9 But as the heavens are high above the earth,

So are My ways high above your ways

And My plans above your plans.

10 For as the rain or snow drops from heaven

And returns not there,

But soaks the earth

And makes it bring forth vegetation,

Yielding seed for sowing and bread for eating,

11 So is the word that issues from My mouth:

It does not come back to Me unfulfilled,

But performs what I purpose,

Achieves what I sent it to do.

(Isaiah 55:9-11)

1 Happy is the man who has not followed the counsel of the wicked,

or taken the path of sinners,

or joined the company of the insolent;

2 rather, the teaching of the LORD is his delight,

and he studies that teaching day and night.

3 He is like a tree planted beside streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season,

whose foliage never fades,

and whatever it produces thrives.

4 Not so the wicked;

rather, they are like chaff that wind blows away.

5 Therefore the wicked will not survive judgment,

nor will sinners, in the assembly of the righteous.

6 For the LORD cherishes the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked is doomed.

(Psalm 1)

¹ א  Happy are those whose way is blameless,

who follow the teaching of the Lord.

²Happy are those who observe His decrees,

who turn to Him wholeheartedly.

³They have done no wrong,

but have followed His ways.

⁴You have commanded that Your precepts

be kept diligently.

⁵Would that my ways were firm

in keeping Your laws;

⁶then I would not be ashamed

when I regard all Your commandments.

⁷I will praise You with a sincere heart

as I learn Your just rules.

⁸I will keep Your laws;

do not utterly forsake me.

————————–

ב  ⁹ How can a young man keep his way pure?—

by holding to Your word.

¹⁰I have turned to You with all my heart;

do not let me stray from Your commandments.

¹¹In my heart I treasure Your promise;

therefore I do not sin against You.

¹²Blessed are You, O Lord;

train me in Your laws.

¹³With my lips I rehearse

all the rules You proclaimed.

¹⁴I rejoice over the way of Your decrees

as over all riches.

¹⁵I study Your precepts;

I regard Your ways;

¹⁶I take delight in Your laws;

I will not neglect Your word.

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ג  ¹⁷ Deal kindly with Your servant,

that I may live to keep Your word.

¹⁸Open my eyes, that I may perceive

the wonders of Your teaching.

¹⁹I am only a sojourner in the land;

do not hide Your commandments from me.

²⁰My soul is consumed with longing

for Your rules at all times.

²¹You blast the accursed insolent ones

who stray from Your commandments.

²²Take away from me taunt and abuse,

because I observe Your decrees.

²³Though princes meet and speak against me,

Your servant studies Your laws.

²⁴For Your decrees are my delight,

my intimate companions.

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ד  ²⁵ My soul clings to the dust;

revive me in accordance with Your word.

²⁶I have declared my way, and You have answered me;

train me in Your laws.

²⁷Make me understand the way of Your precepts,

that I may study Your wondrous acts.

²⁸I am racked with grief;

sustain me in accordance with Your word.

²⁹Remove all false ways from me;

favor me with Your teaching.

³⁰I have chosen the way of faithfulness;

I have set Your rules before me.

³¹I cling to Your decrees;

O Lord, do not put me to shame.

³²I eagerly pursue Your commandments,

for You broaden my understanding.

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ה  ³³ Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your laws;

I will observe them to the utmost.

³⁴Give me understanding, that I may observe Your teaching

and keep it wholeheartedly.

³⁵Lead me in the path of Your commandments,

for that is my concern.

³⁶Turn my heart to Your decrees

and not to love of gain.

³⁷Avert my eyes from seeing falsehood;

by Your ways preserve me.

³⁸Fulfill Your promise to Your servant,

which is for those who worship You.

³⁹Remove the taunt that I dread,

for Your rules are good.

⁴⁰See, I have longed for Your precepts;

by Your righteousness preserve me.

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ו  ⁴¹ May Your steadfast love reach me, O Lord,

Your deliverance, as You have promised.

⁴²I shall have an answer for those who taunt me,

for I have put my trust in Your word.

⁴³Do not utterly take the truth away from my mouth,

for I have put my hope in Your rules.

⁴⁴I will always obey Your teaching,

forever and ever.

⁴⁵I will walk about at ease,

for I have turned to Your precepts.

⁴⁶I will speak of Your decrees,

and not be ashamed in the presence of kings.

⁴⁷I will delight in Your commandments,

which I love.

⁴⁸I reach out for Your commandments, which I love;

—————————————————–

ז ⁴⁹ Remember Your word to Your servant

I study Your laws.

through which You have given me hope.

⁵⁰This is my comfort in my affliction,

that Your promise has preserved me.

⁵¹Though the arrogant have cruelly mocked me,

I have not swerved from Your teaching.

⁵²I remember Your rules of old, O Lord,

and find comfort in them.

⁵³I am seized with rage

because of the wicked who forsake Your teaching.

⁵⁴Your laws are a source of strength to me

wherever I may dwell.

⁵⁵I remember Your name at night, O Lord,

and obey Your teaching.

