This is a sample
of Hebrew poetry. The style is an acrostic. In this acrostic poem,
the alefbeth is the base, with each letter of the alefbeth having
8 verses. You cannot view it in the English translation, but in
the Hebrew, you can see that under each letter, the first word
of each verse begins with that letter. For example, verses 1-8,
the first word of each verse all begin with an Alef; verses 9-16,
the first word in each verse begins with a Beth; and so on. Not
only is the the largest acrostic poem in the book of Thehilliym
[Psalms], but in my opinion, is the most beautiful and scriptually
insightful.
` alef
1 happy is the blameless ones way, those walking in the thorah of dedi. 2 happy
are those guarding his testimonies, with the whole heart they
seek him. 3
also, they do no injustice, in his ways they walk.
4 you have commanded your charges to be observed
fully. 5 that my ways were firm by observing your
rules. 6 then,
i will not be ashamed when i look
to all your commands. 7
i will praise you with an upright heart, in my learning the
judgments of your righteousness.
8 your rules i observe,
leave me not entirely.
a beth
9 with what will a young man purify his path? to observe, according
to your word. 10
with all my heart i have sought you,
let me not stray from your commands.
11 in my heart i hide
your words, that i not sin before you. 12 blessed are you, dedi,
teach me your rules. 13
with my lips i recount all the judgments
of your mouth. 14
in the way of your testimonies i rejoice,
above all wealth. 15 in your charges i meditate, and i consider your
journey. 16
in your rules i take delight, i will not forget
your word.
b gimel
17 reward your servant, i may live, and i observe your word. 18
open my eyes, and i will consider wonderful
things from your thorah. 19 a ger,
i am, in the land, do not hide from
me your commands. 20
crushed is my soul for longing to your judgments at all times. 21 you rebuke the arrogant, the cursed
ones, those straying from your commands.
22 remove from on me disgrace and contempt,
for your testimonies i guard.
23 also princes sat against me speaking, your
servant meditates on your rules. 24 even your testimonies delight
me, the men of my counsel.
c daleth
25 my soul clings to the dust, give me life, according to your word. 26 my ways i have recounted, and you answered
me; teach me your rules. 27
the way of your charges make me understand, and i
will meditate on your wonders.
28 my soul weeps from sorrow; raise me according
to your word. 29 the way of lying turn from me; and with
your thorah favor me. 30 the way of truth i have chosen; your judgments i
have set. 31
i cling to your testimonies; dedi,
do not shame me. 32
the way of your commands i run; for
you will enlarge my heart.
d he
33 instruct me, dedi, the way of your rules, and i keep it, to the end. 34
make me understand, and i will guard
your thorah, and observe it with all
heart. 35 cause
me to walk in the path of your commands; for in it i
delight. 36 bend my heart to your testimonies,
and not to unjust gain. 37
turn away my eyes from seeing worthlessness; by your way, give
me life. 38 confirm to your servant your sayings;
who is belonging to your fear.
39 turn away
my disgrace which i dread; for your
judgments are good. 40
look, i have longed for your charges; through your righteousness
give me life.
e waw
41 and bring to me your mercy, dedi,
your salvation according to your sayings.
42 and i answer my taunter a word,
for i trust in your word. 43 and do not deliver, from my mouth
the word of truth entirely, for your judgment i
have hoped. 44
and i will observe your thorah continually;
forever and ever. 45
and i will walk in spaciousness, for
your charges i seek. 46
and i will speak of your testimonies
before kings, and not ashamed.
47 and i will delight in your commands, which i
love. 48 and
i lift up my palms to your commands, which i love, and i will meditate on your
rules.
f zayin
49 remember the word to your servant, on which you have caused me to hope.
50 this is my comfort in my affliction; for
your sayings revive me. 51
the arrogant utterly mock me; from your thorah i have not turned aside.
52 i remembered your
judgments of old, dedi,
and comfort myself. 53
rage has seized me, because of the wicked forsaking your thorah. 54 songs have been to me your rules,
in the beyth of my journeying. 55 i remembered,
in the night, your name, dedi,
and observe your thorah. 56 this has become mine, for your
charges i guard.
g cheth
57 my portion is dedi; i have said, to keep your words.
