ALEPH - Blessed are those who keep his law
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ALEPH. Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk in the law of Yahweh.
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Blessed are they who keep his solemn commands, who seek him with all their heart.
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They do no wrong; they walk in his ways.
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You have commanded us to keep your instructions so that we should carefully observe them.
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Oh, that I would be firmly established in the observance of your statutes!
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Then I would not be put to shame when I think of all your commandments.
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I will give thanks to you with an upright heart when I learn your righteous decrees.
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I will observe your statutes; do not leave me alone.
BETH - Holiness is the fruit of keeping the law of the Lord
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BETH. How can a young person keep his path pure? By obeying your word.
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With my whole heart I seek you; Do not let me stray from your commandments.
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I have stored up your word in my heart so that I might not sin against you.
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Blessed you are, Yahweh; teach me your statutes.
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With my mouth I have declared all the righteous decrees that you have revealed.
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I rejoice in the way of your covenant decrees more than in all riches.
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I will meditate on your instructions and pay attention to your ways.
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I delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.
GIMEL - Eyes to see the wonders of the Lord
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GIMEL. Be kind to your servant so that I may live and keep your word.
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Open my eyes so that I may see marvelous things in your law.
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I am a foreigner in the land; do not hide your commandments from me.
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My desires are crushed by the longing to know your righteous decrees at all times.
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You rebuke the proud, who are cursed, who wander from your commandments.
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Spare me from disgrace and humiliation, for I have obeyed your covenant decrees.
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Though rulers plot and slander me, your servant meditates on your statutes.
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Your covenant decrees are my delight, and they are my counselors.
DALETH - prayer to understand the ways of the Lord
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DALETH. My life clings to the dust! Give me life by your word.
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I told you my ways, and you answered me; teach me your statutes.
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Make me understand the ways of your instructions, so that I can meditate on your wondrous teachings.
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I am overwhelmed with grief! Strengthen me by your word.
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Turn from me the path of deceit; graciously teach me your law.
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I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have always kept your righteous decrees before me.
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I cling to your covenant decrees; Yahweh, do not let me be shamed.
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I will run in the path of your commandments, for you enlarge my heart to do so.
HE - faithfulness based on the promises of God
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HE. Teach me, Yahweh, the way of your statutes, and I will keep them to the end.
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Give me understanding, and I will keep your law; I will observe it with all my heart.
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Guide me in the path of your commandments, for I delight to walk in it.
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Direct my heart toward your covenant decrees and away from unrighteous gain.
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Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; revive me in your ways.
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Carry out for your servant your promise that you made to those who honor you.
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Take away the insults I dread, for your righteous judgments are good.
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See, I have longed for your instructions; revive me in your righteousness.
VAU - salvation through the word of the Lord
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VAV. Yahweh, give me your unfailing love-your salvation, according to your promise;
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then I will have a reply for the one who mocks me, for I trust in your word.
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Do not take the word of truth from my mouth, for I have waited for your righteous decrees.
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I will observe your law continually, forever and ever.
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I will walk securely, for I seek your instructions.
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I will speak of your solemn commands before kings and will not be ashamed.
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I delight in your commandments, which I love dearly.
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I will lift up my hands to your commandments, which I love; I will meditate on your statutes.
ZAIN - The Word of the Lord is a source of hope and comfort
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ZAYIN. Call to mind your promise to your servant because you have given me hope.
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This is my comfort in my affliction: That your promise has kept me alive.
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The proud have scoffed at me, yet I have not turned away from your law.
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I have thought about your righteous decrees from ancient times, Yahweh, and I comfort myself.
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Hot anger has taken hold of me because of the wicked who reject your law.
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Your statutes have been my songs in the house where I temporarily live.
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I think about your name during the night, Yahweh, and I keep your law.
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This has been my practice because I have observed your instructions.
HETH - My inheritance is the keeping of your word
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HETH. Yahweh is my portion; I have determined to observe your words.
