Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet

א
ALEPH

1Blesseda are those whose way is blameless,

who walk in the Law of the LORD.

2Blessed are those who keep His testimonies

and seek Him with all their heart.

3They do no iniquity;

they walk in His ways.

4You have ordained Your precepts,

that we should keep them diligently.

5Oh, that my ways were committed

to keeping Your statutes!

6Then I would not be ashamed

when I consider all Your commandments.

7I will praise You with an upright heart

when I learn Your righteous judgments.

8I will keep Your statutes;

do not utterly forsake me.

ב
BETH

9How can a young man keep his way pure?

By guarding it according to Your word.

10With all my heart I have sought You;

do not let me stray from Your commandments.

11I have hidden Your word in my heart

that I might not sin against You.

12Blessed are You, O LORD;

teach me Your statutes.

13With my lips I proclaim

all the judgments of Your mouth.

14I rejoice in the way of Your testimonies

as much as in all riches.

15I will meditate on Your precepts

and regard Your ways.

16I will delight in Your statutes;

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

wondrous things from Your law.

19I am a stranger on the earth;

do not hide Your commandments from me.

20My soul is consumed with longing

for Your judgments at all times.

21You rebuke the arrogant—

the cursed who stray from Your commandments.

22Remove my scorn and contempt,

for I have kept Your testimonies.

23Though rulers sit and slander me,

Your servant meditates on Your statutes.

24Your testimonies are indeed my delight;

they are my counselors.

ד
DALETH

25My soul cleaves to the dust;

revive me according to Your word.

26I recounted my ways, and You answered me;

teach me Your statutes.

27Make clear to me the way of Your precepts;

then I will meditate on Your wonders.

28My soul melts with sorrow;

strengthen me according to Your word.

29Remove me from the path of deceit

and graciously grant me Your law.

30I have chosen the way of truth;

I have set Your ordinances before me.

31I cling to Your testimonies, O LORD;

let me not be put to shame.

32I run in the path of Your commandments,

for You will enlarge my heart.

ה
HE

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

and I will keep them to the end.b

34Give me understanding that I may obey Your law,

and follow it with all my heart.

35Direct me in the path of Your commandments,

for there I find delight.

36Turn my heart to Your testimonies

and not to covetous gain.

37Turn my eyes away from worthless things;

revive me with Your word.c

38Establish Your word to Your servant,

to produce reverence for You.

39Turn away the disgrace I dread,

for Your judgments are good.

40How I long for Your precepts!

Revive me in Your righteousness.

ו
WAW

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

Your salvation, according to Your promise.

42Then I can answer him who taunts,

for I trust in Your word.

43Never take Your word of truth from my mouth,

for I hope in Your judgments.

44I will always obey Your law,

forever and ever.

45And I will walk in freedom,

for I have sought Your precepts.

46I will speak of Your testimonies before kings,

and I will not be ashamed.

47I delight in Your commandments

because I love them.

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

and I meditate on Your statutes.

ז
ZAYIN

49Remember Your word to Your servant,

upon which You have given me hope.

50This is my comfort in affliction,

that Your promise has given me life.

51The arrogant utterly deride me,

but I do not turn from Your law.

52I remember Your judgments of old, O LORD,

and in them I find comfort.

53Rage has taken hold of me

because of the wicked who reject Your law.

54Your statutes are songs to me

in the house of my pilgrimage.

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

that I may keep Your law.

56This is my practice,

for I obey Your precepts.

ח
HETH

57The LORD is my portion;

I have promised to keep Your words.

58I have sought Your face with all my heart;

be gracious to me according to Your promise.

59I considered my ways

and turned my steps to Your testimonies.

60I hurried without hesitating

to keep Your commandments.

61Though the ropes of the wicked bind me,

I do not forget Your law.

62At midnight I rise to give You thanks

for Your righteous judgments.

63I am a friend to all who fear You,

and to those who keep Your precepts.

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

teach me Your statutes.

ט
TETH

65You are good to Your servant, O LORD,

according to Your word.

66Teach me good judgment and knowledge,

for I believe in Your commandments.

67Before I was afflicted, I went astray;

but now I keep Your word.

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

teach me Your statutes.

69Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies,

I keep Your precepts with all my heart.

70Their hearts are callous and insensitive,d

but I delight in Your law.

71It was good for me to be afflicted,

that I might learn Your statutes.

72The law from Your mouth is more precious to me

than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.

