A Poetic Translation from the Original Hebrew
This translation is a creative yet faithful rendering of Psalm 119 from the original Hebrew text, structured in iambic pentameter (ten syllables per line with unstressed-stressed rhythm). The poem is divided into 22 stanzas corresponding to the Hebrew alphabet, with each stanza consisting of 8 lines. Within each stanza, the rhyme scheme is ABAB for the first quatrain (verses 1-4 of the stanza) and CDCD for the second quatrain (verses 5-8). Each line approximates the meaning of one Hebrew verse, with some poetic liberty to fit the form while preserving the core theology, imagery, and emphasis on God’s law, statutes, precepts, testimonies, commands, judgments, and word.
Aleph (Verses 1-8)
Blessed are they whose paths are pure and clear,
Who walk in God’s law with a heart sincere.
They do no evil, in his ways they steer,
Your precepts command us to hold them dear.
Oh that my ways were directed to guard,
Then shame would not be mine when I survey
With heart upright I praise you, my regard,
Your statutes I’ll keep, do not cast away.
Beth (Verses 9-16)
How can a youth keep pure his chosen path,
By heeding your word against sin’s dark wrath.
With all my heart I seek you, let me not,
Stray from your commands in any thought.
Your word I hide in heart to sin no more,
Blessed LORD, teach statutes I implore.
My lips recount your judgments one by one,
In testimonies’ way I find my fun.
On precepts I meditate day by day,
And gaze upon your paths in bright array.
In statutes I delight, forget them not,
Your word remains my everlasting lot.
Gimel (Verses 17-24)
Deal bountifully with your servant here,
That I may live and keep your word so dear.
Open my eyes to wondrous things untold,
From your law’s depths, let mysteries unfold.
A sojourner on earth I am indeed,
Hide not your commands, fulfill my need.
My soul is crushed with longing for your rules,
At every time, against the prideful fools.
Take away scorn and contempt from my side,
For I have kept your testimonies wide.
Even princes speak against me in spite,
Your servant meditates on statutes bright.
Your testimonies are my heart’s delight,
My counselors in darkness and in light.
Daleth (Verses 25-32)
My soul clings to the dust, revive me now,
According to your word, fulfill your vow.
I declared my ways, you answered my plea,
Teach me your statutes, set my spirit free.
Make me understand your precepts so true,
And I will meditate on wonders new.
My soul melts away for heaviness deep,
Strengthen me by your word, my promise keep.
Put false ways far from me, in grace bestow,
Your law upon me, that I may know.
The way of faithfulness I choose this day,
Your judgments I set before my way.
I cling to testimonies, shame me not,
I run the path of commands you’ve allot.
He (Verses 33-40)
Teach me, O LORD, the way of statutes fine,
And I will keep it to the end of time.
Give understanding, your law I’ll observe,
With all my heart, your commands I’ll preserve.
Lead me in paths of your commands so grand,
For in them I delight, by your hand.
Incline my heart to testimonies pure,
Not to covetousness, make me sure.
Turn my eyes from worthless things away,
Give life in your ways, day by day.
Confirm to your servant your promise true,
Which leads to fear of you in all I do.
Turn away the reproach that I dread,
For your rules are good, as you have said.
Vav (Verses 41-48)
Let your steadfast love come to me this hour,
Your salvation according to your power.
Then I shall answer him who taunts me bold,
For in your word I trust, as days unfold.
Take not the word of truth from my mouth far,
For in your rules my hope shines like a star.
I will keep your law continually,
Forever and ever, eternally.
I walk in a wide place, free and light,
For I have sought your precepts in my sight.
I will speak of testimonies before kings,
And not be ashamed of the joy it brings.
I delight in commands that I love so,
I lift my hands to them, meditate slow.
Zayin (Verses 49-56)
Remember your word to your servant low,
In which you have made me hope to grow.
This is my comfort in affliction’s night,
Your promise gives me life, my soul’s delight.
The insolent deride me without cease,
Yet from your law I do not turn my peace.
I remember your judgments of old, LORD,
And find my comfort in your faithful word.
Hot indignation seizes me for sin,
The wicked forsake your law within.
Your statutes have been my songs in the house,
Of my sojourn, like a faithful spouse.
I remember your name in the night dark,
And keep your law, my everlasting mark.
This blessing has been mine in every part,
Because I kept your precepts in my heart.
