Psalm 119 (vv145-160) English Standard Version (ESV) Qoph – The truth of God’s Word­ 145 With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord!     I will keep your statutes. 146 I call to you; save me,     that I may observe your testimonies. 147 I rise before dawn and cry for help;     I hope in your words. 148 My eyes are awake before the watches…

Pe – The Wonder of God’s Word­ 129 Your testimonies are wonderful;     therefore my soul keeps them. 130 The unfolding of your words gives light;     it imparts understanding to the simple. 131 I open my mouth and pant,     because I long for your commandments. 132 Turn to me and be gracious to me,     as is your way with those who love your name. 133 Keep steady…

Samekh – The Reverence God’s Word Inspires­ 113 I hate the double-minded,     but I love your law. 114 You are my hiding place and my shield;     I hope in your word. 115 Depart from me, you evildoers,     that I may keep the commandments of my God. 116 Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live,     and let me not be put to shame in my hope!…

Mem – The Sweetness of God’s Word­ 97 Oh how I love your law!     It is my meditation all the day. 98 Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,     for it is ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers,     for your testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the aged,     for I keep your precepts. 101 I hold back…

Kaph – The Reliability of God’s Word­ 81 My soul longs for your salvation;     I hope in your word. 82 My eyes long for your promise;     I ask, “When will you comfort me?” 83 For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,     yet I have not forgotten your statutes. 84 How long must your servant endure?     When will you judge those who persecute…

Teth – Confidence in God’s Word­ 65 You have dealt well with your servant,     O Lord, according to your word. 66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge,     for I believe in your commandments. 67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,     but now I keep your word. 68 You are good and do good;     teach me your statutes. 69 The insolent smear me with…

Zayin – God’s Word as a Source of Hope­ 49 Remember your word to your servant,     in which you have made me hope. 50 This is my comfort in my affliction,     that your promise gives me life. 51 The insolent utterly deride me,     but I do not turn away from your law. 52 When I think of your rules from of old,     I take…

He – Loytal Commitment to God’s Word­ 33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes;     and I will keep it to the end. 34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law     and observe it with my whole heart. 35 Lead me in the path of your commandments,     for I delight in it. 36 Incline my heart to your…

Gimel – An Appreciation of God’s Word­ 17 Deal bountifully with your servant,     that I may live and keep your word. 18 Open my eyes, that I may behold     wondrous things out of your law. 19 I am a sojourner on the earth;     hide not your commandments from me! 20 My soul is consumed with longing     for your rules at all times.…

Reading Psalm 119   ­  This is the longest psalm in the Bible. It contains a series of eight-line meditations based on each of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The psalm celebrates a revelation which brings delight, because each fresh word from God reveals not just information but its author.   ­  Here…

His Steadfast Love Endures Forever 118 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;     for his steadfast love endures forever! 2 Let Israel say,     “His steadfast love endures forever.” 3 Let the house of Aaron say,     “His steadfast love endures forever.” 4 Let those who fear the Lord say,     “His steadfast love endures forever.” 5 Out of my distress I called on…

The Lord’s Faithfulness Endures Forever 117Praise the Lord, all nations!     Extol him, all peoples! 2                 For great is his steadfast love toward us,     and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!   Reflection This shortest of all the psalms focuses attention on the importance of praising God for two of His most wonderful qualities, namely: his loyal love and…

I Love the Lord 116I love the Lord, because he has heard     my voice and my pleas for mercy. 2                 Because he inclined his ear to me,     therefore I will call on him as long as I live. 3                 The snares of death encompassed me;     the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;     I suffered distress and anguish. 4                 Then I…

To Your Name Give Glory 115Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,             for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! 2                 Why should the nations say,     “Where is their God?” 3                 Our God is in the heavens;     he does all that he pleases. 4                 Their idols…

Tremble at the Presence of the Lord 114WhenIsrael went out from Egypt,     the house of Jacob froma people of strange language, 2                 Judah became hissanctuary,     Israel his dominion. 3                 The sea looked and fled;     Jordan turned back. 4                 The mountains skipped like rams,     the hills like lambs. 5                 Whatails you, O sea, that you flee?…

Who Is like the Lord Our God? 113Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord,     praise the name of the Lord! 2                 Blessed be the name of the Lord     from this time forth and forevermore! 3                 From the rising of the sun to its setting,     the name of the Lord is to be praised! 4                 The Lord is high above all nations,     and his glory above the heavens!…

The Righteous Will Never Be Moved 112Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,     who greatly delights in his commandments! 2                 His offspring will be mighty in the land;     the generation of the upright will be blessed. 3                 Wealth and riches are in his house,     and his righteousness endures forever. 4                 Light dawns in the darkness for the…

Great Are the Lord’s Works 111Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,     in the company of the upright, in the congregation. 2                 Great are the works of the Lord,     studied by all who delight in them. 3                 Full of splendor and majesty is his work,     and his righteousness endures forever. 4                 He has caused his wondrous works to…

Sit at My Right Hand A Psalm of David. 110 The Lord says to my Lord:     “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” 2 The Lord sends forth from Zion     your mighty scepter.     Rule in the midst of your enemies! 3 Your people will offer themselves freely     on the day of your power,     in holy garments; from the womb of the morning,…

Help Me, O Lord My God To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. 1 Be not silent, O God of my praise! 2 For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me,     speaking against me with lying tongues. 6 Appoint a wicked man against him;     let an accuser stand at his right hand. 7 When he is tried, let him come forth guilty;     let his prayer…

With God We Shall Do Valiantly A Song. A Psalm of David. 108 My heart is steadfast, O God!     I will sing and make melody with all my being! 2 Awake, O harp and lyre!     I will awake the dawn! 3 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;     I will sing praises to you among…

Let the Redeemed of the Lord Say So 107 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,     for his steadfast love endures forever! 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,     whom he has redeemed from trouble 3 and gathered in from the lands,     from the east and from the west,     from the north and from the south. 4 Some wandered in desert wastes,     finding no…

Paul Arrives at Rome 11 After three months we set sail in a ship that had wintered in the island, a ship of Alexandria, with the twin gods as a figurehead. 12 Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. 13 And from there we made a circuit and arrived at Rhegium. And after one day a south wind sprang…

Paul Sails for Rome 27 And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named Julius. 2 And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian…

Paul Tells of His Conversion …… 12 “In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me.14 And when we had all fallen to the ground,…

Paul Appeals to Caesar 25 Now three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 2 And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him, 3 asking as a favor against Paulthat he summon him to Jerusalem—because they were planning an ambush to kill…

Paul Before Felix at Caesarea 24 And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul. 2 And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: “Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix,…

23 And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.” 2 And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according…

22 “Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.” 2 And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said: 3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of…

Paul Goes to Jerusalem 21 And when we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 2 And having found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. 3 When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the…