ALEPH - Blessed are those who keep his law
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[ALEPH] O the blessedness of those perfect in the way, || They are walking in the Law of YHWH,
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O the blessedness of those keeping His testimonies, || They seek Him with the whole heart.
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Indeed, they have not done iniquity, || They have walked in His ways.
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You have commanded us to diligently keep Your precepts,
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O that my ways were prepared to keep Your statutes,
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Then I am not ashamed || In my looking to all Your commands.
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I confess You with uprightness of heart, || In my learning the judgments of Your righteousness.
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I keep Your statutes, do not utterly leave me!
BETH - Holiness is the fruit of keeping the law of the Lord
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[BETH] With what does a young man purify his path? To observe—according to Your word.
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I have sought You with all my heart, || Do not let me err from Your commands.
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I have hid Your saying in my heart, || That I do not sin before You.
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Blessed [are] You, O YHWH, teach me Your statutes.
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With my lips I have recounted || All the judgments of Your mouth.
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I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, || As over all wealth.
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I meditate on Your precepts, || And I attentively behold Your paths.
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I delight myself in Your statutes, || I do not forget Your word.
GIMEL - Eyes to see the wonders of the Lord
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[GIMEL] Confer benefits on Your servant, || I live, and I keep Your word.
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Uncover my eyes, and I behold wonders out of Your law.
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I [am] a sojourner on earth, || Do not hide Your commands from me.
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My soul has broken for desire || To Your judgments at all times.
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You have rebuked the cursed proud, || Who are erring from Your commands.
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Remove reproach and contempt from me, || For I have kept Your testimonies.
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Princes also sat—they spoke against me, || Your servant meditates on Your statutes,
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Your testimonies [are] also my delight, || The men of my counsel!
DALETH - prayer to understand the ways of the Lord
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[DALETH] My soul has cleaved to the dust, || Quicken me according to Your word.
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I have recounted my ways, || And You answer me, teach me Your statutes,
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Cause me to understand the way of Your precepts, || And I meditate on Your wonders.
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My soul has dropped from affliction, || Establish me according to Your word.
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Turn aside the way of falsehood from me || And favor me with Your law.
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I have chosen the way of faithfulness, || I have compared Your judgments,
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I have adhered to Your testimonies, || O YHWH, do not put me to shame.
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I run the way of Your commands, || For You enlarge my heart!
HE - faithfulness based on the promises of God
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[HE] Show me, O YHWH, the way of Your statutes, || And I keep it—[to] the end.
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Cause me to understand, and I keep Your law, || And observe it with the whole heart.
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Cause me to tread in the path of Your commands, || For I have delighted in it.
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Incline my heart to Your testimonies, || And not to dishonest gain.
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Remove my eyes from seeing vanity, || Quicken me in Your way.
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Establish Your saying to Your servant, || That [is] concerning Your fear.
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Remove my reproach that I have feared, || For Your judgments [are] good.
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Behold, I have longed for Your precepts, || Quicken me in Your righteousness,
VAU - salvation through the word of the Lord
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[WAW] And Your kindness meets me, O YHWH, || Your salvation according to Your saying.
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And I answer him who is reproaching me a word, || For I have trusted in Your word.
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And You do not utterly take away || The word of truth from my mouth, || Because I have hoped for Your judgment.
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And I keep Your law continually, || For all time and forever.
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And I habitually walk in a broad place, || For I have sought Your precepts.
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And I speak of Your testimonies before kings, || And I am not ashamed.
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And I delight myself in Your commands, || That I have loved,
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And I lift up my hands to Your commands, || That I have loved, || And I meditate on Your statutes!
ZAIN - The Word of the Lord is a source of hope and comfort
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[ZAYIN] Remember the word to Your servant, || On which You have caused me to hope.
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This [is] my comfort in my affliction, || That Your saying has quickened me.
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The proud have utterly scorned me, || I have not turned aside from Your law.
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I remembered Your judgments of old, O YHWH, || And I comfort myself.
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Horror has seized me, || Because of the wicked forsaking Your law.
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Your statutes have been songs to me, || In the house of my sojournings.
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I have remembered Your Name in the night, O YHWH, || And I keep Your law.
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This has been to me, || That I have kept Your precepts!
HETH - My inheritance is the keeping of your word
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[HETH] YHWH [is] my portion; I have said I would keep Your words,
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I appeased Your face with the whole heart, || Favor me according to Your saying.
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I have reckoned my ways, || And turn back my feet to Your testimonies.
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I have made haste, || And did not delay, to keep Your commands.
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Cords of the wicked have surrounded me, || I have not forgotten Your law.
