Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet

א
ALEPH

1Blessed are† those complete in the way,

those walking in the law of YHWH.

2Blessed are those keeping His testimonies;

with all the heart they seek Him.

3Also they do not do injustice;

in His ways they walk.

4You have commanded Your precepts,

to be kept diligently.

5Oh, that my ways were set firm

to keep Your statutes!

6Then I would not be ashamed,

in my looking to all Your commandments.

7I will praise You with uprightness of heart,

in my learning the judgments of Your righteousness.

8Your statutes I will keep;

may You not even to exceedingly forsake me!

ב
BETH

9How can a young man keep pure his way?

By guarding it according to Your word.

10With all my heart I have sought You;

do not let me stray from Your commandments.

11In my heart I have hidden Your word,

that I should not sin against You.

12Blessed are You, O YHWH;

teach me Your statutes.

13With my lips I have recounted

all the judgments of Your mouth.

14In the way of Your testimonies I rejoice,

more than in all wealth.

15May I meditate on Your precepts

and look upon Your paths.

16In Your statutes I will delight myself;

I will not forget Your word.

ג
GIMEL

17Deal bountifully with Your servant,

that I may live and keep Your word.

18Open my eyes,

that I may see the wonders from Your law.

19I am a sojourner on the earth;

do not hide from me Your commandments!

20My soul is crushed with longing

for Your judgments at all times.

21You rebuke the arrogant ones,

the accursed ones, those going astray from Your commandments.

22Remove from me scorn and contempt,

for I have kept Your testimonies.

23Though princes sit against me and slander,

Your servant meditates on Your statutes.

24Your testimonies also are my delight—

the men of my counsel.

ד
DALETH

25My soul clings to the dust;

revive me according to Your word!

26My ways I recounted, and You answered me;

teach me Your statutes.

27Make me understand the way of Your precepts,

that I may meditate on Your wonders.

28My soul drips from sorrow;

establish me according to Your word!

29Turn away from me the path of deceit,

and with Your law show favor to me.

30The way of truth I have chosen;

Your ordinances I have set.

31I cling to Your testimonies, O YHWH;

let me not be put to shame!

32The way of Your commandments I will run,

for You will enlarge my heart.

ה
HE

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

and I will keep it to the end.†

34Give me understanding, and I will guard Your law,

and I will keep it with all my heart.

35Cause me to tread in the path of Your commandments,

for in it I delight.

36Incline my heart toward Your testimonies,

and not toward dishonest gain.

37Make my eyes pass from seeing the vain thing;

with Your word† revive me.

38Make Your word stand for Your servant,

which is for the fearing of You.

39Remove the reproach that I dread,

for Your judgments are good.

40Behold, I long for Your precepts;

Revive me in Your righteousness!

ו
WAW

41And may Your loving devotion come to me, O YHWH,

Your salvation according to Your word.

42Then I will answer with a word for the one reproaching me,

for I trust in Your word.

43And do not take away from my mouth the word of truth even to exceedingly!

For in Your judgments I have hoped.

44And I will keep Your law continually,

forever and ever,

45and I will walk in a broad place,

for Your precepts I have sought.

46And I will speak of Your testimonies before kings,

and I will not be ashamed.

47And I will delight myself in Your commandments,

which I have loved.

48And I will lift up my hands to Your commandments, which I have loved,

and I will meditate on Your statutes.

ז
ZAYIN

49Remember the word to Your servant,

upon that You have caused me to hope.

50This is my comfort in my affliction,

for Your word has given me life.

51The arrogant ones mock me even to exceedingly;

from Your law I do not stretch away.

52I remember Your judgments from old, O YHWH,

and I am comforted.

53Indignation has seized me,

from the wicked forsaking Your law.

54Your statutes have been songs to me,

in the house of my sojourning.

55I remember Your name in the night, O YHWH,

and I keep Your law.

56This has come to be for me,

for I have kept Your precepts.

ח
HETH

57YHWH is my portion;

I have said I would keep Your words.

58I appeased Your face with all my heart;

be gracious to me according to Your word.

59I have considered my paths,

and turned back my feet to Your testimonies.

60I hurried and did not delay

to keep Your commandments.

61The cords of the wicked have surrounded me,

Your law I have not forgotten.

62In the middle of the night, I rise to give thanks to You,

upon the judgments of Your righteousness.

