Chapter 118

A h, blessed they, who pass through life’s journey unstained, who follow the law of the Lord!

A h, blessed they, who cherish his decrees, make him the whole quest of their hearts!

A far from wrong-doing, thy sure paths they tread.

A bove all else it binds us, the charge thou hast given us to keep.

A h, how shall my steps be surely guided to keep faith with thy covenant?

A ttentive to all thy commandments, I go my way undismayed.

A true heart’s worship thou shalt have, thy just awards prompting me.

A ll shall be done thy laws demand, so thou wilt not forsake me utterly.

B est shall he keep his youth unstained, who is true to thy trust.

B e thou the whole quest of my heart; never let me turn aside from thy commandments.

B uried deep in my heart, thy warnings shall keep me clear of sin.

B lessed art thou, O Lord, teach me to know thy will.

B y these lips let the awards thou makest ever be recorded.

B lithely as one that has found great possessions, I follow thy decrees.

B ethinking me still of the charge thou givest, I will mark thy footsteps.

B e thy covenant ever my delight, thy words kept in memory.

C rown thy servant with life, to live faithful to thy commands.

C lear sight be mine, to contemplate the wonders of thy law.

C omfort this earthly exile; do not refuse me the knowledge of thy will.

C rushed lies my spirit, longing ever for thy just awards.

C hastener of the proud, thy curse lies on all who swerve from thy covenant.

C lear me of the reproach that shames me, as I was ever attentive to thy claims.

C loseted together, princes plot against me, thy servant, that thinks only of thy decrees.

C laims lovingly cherished, decrees that are my counsellors!

D eep lies my soul in the dust, restore life to me, as thou hast promised.

D eign, now, to shew me thy will, thou who hast listened when I opened my heart to thee.

D irect me in the path thou biddest me follow, and all my musing shall be of thy wonderful deeds.

D espair wrings tears from me; let thy promises raise me up once more.

D eliver me from every false thought; make me free of thy covenant.

D uty’s path my choice, I keep thy bidding ever in remembrance.

D isappoint me, Lord, never, one that holds fast by thy commandments.

D o but open my heart wide, and easy lies the path thou hast decreed.

E xpound, Lord, thy whole bidding to me; faithfully I will keep it.

E nlighten me, to scan thy law closely, and keep true to it with all my heart.

E agerly I long to be guided in the way of thy obedience.

E ver let my choice be set on thy will, not on covetous thoughts.

E yes have I none for vain phantoms; let me find life in following thy ways.

E stablish with me, thy servant, the promise made to thy worshippers.

E ase me of the reproach my heart dreads, thou, whose awards are gracious.

E ach command of thine I embrace lovingly; do thou in thy faithfulness grant me life.

F or me too, Lord, thy mercy, for me too the deliverance thou hast promised!

F it answer for those who taunt me, that I rely on thy truth.

F aithful thy promise, let me not boast in vain; in thy covenant lies my hope.

F or ever and for evermore true to thy charge thou shalt find me.

F reely shall my feet tread, if thy will is all my quest.

F earlessly will I talk of thy decrees in the presence of kings, and be never abashed.

F ain would I have all my comfort in the law I love.

F lung wide my arms to greet thy law, ever in my thoughts thy bidding.

G o not back on the word thou hast pledged to thy servant; there lies all my hope.

G ood news in my affliction, thy promises have brought me life.

G round down by the scorn of my oppressors, never from thy law I swerve aside.

G racious comfort, Lord, is the memory of thy just dealings in times long past.

G reat ruth have I to see wrong-doers, and how they abandon thy law.

G one out into a land of exile, of thy covenant I make my song.

G loom of the night finds me still thinking of thy name, Lord, still observant of thy bidding.

G uerdon I ask no other, but the following of thy will.

H eritage, Lord, I claim no other, but to obey thy word.

H eart-deep my supplication before thee for the mercies thou hast promised.

H ave I not planned out my path, turned aside to follow thy decrees?

H aste such as mine can brook no delay in carrying out all thy bidding.