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At midnight I rise to give thanks to You, || For the judgments of Your righteousness.
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I [am] a companion to all who fear You, || And to those keeping Your precepts.
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Of Your kindness, O YHWH, the earth is full, || Teach me Your statutes!
TETH - Learning the words of the Lord through suffering
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[TETH] You did good with Your servant, O YHWH, || According to Your word.
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Teach me the goodness of reason and knowledge, || For I have believed in Your commands.
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Before I am afflicted, I am erring, || And now I have kept Your saying.
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You [are] good, and doing good, || Teach me Your statutes.
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The proud have forged falsehood against me, || I keep Your precepts with the whole heart.
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Their heart has been thick as fat, || I have delighted in Your law.
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[It is] good for me that I have been afflicted, || That I might learn Your statutes.
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The Law of Your mouth [is] better to me || Than thousands of gold and silver!
JOD - The law of the Lord is the foundation for the community of believers
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[YOD] Your hands made me and establish me, || Cause me to understand, and I learn Your commands.
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Those fearing You see me and rejoice, || Because I have hoped for Your word.
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I have known, O YHWH, || That Your judgments [are] righteous, || And [in] faithfulness You have afflicted me.
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Please let Your kindness be to comfort me, || According to Your saying to Your servant.
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Your mercies meet me, and I live, || For Your law [is] my delight.
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The proud are ashamed, || For [with] falsehood they dealt perversely with me. I meditate on Your precepts.
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Those fearing You turn back to me, || And those knowing Your testimonies.
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My heart is perfect in Your statutes, || So that I am not ashamed.
KAPH - Longing for peace and comfort
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[KAPH] My soul has been consumed for Your salvation, || I have hoped for Your word.
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My eyes have been consumed for Your word, || Saying, “When does it comfort me?”
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For I have been as a bottle in smoke, || I have not forgotten Your statutes.
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How many [are] the days of Your servant? When do You execute judgment || Against my pursuers?
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The proud have dug pits for me, || That [are] not according to Your law.
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All Your commands [are] faithfulness, || They have pursued me [with] falsehood, || Help me.
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They have almost consumed me on earth, || And I have not forsaken Your precepts.
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Quicken me according to Your kindness, || And I keep the Testimony of Your mouth!
LAMED - The immutability of the law of the Lord
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[LAMED] For all time, O YHWH, Your word is set up in the heavens.
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Your faithfulness from generation to generation, || You established earth, and it stands.
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According to Your ordinances || They have stood this day, for the whole—Your servants.
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Unless Your law [were] my delights, || Then had I perished in my affliction.
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I do not forget Your precepts for all time, || For You have quickened me by them.
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I [am] Yours, save me, for I have sought Your precepts.
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Your wicked waited for me to destroy me, || I understand Your testimonies.
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I have seen an end of all perfection, || Your command [is] exceedingly broad!
MEM - Love for God's law
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[MEM] O how I have loved Your law! It [is] my meditation all the day.
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Your command makes me wiser than my enemies, || For it [is] before me for all time.
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I have acted wisely above all my teachers. For Your testimonies [are] my meditation.
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Above elderly—I understand more, || For I have kept Your precepts.
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I restrained my feet from every evil path, || So that I keep Your word.
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I did not turn aside from Your judgments, || For You have directed me.
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How sweet Your saying has been to my palate, || Above honey to my mouth.
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I have understanding from Your precepts, || Therefore I have hated every false path!
NUN - The word of the Lord is a lamp unto my feet
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[NUN] Your word [is] a lamp to my foot, || And a light to my path.
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I have sworn, and I confirm, || To keep the judgments of Your righteousness.
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I have been afflicted very much, || O YHWH, quicken me, according to Your word.
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Please accept [the] free-will offerings of my mouth, O YHWH, || And teach me Your judgments.
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My soul [is] in my hand continually, || And I have not forgotten Your law.
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The wicked have laid a snare for me, || And I did not wander from your precepts.
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I have inherited Your testimonies for all time, || For they [are] the joy of my heart.
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I have inclined my heart || To do Your statutes, for all time—[to] the end!
SAMEKH - The word of the Lord is my protection and my shield
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[SAMEKH] I have hated doubting ones, || And I have loved Your law.
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You [are] my hiding place and my shield, || I have hoped for Your word.
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Turn aside from me, you evildoers, || And I keep the commands of my God.
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Sustain me according to Your saying, || And I live, and You do not put me to shame because of my hope.
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Support me, and I am saved, || And I look on Your statutes continually.
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You have trodden down || All going astray from Your statutes, || For their deceit [is] falsehood.
