1-8. You’re blessed when you stay on course,walking steadily on the road revealed by God.You’re blessed when you follow his directions,doing your best to find him.That’s right—you don’t go off on your own;you walk straight along the road he set.You, God, prescribed the right way to live;now you expect us to live it.Oh, that my steps might be steady,keeping to the course you set;Then I’d never have any regretsin comparing my life with your counsel.I thank you for speaking straight from your heart;I learn the pattern of your righteous ways.I’m going to do what you tell me to do;don’t ever walk off and leave me.
17-24. Be generous with me and I’ll live a full life;not for a minute will I take my eyes off your road.Open my eyes so I can seewhat you show me of your miracle-wonders.I’m a stranger in these parts;give me clear directions.My soul is starved and hungry, ravenous!—insatiable for your nourishing commands.And those who think they know so much,ignoring everything you tell them—let them have it!Don’t let them mock and humiliate me;I’ve been careful to do just what you said.While bad neighbors maliciously gossip about me,I’m absorbed in pondering your wise counsel.Yes, your sayings on life are what give me delight;I listen to them as to good neighbors!
25-32. I’m feeling terrible—I couldn’t feel worse!Get me on my feet again. You promised, remember?When I told my story, you responded;train me well in your deep wisdom.Help me understand these things inside and outso I can ponder your miracle-wonders.My sad life’s dilapidated, a falling-down barn;build me up again by your Word.Barricade the road that goes Nowhere;grace me with your clear revelation.I choose the true road to Somewhere,I post your road signs at every curve and corner.I grasp and cling to whatever you tell me;God, don’t let me down!I’ll run the course you lay out for meif you’ll just show me how.
33-40. God, teach me lessons for livingso I can stay the course.Give me insight so I can do what you tell me—my whole life one long, obedient response.Guide me down the road of your commandments;I love traveling this freeway!Give me a bent for your words of wisdom,and not for piling up loot.Divert my eyes from toys and trinkets,invigorate me on the pilgrim way.Affirm your promises to me—promises made to all who fear you.Deflect the harsh words of my critics—but what you say is always so good.See how hungry I am for your counsel;preserve my life through your righteous ways!
41-48. Let your love, God, shape my lifewith salvation, exactly as you promised;Then I’ll be able to stand up to mockerybecause I trusted your Word.Don’t ever deprive me of truth, not ever—your commandments are what I depend on.Oh, I’ll guard with my life what you’ve revealed to me,guard it now, guard it ever;And I’ll stride freely through wide open spacesas I look for your truth and your wisdom;Then I’ll tell the world what I find,speak out boldly in public, unembarrassed.I cherish your commandments—oh, how I love them!—relishing every fragment of your counsel.
49-56. Remember what you said to me, your servant—I hang on to these words for dear life!These words hold me up in bad times;yes, your promises rejuvenate me.The insolent ridicule me without mercy,but I don’t budge from your revelation.I watch for your ancient landmark words,and know I’m on the right track.But when I see the wicked ignore your directions,I’m beside myself with anger.I set your instructions to musicand sing them as I walk this pilgrim way.I meditate on your name all night, God,treasuring your revelation, O God.Still, I walk through a rain of derisionbecause I live by your Word and counsel.
105-112. By your words I can see where I’m going;they throw a beam of light on my dark path.I’ve committed myself and I’ll never turn backfrom living by your righteous order.Everything’s falling apart on me, God;put me together again with your Word.Festoon me with your finest sayings, God;teach me your holy rules.My life is as close as my own hands,but I don’t forget what you have revealed.The wicked do their best to throw me off track,but I don’t swerve an inch from your course.I inherited your book on living; it’s mine forever—what a gift! And how happy it makes me!I concentrate on doing exactly what you say—I always have and always will.
