The Bible in Basic English BBE
New International Version NIV
1 <ALEPH> Happy are they who are without sin in their ways, walking in the law of the Lord.
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Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD.
2 Happy are they who keep his unchanging word, searching after him with all their heart.
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Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart—
3 They do no evil; they go in his ways.
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they do no wrong but follow his ways.
4 You have put your orders into our hearts, so that we might keep them with care.
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You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.
5 If only my ways were ordered so that I might keep your rules!
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Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees!
6 Then I would not be put to shame, as long as I have respect for all your teaching.
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Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands.
7 I will give you praise with an upright heart in learning your right decisions.
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I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.
8 I will keep your rules: O give me not up completely.
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I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.
9 <BETH> How may a young man make his way clean? by guiding it after your word.
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How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.
10 I have made search for you with all my heart: O let me not go wandering far from your teaching.
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I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.
11 I have kept your sayings secretly in my heart, so that I might do no sin against you.
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I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
12 Praise be to you, O Lord: give me knowledge of your rules.
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Praise be to you, LORD; teach me your decrees.
13 With my lips have I made clear all the decisions of your mouth.
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With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth.
14 I have taken as much delight in the way of your unchanging word, as in all wealth.
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I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.
15 I will give thought to your orders, and have respect for your ways.
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I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.
16 I will have delight in your rules; I will not let your word go out of my mind.
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I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.
17 <GIMEL> Give me, your servant, the reward of life, so that I may keep your word;
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Be good to your servant while I live, that I may obey your word.
18 Let my eyes be open to see the wonders of your law.
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Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.
19 I am living in a strange land: do not let your teachings be kept secret from me.
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I am a stranger on earth; do not hide your commands from me.
20 My soul is broken with desire for your decisions at all times.
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My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times.
21 Your hand has been against the men of pride, a curse is on those who go wandering out of your way.
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You rebuke the arrogant, who are accursed, those who stray from your commands.
22 Take away from me shame and bitter words; for I have kept your unchanging word in my heart.
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Remove from me their scorn and contempt, for I keep your statutes.
23 Rulers make evil designs against me; but your servant gives thought to your rules.
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Though rulers sit together and slander me, your servant will meditate on your decrees.
24 Your unchanging word is my delight, and the guide of my footsteps.
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Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.
25 <DALETH> My soul is joined to the dust: O give me life, in keeping with your word.
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I am laid low in the dust; preserve my life according to your word.
26 I put the record of my ways before you, and you gave me an answer: O give me knowledge of your rules.
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I gave an account of my ways and you answered me; teach me your decrees.
27 Make the way of your orders clear to me; then my thoughts will be ever on your wonders.
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Cause me to understand the way of your precepts, that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds.
28 My soul is wasted with sorrow; give me strength again in keeping with your word
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My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.
29 Take from me every false way; and in mercy give me your law.
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Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me and teach me your law.
30 I have taken the way of faith: I have kept your decisions before me.
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I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws.
31 I have been true to your unchanging word; O Lord, do not put me to shame.
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I hold fast to your statutes, LORD; do not let me be put to shame.
32 I will go quickly in the way of your teaching, because you have given me a free heart.
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I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding.
33 <HE> O Lord, let me see the way of your rules, and I will keep it to the end.
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Teach me, LORD, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end.
34 Give me wisdom, so that I may keep your law; going after it with all my heart.
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Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart.
35 Make me go in the way of your teachings; for they are my delight.
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Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.
36 Let my heart be turned to your unchanging word, and not to evil desire.
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Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.
37 Let my eyes be turned away from what is false; give me life in your ways.
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Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.
38 Give effect to your word to your servant, in whose heart is the fear of you.
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Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared.
39 Take away the shame which is my fear; for your decisions are good.
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Take away the disgrace I dread, for your laws are good.
40 See how great is my desire for your orders: give me life in your righteousness.
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How I long for your precepts! In your righteousness preserve my life.
41 <VAU> Let your mercies come to me, O Lord, even your salvation, as you have said.
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May your unfailing love come to me, LORD, your salvation, according to your promise;
42 So that I may have an answer for the man who would put me to shame; for I have faith in your word.
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then I can answer anyone who taunts me, for I trust in your word.
43 Take not your true word quite out of my mouth; for I have put my hope in your decisions.
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Never take your word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your laws.
44 So that I may keep your law for ever and ever;
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I will always obey your law, for ever and ever.
45 So that my way may be in a wide place: because my search has been for your orders.
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I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.
46 So that I may give knowledge of your unchanging word before kings, and not be put to shame.
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I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame,
47 And so that I may take delight in your teachings, to which I have given my love.
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for I delight in your commands because I love them.
48 And so that my hands may be stretched out to you; and I will give thought to your rules.
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I reach out for your commands, which I love, that I may meditate on your decrees.