63I am a companion to all who fear You,

and to those keeping Your precepts.

64O YHWH, with Your loving devotion the earth is full;

teach me Your statutes.

ט
TETH

65You have done well with Your servant, O YHWH,

according to Your word.

66So may You teach me good judgment and knowledge,

for in Your commandments I have believed.

67Before I was afflicted, I was going astray;

and now I have kept Your word.

68You are good, and the One doing good;

may You teach me Your statutes.

69The arrogant ones have smeared a lie over me;

I, with all my heart, will guard Your precepts.

70Their heart is unfeeling like fat;†

I have delighted in Your law.

71It is good for me that I was afflicted,

so that I might learn Your statutes.

72The law from Your mouth is better to me

than thousands of gold and silver.

י
YODH

73Your hands have made me and established me;

give me understanding to learn Your commandments.

74Those fearing You see me and rejoice,

because in Your word I have hoped.

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

and in faithfulness You have afflicted me.

76Your loving devotion, may it be, please, to comfort me,

according to Your word to Your servant.

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

for Your law is my delight.

78May the arrogant ones be put to shame, for with a lie they dealt perversely with me;

I will meditate on Your precepts.

79Let those who fear You turn to me,

and those who know Your testimonies.

80May my heart be perfect in Your statutes,

so that I may not be ashamed.

כ
KAPH

81My soul faints for Your salvation;

for Your word I wait.

82My eyes fail for your word,

saying, “When will You comfort me?”

83For, I have become like a wineskin in smoke;

Your statutes I have not forgotten.

84How many are the days of Your servant?†

When will You execute judgment on my pursuers?

85The arrogant ones have dug pits for me

that are not according to Your law.

86All Your commandments are firm,

falsely they pursue me—Help me!

87Almost they consumed me on the earth;

and I have not forsaken Your precepts.

88According to Your loving devotion, revive me,

that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.

ל
LAMEDH

89Forever, O YHWH, is Your word,

standing fixed in the heavens.

90For generation and generation is Your faithfulness;

You established the earth, and it stands.

91According to Your ordinances, they stand this day,†

for all things are Your servants.

92Had Your law not been my delight,

then I would have perished in my affliction.

93Forever, I will not forget Your precepts,

for by them You have revived me.

94Unto You I am—save me!

For I have sought Your precepts.

95The wicked wait for me to destroy me;

Your testimonies I will consider.

96To all perfection I have seen an end;

broad is Your commandment exceedingly.

מ
MEM

97Oh, how I love Your law!

All the day, it is my meditation.

98By Your commandment You make me wiser than my enemies;

for, it is with me forever.

99I have insight above all my teachers,

for Your testimonies are a meditation to me.

100I understand above elders,

for Your precepts I have kept.

101From every path of evil I have restrained my feet,

that I may keep Your word.

102From Your ordinances I have not turned aside,

for You have instructed me.

103How smooth are Your words to my palate,

more than honey to my mouth!

104From Your precepts I gain understanding;

upon thus, I hate every path of deception!

נ
NUN

105Your word is a lamp to my feet,

and a light to my path.

106I have sworn and confirmed:

I will keep the judgments of Your righteousness.

107I am afflicted even exceedingly, O YHWH;

revive me according to Your word!

108May You accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, please, O YHWH,

and may You teach me Your judgments.

109My soul is in my hand continually,

and I do not forget Your law.

110The wicked have set a snare for me,

and from Your precepts I do not go astray.

111I have inherited Your testimonies forever;

for they are the joy of my heart.

112I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes

forever, to the end!

ס
SAMEKH

113The double-minded I hate,

and Your law I love.

114You are my hiding place and my shield;

in Your word I hope.

115Turn away from me, O evildoers!

And I will keep the commandments of my God.

116Uphold me according to Your word, and l will live;

and do not make me ashamed of my hope!

117Support me, and I will be saved;

and I will gaze on Your statutes continually.

118You have trodden down all those going astray from Your statutes,

for their treachery is falsehood.

119Like dross You put an end to all the wicked of the earth;

therefore I love Your testimonies.

120My flesh bristles from dread of You,

and of your judgments I have been afraid.

ע
AYIN

121I have done justice and righteousness;

do not leave me to my oppressors!