113-120. I hate the two-faced,but I love your clear-cut revelation.You’re my place of quiet retreat;I wait for your Word to renew me.Get out of my life, evildoers,so I can keep my God’s commands.Take my side as you promised; I’ll live then for sure.Don’t disappoint all my grand hopes.Stick with me and I’ll be all right;I’ll give total allegiance to your definitions of life.Expose all who drift away from your sayings;their casual idolatry is lethal.You reject earth’s wicked as so much rubbish;therefore I lovingly embrace everything you say.I shiver in awe before you;your decisions leave me speechless with reverence.
121-128. I stood up for justice and the right;don’t leave me to the mercy of my oppressors.Take the side of your servant, good God;don’t let the godless take advantage of me.I can’t keep my eyes open any longer, waiting for youto keep your promise to set everything right.Let your love dictate how you deal with me;teach me from your textbook on life.I’m your servant—help me understand what that means,the inner meaning of your instructions.It’s time to act, God;they’ve made a shambles of your revelation!Yea-Saying God, I love what you command,I love it better than gold and gemstones;Yea-Saying God, I honor everything you tell me,I despise every deceitful detour.
129-136. Every word you give me is a miracle word—how could I help but obey?Break open your words, let the light shine out,let ordinary people see the meaning.Mouth open and panting,I wanted your commands more than anything.Turn my way, look kindly on me,as you always do to those who personally love you.Steady my steps with your Word of promiseso nothing malign gets the better of me.Rescue me from the grip of bad men and womenso I can live life your way.Smile on me, your servant;teach me the right way to live.I cry rivers of tearsbecause nobody’s living by your book!
137-144. You are right and you do right, God;your decisions are right on target.You rightly instruct us in how to liveever faithful to you.My rivals nearly did me in,they persistently ignored your commandments.Your promise has been tested through and through,and I, your servant, love it dearly.I’m too young to be important,but I don’t forget what you tell me.Your righteousness is eternally right,your revelation is the only truth.Even though troubles came down on me hard,your commands always gave me delight.The way you tell me to live is always right;help me understand it so I can live to the fullest.
145-152. I call out at the top of my lungs,“God! Answer! I’ll do whatever you say.”I called to you, “Save meso I can carry out all your instructions.”I was up before sunrise,crying for help, hoping for a word from you.I stayed awake all night,prayerfully pondering your promise.In your love, listen to me;in your justice, God, keep me alive.As those out to get me come closer and closer,they go farther and farther from the truth you reveal;But you’re the closest of all to me, God,and all your judgments true.I’ve known all along from the evidence of your wordsthat you meant them to last forever.
153-160. Take a good look at my trouble, and help me—I haven’t forgotten your revelation.Take my side and get me out of this;give me back my life, just as you promised.“Salvation” is only gibberish to the wickedbecause they’ve never looked it up in your dictionary.Your mercies, God, run into the billions;following your guidelines, revive me.My antagonists are too many to count,but I don’t swerve from the directions you gave.I took one look at the quitters and was filled with loathing;they walked away from your promises so casually!Take note of how I love what you tell me;out of your life of love, prolong my life.Your words all add up to the sum total: Truth.Your righteous decisions are eternal.
161-168. I’ve been slandered unmercifully by the politicians,but my awe at your words keeps me stable.I’m ecstatic over what you say,like one who strikes it rich.I hate lies—can’t stand them!—but I love what you have revealed.Seven times each day I stop and shout praisesfor the way you keep everything running right.For those who love what you reveal, everything fits—no stumbling around in the dark for them.I wait expectantly for your salvation;God, I do what you tell me.My soul guards and keeps all your instructions—oh, how much I love them!I follow your directions, abide by your counsel;my life’s an open book before you.
169-176. Let my cry come right into your presence, God;provide me with the insight that comes only from your Word.Give my request your personal attention,rescue me on the terms of your promise.Let praise cascade off my lips;after all, you’ve taught me the truth about life!And let your promises ring from my tongue;every order you’ve given is right.Put your hand out and steady mesince I’ve chosen to live by your counsel.I’m homesick, God, for your salvation;I love it when you show yourself!Invigorate my soul so I can praise you well,use your decrees to put iron in my soul.And should I wander off like a lost sheep—seek me!I’ll recognize the sound of your voice.