that I may live, *
and let me not be disappointed in my hope.
¹¹⁷Hold me up, and I shall be safe, *
and my delight shall be ever in your statutes.
¹¹⁸You spurn all who stray from your statutes; *
their deceitfulness is in vain.
¹¹⁹In your sight all the wicked of the earth are but dross; *
therefore I love your decrees.
¹²⁰My flesh trembles with dread of you; *
I am afraid of your judgments.

Ayin
Feci judicium

¹²¹I have done what is just and right; *
do not deliver me to my oppressors.
¹²²Be surety for your servants good; *
let not the proud oppress me.
¹²³My eyes have failed from watching for your salvation *
and for your righteous promise.
¹²⁴Deal with your servant according to your loving-kindness *
and teach me your statutes.
¹²⁵I am your servant; grant me understanding, *
that I may know your decrees.
¹²⁶It is time for you to act, O Lord, *
for they have broken your law.
¹²⁷Truly, I love your commandments *
more than gold and precious stones.
¹²⁸I hold all your commandments to be right for me; *
all paths of falsehood I abhor.

Pe
Mirabilia

¹²⁹Your decrees are wonderful; *
therefore I obey them with all my heart.
¹³⁰When your word goes forth it gives light; *
it gives understanding to the simple.
¹³¹I open my mouth and pant; *
I long for your commandments.
¹³²Turn to me in mercy, *
as you always do to those who love your Name.
¹³³Steady my footsteps in your word; *
let no iniquity have dominion over me.
¹³⁴Rescue me from those who oppress me, *
and I will keep your commandments.
¹³⁵Let your countenance shine upon your servant *
and teach me your statutes.
¹³⁶My eyes shed streams of tears, *
because people do not keep your law.

Sadhe
Justus es, Domine

¹³⁷You are righteous, O Lord, *
and upright are your judgments.
¹³⁸You have issued your decrees *
with justice and in perfect faithfulness.
¹³⁹My indignation has consumed me, *
because my enemies forget your words.
¹⁴⁰Your word has been tested to the uttermost, *
and your servant holds it dear.
¹⁴¹I am small and of little account, *
yet I do not forget your commandments.
¹⁴²Your justice is an everlasting justice *
and your law is the truth.
¹⁴³Trouble and distress have come upon me, *
yet your commandments are my delight.
¹⁴⁴The righteousness of your decrees is everlasting; *
grant me understanding, that I may live.

Qoph
Clamavi in toto corde meo

¹⁴⁵I call with my whole heart; *
answer me, O Lord, that I may keep your statutes.
¹⁴⁶I call to you;
oh, that you would save me! *
I will keep your decrees.
¹⁴⁷Early in the morning I cry out to you, *
for in your word is my trust.
¹⁴⁸My eyes are open in the night watches, *
that I may meditate upon your promise.
¹⁴⁹Hear my voice, O Lord, according to your loving-kindness; *
according to your judgments, give me life.
¹⁵⁰They draw near who in malice persecute me; *
they are very far from your law.
¹⁵¹You, O Lord, are near at hand, *
and all your commandments are true.
¹⁵²Long have I known from your decrees *
that you have established them for ever.

Resh
Vide humilitatem

¹⁵³Behold my affliction and deliver me, *
for I do not forget your law.
¹⁵⁴Plead my cause and redeem me; *
according to your promise, give me life.
¹⁵⁵Deliverance is far from the wicked, *
for they do not study your statutes.
¹⁵⁶Great is your compassion, O Lord; *
preserve my life, according to your judgments.
¹⁵⁷There are many who persecute and oppress me, *
yet I have not swerved from your decrees.
¹⁵⁸I look with loathing at the faithless, *
for they have not kept your word.
¹⁵⁹See how I love your commandments! *
O Lord, in your mercy, preserve me.
¹⁶⁰The heart of your word is truth; *
all your righteous judgments endure for evermore.

Shin
Principes persecuti sunt

¹⁶¹Rulers have persecuted me without a cause, *
but my heart stands in awe of your word.
¹⁶²I am as glad because of your promise *
as one who finds great spoils.
¹⁶³As for lies, I hate and abhor them, *
but your law is my love.
¹⁶⁴Seven times a day do I praise you, *
because of your righteous judgments.
¹⁶⁵Great peace have they who love your law; *
for them there is no stumbling block.
¹⁶⁶I have hoped for your salvation, O Lord, *
and I have fulfilled your commandments.
¹⁶⁷I have kept your decrees *
and I have loved them deeply.
¹⁶⁸I have kept your commandments and decrees, *
for all my ways are before you.

Taw
Appropinquet deprecatio

¹⁶⁹Let my cry come before you, O Lord; *
give me understanding, according to your word.
¹⁷⁰Let my supplication come before you; *
deliver me, according to your promise.
¹⁷¹My lips shall pour forth your praise, *
when you teach me your statutes.
¹⁷²My tongue shall sing of your promise, *
for all your commandments are righteous.
¹⁷³Let your hand be ready to help me, *
for I have chosen your commandments.
¹⁷⁴I long for your salvation, O Lord, *
and your law is my delight.
¹⁷⁵Let me live, and I will praise you, *
and let your judgments help me.
¹⁷⁶I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost; *
search for your servant,
for I do not forget your commandments.