Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet

א

ALEPH

¹ Blessed are those whose way is blameless,

who walk in the Law of the LORD.

² Blessed are those who keep His testimonies

and seek Him with all their heart.

³ They do no iniquity;

they walk in His ways.

⁴ You have ordained Your precepts,

that we should keep them diligently.

⁵ Oh, that my ways were committed

to keeping Your statutes!

⁶ Then I would not be ashamed

when I consider all Your commandments.

⁷ I will praise You with an upright heart

when I learn Your righteous judgments.

⁸ I will keep Your statutes;

do not utterly forsake me.

ב

BETH

⁹ How can a young man keep his way pure?

By guarding it according to Your word.

¹⁰ With all my heart I have sought You;

do not let me stray from Your commandments.

¹¹ I have hidden Your word in my heart

that I might not sin against You.

¹² Blessed are You, O LORD;

teach me Your statutes.

¹³ With my lips I proclaim

all the judgments of Your mouth.

¹⁴ I rejoice in the way of Your testimonies

as much as in all riches.

¹⁵ I will meditate on Your precepts

and regard Your ways.

¹⁶ I will delight in Your statutes;

I will not forget Your word.

ג

GIMEL

¹⁷ Deal bountifully with Your servant,

that I may live and keep Your word.

¹⁸ Open my eyes that I may see

wondrous things from Your law.

¹⁹ I am a stranger on the earth;

do not hide Your commandments from me.

²⁰ My soul is consumed with longing

for Your judgments at all times.

²¹ You rebuke^* the arrogant —

the cursed who stray from Your commandments.

²² Remove my scorn and contempt,

for I have kept Your testimonies.

²³ Though rulers sit and slander me,

Your servant meditates on Your statutes.

²⁴ Your testimonies are indeed my delight;

they are my counselors.

ד

DALETH

²⁵ My soul cleaves to the dust;

revive me according to Your word.

²⁶ I recounted my ways, and You answered me;

teach me Your statutes.

²⁷ Make clear to me the way of Your precepts;

then I will meditate on Your wonders.

²⁸ My soul melts with sorrow;

strengthen me according to Your word.

²⁹ Remove me from the path of deceit

and graciously grant me Your law.

³⁰ I have chosen the way of truth;

I have set Your ordinances before me.

³¹ I cling to Your testimonies, O LORD;

let me not be put to shame.

³² I run in the path of Your commandments,

for You will enlarge my heart.

ה

HE

³³ Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes,

and I will keep them to the end.^*

³⁴ Give me understanding that I may obey Your law,

and follow it with all my heart.

³⁵ Direct me in the path of Your commandments,

for there I find delight.

³⁶ Turn my heart to Your testimonies

and not to covetous gain.

³⁷ Turn my eyes away from worthless things;

revive me with Your word.

³⁸ Establish Your word to Your servant,

to produce reverence for You.

³⁹ Turn away the disgrace I dread,

for Your judgments are good.

⁴⁰ How I long for Your precepts!

Revive me in Your righteousness.

ו

WAW

⁴¹ May Your loving devotion come to me, O LORD,

Your salvation, according to Your promise.

⁴² Then I can answer him who taunts,

for I trust in Your word.

⁴³ Never take Your word of truth from my mouth,

for I hope in Your judgments.

⁴⁴ I will always obey Your law,

forever and ever.

⁴⁵ And I will walk in freedom,^*

for I have sought Your precepts.

⁴⁶ I will speak of Your testimonies before kings,

and I will not be ashamed.

⁴⁷ I delight in Your commandments

because I love them.

⁴⁸ I lift up my hands^* to Your commandments, which I love,

and I meditate on Your statutes.

ז

ZAYIN

⁴⁹ Remember Your word to Your servant,

upon which You have given me hope.

⁵⁰ This is my comfort in affliction,

that Your promise has given me life.

⁵¹ The arrogant utterly deride me,

but I do not turn from Your law.

⁵² I remember Your judgments of old, O LORD,

and in them I find comfort.

⁵³ Rage has taken hold of me

because of the wicked who reject Your law.

⁵⁴ Your statutes are songs to me

in the house of my pilgrimage.

⁵⁵ In the night, O LORD, I remember Your name,

that I may keep Your law.

⁵⁶ This is my practice,

for I obey Your precepts.

ח

HETH

⁵⁷ The LORD is my portion;

I have promised to keep Your words.

⁵⁸ I have sought Your face with all my heart;

be gracious to me according to Your promise.

⁵⁹ I considered my ways

and turned my steps to Your testimonies.

⁶⁰ I hurried without hesitating

to keep Your commandments.

⁶¹ Though the ropes of the wicked bind me,^*

I do not forget Your law.

⁶² At midnight I rise to give You thanks

for Your righteous judgments.