⁵⁶This has been my lot,

for I have observed Your precepts.

———————————–

ח ⁵⁷ The Lord is my portion;

I have resolved to keep Your words.

⁵⁸I have implored You with all my heart;

have mercy on me, in accordance with Your promise.

⁵⁹I have considered my ways,

and have turned back to Your decrees.

⁶⁰I have hurried and not delayed

to keep Your commandments.

⁶¹Though the bonds of the wicked are coiled round me,

I have not neglected Your teaching.

⁶²I arise at midnight to praise You

for Your just rules.

⁶³I am a companion to all who fear You,

to those who keep Your precepts.

⁶⁴Your steadfast love, O Lord, fills the earth;

teach me Your laws.

———————

ט ⁶⁵ You have treated Your servant well,

according to Your word, O Lord.

⁶⁶Teach me good sense and knowledge,

for I have put my trust in Your commandments.

⁶⁷Before I was humbled I went astray,

but now I keep Your word.

⁶⁸You are good and beneficent;

teach me Your laws.

⁶⁹Though the arrogant have accused me falsely,

I observe Your precepts wholeheartedly.

⁷⁰Their minds are thick like fat;

as for me, Your teaching is my delight.

⁷¹It was good for me that I was humbled,

so that I might learn Your laws.

⁷²I prefer the teaching You proclaimed

to thousands of gold and silver pieces.

—————————————-

^{73 ר} Your hands made me and fashioned me;

give me understanding that I may learn Your commandments.

⁷⁴Those who fear You will see me and rejoice,

for I have put my hope in Your word.

⁷⁵I know, O Lord, that Your rulings are just;

rightly have You humbled me.

⁷⁶May Your steadfast love comfort me

in accordance with Your promise to Your servant.

⁷⁷May Your mercy reach me, that I might live,

for Your teaching is my delight.

⁷⁸Let the insolent be dismayed, for they have wronged me without cause;

I will study Your precepts.

⁷⁹May those who fear You,

those who know Your decrees,

turn again to me.

⁸⁰May I wholeheartedly follow Your laws

so that I do not come to grief.

——————————

כ  ⁸¹ I long for Your deliverance;

I hope for Your word.

⁸²My eyes pine away for Your promise;

I say, “When will You comfort me?”

⁸³Though I have become like a water-skin dried in smoke,

I have not neglected Your laws.

⁸⁴How long has Your servant to live?

when will You bring my persecutors to judgment?

⁸⁵The insolent have dug pits for me,

flouting Your teaching.

⁸⁶All Your commandments are enduring;

I am persecuted without cause; help me!

⁸⁷Though they almost wiped me off the earth,

I did not abandon Your precepts.

⁸⁸As befits Your steadfast love, preserve me,

so that I may keep the decree You proclaimed.

———————————————–

ל ⁸⁹ The Lord exists forever;

Your word stands firm in heaven.

⁹⁰Your faithfulness is for all generations;

You have established the earth, and it stands.

⁹¹They stand this day to [carry out] Your rulings,

for all are Your servants.

⁹²Were not Your teaching my delight

I would have perished in my affliction.

⁹³I will never neglect Your precepts,

for You have preserved my life through them.

⁹⁴I am Yours; save me!

For I have turned to Your precepts.

⁹⁵The wicked hope to destroy me,

but I ponder Your decrees.

⁹⁶I have seen that all things have their limit,

but Your commandment is broad beyond measure.

—————————————————-

מ  ⁹⁷ O how I love Your teaching!

It is my study all day long.

⁹⁸Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies;

they always stand by me.

⁹⁹I have gained more insight than all my teachers,

for Your decrees are my study.

¹⁰⁰I have gained more understanding than my elders,

for I observe Your precepts.

¹⁰¹I have avoided every evil way

so that I may keep Your word.

¹⁰²I have not departed from Your rules,

for You have instructed me.

¹⁰³How pleasing is Your word to my palate,

sweeter than honey.

¹⁰⁴I ponder Your precepts;

therefore I hate every false way.

———————————

נ  ¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to my feet,

a light for my path.

¹⁰⁶I have firmly sworn

to keep Your just rules.

¹⁰⁷I am very much afflicted;

O Lord, preserve me in accordance with Your word.

¹⁰⁸Accept, O Lord, my freewill offerings;

teach me Your rules.

¹⁰⁹Though my life is always in danger,

I do not neglect Your teaching.

¹¹⁰Though the wicked have set a trap for me,

I have not strayed from Your precepts.

¹¹¹Your decrees are my eternal heritage;

they are my heart’s delight.

¹¹²I am resolved to follow Your laws

to the utmost forever.

———————-

ס ¹¹³ I hate men of divided heart,

but I love Your teaching.

¹¹⁴You are my protection and my shield;

I hope for Your word.

¹¹⁵Keep away from me, you evildoers,

that I may observe the commandments of my God.

¹¹⁶Support me as You promised, so that I may live;

do not thwart my expectation.

¹¹⁷Sustain me that I may be saved,

and I will always muse upon Your laws.