Heth (Verses 57-64)
The LORD is my portion, I say with might,
To keep your words is my heart’s true light.
I entreat your favor with all my soul,
Be gracious according to your control.
I consider my ways and turn my feet,
To your testimonies, complete.
I hasten and do not delay to keep,
Your commands, though wicked ropes me sweep.
At midnight I rise to praise you high,
For your righteous rules that never die.
I am a companion of all who fear,
You, and keep your precepts clear.
The earth is filled with your steadfast love,
Teach me your statutes from above.
Teth (Verses 65-72)
You have dealt well with your servant, O LORD,
According to your word, my great reward.
Teach me good judgment and knowledge true,
For I believe in your commands anew.
Before I was afflicted I went astray,
But now your word I keep without delay.
You are good and do good, teach me your laws,
Your statutes, against the proud who cause.
The insolent smear me with lies so base,
But with my whole heart I keep your grace.
Their heart is fat like grease, but I delight,
In your law, my joy both day and night.
It is good that I was afflicted low,
That I might learn your statutes and grow.
The law of your mouth is better to me,
Than thousands of gold and silver free.
Yod (Verses 73-80)
Your hands have made and fashioned me with care,
Give understanding, commands to bear.
Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice,
Because I hope in your word, my choice.
I know your judgments are right, O LORD,
In faithfulness you afflicted my chord.
Let your steadfast love comfort me this day,
According to your promise in array.
Let your mercy come to me, that I live,
For your law is my delight to give.
Let the insolent be put to shame,
For they have wronged me with false claim.
But I meditate on your precepts true,
Let those who fear you turn to me anew.
Let my heart be blameless in your statutes,
That I be not put to shame’s pursuits.
Kaph (Verses 81-88)
My soul longs for your salvation so deep,
I hope in your word, my promise to keep.
My eyes long for your promise, when will you,
Comfort me in my affliction true.
I have become like a wineskin in smoke,
Yet your statutes I have not broke.
How long must your servant endure this pain,
When will you judge those who persecute vain.
The insolent dig pits for me to fall,
They do not accord with your law at all.
All your commands are faithful and sure,
They persecute me wrongfully, cure.
They have almost made an end of me here,
Yet your precepts I hold dear.
According to your love revive me now,
And I will keep your testimonies’ vow.
Lamed (Verses 89-96)
Forever your word is fixed in heaven,
Your faithfulness endures, generation given.
You have established the earth, it stands,
By your appointment, as your word commands.
To this day your ordinances endure,
For all things are your servants pure.
If your law had not been my delight sweet,
I would have perished in affliction’s heat.
I will never forget your precepts true,
For by them you have given life anew.
I am yours, save me from the wicked’s snare,
For I have sought your precepts rare.
The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,
But I consider your testimonies free.
I have seen a limit to all perfection,
But your command is exceedingly section.
Mem (Verses 97-104)
Oh how I love your law, it is my thought,
All the day, meditation I have sought.
Your command makes me wiser than my foes,
For it is ever with me where I go.
I have more understanding than teachers old,
For your testimonies I behold.
I understand more than the aged wise,
For I keep your precepts in my eyes.
I hold back my feet from every evil way,
In order to keep your word each day.
I do not turn aside from your rules right,
For you have taught me in your light.
How sweet are your words to my taste so fine,
Sweeter than honey to this mouth of mine.
Through your precepts I get understanding,
Thus I hate every false path standing.
Nun (Verses 105-112)
Your word is a lamp to my feet so bright,
A light to my path in the darkest night.
I have sworn an oath and confirmed it well,
To keep your righteous rules, as stories tell.
I am severely afflicted this day,
Give me life, O LORD, in your word’s array.
Accept my mouth’s freewill offerings sweet,
Teach me your rules, my heart’s complete.
My life is in my hand continually,
Yet your law I do not forget freely.
The wicked laid a snare for me to trap,
Yet from your precepts I did not lap.
I take your testimonies as heritage,
For they are the joy of my heart’s page.
I incline my heart to perform your statutes,
Forever, to the end, my pursuits.
Samekh (Verses 113-120)
I hate the double-minded, but your law,
I love with all my heart, in awe.
You are my hiding place and shield so strong,
In your word I hope all day long.
Depart from me, evildoers vile,
That I may keep God’s commands awhile.
Uphold me according to your promise,
That I may live, not ashamed in this.
