20 My fainting soul is almost pined,

with earnest longing spent,

Whilst always on the eager search of thy just will intent.

21 Thy sharp rebuke shall crush the proud,
whom still thy curse pursues;
Since they to walk in thy right ways
presumptuously refuse.

22 But far from me do thou, O Lord,
contempt and shame remove;
For I thy sacred laws affect

with undissembled love.

23 Though princes oft, in council met,
against thy servant spake ;
Yet I thy statutes to observe

my constant business make.

24 For thy commands have always been my comfort and delight;

By them I learn, with prudent care, to guide my steps aright.

DALETH.

25 My soul, oppress'd with deadly care, close to the dust does cleave;

Revive me, Lord, and let me now thy promised aid receive.

26 To thee I still declared my ways,

and thou inclin'st thine ear;

O teach me then my future life by thy just laws to steer.

27 If thou wilt make me know thy laws, and by their guidance walk,

The wondrous works which thou hast done shall be my constant talk.

28 But see, my soul within me sinks, press'd down with weighty care; Do thou, according to thy word,

my wasted strength repair.

29 Far, far from me be all false ways
and lying arts removed;
But kindly grant I still may keep
the path by thee approved.

30 Thy faithful ways, thou God of truth,
my happy choice I've made;
Thy judgments, as my rule of life,
before me always laid.

31 My care has been to make my life
with thy commands agree;

O then preserve thy servant, Lord,
from shame and ruin free.

32 So in the way of thy commands
shall I with pleasure run,
And, with a heart enlarged with joy,
successfully go on.

HE.

33 Instruct me in thy statutes, Lord, thy righteous paths display;

And I from them, through all my life, will never go astray.

34 If thou true wisdom from above wilt graciously impart,

To keep thy perfect laws I will devote my zealous heart.

35 Direct me in the sacred ways to which thy precepts lead; Because my chief delight has been thy righteous paths to tread.

136 Do thou to thy most just commands
incline my willing heart;
Let no desire of worldly wealth
From thee my thoughts divert.

37 From those vain objects turn my eyes,
which this false world displays;
But give me lively power and strength
to keep thy righteous ways.

38 Confirm the promise which thou mad'st, and give thy servant aid,

Who to transgress thy sacred laws is awfully afraid.

39 The foul disgrace I justly fear,

in mercy, Lord, remove;

For all the judgments thou ordain'st are full of grace and love.

40 Thou know'st how after thy commands my longing heart does pant;

O then make haste to raise me up, and promised succour grant.

VAU.

41 Thy constant blessing, Lord, bestow, to cheer my drooping heart; To me, according to thy word,

thy saving health impart.

42 So shall I, when my foes upbraid, this ready answer make;

"In God I trust, who never will

"his faithful promise break."

43 Then let not quite the word of truth be from my mouth_removed; Since still my ground of steadfast hope thy just decrees have proved.

44 So I to keep thy righteous laws will all my study bend;

From age to age my time to come in their observance spend.

45 Ere long I trust to walk at large, from all incumbrance free;

Since I resolve to make my life with thy commands agree.

46 Thy laws shall be my constant talk; and princes shall attend, Whilst I the justice of thy ways with confidence defend.

47 My longing heart and ravish'd soul
shall both o'erflow with joy,
When in thy loved commandments I
my happy hours employ.

48 Then will I to thy just decrees
lift up my willing hands;
My care and business then shall be
to study thy commands.

ZAIN.

49 According to thy promised grace, thy favour, Lord, extend;

Make good to me the word on which thy servants hopes depend.

50 That only comfort in distress

did all my griefs control;

Thy word, when troubles hemm'd me round, reviv'd my fainting soul.

51 Insulting foes did proudly mock, and all my hopes deride;

Yet from thy law not all their scoffs could make me turn aside.

57 O Lord, my God, my portion thou and sure possession art;

Thy words I steadfastly resolve

to treasure in my heart.

58 With all the strength of warm desire
I did thy grace implore;
Disclose, according to thy word,
thy mercy's boundless store.

59 With due reflection and strict care
on all my ways I thought;
And so, reclaim'd to thy just paths,
my wandering steps I brought.

60 I lost no time, but made great haste,
resolved, without delay,

To watch, that I might never more from thy commandments stray.

61 Though numerous troops of sinful men to rob me have combined,

Yet I thy pure and righteous laws

have ever kept in mind.

