ALEPH - Blessed are those who keep his law
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(1) Blessed are the immaculate in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. (2) Blessed are those who examine his testimonies. They seek him with their whole heart.(a)
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For those who work iniquity have not walked in his ways.
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You have ordered your commandments to be kept most diligently.
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I wish that my ways may be directed so as to keep your justifications.
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Then I will not be confounded, when I will look into all your commandments.
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I will confess to you with honesty of heart. In this way, I have learned the judgments of your justice.
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I will keep your justifications. Do not utterly abandon me.
BETH - Holiness is the fruit of keeping the law of the Lord
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By what does an adolescent correct his way? By keeping to your words.
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With my whole heart, I have sought you. Do not let me be driven away from your commandments.
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I have hidden your eloquence in my heart, so that I may not sin against you.
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Blessed are you, O Lord. Teach me your justifications.
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With my lips, I have pronounced all the judgments of your mouth.
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I have been delighted in the way of your testimonies, as if in all riches.
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I will be trained in your commandments, and I will consider your ways.
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I will meditate on your justifications. I will not forget your words.
GIMEL - Eyes to see the wonders of the Lord
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Repay your servant, revive me; and I will keep your words.
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Reveal to my eyes, and I will consider the wonders of your law.
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I am a sojourner on the earth. Do not hide your commandments from me.
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My soul has longed to desire your justifications at all times.
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You have rebuked the arrogant. Those who decline from your commandments are accursed.
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Take me away from disgrace and contempt, for I have sought your testimonies.
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For even the leaders sat and spoke against me. But your servant has been trained in your justifications.
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For your testimonies are also my meditation, and your justifications are my counsel.
DALETH - prayer to understand the ways of the Lord
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My soul has adhered to the pavement. Revive me according to your word.
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I have declared my ways, and you have heeded me. Teach me your justifications.
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Instruct me in the way of your justifications, and I will be trained in your wonders.
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My soul has slumbered because of weariness. Confirm me in your words.
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Remove the way of iniquity from me, and have mercy on me by your law.
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I have chosen the way of truth. I have not forgotten your judgments.
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I have adhered to your testimonies, O Lord. Do not be willing to confound me.
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I have run by way of your commandments, when you enlarged my heart.
HE - faithfulness based on the promises of God
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O Lord, place the law before me, the way of your justifications, and I will always inquire into it.
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Give me understanding, and I will examine your law. And I will keep it with my whole heart.
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Lead me according to the path of your commandments, for I have desired this.
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Bend my heart with your testimonies, and not with avarice.
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Turn my eyes away, lest they see what is vain. Revive me in your way.
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Station your eloquence with your servant, along with your fear.
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Cut off my disgrace, which I have taken up, for your judgments are delightful.
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Behold, I have longed for your commandments. Revive me in your fairness.
VAU - salvation through the word of the Lord
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And let your mercy overwhelm me, O Lord: your salvation according to your eloquence.
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And I will respond to those who reproach me by word, for I have hoped in your words.
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And do not utterly take away the word of truth from my mouth. For in your judgments, I have hoped beyond hope.(b)
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And I will always keep your law, in this age and forever and ever.
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And I have wandered far and wide, because I was seeking your commandments.
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And I spoke of your testimonies in the sight of kings, and I was not confounded.
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And I meditated on your commandments, which I loved.
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And I lifted up my hands to your commandments, which I loved. And I was trained in your justifications.
ZAIN - The Word of the Lord is a source of hope and comfort
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Be mindful of your word to your servant, by which you have given me hope.
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This has consoled me in my humiliation, for your word has revived me.
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The arrogant act altogether iniquitously, but I have not turned aside from your law.
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I called to mind your judgments of antiquity, O Lord, and I was consoled.
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Faintness has taken hold of me, because of the sinners, those who abandon your law.
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Your justifications were the subject of my worthy singing, in the place of my pilgrimage.
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During the night, I remembered your name, O Lord, and I kept your law.
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This has happened to me because I sought your justifications.
HETH - My inheritance is the keeping of your word
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O Lord, my portion, I have said that I would keep your law.
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I have beseeched your face with my whole heart. Be merciful to me according to your word.
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I have considered my ways, and I have turned my feet toward your testimonies.
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I have been prepared, and I have not been disturbed, so that I may keep your commandments.