58 i sought your face
with all heart, favor me according to your sayings. 59 i considered
my ways, and turned my feet to your testimonies. 60 i hurried,
and did not delay, to observe your commands. 61 cords of the wicked have surrounded
me; your thorah i
have not forgotten. 62
at midnight i rise to give thanks to
you, because of your righteous judgments.
63 a companion, i
am, to all who fear you, and those observing your charges.
64 of your mercy,
dedi, fills the earth; your rules teach
me.
h teth
65 good you do with your servant, dedi,
according to your word. 66
good discretion and knowledge teach me, for in your commands i believe. 67
before I was afflicted, i went astray;
and now your sayings i observe.
68 good you are, and doing good;
teach me your rules. 69
the proud forged against me a lie; I, with all heart, guard your
charges. 70 insensitive as fat is their heart;
i, delight in your thorah. 71 good to me, that i was afflicted, so that i might
learn your rules. 72
better to me, the thorah of your mouth,
than thousands of gold and silver.
i
yod
73 your hands made me and establish me; cause me to understand, and i will learn your commands.
74 those fearing you see me and rejoice, for
your word i have waited. 75
i know, dedi,
that righteous are your judgments, and in faithfulness you have
afflicted me. 76
your mercy will be, i pray, for my comfort, according to your sayings, belonging
to your servant. 77
your mercy will come to me, and i will
live, for your thorah is my delight.
78 ashamed are the arrogant, for with lies they
perverted me. i
meditate on your charges. 79
turn to me, your fearing ones and those knowing your testimonies. 80 my heart will be complete in your
rules, so that i am not ashamed.
k kaf
81 my soul fails longingly for your salvation; for your word i wait. 82
my eyes fail longingly for your sayings, saying, “when
will you comfort me?” 83
for i am as a wineskin in smoke; your rules i
do not forget. 84
how many are the days of your servant? when
will you execute on my persecutors judgment?
85 the arrogant have dug for me pits,
that are not according to your thorah. 86 all your commands are faithful;
with lying they have persecute me; help me.
87 almost, consumed me from the land, and i
have not forsaken your charges.
88 by your mercy give me life, and i
will observe the testimony of your mouth.
l lamed
89 to forever, dedi, your word is standing in the
heavens. 90
to generation and generation is your faithfulness, you established
land, and it stands. 91 belonging to your judgements
they stand this day, for all are your servants.
92 except your thorah
was my delight, then i
would have perished in my affliction.
93 to forever i will
not forget your charges, for by them you give me life.
94 belonging to you, I am, save me, for your
charges i sought.
95 the wicked waited for me to destroy me, your
testimonies i understand.
96 to all completeness i
have seen an end, boundless is your command, exceedingly.
n mem
97 how i love
your thorah. all the day
it is my meditation. 98
your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for to forever she
is to me. 99 above all my teachers i have insight; for your testimonies are a meditation to me.
100 above elders i understand, for your charges i
guard. 101 from
every evil path i restrain my feet,
so that i observe your word.
102 from your judgments i
have not turned, for you, you have taught me.
103 how sweet to my taste are your sayings,
above honey to my mouth. 104 from your charges i have understanding, therefore i
hate every deceptive path.
p nun
105 a light to my foot is your word, and a light to my path.
106 i have sworn,
and i confirm it, to observe your righteous
judgments. 107
i am afflicted very much, dedi,
give me life, by your word. 108
free will offerings of my mouth, accept, i
pray, dedi,
and your judgments teach you me.
