Psalm 119:1-88; 2 Corinthians 4
1
Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD.
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Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart—
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they do no wrong but follow his ways.
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You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.
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Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees!
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Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands.
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I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.
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I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.
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How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.
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I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.
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I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
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Praise be to you, LORD; teach me your decrees.
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With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth.
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I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.
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I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.
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I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.
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Be good to your servant while I live, that I may obey your word.
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Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.
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I am a stranger on earth; do not hide your commands from me.
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My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times.
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You rebuke the arrogant, who are accursed, those who stray from your commands.
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Remove from me their scorn and contempt, for I keep your statutes.
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Though rulers sit together and slander me, your servant will meditate on your decrees.
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Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.
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I am laid low in the dust; preserve my life according to your word.
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I gave an account of my ways and you answered me; teach me your decrees.
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Cause me to understand the way of your precepts, that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds.
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My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.
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Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me and teach me your law.
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I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws.
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I hold fast to your statutes, LORD; do not let me be put to shame.
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I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding.
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Teach me, LORD, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end.
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Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart.
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Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.
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Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.
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Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.
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Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared.
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Take away the disgrace I dread, for your laws are good.
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How I long for your precepts! In your righteousness preserve my life.
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May your unfailing love come to me, LORD, your salvation, according to your promise;
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then I can answer anyone who taunts me, for I trust in your word.
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Never take your word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your laws.
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I will always obey your law, for ever and ever.
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I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.
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I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame,
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for I delight in your commands because I love them.
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I reach out for your commands, which I love, that I may meditate on your decrees.
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Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.
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My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.
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The arrogant mock me unmercifully, but I do not turn from your law.
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I remember, LORD, your ancient laws, and I find comfort in them.
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Indignation grips me because of the wicked, who have forsaken your law.
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Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge.
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In the night, LORD, I remember your name, that I may keep your law.
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This has been my practice: I obey your precepts.
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You are my portion, LORD; I have promised to obey your words.
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I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.
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I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes.
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I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.
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Though the wicked bind me with ropes, I will not forget your law.
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At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws.
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I am a friend to all who fear you, to all who follow your precepts.
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The earth is filled with your love, LORD; teach me your decrees.
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Do good to your servant according to your word, LORD.
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Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust your commands.
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Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word.
68
You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees.
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Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, I keep your precepts with all my heart.
70
Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in your law.
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It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.
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The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.
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Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands.
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May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in your word.
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I know, LORD, that your laws are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
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May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.
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Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight.
78
May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause; but I will meditate on your precepts.
79
May those who fear you turn to me, those who understand your statutes.
80
May I wholeheartedly follow your decrees, that I may not be put to shame.
81
My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word.
82
My eyes fail, looking for your promise; I say, “When will you comfort me?”
83
Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke, I do not forget your decrees.
84
How long must your servant wait? When will you punish my persecutors?
85
The arrogant dig pits to trap me, contrary to your law.
86
All your commands are trustworthy; help me, for I am being persecuted without cause.
87
They almost wiped me from the earth, but I have not forsaken your precepts.
88
In your unfailing love preserve my life, that I may obey the statutes of your mouth.
1
Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.
2
Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.
3
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
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The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
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For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
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For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
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But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
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We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
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persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
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We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
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For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.
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So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
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It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak,
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because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself.
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All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
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Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
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For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
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So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