49 <ZAIN> Keep in mind your word to your servant, for on it has my hope been fixed.
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Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.
50 This is my comfort in my trouble; that your sayings have given me life.
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My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.
51 The men of pride have made great sport of me; but I have not been turned from your law.
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The arrogant mock me unmercifully, but I do not turn from your law.
52 I have kept the memory of your decisions from times past, O Lord; and they have been my comfort.
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I remember, LORD, your ancient laws, and I find comfort in them.
53 I am burning with wrath, because of the sinners who have given up your law.
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Indignation grips me because of the wicked, who have forsaken your law.
54 Your rules have been melodies to me, while I have been living in strange lands.
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Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge.
55 I have given thought to your name in the night, O Lord, and have kept your law.
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In the night, LORD, I remember your name, that I may keep your law.
56 This has been true of me, that I have kept your orders in my heart.
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This has been my practice: I obey your precepts.
57 <CHETH> The Lord is my heritage: I have said that I would be ruled by your words.
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You are my portion, LORD; I have promised to obey your words.
58 I have given my mind to do your pleasure with all my heart; have mercy on me, as you have said.
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I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.
59 I gave thought to my steps, and my feet were turned into the way of your unchanging word.
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I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes.
60 I was quick to do your orders, and let no time be wasted.
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I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.
61 The cords of evil-doers are round me; but I have kept in mind your law.
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Though the wicked bind me with ropes, I will not forget your law.
62 In the middle of the night I will get up to give you praise, because of all your right decisions.
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At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws.
63 I keep company with all your worshippers, and those who have your orders in their memory.
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I am a friend to all who fear you, to all who follow your precepts.
64 The earth, O Lord, is full of your mercy: give me knowledge of your rules.
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The earth is filled with your love, LORD; teach me your decrees.
65 <TETH> You have done good to your servant, O Lord, in keeping with your word.
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Do good to your servant according to your word, LORD.
66 Give me knowledge and good sense; for I have put my faith in your teachings.
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Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust your commands.
67 Before I was in trouble I went out of the way; but now I keep your word.
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Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word.
68 You are good, and your works are good; give me knowledge of your rules.
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You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees.
69 The men of pride have said false things about me; but I will keep your orders in my heart.
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Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, I keep your precepts with all my heart.
70 Their hearts are shut up with fat; but my delight is in your law.
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Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in your law.
71 It is good for me to have been through trouble; so that I might come to the knowledge of your rules.
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It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.
72 The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver.
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The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.
73 <JOD> Your hands have made me, and given me form: give me wisdom, so that I may have knowledge of your teaching.
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Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands.
74 Your worshippers will see me and be glad; because my hope has been in your word.
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May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in your word.
75 I have seen, O Lord, that your decisions are right, and that in unchanging faith you have sent trouble on me.
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I know, LORD, that your laws are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
76 Let your mercy now be my comfort, as you have said to your servant.
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May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.
77 Let your gentle mercies come to me, so that I may have life; for your law is my delight.
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Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight.
78 Let the men of pride be shamed; because they have falsely given decision against me; but I will give thought to your orders.
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May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause; but I will meditate on your precepts.
79 Let your worshippers be turned to me, and those who have knowledge of your words.
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May those who fear you turn to me, those who understand your statutes.
80 Let all my heart be given to your orders, so that I may not be put to shame.
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May I wholeheartedly follow your decrees, that I may not be put to shame.
81 <CAPH> My soul is wasted with desire for your salvation: but I have hope in your word.
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My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word.
82 My eyes are full of weariness with searching for your word, saying, When will you give me comfort?
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My eyes fail, looking for your promise; I say, “When will you comfort me?”
83 For I have become like a wine-skin black with smoke; but I still keep the memory of your rules.
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Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke, I do not forget your decrees.
84 How short is the life of your servant! when will you give your decision against those who are attacking me?
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How long must your servant wait? When will you punish my persecutors?
85 The men of pride, who are turned away from your law, have put nets for me.
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The arrogant dig pits to trap me, contrary to your law.
86 All your teachings are certain; they go after me with evil design; give me your help.
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All your commands are trustworthy; help me, for I am being persecuted without cause.
87 They had almost put an end to me on earth; but I did not give up your orders.
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They almost wiped me from the earth, but I have not forsaken your precepts.
88 Give me life in your mercy; so that I may be ruled by the unchanging word of your mouth.
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In your unfailing love preserve my life, that I may obey the statutes of your mouth.
89 <LAMED> For ever, O Lord, your word is fixed in heaven.
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Your word, LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.
90 Your faith is unchanging from generation to generation: you have put the earth in its place, and it is not moved.
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Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures.
91 They are ruled this day by your decisions; for all things are your servants.
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Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you.
92 If your law had not been my delight, my troubles would have put an end to me.
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If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.
