Their heart is insensitive like fat [their minds are dull and brutal],
But I delight in Your law.

It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes.

The law from Your mouth is better to me
Than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Yodh.
Your hands have made me and established me;
Give me understanding and a teachable heart, that I may learn Your commandments.

May those who [reverently] fear You see me and be glad,
Because I wait for Your word.

I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.

O may Your lovingkindness and graciousness comfort me,
According to Your word (promise) to Your servant.

Let Your compassion come to me that I may live,
For Your law is my delight.

Ashamed are the proud, For with falsehood they dealt perversely with me. I meditate in Thy precepts.

May those who fear You [with submissive wonder] turn to me,
Even those who have known Your testimonies.

May my heart be blameless in Your statutes,
So that I will not be ashamed.

Kaph.
My soul languishes and grows weak for Your salvation;
I wait for Your word.

My eyes fail [with longing, watching] for [the fulfillment of] Your promise,
Saying, “When will You comfort me?”

For I have become like a wineskin [blackened and shriveled] in the smoke [in which it hangs],
Yet I do not forget Your statutes.

How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?

The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law.

All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.

They had almost destroyed me on earth,
But as for me, I did not turn away from Your precepts.

According to Your steadfast love refresh me and give me life,
So that I may keep and obey the testimony of Your mouth.

Lamedh.
Forever, O Lord,
Your word is settled in heaven [standing firm and unchangeable].

Your faithfulness continues from generation to generation;
You have established the earth, and it stands [securely].

They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.

Unless Thy law were my delights, Then had I perished in mine affliction.

I will never forget Your precepts,
For by them You have revived me and given me life.

I am Yours, save me [as Your own];
For I have [diligently] sought Your precepts and required them [as my greatest need].

The wicked wait for me to destroy me,
But I will consider Your testimonies.

I have seen that all [human] perfection has its limits [no matter how grand and perfect and noble];
Your commandment is exceedingly broad and extends without limits [into eternity].

Mem.
Oh, how I love Your law!
It is my meditation all the day.

Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.

I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.

I understand more than the aged [who have not observed Your precepts],
Because I have observed and kept Your precepts.

I have restrained my feet from every evil way,
That I may keep Your word.

I have not turned aside from Your ordinances,
For You Yourself have taught me.

How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

From Your precepts I get understanding;
Therefore I hate every false way.

Nun.
Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.

I have sworn [an oath] and have confirmed it,
That I will keep Your righteous ordinances.

I am greatly afflicted;
Renew and revive me [giving me life], O Lord, according to Your word.

Accept and take pleasure in the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord,
And teach me Your ordinances.

My life is continually in my hand,
Yet I do not forget Your law.

The wicked have laid a snare for me,
Yet I do not wander from Your precepts.

Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.

I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes
Forever, even to the end.

SAMEKH. I hate them that are of a double mind; But thy law do I love.

You are my hiding place and my shield;
I wait for Your word.

Uphold me according to Your word [of promise], so that I may live;
And do not let me be ashamed of my hope [in Your great goodness].

Uphold me that I may be safe,
That I may have regard for Your statutes continually.

Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: for their deceit is falsehood.

You have removed all the wicked of the earth like dross [for they have no value];
Therefore I love Your testimonies.

My flesh trembles in [reverent] fear of You,
And I am afraid and in awe of Your judgments.

I have done what is good and right: you will not give me into the hands of those who are working against me.

Be the guarantee for Your servant for good [as Judah was the guarantee for Benjamin];
Do not let the arrogant oppress me.

My eyes fail [with longing, watching] for [the fulfillment of] Your salvation,
And for [the fulfillment of] Your righteous word.

Deal with Your servant according to Your [gracious] lovingkindness,
And teach me Your statutes.

I am Your servant; give me understanding [the ability to learn and a teachable heart]
That I may know Your testimonies.

It is time for the Lord to act;
They have broken Your law.

Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold,
Yes, more than refined gold.

Therefore I esteem as right all Your precepts concerning everything;
I hate every false way.

PE. Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.

The unfolding of Your [glorious] words give light;
Their unfolding gives understanding to the simple (childlike).

I opened my mouth and panted [with anticipation],
Because I longed for Your commandments.

Turn to me and be gracious to me and show me favor,
As is Your way to those who love Your name.

Establish my footsteps in [the way of] Your word;
Do not let any human weakness have power over me [causing me to be separated from You].

Redeem me from the oppression of man;
That I may keep Your precepts.

Make Your face shine [with pleasure] upon Your servant,
And teach me Your statutes.

My eyes weep streams of water
Because people do not keep Your law.

TZADDI. Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments.

Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.

My zeal has [completely] consumed me,
Because my enemies have forgotten Your words.

Your word is very pure (refined);
Therefore Your servant loves it.

I am small and despised,
But I do not forget Your precepts.

Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
And Your law is truth.

Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.

Thy testimonies are righteous for ever: Give me understanding, and I shall live.

Qoph.
I cried with all my heart; answer me, O Lord!
I will observe Your statutes.

I cried to You; save me
And I will keep Your testimonies.

I rise before dawn and cry [in prayer] for help;
I wait for Your word.

My eyes anticipate the night watches and I awake before the call of the watchman,
That I may meditate on Your word.

Hear my voice according to Your [steadfast] lovingkindness;
O Lord, renew and refresh me according to Your ordinances.

They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law.

Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth.

Of old I have known from Your testimonies
That You have founded them forever.

Resh.
Look upon my agony and rescue me,
For I do not forget Your law.

Plead my cause and redeem me;
Revive me and give me life according to [the promise of] Your word.

Salvation is far from the wicked,
For they do not seek Your statutes.

Great are thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken me according to thy judgments.

Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.

I see the treacherous and loathe them,
Because they do not respect Your law.

Consider how I love Your precepts;
Revive me and give me life, O Lord, according to Your lovingkindness.

The sum of Your word is truth [the full meaning of all Your precepts],
And every one of Your righteous ordinances endures forever.

Shin.
Princes persecute me without cause,
But my heart stands in [reverent] awe of Your words [so I can expect You to help me].

I rejoice at Your word,
As one who finds great treasure.

I hate and detest falsehood,
But I love Your law.

Seven times a day I praise You,
Because of Your righteous ordinances.

Those who love Your law have great peace;
Nothing makes them stumble.

I hope and wait [with complete confidence] for Your salvation, O Lord,
And I do Your commandments.

My soul keeps Your testimonies [hearing and accepting and obeying them];
I love them greatly.

I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.

Tav.
Let my [mournful] cry come before You, O Lord;
Give me understanding [the ability to learn and a teachable heart] according to Your word [of promise].

Let my supplication come before You;
Deliver me according to Your word.