Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're
taking this journey together to read the Bible
in a year. Today's reading is the longest chapter
in the Bible, Psalm 119. Blessed are the undefiled
in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.
Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who
seek him with the whole heart. They also do no
iniquity, they walk in his ways. You have commanded
us to keep your precepts diligently. O that my
ways were directed to keep your statutes! Then
I would not be ashamed when I look into all your
commandments. I will praise you with uprightness
of heart when I learn your righteous judgments.
I will keep your statutes. O do not forsake me
utterly. How can a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to your word. With my
whole heart I have sought you. O let me not wander
from your commandments. Your word I have hidden
in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
Blessed are you, O Lord, teach me your statutes.
With my lips I have declared all the judgments
of your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of
your testimonies, as much as in all riches. I
will meditate on your precepts and contemplate
your ways. I will delight myself in your statutes.
I will not forget your word. Deal bountifully
with your servant, that I may live and keep your
word. Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things
from your law. I am a stranger in the earth.
Do not hide your commandments from me. My soul
breaks with longing for your judgments at all
times. You rebuke the proud, the cursed, who
stray from your commandments. Remove from me
reproach and contempt. for I have kept your testimonies.
Princes also sit and speak against me, but your
servant meditates on your statutes. Your testimonies
also are my delight and my counselors. My soul
clings to the dust. Revive me according to your
word. I have declared my ways, and you answered
me. Teach me your statutes. Make me understand
the way of your precepts. So shall I meditate
on your wonderful works. My soul melts from heaviness.
Strengthen me according to your word. Remove
from me the way of lying, and grant me your law
graciously. I have chosen the way of truth. Your
judgments I have laid before me. I cling to your
testimonies. O Lord, do not put me to shame.
I will run the course of your commandments, for
you shall enlarge my heart. Teach me, O Lord,
the way of your statutes, and I shall keep it
to the end. Give me understanding, and I shall
keep your law. Indeed, I shall observe it with
my whole heart. Make me walk in the path of your
commandments, for I delight in it. Incline my
heart to your testimonies, and not to covetousness.
Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things,
and revive me in your way. Establish your word
to your servant, who is devoted to fearing you.
Turn away my reproach, which I dread, for your
judgments are good. Behold, I long for your precepts.
Revive me in your righteousness. Let your mercies
come also to me, O Lord, your salvation according
to your word. So shall I have an answer for him
who reproaches me, for I trust in your word,
and take not the word of truth utterly out of
my mouth. For I have hoped in your ordinances,
so shall I keep your law continually, forever
and ever. And I will walk at liberty, for I seek
your precepts. I will speak of your testimonies.
also before kings, and will not be ashamed, and
I will delight myself in your commandments, which
I love. My hands also I will lift up to your
commandments, which I love, and I will meditate
on your statutes. Remember the word to your servant,
upon which you have caused me to hope. This is
my comfort in my affliction, for your word has
given me life. The proud have me in great derision,
yet I do not turn aside from your law. I remembered
your judgments of old, O Lord, and have comforted
myself. Indignation has taken hold of me because
of the wicked who forsake your law. Your statutes
have been my songs. In the house of my pilgrimage,
I remember your name in the night, O Lord, and
I keep your law. This has become mine because
I kept your precepts. You are my portion, O Lord.
I have said that I would keep your words. I entreated
your favor with my whole heart. Be merciful to
me according to your word. I thought about my
ways and turned my feet to your testimonies.
I made haste and did not delay. To keep your
commandments, the cords of the wicked have bound
me, but I have not forgotten your law. At midnight
I will rise to give thanks to you because of
your righteous judgments. I am a companion of
all who fear you and of those who keep your precepts.
The earth, O Lord, is full of your mercy. Teach
me your statutes. You have dealt well with your
servant, O Lord, according to your word. Teach
me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe
your commandments. Before I was afflicted, I
went astray, but now I keep your word. You are
good and do good. Teach me your statutes. The
proud have forged a lie against me, but I will
keep your precepts with my whole heart. Their
heart is as fat as grease, but I delight in your
law. It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
that I may learn your statutes. The law of your
mouth is better to me than thousands of coins
of gold and silver. Your hands have made me and
fashioned me. Give me understanding that I may
learn your commandments. Those who fear you will
be glad when they see me, because I have hoped
in your word. I know, O Lord, that your judgments
are right, and that in faithfulness you have
afflicted me. Let, I pray, your merciful kindness
be for my comfort, according to your word to
your servant. Let your tender mercies come to
me that I may live, for your law is my delight.
Let the proud be ashamed, for they treated me
wrongfully with falsehood, but I will meditate
on your precepts. Let those who fear you turn
to me, those who know your testimonies. Let my
heart be blameless regarding your statutes, that
I may not be ashamed. My soul faints for your
salvation, but I hope in your word. My eyes fail
from searching your word, saying, When will you
comfort me? For I have become like a wineskin
in smoke, yet I do not forget your statutes.
How many are the days of your servant? When will
you execute judgment on those who persecute me?
The proud have dug pits for me, which is not
according to your law. All your commandments
are faithful. They persecute me wrongfully. Help
me. They almost made an end of me on earth, but
I did not forsake your precepts. Revive me according
to your lovingkindness, so that I may keep the
testimony of your mouth. Forever, O Lord, your
word is settled in heaven. Your faithfulness
endures to all generations. You establish the
earth, and it abides. They continue this day
according to your ordinances, for all are your
servants. Unless your law had been my delight,
I would then have perished in my affliction.