122Ensure Your servant for good;

do not let the arrogant ones oppress me.

123My eyes fail for Your salvation,

and for the word of Your righteousness.

124Deal with Your servant according to Your loving devotion,

and teach me Your statutes.

125I am Your servant—give me understanding,

that I may know Your testimonies.

126It is time, O YHWH, to act;

they have broken Your law!

127Upon thus, I love Your commandments more than gold,

and more than fine gold.

128Upon thus, all the precepts I have declared wholly right;

every path of deception I hate.

פ
PE

129Wonderful are Your testimonies;

upon thus, my soul has kept watch over them.

130The opening of Your words gives light,

giving understanding to the simple ones.

131I have opened my mouth and I pant—

for I have longed for Your commandments!

132Turn to me and be gracious to me,

according to justice to those loving Your name.

133Establish my steps by Your word,

and do not let any iniquity rule over me.

134Redeem me from the oppression of man,

that I may keep Your precepts.

135Make Your face shine on Your servant,

and teach me Your statutes.

136Streams of waters run down from my eyes,

because they have not kept Your law.

צ
TZADE

137You are righteous, O YHWH,

and Your judgments are upright.

138You have appointed your righteous testimonies,

and exceedingly faithful.

139My zeal has cut me off,

because my adversaries have forgotten Your words.

140Your word is exceedingly pure,

and Your servant has loved it.

141I am little and despised;

I do not forget Your precepts.

142Your righteousness is righteous forever,

and Your law is truth.

143Trouble and distress have found me;

Your commandments are my delight.

144The righteousness of Your testimonies is forever;

give me understanding, that I may live!

ק
KOPH

145I cry out with all my heart;

answer me, O YHWH!

Your statutes I will guard.

146I call out to You, save me,

that I may keep Your testimonies!

147I went ahead at the dawn, and I cried out,

and for Your word I have hoped.

148My eyes have gone before the watches

to meditate on Your word.

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

according to Your justice, preserve my life!

150They draw near, those pursuing wickedness!

From Your law they are far.

151You are near, O YHWH,

and all Your commandments are truth.

152I have known of Your testimonies of old,

that forever You have founded them.

ר
RESH

153See my affliction and rescue me!

For I have not forgotten Your law.

154Plead my plea and redeem me;

according to Your word, revive me!

155Far from the wicked is salvation,

because they have not not sought Your statutes.

156Your mercies are great, O YHWH;

according to Your ordinances, revive me!

157Many are my pursuers and my adversaries;

from Your testimonies I have not turned aside.

158I have seen those acting treacherously, and I felt loathing,

because they have not kept Your word.

159See, how I love Your precepts, O YHWH;

according to Your loving devotion, revive me!

160The head of Your word is truth,

and every judgment of Your righteousness is forever.

ש
SIN and SHIN

161Princes may pursue me without cause,

and of Your word my heart was afraid.

162I am rejoicing over Your word

like one finding great plunder.

163Deception I hate and abhor;

Your law I do love.

164Seven times in the day I praise You,

because of the judgments of Your righteousness.

165Great prosperity is unto those loving Your law,

and nothing to them is a stumbling block.

166I wait for Your salvation, O YHWH,

and Your commandments I have done.

167My soul has kept Your testimonies,

and I love them exceedingly.

168I have kept Your precepts and Your testimonies,

because all my ways are before You.

ת
TAW

169Let my cry come before You, O YHWH;

according to Your word, give me understanding.

170Let my supplication come before You;

according to Your word, deliver me.

171Let my lips pour forth praise,

for You teach me Your statutes.

172Let my tongue sing out Your word,

for all Your commandments are righteous.

173Let Your hand be to help me,

for Your precepts I have chosen.

174I long for Your salvation, O YHWH,

and Your law is my delight.

175Let my soul live, and it shall praise You;

and may Your judgments help me.

176I have gone astray, getting lost like a sheep;

may You seek Your servant,

for Your commandments I have not forgotten.

Footnotes:

1 This psalm is an acrostic poem of twenty-two stanzas, following the letters of the Hebrew alphabet; within a stanza, each verse begins with the same Hebrew letter.
33 Or keep it as my reward
37 Two MT manuscripts and DSS; most MT manuscripts in Your way
70 Or fat
84 Or How many days must Your servant wait?
91 Or They stand to this day