¹¹⁸You reject all who stray from Your laws,

for they are false and deceitful.

¹¹⁹You do away with the wicked as if they were dross;

rightly do I love Your decrees.

¹²⁰My flesh creeps from fear of You;

I am in awe of Your rulings.

—————————-

ע  ¹²¹ I have done what is just and right;

do not abandon me to those who would wrong me.

¹²²Guarantee Your servant’s well-being;

do not let the arrogant wrong me.

¹²³My eyes pine away for Your deliverance,

for Your promise of victory.

¹²⁴Deal with Your servant as befits Your steadfast love;

teach me Your laws.

¹²⁵I am Your servant;

give me understanding,

that I might know Your decrees.

¹²⁶It is a time to act for the Lord,

for they have violated Your teaching.

¹²⁷Rightly do I love Your commandments

more than gold, even fine gold.

¹²⁸Truly by all [Your] precepts I walk straight;

I hate every false way.

———————–

פ  ¹²⁹ Your decrees are wondrous;

rightly do I observe them.

¹³⁰The words You inscribed give light,

and grant understanding to the simple.

¹³¹I open my mouth wide, I pant,

longing for Your commandments.

¹³²Turn to me and be gracious to me,

as is Your rule with those who love Your name.

¹³³Make my feet firm through Your promise;

do not let iniquity dominate me.

¹³⁴Redeem me from being wronged by man,

that I may keep Your precepts.

¹³⁵Show favor to Your servant,

and teach me Your laws.

¹³⁶My eyes shed streams of water

because men do not obey Your teaching.

——————————————

צ  ¹³⁷ You are righteous, O Lord;

Your rulings are just.

¹³⁸You have ordained righteous decrees;

they are firmly enduring.

¹³⁹I am consumed with rage

over my foes’ neglect of Your words.

¹⁴⁰Your word is exceedingly pure,

and Your servant loves it.

¹⁴¹Though I am belittled and despised,

I have not neglected Your precepts.

¹⁴²Your righteousness is eternal;

Your teaching is true.

¹⁴³Though anguish and distress come upon me,

Your commandments are my delight.

¹⁴⁴Your righteous decrees are eternal;

give me understanding, that I might live.

—————————————–

ק ¹⁴⁵ I call with all my heart;

answer me, O Lord,

that I may observe Your laws.

¹⁴⁶I call upon You; save me,

that I may keep Your decrees.

¹⁴⁷I rise before dawn and cry for help;

I hope for Your word.

¹⁴⁸My eyes greet each watch of the night,

as I meditate on Your promise.

¹⁴⁹Hear my voice as befits Your steadfast love;

O Lord, preserve me, as is Your rule.

¹⁵⁰Those who pursue intrigue draw near;

they are far from Your teaching.

¹⁵¹You, O Lord, are near,

and all Your commandments are true.

¹⁵²I know from Your decrees of old

that You have established them forever.

—————————————–

ר  ¹⁵³ See my affliction and rescue me,

for I have not neglected Your teaching.

¹⁵⁴Champion my cause and redeem me;

preserve me according to Your promise.

¹⁵⁵Deliverance is far from the wicked,

for they have not turned to Your laws.

¹⁵⁶Your mercies are great, O Lord;

as is Your rule, preserve me.

¹⁵⁷Many are my persecutors and foes;

I have not swerved from Your decrees.

¹⁵⁸I have seen traitors and loathed them,

because they did not keep Your word in mind.

¹⁵⁹See that I have loved Your precepts;

O Lord, preserve me, as befits Your steadfast love.

¹⁶⁰Truth is the essence of Your word;

Your just rules are eternal.

—————————

ש  ¹⁶¹ Princes have persecuted me without reason;

my heart thrills at Your word.

¹⁶²I rejoice over Your promise

as one who obtains great spoil.

¹⁶³I hate and abhor falsehood;

I love Your teaching.

¹⁶⁴I praise You seven times each day

for Your just rules.

¹⁶⁵Those who love Your teaching enjoy well-being;

they encounter no adversity.

¹⁶⁶I hope for Your deliverance, O Lord;

I observe Your commandments.

¹⁶⁷I obey Your decrees

and love them greatly.

¹⁶⁸I obey Your precepts and decrees;

all my ways are before You.

—————————-

ת  ¹⁶⁹ May my plea reach You, O Lord;

grant me understanding according to Your word.

¹⁷⁰May my petition come before You;

save me in accordance with Your promise.

¹⁷¹My lips shall pour forth praise,

for You teach me Your laws.

¹⁷²My tongue shall declare Your promise,

for all Your commandments are just.

¹⁷³Lend Your hand to help me,

for I have chosen Your precepts.

¹⁷⁴I have longed for Your deliverance, O Lord;

Your teaching is my delight.

¹⁷⁵Let me live, that I may praise You;

may Your rules be my help;

¹⁷⁶I have strayed like a lost sheep;

search for Your servant,

for I have not neglected Your commandments.

(Psalm 119)