⁶³ I am a friend^* to all who fear You,

and to those who keep Your precepts.

⁶⁴ The earth is filled with Your loving devotion, O LORD;

teach me Your statutes.

ט

TETH

⁶⁵ You are good to Your servant, O LORD,

according to Your word.

⁶⁶ Teach me good^* judgment and knowledge,

for I believe in Your commandments.

⁶⁷ Before I was afflicted, I went astray;

but now I keep Your word.

⁶⁸ You are good, and You do what is good;

teach me Your statutes.

⁶⁹ Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies,

I keep Your precepts with all my heart.

⁷⁰ Their hearts are callous and insensitive,

but I delight in Your law.

⁷¹ It was good for me to be afflicted,

that I might learn Your statutes.

⁷² The law from Your mouth is more precious to me

than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.

י

YODH

⁷³ Your hands have made me and fashioned me;^*

give me understanding to learn Your commandments.

⁷⁴ May those who fear You see me and rejoice,

for I have hoped in Your word.

⁷⁵ I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are righteous,

and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.

⁷⁶ May Your loving devotion comfort me, I pray,

according to Your promise to Your servant.

⁷⁷ May Your compassion come to me, that I may live,

for Your law is my delight.

⁷⁸ May the arrogant be put to shame for subverting me with a lie;

I will meditate on Your precepts.

⁷⁹ May those who fear You turn to me,

those who know Your testimonies.

⁸⁰ May my heart be blameless in Your statutes,

that I may not be put to shame.

כ

KAPH

⁸¹ My soul faints for Your salvation;

I wait for Your word.

⁸² My eyes fail, looking for Your promise;

I ask, “When will You comfort me?”

⁸³ Though I am like a wineskin dried up by smoke,

I do not forget Your statutes.

⁸⁴ How many days must Your servant wait?

When will You execute judgment on my persecutors?

⁸⁵ The arrogant have dug pits for me

in violation of Your law.

⁸⁶ All Your commandments are faithful;

I am persecuted without cause— help me!

⁸⁷ They almost wiped me from the earth,

but I have not forsaken Your precepts.

⁸⁸ Revive me according to Your loving devotion,

that I may obey the testimony of Your mouth.

ל

LAMEDH

⁸⁹ Your word, O LORD, is everlasting;

it is firmly fixed in the heavens.

⁹⁰ Your faithfulness continues through all generations;

You established the earth, and it endures.

⁹¹ Your ordinances stand to this day,

for all things are servants to You.

⁹² If Your law had not been my delight,

then I would have perished in my affliction.

⁹³ I will never forget Your precepts,

for by them You have revived me.

⁹⁴ I am Yours; save me,

for I have sought Your precepts.

⁹⁵ The wicked wait^* to destroy me,

but I will ponder Your testimonies.

⁹⁶ I have seen a limit to all perfection,

but Your commandment is without limit.

מ

MEM

⁹⁷ Oh, how I love Your law!^*

All day long it is my meditation.

⁹⁸ Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies,

for they are always with me.

⁹⁹ I have more insight than all my teachers,

for Your testimonies are my meditation.

¹⁰⁰ I discern more than the elders,

for I obey Your precepts.

¹⁰¹ I have kept my feet from every evil path,

that I may keep Your word.

¹⁰² I have not departed from Your ordinances,

for You Yourself have taught me.

¹⁰³ How sweet are Your words to my taste—

sweeter than honey in my mouth!

¹⁰⁴ I gain understanding from Your precepts;

therefore I hate every false way.

נ

NUN

¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to my feet

and a light to my path.

¹⁰⁶ I have sworn and confirmed

that I will keep Your righteous judgments.

¹⁰⁷ I am severely afflicted, O LORD;

revive me through Your word.

¹⁰⁸ Accept the freewill offerings^* of my mouth, O LORD,

and teach me Your judgments.

¹⁰⁹ I constantly take my life in my hands,

yet I do not forget Your law.

¹¹⁰ The wicked have set a snare for me,

but I have not strayed from Your precepts.

¹¹¹ Your testimonies are my heritage forever,

for they are the joy of my heart.

¹¹² I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes,

even to the very end.^*

ס

SAMEKH

¹¹³ The double-minded I despise,

but Your law I love.

¹¹⁴ You are my hiding place and my shield;

I put my hope in Your word.

¹¹⁵ Depart from me, you evildoers,

that I may obey the commandments of my God.

¹¹⁶ Sustain me as You promised, that I may live;

let me not be ashamed of my hope.

¹¹⁷ Uphold me, and I will be saved,

that I may always regard Your statutes.

¹¹⁸ You reject all who stray from Your statutes,

for their deceitfulness is in vain.

¹¹⁹ All the wicked on earth You discard like dross;

therefore I love Your testimonies.