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I earnestly request your favor with my whole heart; be merciful to me, as your word promised.
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I examined my ways and turned my feet to your covenant decrees.
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I hurry and do not delay to keep your commandments.
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The cords of the wicked have ensnared me; I have not forgotten your law.
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At midnight I rise to give thanks to you because of your righteous decrees.
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I am a companion of all who honor you, to all who observe your instructions.
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The earth, Yahweh, is full of your covenant faithfulness; teach me your statutes.
TETH - Learning the words of the Lord through suffering
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TETH. You have done good to your servant, Yahweh, by means of your word.
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Teach me proper discernment and understanding, for I have believed in your commandments.
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Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I observe your word.
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You are good, and you are one who does good; teach me your statutes.
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The arrogant have smeared me with lies, but I keep your instructions with my whole heart.
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Their hearts are hardened, but I delight in your law.
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It is good for me that I have suffered so that I would learn your statutes.
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Instruction from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces 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 have made and fashioned me; give me understanding so that I may learn your commandments.
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Those who honor you will be glad when they see me because I find hope in your word.
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I know, Yahweh, that your decrees are just, and that in faithfulness you afflicted me.
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Let your covenant faithfulness comfort me, as you promised your servant.
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Show me compassion so that I may live, for your law is my delight.
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Let the proud be put to shame, for they have slandered me; but I will meditate on your instructions.
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May those who honor you turn to me, those who know your covenant decrees.
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May my heart be blameless with respect to your statutes so that I may not be put to shame.
KAPH - Longing for peace and comfort
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KAPH. I faint with longing that you might rescue me! I have hope in your word.
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My eyes long to see your promise; when will you comfort me?
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For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke; I do not forget your statutes.
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How long must your servant endure this; when will you judge those who persecute me?
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The proud have dug pits for me, defying your law.
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All your commandments are reliable; those people persecute me wrongfully; help me.
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They have almost made an end to me on earth, but I do not reject your instructions.
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By your steadfast love, keep me alive, so that I may obey your commands.
LAMED - The immutability of the law of the Lord
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LAMEDH. Yahweh, your word stands forever; your word is established firmly in heaven.
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Your faithfulness lasts for all generations; you have established the earth, and it remains.
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All things continue to this day, just as you said in your righteous decrees, for all things are your servants.
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If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.
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I will never forget your instructions, for through them you have kept me alive.
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I am yours; save me, for I seek your instructions.
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The wicked prepare to destroy me, but I will seek to understand your covenant decrees.
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I have seen that everything has its limits, but your commandments are broad, beyond limits.
MEM - Love for God's law
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MEM. Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all day long.
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Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for your commandments are always with me.
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I have more understanding than all my teachers, for I meditate on your covenant decrees.
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I understand more than those older than I am; this is because I have kept your instructions.
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I have kept my feet back from every evil path so that I might observe your word.
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I have not turned aside from your righteous decrees, for you have instructed me.
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How sweet are your words to my taste, yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
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Through your instructions I gain discernment; therefore I hate every false way.
NUN - The word of the Lord is a lamp unto my feet
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NUN. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
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I have sworn and have confirmed it, that I will observe your righteous decrees.
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I am very afflicted; keep me alive, Yahweh, as you have promised in your word.
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Yahweh, please accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, and teach me your righteous decrees.
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My life is always in my hand, yet I do not forget your law.
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The wicked have set a snare for me, but I have not strayed from your instructions.
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I claim your covenant decrees as my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.
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My heart is set on obeying your statutes forever to the very end.
SAMEKH - The word of the Lord is my protection and my shield
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SAMEKH. I hate those who have a double mind, but I love your law.
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You are my hiding place and my shield; I wait for your word.
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Get away from me, you evil doers, so that I may observe the commandments of my God.
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Sustain me by your word so that I may live and not be ashamed of my hope.
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Support me, and I will be safe; I will always meditate on your statutes.
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You reject all those who stray from your statutes, for those people are deceptive and unreliable.