109 my soul is in my palm continually, and your
thorah i do not forget. 110
the wicked have given a snare for me, but from your charges i
do not stray. 111
i have inherited your testimonies forever, for the joy of
my heart they are. 112
i bow my heart to do your rules, forever, to the end.
q samech
113 double-minded ones i hate, but
your thorah i
love. 114 my
hiding place and my shield you are, for your word i
hope. 115 turn from me, you evildoers,
and i will guard the commands of my
eloha. 116
support me according to your sayings, and i
will live, and you will not shame me, because of my hope. 117 hold me up, and i am saved, and i will look on your
rules always. 118
you have trampled all going astray from your rules, for lying
is their deceit. 119 dross, you caused to cease, all
the wicked of the land; therefore i
love your testimonies. 120
my flesh shivered from your terror, and from your judgments i
feared.
r ayin
121 i have done justice and righteousness;
do not leave me to my oppressors. 122 ensure your servant for good, do not let the arrogant oppress me. 123 my eyes long for your salvation;
and for the sayings of your righteousness. 124 do with your servant according
to your mercy, and your rules teach me.
125 your servant I am, make me to understand,
and i know your testimonies.
126 time to work for dedi; they broke your thorah. 127 therefore i
love your commands above gold, fine gold.
128 therefore because all charges, all straightness;
every path of lying i hate.
t fe
129 wonderful are your testimonies, therefore has my soul
guards them. 130
the door of your words gives light, instructing the open-minded. 131 my mouth i
open, and i pant, for your commands
i long. 132
turn to me, and favor me, as judgement for loving your name.
133 my steps establish by your sayings, and
do not let evil rule over me. 134 redeem me from the oppression
of man, and i will observe your charges. 135 shine your face on your servant,
and teach me your rules. 136
streams of waters descend from my eyes, because they do not observe
your thorah.
v tsade
137 righteous are you, dedi,
and straight are your judgments.
138 you command righteousness; your testimonies and faithfulness
are exceeding. 139
my zeal has consumed me, for my enemies forgot your words. 140 refined are your sayings greatly,
and your servant loves it. 141
small i am, and despised; your charges
i do not forget. 142
your righteousness is righteous forever,
and your thorah is truth. 143
oppression and distress have found me; your commands are my delight. 144 your righteous testimonies are
forever, make me understand, and i
will live.
w qof
145 i call, with all heart; answer
me, dedi; your rules i guard 146 i called
you, save me, i pray; and i
observe your testimonies. 147
i come in the twilight, and i
cry; for your word i wait. 148 the watches go before my eyes;
to meditate in your sayings. 149
hear my voice, according to your mercy, dedi, by your judgment give me life.
150 my wicked pursuers draw near, from your
thorah they are far. 151 near are you, dedi,
and all your commands are truth.
152 of old i have
known your testimonies, for forever you established them.
x resh
153 see my affliction, and deliver me, for your thorah i do not forget. 154 contend my cause, and redeem
me, by your sayings give me life.
155 far from the wicked is salvation, for your
rules they have not sought. 156 your mercies are many, dedi,
by your judgments give me life.
157 many are my persecutors and adversaries;
from your testimonies i do not turn. 158
i saw betrayers, and was disgusted,
because your sayings they do not observe.
159 see, for your charges i
love, dedi, by your mercy give me life. 160 the head of your word is truth,
and forever all your judgments are righteous.
y shin
161 princes persecute me without cause; and from your words my heart feared.
162 i rejoice at your sayings, as one finds great plunder. 163 lying i
hate, and despise; your thorah i
love. 164 seven
times in a day i praise you, because
of your righteous judgments. 165
great shalom those loving your thorah, and nothing to them is a stumbling-block. 166 i wait for
your salvation, dedi, and your commands i do. 167
my soul observes your testimonies, and i
love them greatly. 168
i observe your charges and your testimonies, for all my ways
are before you.
z thaw
169 may my cry come near before your face, dedi;
by your word make me understand.
170 my prayer come before your face, by your
sayings deliver me. 171 my lips will pour forth praise,
for you taught me your rules.
172 my tongue will answer your sayings, for
all your commands are righteous. 173 your hand will be, to me a help,
for your commands i have chosen. 174 i have
longed for your salvation, dedi, and your thorah is my delight.
175 let my soul live, and she will praise you,
and your judgments will help me. 176 i strayed
as a lost sheep, seek your servant, for
your commands i do not forget.
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