Hold me up, that I may be safe and sound,
Regard your statutes all around.
You spurn all who go astray from your laws,
Their cunning is falsehood without cause.
You put away the wicked like dross,
Therefore I love your testimonies’ gloss.
My flesh trembles for fear of you this day,
I am afraid of your judgments’ way.
Ayin (Verses 121-128)
I have done what is just and right this time,
Do not leave me to oppressors’ crime.
Give your servant a pledge of good so true,
Let not the insolent oppress me through.
My eyes fail longing for your salvation,
For your righteous promise’s declaration.
Deal with your servant by steadfast love kind,
Teach me your statutes, open my mind.
I am your servant, give understanding,
To know your testimonies landing.
It is time for the LORD to act today,
For they have broken your law in play.
Therefore I love your commands above gold,
Above fine gold, my heart’s hold.
Therefore I consider all precepts right,
I hate every false way in sight.
Pe (Verses 129-136)
Your testimonies are wonderful bright,
Therefore my soul keeps them with all might.
The unfolding of your words gives light grand,
Imparting understanding to the land.
I open my mouth and pant with desire,
For your commands set my heart afire.
Turn to me and be gracious as you do,
To those who love your name so true.
Keep steady my steps in your word secure,
Let no iniquity have power sure.
Redeem me from man’s oppression this hour,
That I may keep your precepts’ power.
Make your face shine upon your servant low,
Teach me your statutes that I may know.
My eyes shed streams of tears in sorrow deep,
Because your law men do not keep.
Tsadhe (Verses 137-144)
Righteous are you, O LORD, and right your rules,
Your testimonies you established true.
You have appointed your testimonies,
In righteousness and faithfulness plenty.
My zeal consumes me, because my foes forget,
Your words, in their hearts not set.
Your promise is well tried and pure,
Your servant loves it ever sure.
I am small and despised, yet I do not,
Forget your precepts in my lot.
Your righteousness is righteous forever,
Your law is true, ceasing never.
Trouble and anguish have found me out here,
Yet your commands are my delight clear.
Your testimonies are righteous always,
Give understanding, that I may live days.
Qoph (Verses 145-152)
With my whole heart I cry, answer me LORD,
I will keep your statutes, my reward.
I call to you, save me from distress,
That I may observe your testimonies bless.
I rise before dawn and cry for help true,
I hope in your words, my view.
My eyes are awake before the watches,
To meditate on your promise catches.
Hear my voice according to your love,
Revive me by your justice from above.
They draw near who persecute with evil,
Far from your law, like the devil.
But you are near, O LORD, and all your commands,
Are truth, in your hands.
Of old I have known from your testimonies,
That you established them eternally.
Resh (Verses 153-160)
Look on my affliction and deliver,
For I do not forget your law ever.
Plead my cause and redeem me from the foe,
Give me life by your promise so.
Salvation is far from the wicked band,
For they do not seek your statutes grand.
Your mercy is great, O LORD, revive me,
According to your rules, set free.
Many are my persecutors and foes,
Yet from your testimonies I not go.
I look at the faithless with disgust deep,
Because your word they do not keep.
See how I love your precepts in my soul,
Give me life by your love, make whole.
The sum of your word is truth everlasting,
And every righteous rule is fasting.
Sin/Shin (Verses 161-168)
Princes persecute me without a cause,
But my heart stands in awe of your laws.
I rejoice at your word as one who finds,
Great spoil, in my mind.
I hate and abhor falsehood in my sight,
But your law I love with all might.
Seven times a day I praise you high,
For your righteous rules that never die.
Great peace have those who love your law so true,
Nothing can make them stumble through.
I hope for your salvation, O LORD,
And do your commands, my accord.
My soul keeps your testimonies well,
I love them exceedingly, as I tell.
I keep your precepts and testimonies,
For all my ways are before you, please.
Tav (Verses 169-176)
Let my cry come before you, O LORD,
Give understanding by your word.
Let my plea come before you this day,
Deliver me by your word’s array.
My lips will pour forth praise in song,
For you teach me your statutes long.
My tongue will sing of your word so right,
For all your commands are light.
Let your hand be ready to help me near,
For I have chosen your precepts dear.
I long for your salvation, O LORD,
Your law is my delight, adored.
Let my soul live and praise you high,
Let your rules help me not die.
I have gone astray like a lost sheep,
Seek your servant, your commands I keep.
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