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You remove all the wicked of the earth like slag; therefore I love your solemn commands.
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My body trembles in fear of you, and I am afraid of your righteous decrees.
AIN - The psalmist kept the law of the Lord
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AYIN. I do what is just and right; do not abandon me to my oppressors.
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Guarantee the welfare of your servant; do not let the proud oppress me.
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My eyes grow tired as I wait for your salvation and for your righteous word.
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Show your servant your covenant faithfulness, and teach me your statutes.
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I am your servant; give me understanding so that I may know your covenant decrees.
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It is time for Yahweh to act, for people have broken your law.
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Truly I love your commandments more than gold, more than fine gold.
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Therefore, I carefully follow all your instructions, and I hate every path of falsehood.
PE - Prayer to keep the law of the Lord
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PE. Your rules are wonderful, that is why I obey them.
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The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the untrained.
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I open my mouth and pant, for I long for your commandments.
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Turn to me and have mercy on me, as you always do for those who love your name.
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Direct my footsteps by your word; do not let any sin rule me.
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Redeem me from human oppression so that I may observe your instructions.
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Let your face shine on your servant, and teach me your statutes.
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Streams of tears run down from my eyes because people do not observe your law.
TZADE - The Lord and his law are righteous
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TSADHE. You are righteous, Yahweh, and your decrees are fair.
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You have given your covenant decrees righteously and faithfully.
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Anger has destroyed me because my adversaries forget your words.
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Your word has been tested very much, and your servant loves it.
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I am insignificant and despised, yet I do not forget your instructions.
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Your justice is forever right, and your law is trustworthy.
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Though distress and anguish have found me, your commandments are still my delight.
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Your covenant decrees are righteous forever; give me understanding that I may live.
KOPH - Cry for salvation
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QOPH. I cried out with my whole heart, “Answer me, Yahweh, I will keep your statutes.
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I call to you; save me, and I will observe your covenant decrees.”
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I rise before the dawn of the morning and cry for help. I hope in your words.
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My eyes are open before the night watches change so that I might meditate on your word.
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Hear my voice in your covenant faithfulness; keep me alive, Yahweh, as you have promised in your righteous decrees.
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Those who are persecuting me are coming closer to me, but they are far from your law.
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You are near, Yahweh, and all your commandments are trustworthy.
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Long ago I learned from your covenant decrees that you had set them in place forever.
RESH - Keeping the law of the Lord in times of trouble
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RESH. Look on my affliction and help me, for I do not forget your law.
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Plead my cause and redeem me; keep me, as you have promised in your word.
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Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not love your statutes.
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Great are your merciful actions, Yahweh; keep me alive, as you always do.
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My persecutors and my foes are many, yet I have not turned from your covenant decrees.
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I view the treacherous with disgust because they do not keep your word.
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See how I love your instructions; keep me alive, Yahweh, as you have promised by your covenant faithfulness.
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The essence of your word is truth; every one of your righteous decrees lasts forever.
SHIN - Prayer for deliverance from persecution
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SHIN. Princes persecute me without cause; my heart trembles, afraid of disobeying your word.
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I rejoice at your word like one who finds great plunder.
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I hate and despise falsehood, but I love your law.
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Seven times a day I praise you because of your righteous decrees.
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Great peace they have, those who love your law; nothing makes them stumble.
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I wait for your salvation, Yahweh, and I obey your commandments.
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I observe your solemn commands, and I love them greatly.
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I keep your instructions and your solemn commands, for you are aware of everything I do.
TAU - Concluding prayer
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TAV. Listen to my cry for help, Yahweh; give me understanding into your word.
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May my plea come before you; help me, as you have promised in your word.
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May my lips pour out praise, for you teach me your statutes.
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Let my tongue sing about your word, for all your commandments are right.
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May your hand help me, for I have chosen your instructions.
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I long for your rescue, Yahweh, and your law is my delight.
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May I live and praise you, and may your righteous decrees help me.
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I have wandered off like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commandments.
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