I will never forget your precepts, for by them
you have given me life. I am yours, save me,
for I have sought your precepts. The wicked wait
for me to destroy me, but I will consider your
testimonies. I have seen the consummation of
all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly
broad. O how I love your law! It is my meditation
all the day. You, through your commandments,
make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever
with me. I have more understanding than all my
teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation.
I understand more than the ancients because I
keep your precepts. I have restrained my feet
from every evil way that I may keep your word.
I have not departed from your judgments, for
you yourself have taught me. How sweet are your
words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.
Through your precepts I get understanding, therefore
I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to
my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn
and confirmed that I will keep your righteous
judgments. I am afflicted very much. Revive me,
O Lord, according to your word. Accept, I pray,
the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and
teach me your judgments. My life is continually
in my hand, yet I do not forget your law. The
wicked have laid a snare for me, yet I have not
strayed from your precepts. Your testimonies
I have taken as a heritage forever, for they
are the rejoicing of my heart. I have inclined
my heart to perform your statutes forever to
the very end. I hate the double -minded, but
I love your law. You are my hiding place and
my shield. I hope in your word. Depart from me,
you evildoers, for I will keep the commandments
of my God. Uphold me according to your word,
that I may live, and do not let me be ashamed
of my hope. hold me up and i shall be safe and
i shall observe your statutes continually you
reject all those who stray from your statutes
for their deceit is falsehood you put away all
the wicked of the earth like dross therefore
i love your testimonies my flesh trembles for
fear of you and i am afraid of your judgments
i have done justice and righteousness do not
leave me to my oppressors be surety for your
servant for good do not let the proud oppress
me my eyes fail from seeking your salvation and
your righteous word deal with your servant according
to your mercy and teach me your statutes i am
your servant give me understanding that i may
know your testimonies it is time for you to act
o lord for they have regarded your law as void
therefore i love your commandments more than
gold yes than fine gold Therefore, all your precepts
concerning all things I consider to be right.
I hate every false way. Your testimonies are
wonderful. Therefore, my soul keeps them. The
entrance of your words gives light. It gives
understanding to the simple. I open my mouth
and pant it, for I long for your commandments.
Look upon me and be merciful to me, as your custom
is toward those who love your name. Direct my
steps by your word, and let no iniquity have
dominion over me. Redeem me from the oppression
of man, that I may keep your precepts. Make your
face shine upon your servant, and teach me your
statutes. Rivers of water run down from my eyes,
because men do not keep your law. Righteous are
you, O Lord, and upright are your judgments.
Your testimonies, which you have commanded, are
righteous and very faithful. My zeal has consumed
me, because my enemies have forgotten your words.
Your word is very pure, therefore your servant
loves it. I am small and despised, yet I do not
forget your precepts. Your righteousness is an
everlasting righteousness, and your law is truth.
Trouble and anguish have overtaken me, yet your
commandments are my delights. The righteousness
of your testimonies is everlasting. Give me understanding,
and I shall live. I cry out with my whole heart,
hear me, O Lord. I will keep your statutes. I
cry out to you. Save me and I will keep your
testimonies. I rise before the dawning of the
morning and cry for help. I hope in your word.
My eyes are awake through the night watches,
that I may meditate on your word. Hear my voice
according to your loving kindness. O Lord, revive
me according to your justice. They draw near
who follow after wickedness. They are far from
your law. You are near, O Lord, and all your
commandments are truth. Concerning your testimonies,
I have known of old that you have founded them
forever. Consider my affliction and deliver me,
for I do not forget your law. Plead my cause
and redeem me. Revive me according to your word.
Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do
not seek your statutes. Great are your tender
mercies, O Lord. Revive me according to your
judgments. Many are my persecutors and my enemies,
yet I do not turn from your testimonies. I see
the treacherous, and I am disgusted, because
they do not keep your word. Consider how I love
your precepts. Revive me, O Lord, according to
your lovingkindness. The entirety of your word
is truth, and every one of your righteous judgments
endures forever. Princes persecute me without
a cause, but my heart stands in awe of your word.
I rejoice at your word as one who finds great
treasure. I hate and abhor lying, but I love
your law. Seven times a day I praise you because
of your righteous judgments. Great peace have
those who love your law, and nothing causes them
to stumble. Lord, I hope for your salvation,
and I do your commandments. My soul keeps your
testimonies, and I love them exceedingly. I keep
your precepts and your testimonies, for all my
ways are before you. Let my cry come before you,
O Lord. Give me understanding according to your
word. Let my supplication come before you. Deliver
me according to your word. My lips shall utter
praise, for you teach me your statutes. My tongue
shall speak of your word, for all your commandments
are righteousness. Let your hand become my help,
for I have chosen your precepts. I long for your
salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight.
Let my soul live, and it shall praise you, and
let your judgments help me. I have gone astray
like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I do
not forget your commandments. I hope you enjoyed
today's reading as much as I did and I look forward
to seeing you again tomorrow to continue on our
journey. God bless you and have a great day.