Psalm 119/5

 

  Psalm 119 is a 22-stanza poem of 8 lines each wherein each line begins with the same Hebrew letter. For this week, I've re-compiled it into 8 different acrostic poems.

 Psalm 119/5

Oh, that my ways were directed to keep Your statutes!
With my lips I have declared all the judgments of Your mouth.
You rebuke the proud–the cursed, who stray from Your commandments.
Remove from me the way of lying, and grant me Your law graciously.
Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way
And I will walk at liberty, for I seek Your precepts.
Indignation has taken hold of me because of the wicked, who forsake Your law.
The cords of the wicked bound me, but I have not forgotten Your law.
The proud have forged a lie against me, but I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart.
Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live; for Your law is my delight.
The proud have dug pits for me, which is not according to Your law.
I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have given me life.
I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your word.
My life is continually in Your hand, yet I do not forget Your law.
Hold me up and I shall be safe, and I shall observe Your statutes continually.
I am Your servant; give me understanding, that I may know Your testimonies.
Direct my steps by Your word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me.
I am small and despised, yet I do not forget Your precepts.
Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness; O LORD, revive me according to Your justice.
Many are my persecutors and my enemies, yet I do not turn from Your testimonies.
Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble.
Let Your hand become my help, for I have chosen Your precepts.
 

Psalm 119/4

   Psalm 119 is a 22-stanza poem of 8 lines each wherein each line begins with the same Hebrew letter. For this week, I've re-compiled it into 8 different acrostic poems.

Psalm 119/4

You have commanded us to keep Your precepts diligently.
Blessed are You, O LORD! Teach me Your statutes.
My soul breaks with longing for Your judgments at all times.
My soul melts from heaviness; strengthen me according to Your word.
Incline my heart to Your testimonies, and not to covetousness.
So shall I keep your law continually, forever and ever.
I remember Your judgments of old, O LORD, and have comforted myself.
I made haste and did not delay to keep Your commandments.
You are good and do good; teach me Your statutes.
Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to Your word to Your servant.
How many are the days of Your servant?When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me?
Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction.
I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Your precepts.
Accept, I pray, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me Your judgments.
Uphold me according to Your word, thatI may live; and do not let me be ashamed of my hope.
Deal with Your servant according to Your mercy, and teach me Your statutes.
Look upon me an be merciful to me, as Your custom is toward those who love Your name.
Your word is very pure; therefore Your servant loves it.
My eyes are awake through the night watches that I may meditate on Your word.
Great are Your tender mercies, O LORD; revive me according to Your judgments.
Seven times a day I praise You, because of Your righteous judgments.
My tongue shall speak of Your word, for all Your commandments are righteousness.

Psalm 119/3

  Psalm 119 is a 22-stanza poem of 8 lines each wherein each line begins with the same Hebrew letter. For this week, I've re-compiled it into 8 different acrostic poems.

 

PSALM 119/3

They also do no iniquity; they walk in His ways.
Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.
I am a stranger in the earth; do not hide Your commandments from me.
Make me understand the way of Your precepts; so shall I meditate on Your wonderful works.
Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it.
And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for I have hoped in Your ordinances.
The proud have me in great derision, yet I do not turn aside from Your law.
I thought about my ways, and turned my feet to Your testimonies.
Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word.
I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are right, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.
For I have become like a wineskin in smoke, yet i do not forget Your statutes.
They continue this day according to Your ordinances, for all are Your servants.
I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation.
I am afflicted very much; revive me, O LORD, according to Your word.
Depart from me, you evildoers, for I will keep the commandments of my God!
My eyes fail from seeking Your salvation and Your righteous word.
I opened my mouth and panted, for I longed for Your commandments.
My zeal has consumed me, because my enemies have forgotten Your words.
I rise before the dawning of the morning and cry for help; I hope in Your word.
Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek Your statutes.
I hate and abhor lying, but I love Your law.
My lips shall utter praise, for You teach me Your statutes. 

Psalm 119/2

 Psalm 119 is a 22-stanza poem of 8 lines each wherein each line begins with the same Hebrew letter. For this week, I've re-compiled it into 8 different acrostic poems.

Psalm 119/2

Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with a whole heart!
With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law.
I have declared my ways, and You answered me; teach me Your statutes.
Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me, for I trust in Your word.
This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life.
I entreated Your favor with my whole heart; be merciful to me according to Your word.
Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe Your commandments.
Those who fear You will be glad when they see me, because I have hoped in Your word.
My eyes fail from searching Your word, saying, “When will You comfort me?”
Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You established the earth, and it abides.
You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; for they are ever with me.
I have sworn and confirmed that I will keep Your righteous judgments.
You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word.
Be surety for Your servant for good; do not let the proud oppress me.
The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.
Your testimonies, which You have commanded, are righteous and very faithful.
I cry out to You; save me and I will keep Your testimonies.
Plead my cause and redeem me; revive me according to Your word.
I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure.
Let my supplication come before You; deliver me according to Your word.

Psalm 119/1

 Of all the many Psalms, Psalm 119 is the longest and most poetically interesting. Some Psalms are clearly songs, many set to the same familiar tunes. Some are acrostic poems where each line begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Psalm 119 one-ups the acrostic format and instead of being a single 22 line poem, it is a 22 stanza acrostic poem of 8 lines each. The stanzas are arranged in alephbetical order with all 8 lines of each beginning with that letter. It's fairly intricate. And to top it off, this very literate structure is the basis for a psalm entirely focused on the word of God.

So I got to thinking the other day, what if we took Psalm 119 and broke it up into 8 separate acrostic poems, each line going in alephbetical order? So that's what I have done and will be presenting hear throughout this Passover week for the next 8 days. The following is in the New King James translation.

Psalm 119/1 

Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the LORD!
How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.
Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live and keep Your word.
My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to Your word.
Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, and I shall keep it to the end.
Let Your mercies come to me, O LORD–Your salvation according to Your word.
Remember the word to Your servant, upon which You have caused me to hope.
You are my portion, O LORD; I have said that I would keep Your words.
You have dealt well with Your servant, O LORD, according to Your word.
Your hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn Your commandments.
My soul faints for Your salvation, but I hope in Your word.
Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.
Oh, how I love Your law! it is my meditation all the day.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
I hate the double-minded, but I love Your law.
I have done justice and righteousness; do not leave me to my oppressors.
Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them.
Righteous are You, O LORD, and upright are Your judgments.
I cry out with my whole heart; Hear me, O LORD! I will keep Your statutes.
Consider my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget Your law.
Princes persecute me without a cause, but my heart stands in awe of Your word.
Let my cry come before You, O LORD. Give me understanding according to Your word.