H emmed in by the snares which sinners laid for me, never was I forgetful of thy law.

H earken when I rise at dead of night to praise thee for thy just dealings.

H ow well I love the souls that fear thee, and are true to thy trust!

H ow thy mercy fills the earth, Lord! Teach me to do thy will.

I n fulfilment of thy promise, Lord, what kindness thou hast shewn thy servant!

I nspire, instruct me still; all my hope is in thy covenant.

I dly I strayed till thou didst chasten me; no more shall thy warnings go unheeded.

I ndeed, indeed thou art gracious; teach me to do thy bidding.

I n vain my oppressors plot against me; thy will is all my quest.

I nhuman hearts, curdled with scorn! For me, thy law is enough.

I t was in mercy thou didst chasten me, schooling me to thy obedience.

I s not the law thou hast given dearer to me than rich store of gold and silver?

J ealous for the handiwork thou hast made, teach me to understand thy commandments.

J oy shall be theirs, thy true worshippers, to see the confidence I have in thy word.

J ust are thy awards; I know well, Lord, it was in faithfulness thou didst afflict me.

J udge me no more; pity and comfort thy servant as thou hast promised.

J udge me no more; pardon and life for one that loves thy will!

J ust be their fall, who wrong me scornfully; thy law is all my study.

J oined to my company be every soul that worships thee and heeds thy warnings.

J ealously let my heart observe thy bidding; let me not hope in vain.

K eeping watch for thy aid, my soul languishes, yet I trust in thy word.

K eeping watch for the fulfilment of thy promise, my eyes languish for comfort still delayed.

K itchen-smoke shrivels the wine-skin; so waste I, yet never forget thy will.

K nowest thou not how short are thy servant’s days? Soon be my wrongs redressed.

K naves will be plotting against me still, that are no friends to thy law.

K naves they are that wrong me; bring aid, as thy covenant stands unchanging.

K eep thy bidding I would, though small hope of life they had left me.

K ind as thou ever wert, preserve me; then utter thy bidding, and I will obey.

L ord, the word thou hast spoken stands ever unchanged as heaven.

L oyal to his promise, age after age, is he who made the enduring earth.

L ong as time lasts, these shall stand, obeying thy decree, Master of all.

L est I should sink in my affliction, thou hast given thy covenant to be my comfort.

L ife-giving are thy commands, never by me forgotten.

L end me thy aid, for thine I am, and thy bidding is all my quest.

L et sinners go about to destroy me, I wait on thy will.

L ook where I may, all good things must end; only thy law is wide beyond measure.

M y delight, Lord, is in thy bidding; ever my thoughts return to it.

M using still on thy commandments, I have grown more prudent than my enemies.

M ore wisdom have I than all my teachers, so well have I pondered thy decrees.

M ore learning have I than my elders, I that hold true to thy charge.

M indful of thy warnings, I guide my steps clear of every evil path.

M eek under thy tuition, thy will I keep ever in view.

M eat most appetizing are thy promises; never was honey so sweet to my taste.

M ade wise by thy law, I shun every path of evil-doing.

N o lamp like thy word to guide my feet, to shew light on my path.

N ever will I retract my oath to give thy just commands observance.

N othing, Lord, but affliction, never the saving help thou didst promise me?

N ay, Lord, accept these vows of mine; teach me to do thy bidding.

N eeds must I carry my life in my hands, yet am I ever mindful of thy law.

N early the snares of the wicked caught my feet, yet would I not swerve from thy obedience.

N ow and ever thy covenant is my prize, is my heart’s comfort.

N ow and ever to do thy will perfectly is my heart’s aim.

O ut upon the men that play traitor to the law I love!

O ther defence, other shield have I none; in thy law I trust.

O ut of my path, lovers of wrong; I will keep my God’s commandments.

O nly let thy promised aid preserve me; do not disappoint me of the hope I cherish.

O nly do thou sustain me in safety, looking ever to thy will.

O bey thee who will not, shall earn thy disdain; idle is all their scheming.