62 In dead of night I will arise
to sing thy solemn praise;

Convinced how much I always ought
to love thy righteous ways.
63 To such as fear thy holy name,
myself I closely join;

To all who their obedient wills

to thy commands resign.

64 O'er all the earth thy mercy, Lord, abundantly is shed;

O make me then exactly learn

thy sacred paths to tread.

TETH.

65 With me, thy servant, thou hast dealt most graciously, O Lord; Repeated benefits bestow'd, according to thy word.

66 Teach me the sacred skill, by which right judgment is attain'd, Who in belief of thy commands

have steadfastly remain'd.

67 Before affliction stopp'd my course, my footsteps went astray; But I have since been disciplined thy precepts to obey.

68 Thou art, O Lord, supremely good, and all thou dost is so;

On me, thy statutes to discern, thy saving skill bestow.

69 The proud have forged malicious lies, my spotless fame to stain;

But my fix'd heart, without reserve, thy precepts shall retain.

70 While pamper'd, they, with prosperous ills,
in sensual pleasures live,
My soul can relish no delight,
but what thy precepts give.

71 'Tis good for me that I have felt
affliction's chastening rod,
That I might duly learn and keep
the statutes of my God.

72 The law that from thy mouth proceeds,

of more esteem I hold,

Than untouch'd mines, than thousand mines of silver and of gold.

JOD.

73 To me, who am the workmanship of thy Almighty hands,

The heavenly understanding give

to learn thy just commands.

74 My preservation to thy saints
strong comfort will afford,
To see success attend my hopes,
who trusted in thy word.

75 That right thy judgments are, I now by sure experience see;

And that in faithfulness, O Lord,

thou hast afflicted me.

76 O let thy tender mercy now afford me needful aid; According to thy promise, Lord, to me, thy servant, made.

77 To me thy saving grace restore, that I again may live:

Whose soul can relish no delight, but what thy precepts give.

78 Defeat the proud, who, unprovoked, to ruin me have sought, Who only on thy sacred laws

employ my harmless thought.

79 Let those that fear thy nanie espouse my cause, and those alone

Who have, by strict and pious search, thy sacred precepts known.

80 In thy blest statutes let my heart continue always sound;

That guilt and shame, the sinner's lot, may never me confound.

84 How many days must I endure of sorrow and distress? When wilt thou judgment execute on them who me oppress?

85 The proud have digg'd a pit for me, that have no other foes,

But such as are averse to thee,

and thy just laws oppose.

86 With sacred truth's eternal laws
all thy commands agree;
Men persecute me without cause;
thou, Lord, my helper be.

87 With close designs against my life
they had almost prevail'd;
But in obedience to thy will,
my duty never fail'd.

88 Thy wonted kindness, Lord, restore,
my drooping heart to cheer;
That by thy righteous statutes I

my life's whole course may steer.

LAMED.

89 For ever and for ever, Lord,
unchanged thou dost remain ;
Thy word, establish'd in the heavens,
does all their orbs sustain.

90 Through circling ages, Lord, thy truth immoveable shall stand,

As doth the earth, which thou uphold'st by thy Almighty hand.

91 All things the course by thee ordain'd e'en to this day fulfil;

They are thy faithful subjects all, and servants of thy will.

92 Unless thy sacred law had been

my comfort and delight,

I must have fainted, and expired

in dark affliction's night.

100 In understanding I excel the sages of our days; Because by thy unerring rules I order all my ways.

101 My feet with care I have refrain'd from every sinful way,

That to thy sacred word I might entire obedience pay.

102 I have not from thy judgments stray'd, by vain desires misled;

For, Lord, thou hast instructed me

Thy righteous paths to tread.

103 How sweet are all thy words to me! O what divine repast!

How much more grateful to my soul than honey to my taste!

104 Taught by thy sacred precepts, I with heavenly skill am blest,

Through which the treacherous ways of sin I utterly detest.

NUN.

105 Thy word is to my feet a lamp, the way of truth to show;

A watch-light to point out the path in which I ought to go.

106 I swear, and from my solemn oath will never start aside,

That in thy righteous judgments I will steadfastly abide.

107 Since I with griefs am so opprest, that I can bear no more, According to thy word do thou my fainting soul restore.

108 Let still my sacrifice of praise with thee acceptance find;

And in thy righteous judgments, Lord, instruct my willing mind.

shall never, Lord, depart;

For thou by them hast to new life

restored my dying heart.