י
YODH

73Your hands have made me and fashioned me;

give me understanding to learn Your commandments.

74May those who fear You see me and rejoice,

for I have hoped in Your word.

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

and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.

76May Your loving devotion comfort me, I pray,

according to Your promise to Your servant.

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

for Your law is my delight.

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

I will meditate on Your precepts.

79May those who fear You turn to me,

those who know Your testimonies.

80May my heart be blameless in Your statutes,

that I may not be put to shame.

כ
KAPH

81My soul faints for Your salvation;

I wait for Your word.

82My eyes fail, looking for Your promise;

I ask, “When will You comfort me?”

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

I do not forget Your statutes.

84How many days must Your servant wait?e

When will You execute judgment on my persecutors?

85The arrogant have dug pits for me

in violation of Your law.

86All Your commandments are faithful;

I am persecuted without cause—help me!

87They almost wiped me from the earth,

but I have not forsaken Your precepts.

88Revive me according to Your loving devotion,

that I may obey the testimony of Your mouth.

ל
LAMEDH

89Your word, O LORD, is everlasting;

it is firmly fixed in the heavens.

90Your faithfulness continues through all generations;

You established the earth, and it endures.

91Your ordinances stand to this day,f

for all things are servants to You.

92If Your law had not been my delight,

then I would have perished in my affliction.

93I will never forget Your precepts,

for by them You have revived me.

94I am Yours; save me,

for I have sought Your precepts.

95The wicked wait to destroy me,

but I will ponder Your testimonies.

96I have seen a limit to all perfection,

but Your commandment is without limit.

מ
MEM

97Oh, how I love Your law!

All day long it is my meditation.

98Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies,

for they are always with me.

99I have more insight than all my teachers,

for Your testimonies are my meditation.

100I discern more than the elders,

for I obey Your precepts.

101I have kept my feet from every evil path,

that I may keep Your word.

102I have not departed from Your ordinances,

for You Yourself have taught me.

103How sweet are Your words to my taste—

sweeter than honey in my mouth!

104I gain understanding from Your precepts;

therefore I hate every false way.

נ
NUN

105Your word is a lamp to my feet

and a light to my path.

106I have sworn and confirmed

that I will keep Your righteous judgments.

107I am severely afflicted, O LORD;

revive me through Your word.

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

and teach me Your judgments.

109I constantly take my life in my hands,

yet I do not forget Your law.

110The wicked have set a snare for me,

but I have not strayed from Your precepts.

111Your testimonies are my heritage forever,

for they are the joy of my heart.

112I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes,

even to the very end.

ס
SAMEKH

113The double-minded I despise,

but Your law I love.

114You are my hiding place and my shield;

I put my hope in Your word.

115Depart from me, you evildoers,

that I may obey the commandments of my God.

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

let me not be ashamed of my hope.

117Uphold me, and I will be saved,

that I may always regard Your statutes.

118You reject all who stray from Your statutes,

for their deceitfulness is in vain.

119All the wicked on earth You discard like dross;

therefore I love Your testimonies.

120My flesh trembles in awe of You;

I stand in fear of Your judgments.

ע
AYIN

121I have done what is just and right;

do not leave me to my oppressors.

122Ensure Your servant’s well-being;

do not let the arrogant oppress me.

123My eyes fail, looking for Your salvation,

and for Your righteous promise.

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 for the LORD to act,

for they have broken Your law.

127Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold,

even the purest gold.

128Therefore I admire all Your precepts

and hate every false way.

פ
PE

129Wonderful are Your testimonies;

therefore I obey them.

130The unfolding of Your words gives light;

it informs the simple.

131I open my mouth and pant,

longing for Your commandments.

132Turn to me and show me mercy,

as You do to those who love Your name.

133Order my steps in Your word;

let no sin rule over me.

134Redeem me from the oppression of man,

that I may keep Your precepts.

135Make Your face shine upon Your servant,

and teach me Your statutes.

136My eyes shed streams of tears

because Your law is not obeyed.

צ
TZADE

137Righteous are You, O LORD,

and upright are Your judgments.

138The testimonies You have laid down are righteous

and altogether faithful.

139My zeal has consumed me

because my foes forget Your words.

140Your promise is completely pure;

therefore Your servant loves it.

141I am lowly and despised,

but I do not forget Your precepts.

142Your righteousness is everlasting

and Your law is true.

143Trouble and distress have found me,

but Your commandments are my delight.