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The ropes of the impious have encircled me, and I have not forgotten your law.
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I arose in the middle of the night to confess to you, over the judgments of your justification.
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I am a partaker with all those who fear you and who keep your commandments.
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The earth, O Lord, is full of your mercy. Teach me your justifications.
TETH - Learning the words of the Lord through suffering
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You have done well with your servant, O Lord, according to your word.
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Teach me goodness and discipline and knowledge, for I have trusted your commandments.
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Before I was humbled, I committed offenses; because of this, I have kept to your word.
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You are good, so in your goodness teach me your justifications.
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The iniquity of the arrogant has been multiplied over me. Yet I will examine your commandments with all my heart.
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Their heart has been curdled like milk. Truly, I have meditated on your law.
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It is good for me that you humbled me, so that I may learn your justifications.
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The law of your mouth is good for me, beyond thousands of gold and silver pieces.
JOD - The law of the Lord is the foundation for the community of believers
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Your hands have created me and formed me. Give me understanding, and I will learn your commandments.
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Those who fear you will see me, and they will rejoice. For I have greatly hoped in your words.
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I know, O Lord, that your judgments are fairness. And in your truth, you have humbled me.
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Let it be your mercy that consoles me, according to your eloquence to your servant.
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Let your compassion draw near to me, and I will live. For your law is my meditation.
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Let the arrogant be confounded, for unjustly they have done iniquity to me. But I will be trained in your commandments.
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Let those who fear you turn to me, along with those who know your testimonies.
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Let my heart be immaculate in your justifications, so that I may not be confounded.(c)
KAPH - Longing for peace and comfort
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My soul has faltered in your salvation, yet in your word, I have hoped beyond hope.
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My eyes have failed in your eloquence, saying, “When will you console me?”
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For I have become like a wineskin in the frost. I have not forgotten your justifications.(d)
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How many are the days of your servant? When will you bring judgment against those who persecute me?
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The iniquitous have spoken fables to me. But these are unlike your law.
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All your commandments are truth. They have been persecuting me unjustly: assist me.
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They have nearly consumed me on earth. Yet I have not forsaken your commandments.
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Revive me according to your mercy. And I will keep the testimonies of your mouth.
LAMED - The immutability of the law of the Lord
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O Lord, your word remains firm in heaven, for all eternity.
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Your truth is from generation to generation. You have founded the earth, and it remains firm.
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By your ordinance, the day perseveres. For all things are in service to you.
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If your law had not been my meditation, then perhaps I would have perished in my humiliation.
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I will not forget your justifications, for eternity. For by them, you have enlivened me.
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I am yours. Accomplish my salvation. For I have inquired into your justifications.
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The sinners have waited for me, in order to destroy me. I have understood your testimonies.
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I have seen the end of the consummation of all things. Your commandment is exceedingly broad.
MEM - Love for God's law
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How have I loved your law, O Lord? It is my meditation all day long.
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By your commandment, you have made me able to see far, beyond my enemies. For it is with me for eternity.
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I have understood beyond all my teachers. For your testimonies are my meditation.
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I have understood beyond the elders. For I have searched your commandments.
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I have prohibited my feet from every evil way, so that I may keep your words.
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I have not declined from your judgments, because you have stationed a law for me.
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How sweet is your eloquence to my palate, more so than honey to my mouth!
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I obtained understanding by your commandments. Because of this, I have hated every way of iniquity.
NUN - The word of the Lord is a lamp unto my feet
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Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my paths.
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I have sworn it, and so I am determined to keep the judgments of your justice.
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I have been altogether humbled, Lord. Revive me according to your word.
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Make the willing offerings of my mouth well pleasing, Lord, and teach me your judgments.
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My soul is always in my hands, and I have not forgotten your law.
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Sinners have set a snare for me, yet I have not strayed from your commandments.
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I have acquired your testimonies as an inheritance unto eternity, because they are the exultation of my heart.
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I have inclined my heart to do your justifications for eternity, as a recompense.
SAMEKH - The word of the Lord is my protection and my shield
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I have hated the iniquitous, and I have loved your law.
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You are my helper and my supporter. And in your word, I have greatly hoped.
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Turn away from me, you malignant ones. And I will examine the commandments of my God.
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Uphold me according to your eloquence, and I will live. And let me not be confounded in my expectation.
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Help me, and I will be saved. And I will meditate always on your justifications.