94 As I am thine, entirely thine, protect me, Lord, from harm,

Who have thy precepts sought to know, and carefully perform.

95 The wicked have their ambush laid my guiltless life to take; But in the midst of danger I

thy word my study make.

96 I've seen an end of what we call perfection here below;

But thy commandments, like thyself, no change or period know.

MEM.

97 The love that to thy laws I bear
no language can display;
They with fresh wonders entertain
my ravish'd thoughts all day.

98 Through thy commands I wiser grow
than all my subtile foes;
For thy sure word doth me direct,
and all my ways dispose.

99 From me my former teachers now
may abler counsel take;
Because thy sacred precepts I
my constant study make.

my soul they cannot awe, Nor with continual terrors keep

from thinking on thy law. 110 My wicked and inveterate foes for me their snares have laid; Yet I have kept thy upright path, nor from thy precepts stray'd. 111 Thy testimonies I have made my heritage and choice; For they when other comforts fail, my drooping heart rejoice. 112 My heart with early zeal began thy statutes to obey;

And till my course of life is done, shall keep thy upright way. SAMECH.

113 Deceitful thoughts and practices I utterly detest;

But to thy law affection bear too great to be exprest.

114 My hiding place, my refuge-tower, and shield art thou, O Lord;

I firmly anchor all my hopes on thy unerring word.

115 Hence, ye that trade in wickedness, approach not my abode;

For firmly I resolve to keep the precepts of my God.

116 According to thy gracious word, from danger set me free;

Nor make me of those hopes ashamed, that I repose in thee.

117 Uphold me, so shall I be safe,
and rescued from distress;
To thy decrees continually

my just respects address.

118 The wicked thou hast trod to earth,
who from thy statutes stray'd;
Their vile deceit, the just reward

of their own falsehood made.

119 The wicked from thy holy land thou dost like dross remove;

I therefore, with such justice charm'd, thy testimonies love.

120 Yet with that love they make me dread,

lest I should so offend,

When on transgressors I behold thy judgments thus descend.

AIN.

121 Judgment and justice I have loved ; O therefore, Lord, engage

In my defence, nor give me up

to my oppressor's rage.

122 Do thou be surety, Lord, for me, and so shall this distress

Prove good for me; nor shall the prou
my guiltless soul oppress.

123 My eyes, alas! begin to fail,
in long expectance held;
Till thy salvation they behold,
and righteous word fulfill'd.

124 To me, thy servant, in distress,
thy wonted grace display,
And discipline my willing heart
thy statutes to obey.

125 On me, devoted to thy fear,
thy sacred skill bestow,
That of thy testimonies I

the full extent may know.

126 'Tis time, high time for thee, O Lord,

thy vengeance to employ ; When men with open violence thy sacred law destroy.

127 Yet their contempt of thy commands but makes their value rise

In my esteem, who purest gold, compared with them, despise.

128 Thy precepts therefore I account, in all respects, divine;

They teach me to discern the right, and all false ways decline.

PE.

129 The wonders which thy laws contain no words can represent;

Therefore to learn and practise them my zealous heart is bent.

130 The very entrance to thy word celestial light displays,

And knowledge of true happiness
to simplest minds conveys.

131 With eager hopes I waiting stood,
and fainting with desire,
That of thy wise commands I might
the sacred skill acquire.

132 With favour, Lord, look down on me, who thy relief implore;

As thou art wont to visit those

who thy blest name adore.

133 Directed by thy heavenly word
let all my footsteps be;
Nor wickedness of any kind
dominion have o'er me.

134 Release, entirely set me free
from persecuting hands,
That, unmolested, I may learn
and practise thy commands.
135 On me, devoted to thy fear,
Lord, make thy face to shine;
Thy statutes both to know and keep,
my heart with zeal incline.

136 My eyes to weeping fountains turn,
whence briny rivers flow,

To see mankind against thy laws in bold defiance go.

TSADDI.

137 Thou art the righteous Judge, in whom wrong'd innocence may trust; And, like thyself, thy judgments, Lord, in all respects are just.

138 Most just and true those statutes were, which thou didst first decree;

And all with faithfulness perform❜d, succeeding times shall see.

139 With zeal my flesh consumes away, my soul with anguish frets,

To see my foes contemn at once thy promises and threats.

140 Yet each neglected word of thine, howe'er by them despised,

Is pure, and for eternal truth by me, thy servant, prized.