O utcasts they are that profane the land with wrong; for me, thy law is enough.

O vercome is my whole being with the fear of thee; I am adread of thy judgements.

P rotect the justice of my cause; never leave me at the mercy of my oppressors.

P ledge thyself still to befriend me; save me from the oppression of my enemies.

P ining away, I look for thy saving help, the faithful keeping of thy promises.

P ity thy own servant, and teach him thy decrees.

P erfect in thy own servant’s heart the knowledge of thy will.

P ut off the hour, Lord, no more; too long thy commandment stands defied.

P recious beyond gold or jewel I hold thy law.

P rized be every decree of thine; forsworn be every path of evil-doing.

R ight wonderful thy decrees are, hard to read, and well my heart heeds them.

R evelation and light thy words disclose to the simple.

R ises ever a sigh from my lips as I long after thy covenant.

R egard and pity me, as thou hast pity for all that love thy name.

R ule thou my path as thou hast promised; never be wrong-doing my master.

R escue me from man’s oppression, to wait henceforth on thy bidding.

R estore to thy servant the smile of thy living favour, and teach him to know thy will.

R ivers of tears flow from my eyes, to see thy law forgotten.

S o just, Lord, thou art, thy awards so truly given!

S trict justice and utter faithfulness inspire all thy decrees.

S tung by love’s jealousy, I watch my enemies defy thy bidding.

S hall not I, thy servant, love thy promises, tested and found true?

S till despised and disinherited, I do not forget thy charge.

S tands thy faithfulness eternally, thy law for ever changeless.

S orrow and distress have fallen on me; in thy commandments is all my comfort.

S entence eternal is thy decree; teach me the wisdom that brings life.

T hy audience, Lord, my whole heart claims, a heart true to thy trust.

T o thee I cry, O grant deliverance; I will do all thy bidding.

T wilight comes, and I awake to plead with thee, hoping ever in thy promises.

T hrough the night my eyes keep watch, to ponder thy sayings.

T hine, Lord, to listen in thy mercy, and grant life according to thy will.

T reacherous foes draw near, that are strangers to thy covenant.

T hou, Lord, art close at hand; all thy awards are true.

T aught long since by thy decrees, I know well thou hast ordained them everlastingly.

U nblessed is my lot; look down and rescue me, that still am mindful of thy law.

U phold my cause, and deliver me; true to thy promise, grant me life.

U nknown thy mercy to the sinner that defies thy bidding.

U nnumbered, Lord, are thy blessings; as thy will is, grant me life.

U nder all the assaults of my oppressors, I keep true to thy charge.

U nhappy I, that watch thy warnings to the sinner go unheeded!

U p, Lord, and witness the love I bear thy covenant; in thy mercy bid me live!

U nchanging truth is thy word’s fountain-head, eternal the force of thy just decrees.

V exed by the causeless malice of princes, my heart still dreads thy warnings.

V ictors rejoice not more over rich spoils, than I in thy promises.

V illainy I abhor and renounce; thy law is all my love.

V otive thanks seven times a day I give thee for the just awards thou makest.

V ery great peace is theirs who love thy law; their feet never stumble.

V aliantly, Lord, I wait on thee for succour, keeping ever true to thy charge.

V anquished by great love, my heart is ever obedient to thy will.

V igilantly I observe precept and bidding of thine, living always as in thy sight.

W ilt thou not admit my cry, Lord, to thy presence, and grant me thy promised gift of wisdom?

W ilt thou not countenance my plea, redeem thy pledge to deliver me?

W hat praise shall burst from my lips, when thou makest known thy will!

W hat hymns of thankfulness this tongue shall raise to the author of all just decrees!

W ouldst thou but lift thy hand to aid me, that take my stand on thy covenant!

W eary it is, Lord, waiting for deliverance, but thy law is my comfort.

W hen will thy just award grant redress, that I may live to praise thee?

W ayward thou seest me, like a lost sheep; come to look for thy servant, that is mindful still of thy bidding.