93 I will ever keep your orders in mind; for in them I have life.
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I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life.
94 I am yours, O be my saviour; for my desire has been for your rules.
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Save me, for I am yours; I have sought out your precepts.
95 The sinners have been waiting for me to give me up to destruction; but I will give all my mind to your unchanging ward.
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The wicked are waiting to destroy me, but I will ponder your statutes.
96 I have seen that nothing on earth is complete; but your teaching is very wide.
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To all perfection I see a limit, but your commands are boundless.
97 <MEM> O what love I have for your law! I give thought to it all the day.
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Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.
98 Your teaching has made me wiser than my haters: for it is mine for ever.
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Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies.
99 I have more knowledge than all my teachers, because I give thought to your unchanging word.
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I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes.
100 I have more wisdom than the old, because I have kept your orders.
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I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts.
101 I have kept back my feet from all evil ways, so that I might be true to your word.
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I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word.
102 My heart has not been turned away from your decisions; for you have been my teacher.
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I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me.
103 How sweet are your sayings to my taste! truly, they are sweeter than honey in my mouth!
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How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 Through your orders I get wisdom; for this reason I am a hater of every false way.
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I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.
105 <NUN> Your word is a light for my feet, ever shining on my way.
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Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
106 I have made an oath and kept it, to be guided by your upright decisions.
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I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws.
107 I am greatly troubled, O Lord, give me life in keeping with your word.
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I have suffered much; preserve my life, LORD, according to your word.
108 Take, O Lord, the free offerings of my mouth, and give me knowledge of your decisions.
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Accept, LORD, the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me your laws.
109 My soul is ever in danger; but I still keep the memory of your law.
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Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I will not forget your law.
110 Sinners have put a net to take me; but I was true to your orders.
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The wicked have set a snare for me, but I have not strayed from your precepts.
111 I have taken your unchanging word as an eternal heritage; for it is the joy of my heart.
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Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.
112 My heart is ever ready to keep your rules, even to the end.
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My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.
113 <SAMECH> I am a hater of men of doubting mind; but I am a lover of your law.
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I hate double-minded people, but I love your law.
114 You are my secret place and my breastplate against danger; my hope is in your word.
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You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.
115 Go far from me, you evil-doers; so that I may keep the teachings of my God.
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Away from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commands of my God!
116 Be my support as you have said, and give me life; let not my hope be turned to shame.
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Sustain me, my God, according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed.
117 Let me not be moved, and I will be safe, and ever take delight in your rules.
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Uphold me, and I will be delivered; I will always have regard for your decrees.
118 You have overcome all those who are wandering from your rules; for all their thoughts are false.
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You reject all who stray from your decrees, for their delusions come to nothing.
119 All the sinners of the earth are like waste metal in your eyes; and for this cause I give my love to your unchanging word.
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All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross; therefore I love your statutes.
120 My flesh is moved for fear of you; I give honour to your decisions.
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My flesh trembles in fear of you; I stand in awe of your laws.
121 <AIN> I have done what is good and right: you will not give me into the hands of those who are working against me.
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I have done what is righteous and just; do not leave me to my oppressors.
122 Take your servant's interests into your keeping; let me not be crushed by the men of pride.
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Ensure your servant’s well-being; do not let the arrogant oppress me.
123 My eyes are wasted with desire for your salvation, and for the word of your righteousness.
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My eyes fail, looking for your salvation, looking for your righteous promise.
124 Be good to your servant in your mercy, and give me teaching in your rules.
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Deal with your servant according to your love and teach me your decrees.
125 I am your servant; give me wisdom, so that I may have knowledge of your unchanging word.
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I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes.
126 It is time, O Lord, for you to let your work be seen; for they have made your law without effect.
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It is time for you to act, LORD; your law is being broken.
127 For this reason I have greater love far your teachings than for gold, even for shining gold.
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Because I love your commands more than gold, more than pure gold,
128 Because of it I keep straight in all things by your orders; and I am a hater of every false way.
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and because I consider all your precepts right, I hate every wrong path.
129 <PE> Your unchanging word is full of wonder; for this reason my soul keeps it.
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Your statutes are wonderful; therefore I obey them.
130 The opening of your words gives light; it gives good sense to the simple.
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The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.
131 My mouth was open wide, waiting with great desire for your teachings.
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I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands.
132 Let your eyes be turned to me, and have mercy on me, as it is right for you to do to those who are lovers of your name.
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Turn to me and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name.
133 Let my steps be guided by your word; and let not sin have control over me.
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Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.
134 Make me free from the cruel rule of man; then I will keep your orders.
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Redeem me from human oppression, that I may obey your precepts.
135 Let your servant see the shining of your face; give me knowledge of your rules.
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Make your face shine on your servant and teach me your decrees.
136 Rivers of water are flowing from my eyes, because men do not keep your law.
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Streams of tears flow from my eyes, for your law is not obeyed.