141 Brought, for thy sake, to low estate, contempt from all I find;

Yet no affronts or wrongs can drive thy precepts from my mind.

142 Thy righteousness shall then endure, when time itself is past;

Thy law is truth itself, that truth

which shall for ever last.

143 Though trouble, anguish, doubts, and dread, to compass me unite;

Beset with danger, still I make

thy precepts my delight.

144 Eternal and unerring rules

thy testimonies give:

Teach me the wisdom that will make

my soul for ever live.

KOPH.

145 With my whole heart to God I call'd,

Lord, hear my earnest cry;

And I thy statutes to perform

will all my care apply.

146 Again more fervently I pray'd, O save me, that I may

Thy testimonies throughly know, and steadfastly obey.

147 My earlier prayer the dawning day prevented, while I cry'd

To him, on whose engaging word my hope alone rely'd.

148 With zeal have I awaked before

the midnight watch was set, That I of thy mysterious word might perfect knowledge get.

149 Lord, hear my supplicating voice, and wonted favour show:

O quicken me, and so approve thy judgment ever true.

150 My persecuting foes advance, and hourly nearer draw;

What treatment can I hope from them that violate thy law?

151 Though they draw nigh, my comfort is, thou, Lord, art yet more near;

Thou, whose commands are righteous all, thy promises sincere.

152 Concerning thy divine decrees, my soul has known of old,

That they were true, and shall their truth to endless ages hold.

RESCH.

153 Consider my affliction, Lord, and me from bondage draw; Think on thy servant in distress, who ne'er forgets thy law.

154 Plead thou my cause; to that and me thy timely aid afford;

With beams of mercy quicken me, according to thy word.

155 From harden'd sinners thou remov'st salvation far away;

'Tis just thou should'st withdraw from them who from thy statutes stray.

156. Since great thy tender mercies are
to all who thee adore ;
According to thy judgments, Lord,
my fainting hopes restore.

157 A numerous host of spiteful focs
against my life combine;
But all too few to force my soul
thy statutes to decline.

158 Those bold transgressors I beheld,
and was with grief oppress'd,
To see with what audacious pride
thy covenant they transgress'd.

159 Yet while they slight, consider, Lord, how I thy precepts love;

O therefore quicken me with beams of mercy from above.

160 As from the birth of time thy truth has held through ages past,

So shall thy righteous judgments firm to endless ages last.

SCHIN.

161 Though mighty tyrants, without cause, conspire my blood to shed,

Thy sacred word has power alone

to fill my heart with dread.

162 And yet that word my joyful breast with heavenly rapture warms;

Nor conquest, nor the spoils of war, have such transporting charms.

163 Perfidious practices and lies

I utterly detest;

But to thy laws affection bear, too vast to be exprest.

164 Seven umes a day, with grateful voice, thy praises I resound,

Because I find thy judgments all

with truth and justice crown'd. 165 Secure substantial peace have they who truly love thy law;

No smiling mischief them can tempt
nor frowning danger awe.

166 For thy salvation I have hoped,
and though so long delay'd,
With cheerful zeal and strictest care
all thy commands obey'd.
167 Thy testimonies I have kept,
and constantly obey'd;
Because the love I bore to them
thy service easy made.

168 From strict observance of thy laws
I never yet withdrew;

Convinced that my most secret ways are open to thy view.

169 To

TAU.

my request and earnest cry, attend, O gracious Lord;

Inspire my heart with heavenly skill, according to thy word.

170 Let my repeated prayer at last
before thy throne appear;
According to thy plighted word,
for my relief draw near.

171 Then shall my grateful lips return
the tribute of their praise,
When thou thy counsels hast reveal'd,
and taught me thy just ways.

172 My tongue the praises of thy word
shall thankfully resound,
Because thy promises are all
with truth and justice crown'd.
173 Let thy Almighty arm appear,
and bring me timely aid;

For I the laws thou hast ordain'd

my heart's free choice have made. 174 My soul has waited long to see

thy saving grace restored;
Nor comfort knew, but what thy laws
thy heavenly laws afford.

175 Prolong my life that I may sing
my great Restorer's praise;
Whose justice, from the depths of wo,
my fainting soul shall raise.

176 Like some lost sheep I've stray'd, till I despair my way to find;

Thou, therefore, Lord, thy servant seek, who keeps thy laws in mind.