¹²⁰ My flesh trembles in awe of You;

I stand in fear of Your judgments.

ע

AYIN

¹²¹ I have done what is just and right;

do not leave me to my oppressors.

¹²² Ensure Your servant’s well-being;

do not let the arrogant oppress me.

¹²³ My eyes fail, looking for Your salvation,

and for Your righteous promise.

¹²⁴ Deal with Your servant according to Your loving devotion,

and teach me Your statutes.

¹²⁵ I am Your servant; give me understanding,

that I may know Your testimonies.

¹²⁶ It is time for the LORD to act,

for they have broken Your law.

¹²⁷ Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold,

even the purest gold.

¹²⁸ Therefore I admire all Your precepts

and hate every false way.

פ

PE

¹²⁹ Wonderful are Your testimonies;

therefore I obey them.

¹³⁰ The unfolding of Your words gives light;

it informs the simple.

¹³¹ I open my mouth and pant,

longing for Your commandments.

¹³² Turn to me and show me mercy,

as You do to those who love Your name.

¹³³ Order my steps in Your word;

let no sin rule over me.

¹³⁴ Redeem me from the oppression of man,

that I may keep Your precepts.

¹³⁵ Make Your face shine upon Your servant,

and teach me Your statutes.

¹³⁶ My eyes shed streams of tears

because Your law is not obeyed.

צ

TZADE

¹³⁷ Righteous are You, O LORD,

and upright are Your judgments.

¹³⁸ The testimonies You have laid down are righteous

and altogether faithful.

¹³⁹ My zeal has consumed me

because my foes forget Your words.

¹⁴⁰ Your promise is completely pure;

therefore Your servant loves it.

¹⁴¹ I am lowly and despised,

but I do not forget Your precepts.

¹⁴² Your righteousness^* is everlasting

and Your law is true.

¹⁴³ Trouble and distress have found me,

but Your commandments are my delight.

¹⁴⁴ Your testimonies are righteous forever.

Give me understanding, that I may live.

ק

KOPH

¹⁴⁵ I call with all my heart; answer me, O LORD!

I will obey Your statutes.

¹⁴⁶ I call to You; save me,

that I may keep Your testimonies.

¹⁴⁷ I rise before dawn and cry for help;

in Your word I have put my hope.

¹⁴⁸ My eyes anticipate the watches of night,

that I may meditate on Your word.

¹⁴⁹ Hear my voice, O LORD, according to Your loving devotion;

give me life according to Your justice.

¹⁵⁰ Those who follow after wickedness draw near;

they are far from Your law.

¹⁵¹ You are near, O LORD,

and all Your commandments are true.

¹⁵² Long ago I learned from Your testimonies

that You have established them forever.

ר

RESH

¹⁵³ Look upon my affliction and rescue me,

for I have not forgotten Your law.

¹⁵⁴ Defend my cause and redeem me;

revive me according to Your word.

¹⁵⁵ Salvation is far from the wicked

because they do not seek Your statutes.

¹⁵⁶ Great are Your mercies, O LORD;

revive me according to Your ordinances.

¹⁵⁷ Though my persecutors and foes are many,

I have not turned from Your testimonies.

¹⁵⁸ I look on the faithless with loathing

because they do not keep Your word.

¹⁵⁹ Consider how I love Your precepts, O LORD;

give me life according to Your loving devotion.

¹⁶⁰ The entirety of Your word is truth,

and all Your righteous judgments endure forever.

ש

SIN and SHIN

¹⁶¹ Rulers persecute me without cause,

but my heart fears only Your word.

¹⁶² I rejoice in Your promise

like one who finds great spoil.

¹⁶³ I hate and abhor falsehood,

but Your law I love.

¹⁶⁴ Seven times a day I praise You

for Your righteous judgments.

¹⁶⁵ Abundant peace belongs to those who love Your law;

nothing can make them stumble.

¹⁶⁶ I wait for Your salvation, O LORD,

and I carry out Your commandments.

¹⁶⁷ I obey Your testimonies

and love them greatly.

¹⁶⁸ I obey Your precepts and Your testimonies,

for all my ways are before You.

ת

TAW

¹⁶⁹ May my cry come before You, O LORD;

give me understanding according to Your word.

¹⁷⁰ May my plea come before You;

rescue me according to Your promise.

¹⁷¹ My lips pour forth praise,

for You teach me Your statutes.

¹⁷² My tongue sings of Your word,

for all Your commandments are righteous.

¹⁷³ May Your hand be ready to help me,

for I have chosen Your precepts.

¹⁷⁴ I long for Your salvation, O LORD,

and Your law is my delight.

¹⁷⁵ Let me live to praise You;

may Your judgments sustain me.

¹⁷⁶ I have strayed like a lost sheep;

seek Your servant, for I have not forgotten Your commandments.