144Your testimonies are righteous forever.

Give me understanding, that I may live.

ק
KOPH

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

I will obey Your statutes.

146I call to You; save me,

that I may keep Your testimonies.

147I rise before dawn and cry for help;

in Your word I have put my hope.

148My eyes anticipate the watches of night,

that I may meditate on Your word.

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

give me life according to Your justice.

150Those who follow after wickedness draw near;

they are far from Your law.

151You are near, O LORD,

and all Your commandments are true.

152Long ago I learned from Your testimonies

that You have established them forever.

ר
RESH

153Look upon my affliction and rescue me,

for I have not forgotten Your law.

154Defend my cause and redeem me;

revive me according to Your word.

155Salvation is far from the wicked

because they do not seek Your statutes.

156Great are Your mercies, O LORD;

revive me according to Your ordinances.

157Though my persecutors and foes are many,

I have not turned from Your testimonies.

158I look on the faithless with loathing

because they do not keep Your word.

159Consider how I love Your precepts, O LORD;

give me life according to Your loving devotion.

160The entirety of Your word is truth,

and all Your righteous judgments endure forever.

ש
SIN and SHIN

161Rulers persecute me without cause,

but my heart fears only Your word.

162I rejoice in Your promise

like one who finds great spoil.

163I hate and abhor falsehood,

but Your law I love.

164Seven times a day I praise You

for Your righteous judgments.

165Abundant peace belongs to those who love Your law;

nothing can make them stumble.

166I wait for Your salvation, O LORD,

and I carry out Your commandments.

167I obey Your testimonies

and love them greatly.

168I obey Your precepts and Your testimonies,

for all my ways are before You.

ת
TAW

169May my cry come before You, O LORD;

give me understanding according to Your word.

170May my plea come before You;

rescue me according to Your promise.

171My lips pour forth praise,

for You teach me Your statutes.

172My tongue sings of Your word,

for all Your commandments are righteous.

173May Your hand be ready to help me,

for I have chosen Your precepts.

174I long for Your salvation, O LORD,

and Your law is my delight.

175Let me live to praise You;

may Your judgments sustain me.

176I have strayed like a lost sheep;

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

2. If verse 89 says God’s word is “settled in heaven forever,” how does this align with scientific discoveries that the universe is constantly changing and expanding (Psalm 119:89)?

3. The psalm insists that following God’s laws brings peace and protection, yet other Bible passages show faithful people enduring suffering and persecution (Psalm 119:165).

4. In the New Testament, certain laws seem superseded by new teachings (e.g., Hebrews 8:13); how does this harmonize with Psalm 119’s emphasis on the perpetuity of God’s law (Psalm 119)?

5. If Psalm 119 proclaims that God is just and good, how do critics reconcile that with Old Testament accounts of severe judgments and punishments (Psalm 119)?

1. What does the writer's reverence for God's laws reveal about their faith and understanding of God?

2. How do the various emotions expressed by the Psalmist reflect different aspects of human life?

3. How does Psalm 119 encourage you to approach trials and tribulations in your own life?

4. How does the Psalmist describe the impact of God's word in his life? What does this mean for us today?

5. How can we apply the Psalmist's desire for understanding in our own pursuit of wisdom?

6. What role does prayer play in the Psalmist's relationship with God?

7. How does the Psalmist depict the concept of hope?

8. Why do you think the psalmist has such a strong commitment to God's law?

9. How does the Psalmist's attitude towards God's law challenge our modern view of obedience and law?

10. What practical steps can we take to 'hide God's word in our heart' as expressed in verse 11?

11. In verse 37, the Psalmist asks God to turn his eyes away from worthless things; how can we apply this in our daily life?

12. How does Psalm 119 influence your understanding of the importance of God's commandments?

13. In what ways does Psalm 119 affirm the reliability and trustworthiness of God's promises?

14. How can the principles expressed in Psalm 119 guide our decision-making process in daily life?

15. What actions can we take to follow the Psalmist's example of continual meditation on God's laws?

16. How can the Psalmist's perseverance inspire you in the face of your personal struggles?

17. In what areas of your life do you need to pray for discernment as the Psalmist did in verse 66?

18. How can Psalm 119 be a source of comfort during difficult times?

19. How does the Psalmist's love for God's law shape his outlook on life and personal identity?

20. How can the lessons from Psalm 119 inspire us to a deeper relationship with God through the study and application of His laws?