137 <TZADE> O Lord, great is your righteousness, and upright are your decisions.
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You are righteous, LORD, and your laws are right.
138 You have given your unchanging word in righteousness, and it is for ever.
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The statutes you have laid down are righteous; they are fully trustworthy.
139 My passion has overcome me; because my haters are turned away from your words.
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My zeal wears me out, for my enemies ignore your words.
140 Your word is of tested value; and it is dear to your servant.
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Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them.
141 I am small and of no account; but I keep your orders in mind.
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Though I am lowly and despised, I do not forget your precepts.
142 Your righteousness is an unchanging righteousness, and your law is certain.
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Your righteousness is everlasting and your law is true.
143 Pain and trouble have overcome me: but your teachings are my delight.
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Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands give me delight.
144 The righteousness of your unchanging word is eternal; give me wisdom so that I may have life.
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Your statutes are always righteous; give me understanding that I may live.
145 <KOPH> I have made my prayer with all my heart; give answer to me, O Lord: I will keep your rules.
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I call with all my heart; answer me, LORD, and I will obey your decrees.
146 My cry has gone up to you; take me out of trouble, and I will be guided by your unchanging word.
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I call out to you; save me and I will keep your statutes.
147 Before the sun is up, my cry for help comes to your ear; my hope is in your words.
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I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word.
148 In the night watches I am awake, so that I may give thought to your saying.
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My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises.
149 Let my voice come to you, in your mercy; O Lord, by your decisions give me life.
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Hear my voice in accordance with your love; preserve my life, LORD, according to your laws.
150 Those who have evil designs against me come near; they are far from your law.
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Those who devise wicked schemes are near, but they are far from your law.
151 You are near, O Lord; and all your teachings are true.
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Yet you are near, LORD, and all your commands are true.
152 I have long had knowledge that your unchanging word is for ever.
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Long ago I learned from your statutes that you established them to last forever.
153 <RESH> O see my trouble, and be my saviour; for I keep your law in my mind,
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Look on my suffering and deliver me, for I have not forgotten your law.
154 Undertake my cause, and come to my help, give me life, as you have said.
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Defend my cause and redeem me; preserve my life according to your promise.
155 Salvation is far from evil-doers; for they have made no search for your rules.
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Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek out your decrees.
156 Great is the number of your mercies, O Lord; give me life in keeping with your decisions.
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Your compassion, LORD, is great; preserve my life according to your laws.
157 Great is the number of those who are against me; but I have not been turned away from your unchanging word.
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Many are the foes who persecute me, but I have not turned from your statutes.
158 I saw with hate those who were untrue to you; for they did not keep your saying.
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I look on the faithless with loathing, for they do not obey your word.
159 See how great is my love for your orders: give me life, O Lord, in keeping with your mercy.
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See how I love your precepts; preserve my life, LORD, in accordance with your love.
160 Your word is true from the first; and your upright decision is unchanging for ever.
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All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.
161 <SHIN> Rulers have been cruel to me without cause; but I have the fear of your word in my heart.
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Rulers persecute me without cause, but my heart trembles at your word.
162 I am delighted by your saying, like a man who makes discovery of great wealth.
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I rejoice in your promise like one who finds great spoil.
163 I am full of hate and disgust for false words; but I am a lover of your law.
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I hate and detest falsehood but I love your law.
164 Seven times a day do I give you praise, because of your upright decisions.
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Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws.
165 Great peace have lovers of your law; they have no cause for falling.
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Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.
166 Lord, my hope has been in your salvation; and I have kept your teachings.
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I wait for your salvation, LORD, and I follow your commands.
167 My soul has kept your unchanging word; great is my love for it.
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I obey your statutes, for I love them greatly.
168 I have been ruled by your orders; for all my ways are before you.
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I obey your precepts and your statutes, for all my ways are known to you.
169 <TAU> Let my cry come before you, O Lord; give me wisdom in keeping with your word.
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May my cry come before you, LORD; give me understanding according to your word.
170 Let my prayer come before you; take me out of trouble, as you have said.
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May my supplication come before you; deliver me according to your promise.
171 Let my lips be flowing with praise, because you have given me knowledge of your rules.
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May my lips overflow with praise, for you teach me your decrees.
172 Let my tongue make songs in praise of your word; for all your teachings are righteousness.
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May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous.
173 Let your hand be near for my help; for I have given my heart to your orders.
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May your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.
174 All my desire has been for your salvation, O Lord; and your law is my delight.
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I long for your salvation, LORD, and your law gives me delight.
175 Give life to my soul so that it may give you praise; and let your decisions be my support.
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Let me live that I may praise you, and may your laws sustain me.
176 I have gone out of the way like a wandering sheep; make search for your servant; for I keep your teachings ever in mind.
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I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands.
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