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Dross! You have caused to cease || All the wicked of the earth; Therefore I have loved Your testimonies.
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My flesh has trembled from Your fear, || And I have been afraid from Your judgments!
AIN - The psalmist kept the law of the Lord
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[AYIN] I have done judgment and righteousness, || Do not leave me to my oppressors.
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Make Your servant sure for good, || Do not let the proud oppress me.
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My eyes have been consumed for Your salvation. And for the saying of Your righteousness.
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Do with Your servant according to Your kindness. And teach me Your statutes.
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I [am] Your servant—cause me to understand, || And I know Your testimonies.
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Time for YHWH to work! They have made Your law void.
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Therefore I have loved Your commands || Above gold—even fine gold.
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Therefore all my appointments I have declared wholly right, || I have hated every path of falsehood!
PE - Prayer to keep the law of the Lord
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[PE] Your testimonies [are] wonderful, || Therefore my soul has kept them.
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The opening of Your words enlightens, || Instructing the simple.
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I have opened my mouth, indeed, I pant, || For I have longed for Your commands.
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Look to me, and favor me, || As customary to those loving Your Name.
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Establish my steps by Your saying, || And any iniquity does not rule over me.
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Ransom me from the oppression of man, || And I observe Your precepts,
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Cause Your face to shine on Your servant, || And teach me Your statutes.
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Streams of waters have come down my eyes, || Because they have not kept Your law!
TZADE - The Lord and his law are righteous
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[TSADE] You [are] righteous, O YHWH, || And Your judgments [are] upright.
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You have appointed Your testimonies, || Righteous and exceedingly faithful,
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My zeal has cut me off, || For my adversaries forgot Your words.
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Your saying [is] tried exceedingly, || And Your servant has loved it.
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I [am] small, and despised, || I have not forgotten Your precepts.
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Your righteousness [is] righteousness for all time, || And Your law [is] truth.
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Adversity and distress have found me, || Your commands [are] my delights.
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The righteousness of Your testimonies || [Is] to cause me to understand, and I live!
KOPH - Cry for salvation
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[QOF] I have called with the whole heart, || Answer me, O YHWH, I keep Your statutes,
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I have called You, save me, || And I keep Your testimonies.
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I have gone forward in the dawn, and I cry, || I have hoped for Your word.
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My eyes have gone before the watches, || To meditate on Your saying.
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Hear my voice, according to Your kindness, || YHWH, quicken me according to Your judgment.
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My wicked pursuers have been near, || They have been far off from Your law.
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You [are] near, O YHWH, || And all Your commands [are] truth.
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I have known Your testimonies of old, || That You have founded them for all time!
RESH - Keeping the law of the Lord in times of trouble
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[RESH] See my affliction, and deliver me, || For I have not forgotten Your law.
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Plead my plea, and redeem me, || Quicken me according to Your saying.
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Salvation [is] far from the wicked, || For they have not sought Your statutes.
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Your mercies [are] many, O YHWH, || Quicken me according to Your judgments.
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My pursuers and adversaries are many, || I have not turned aside from Your testimonies.
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I have seen treacherous ones, || And grieve myself, || Because they have not kept Your saying.
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See, for I have loved Your precepts, || YHWH, quicken me according to Your kindness.
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The sum of Your word [is] truth, || And every judgment of Your righteousness [is] for all time!
SHIN - Prayer for deliverance from persecution
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[SHIN] Princes have pursued me without cause, || And my heart was afraid because of Your words.
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I rejoice concerning Your saying, || As one finding abundant spoil.
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I have hated falsehood, indeed I detest [it], || I have loved Your law.
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Seven [times] in a day I have praised You, || Because of the judgments of Your righteousness.
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Those loving Your law have abundant peace, || And they have no stumbling-block.
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I have waited for Your salvation, O YHWH, || And I have done Your commands.
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My soul has kept Your testimonies, || And I love them exceedingly.
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I have kept Your precepts and Your testimonies, || For all my ways are before You!
TAU - Concluding prayer
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[TAW] My loud cry comes near before You, O YHWH; Cause me to understand according to Your word.
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My supplication comes in before You, || Deliver me according to Your saying.
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My lips utter praise, || For You teach me Your statutes.
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My tongue sings of Your saying, || For all Your commands [are] righteous.
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Your hand is for a help to me, || For I have chosen Your commands.
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I have longed for Your salvation, O YHWH, || And Your law [is] my delight.
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My soul lives, and it praises You, || And Your judgments help me.
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I wandered as a lost sheep, [so] seek Your servant, || For I have not forgotten Your precepts!
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