Beth.
How can a young man keep his way pure?
By keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to Your precepts].

With all my heart I have sought You, [inquiring of You and longing for You];
Do not let me wander from Your commandments [neither through ignorance nor by willful disobedience].

Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart,
That I may not sin against You.

Blessed and reverently praised are You, O Lord;
Teach me Your statutes.

With my lips I have told of
All the ordinances of Your mouth.

I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
As much as in all riches.

I will meditate on Your precepts
And [thoughtfully] regard Your ways [the path of life established by Your precepts].

I will delight in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your word.

Gimel.
Deal bountifully with Your servant,
That I may live and keep Your word [treasuring it and being guided by it day by day].

Open my eyes [to spiritual truth] so that I may behold
Wonderful things from Your law.

I am a stranger on the earth;
Do not hide Your commandments from me.

My soul is crushed with longing
For Your ordinances at all times.

You rebuke the presumptuous and arrogant, the cursed ones,
Who wander from Your commandments.

Take reproach and contempt away from me,
For I observe Your testimonies.

Even though princes sit and talk to one another against me,
Your servant meditates on Your statutes.

Your testimonies also are my delight
And my counselors.

Daleth.
My earthly life clings to the dust;
Revive and refresh me according to Your word.

I have told of my ways, and You have answered me;
Teach me Your statutes.

Make me understand the way of Your precepts,
So that I will meditate (focus my thoughts) on Your wonderful works.

My soul dissolves because of grief;
Renew and strengthen me according to [the promises of] Your word.

Remove from me the way of falsehood and unfaithfulness,
And graciously grant me Your law.

I have chosen the faithful way;
I have placed Your ordinances before me.

I cling tightly to Your testimonies;
O Lord, do not put me to shame!

I will run the way of Your commandments [with purpose],
For You will give me a heart that is willing.

He.
Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes,
And I will [steadfastly] observe it to the end.

Give me understanding [a teachable heart and the ability to learn], that I may keep Your law;
And observe it with all my heart.

Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,
For I delight in it.

Incline my heart to Your testimonies
And not to dishonest gain and envy.

Turn my eyes away from vanity [all those worldly, meaningless things that distract—let Your priorities be mine],
And restore me [with renewed energy] in Your ways.

Establish Your word and confirm Your promise to Your servant,
As that which produces [awe-inspired] reverence for You.

Turn away my reproach which I dread,
For Your ordinances are good.

I long for Your precepts;
Renew me through Your righteousness.

Vav.
May Your lovingkindness also come to me, O Lord,
Your salvation according to Your promise;

So I will have an answer for the one who taunts me,
For I trust [completely] in Your word [and its reliability].

And do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
For I wait for Your ordinances.

I will keep Your law continually,
Forever and ever [writing Your precepts on my heart].

And I will walk at liberty,
For I seek and deeply long for Your precepts.

I will also speak of Your testimonies before kings
And shall not be ashamed.

For I shall delight in Your commandments,
Which I love.

And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments,
Which I love;
And I will meditate on Your statutes.

Zayin.
Remember [always] the word and promise to Your servant,
In which You have made me hope.

This is my comfort in my affliction,
That Your word has revived me and given me life.

The arrogant utterly ridicule me,
Yet I do not turn away from Your law.

I have remembered [carefully] Your ancient ordinances, O Lord,
And I have taken comfort.

Burning indignation has seized me because of the wicked,
Who reject Your law.

Your statutes are my songs
In the house of my pilgrimage.

O Lord, I remember Your name in the night,
And keep Your law.

This has become mine [as the gift of Your grace],
That I observe Your precepts [accepting them with loving obedience].

Heth.
The Lord is my portion;
I have promised to keep Your words.

I sought Your favor with all my heart;
Be merciful and gracious to me according to Your promise.

I considered my ways
And turned my feet to [follow and obey] Your testimonies.

I hurried and did not delay
To keep Your commandments.

The cords of the wicked have encircled and ensnared me,
But I have not forgotten Your law.

At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You
Because of Your righteous ordinances.

I am a companion of all who [reverently] fear You,
And of those who keep and honor Your precepts.

The earth, O Lord, is full of Your lovingkindness and goodness;
Teach me Your statutes.

Teth.
You have dealt well with Your servant,
O Lord, according to Your promise.

Teach me good judgment (discernment) and knowledge,
For I have believed and trusted and relied on Your commandments.

Before I was afflicted I went astray,
But now I keep and honor Your word [with loving obedience].

You are good and do good;
Teach me Your statutes.

The arrogant have forged a lie against me,
But I will keep Your precepts with all my heart.

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 Your judgments are fair,
And that in faithfulness You have disciplined 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.

Let the arrogant be ashamed and humiliated, for they sabotage me with a lie;
But I will meditate on Your 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 Your servant [which he must endure]?
When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me?

The arrogant (godless) have dug pits for me,
Men who do not conform to Your law.

All Your commandments are faithful and trustworthy.
They have persecuted me with a lie; help me [Lord]!

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 Your ordinances,
For all things [all parts of the universe] are Your servants.

If Your law had not been my delight,
Then I would have perished in my time of trouble.

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.

Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies,
For Your words are always with me.

I have better understanding and deeper insight than all my teachers [because of Your word],
For Your 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 Your words to my taste,
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.