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You have despised all those who fell away from your judgments. For their intention is unjust.
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I have considered all the sinners of the earth to be transgressors. Therefore, I have loved your testimonies.
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Pierce my flesh with your fear, for I am afraid of your judgments.
AIN - The psalmist kept the law of the Lord
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I have accomplished judgment and justice. Do not hand me over to those who slander me.
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Uphold your servant in what is good. And do not allow the arrogant to slander me.
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My eyes have failed in your salvation and in the eloquence of your justice.
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Deal with your servant according to your mercy, and teach me your justifications.
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I am your servant. Give me understanding, so that I may know your testimonies.
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It is time to act, O Lord. They have dissipated your law.
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Therefore, I have loved your commandments beyond gold and topaz.
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Because of this, I was directed toward all your commandments. I held hatred for every iniquitous way.
PE - Prayer to keep the law of the Lord
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Your testimonies are wonderful. Therefore, my soul has been examined by them.
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The declaration of your words illuminates, and it gives understanding to little ones.
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I opened my mouth and drew breath, for I desired your commandments.
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Gaze upon me and be merciful to me, according to the judgment of those who love your name.
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Direct my steps according to your eloquence, and let no injustice rule over me.
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Redeem me from the slanders of men, so that I may keep your commandments.
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Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your justifications.
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My eyes have gushed like springs of water, because they have not kept your law.
TZADE - The Lord and his law are righteous
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You are just, O Lord, and your judgment is right.
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You have commanded justice: your testimonies and your truth even more so.
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My zeal has caused me to pine away, because my enemies have forgotten your words.
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Your eloquence has been greatly enflamed, and your servant has loved it.
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I am young and treated with contempt. But I have not forgotten your justifications.
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Your justice is justice for all eternity, and your law is truth.
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Tribulation and anguish have found me. Your commandments are my meditation.
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Your testimonies are fairness unto eternity. Give me understanding, and I will live.
KOPH - Cry for salvation
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I cried out with my whole heart. Heed me, O Lord. I will ask for your justifications.
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I cried out to you. Save me, so that I may keep your commandments.
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I arrived first in maturity, and so I cried out. For in your words, I have hoped beyond hope.
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My eyes preceded the dawn for you, so that I might meditate on your eloquence.
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Hear my voice according to your mercy, O Lord. And revive me according to your judgment.
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Those who persecute me have drawn near to iniquity, but they have been brought far from your law.
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You are near, O Lord, and all your ways are truth.
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I have known from the beginning about your testimonies. For you founded them in eternity.
RESH - Keeping the law of the Lord in times of trouble
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See my humiliation and rescue me, for I have not forgotten your law.
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Judge my judgment and redeem me. Revive me because of your eloquence.
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Salvation is far from sinners, because they have not inquired about your justifications.
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Many are your mercies, O Lord. Enliven me according to your judgment.
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Many are those who persecute me and who trouble me. I have not turned away from your testimonies.
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I saw the prevaricators, and I pine away. For they have not kept your word.(e)
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O Lord, see how I have loved your commandments. Revive me in your mercy.
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The beginning of your words is truth. All the judgments of your justice are for eternity.
SHIN - Prayer for deliverance from persecution
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The leaders have persecuted me without cause. And my heart has been awed by your words.
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I will rejoice over your eloquence, like one who has found many spoils.
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I have held hatred for iniquity, and I have abhorred it. Yet I have loved your law.
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Seven times a day, I uttered praise to you about the judgments of your justice.
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Those who love your law have great peace, and there is no scandal for them.
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I have waited for your salvation, O Lord. And I have loved your commandments.
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My soul has kept to your testimonies and has loved them exceedingly.
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I have served your commandments and your testimonies. For all my ways are before your sight.
TAU - Concluding prayer
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O Lord, let my supplication draw near in your sight. Grant understanding to me according to your eloquence.
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Let my petition enter before you. Rescue me according to your word.
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A hymn will burst forth from my lips, when you will teach me your justifications.
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My tongue will pronounce your eloquence. For all your commandments are fairness.
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Let it be your hand that saves me. For I have chosen your commandments.
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O Lord, I have longed for your salvation, and your law is my meditation.
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My soul will live and will praise you, and your judgments will assist me.
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I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost. Seek out your servant, for I have not forgotten your commandments.
Footnotes