Chapter 118

  Aleph  

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  Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.  

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  Blessed are they who search his testimonies: that seek him with their whole heart.  

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  For they that work iniquity, have not walked in his ways.  

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  Thou hast commanded thy commandments to be kept most diligently.  

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  O! that my ways may be directed to keep thy justifications.  

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  Then shall I not be confounded, when I shall look into all thy commandments.  

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  I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned the judgments of thy justice.  

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  I will keep thy justifications: O! do not thou utterly forsake me. BETH  

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  By what doth a young man correct his way? by observing thy words.  

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  With my whole heart have I sought after thee: let me not stray from thy commandments.  

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  Thy words have I hidden in my heart, that I may not sin against thee.  

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  Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy justifications.  

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  With my lips I have pronounced all the judgments of thy mouth.  

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  I have been delighted in the way of thy testimonies, as in all riches.  

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  I will meditate on thy commandments: and I will consider thy ways.  

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  I will think of thy justifications: I will not forget thy words. GIMEL  

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  Give bountifully to thy servant, enliven me: and I shall keep thy words.  

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  Open thou my eyes: and I will consider the wondrous things of thy law.  

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  I am a sojourner on the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.  

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  My soul hath coveted to long for thy justifications, at all times.  

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  Thou hast rebuked the proud: they are cursed who decline from thy commandments.  

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  Remove from reproach and contempt: because I have sought after thy testimonies.  

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  For princes sat, and spoke against me: but thy servant was employed in thy justifications.  

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  For thy testimonies are my meditation: and thy justifications my counsel. DALETH  

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  My soul hath cleaved to the pavement: quicken thou me according to thy word.  

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  I have declared my ways, and thou hast heard me: tech me thy justifications.  

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  Make me to understand the way of thy justifications: and I shall be exercised in thy wondrous works.  

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  My soul hath slumbered through heaviness: strengthen thou me in thy words.  

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  Remove from me the way of iniquity: and out of thy law have mercy on me.  

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  I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments I have not forgotten.  

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  I have stuck to thy testimonies, O Lord: put me not to shame.  

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  I have run the way of thy commandments, when thou didst enlarge my heart. HE  

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  Set before me for a law the way of thy justifications, O Lord: and I will always seek after it.  

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  Give me understanding, and I will search thy law ; and I will keep it with my whole heart.  

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  Lead me into the path of thy commandments; for this same I have desired.  

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  Incline my heart into thy testimonies and not to covetousness.  

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  Turn away my eyes that they may not behold vanity: quicken me in thy way.  

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  Establish thy word to thy servant, in thy fear.  

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  Turn away my reproach, which I have apprehended: for thy judgments are delightful.  

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  Behold I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy justice. VAU  

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  Let thy mercy also come upon me, O Lord: thy salvation according to thy word.  

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  So shall I answer them that reproach me in any thing; that I have trusted in thy words.  

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  And take not thou the word of truth utterly out of my mouth: for in thy words have I hoped exceedingly.  

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  So shall I always keep thy law, for ever and ever.  

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  And I walked at large: because I have sought after thy commandments.  

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  And I spoke of thy testimonies before kings: and I was not ashamed.  

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  I meditated also on thy commandments, which I loved.  

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  And I lifted up my hands to thy commandments, which I loved: and I was exercised in thy justifications. ZAIN  

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  Be thou mindful of thy word to thy servant, in which thou hast given me hope.  

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  This hath comforted me in my humiliation: because thy word hath enlivened me.  

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  The proud did iniquitously altogether: but I declined not from thy law.  

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  I remembered, O Lord, thy judgments of old: and I was comforted.  

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  A fainting hath taken hold of me, because of the wicked that forsake thy law.  

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  Thy justifications were the subject of my song, in the place of my pilgrimage.  

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  In the night I have remembered thy name, O Lord: and have kept thy law.  

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  This happened to me: because I sought after thy justifications. HETH  

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  O Lord, my portion, I have said, I would keep the law.  

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  I entreated thy face with all my heart: have mercy on me according to thy word.  

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  I have thought on my ways: and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.  

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  I am ready, and am not troubled: that I may keep thy commandments.  

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  The cords of the wicked have encompassed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.  

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  I rose at midnight to give praise to thee; for the judgments of thy justification.  

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  I am a partaker with all them that fear thee, and that keep thy commandments.  

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  The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy justifications. TETH  

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  Thou hast done well with thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word.  

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  Teach me goodness and discipline and knowledge; for I have believed thy commandments.  

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  Before I was humbled I offended; therefore have I kept thy word.  

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  Thou art good; and in thy goodness teach me thy justifications.  

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  The iniquity of the proud hath been multiplied over me: but I will seek thy commandments with my whole heart.  

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  Their heart is curdled like milk: but I have meditated on thy law.  

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  It is good for me that thou hast humbled me, that I may learn thy justifications.  

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  The law of thy mouth is good to me, above thousands of gold and silver. JOD  

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  Thy hands have made me and formed me: give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandments.  

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  They that fear thee shall see me, and shall be glad: because I have greatly hoped in thy words.  

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  I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are equity: and in thy truth thou hast humbled me.  

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  O! let thy mercy be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.  

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  Let thy tender mercies come unto me, and I shall live: for thy law is my meditation.  

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  Let the proud be ashamed, because they have done unjustly towards me: but I will be employed in thy commandments.  

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  Let them that fear thee turn to me" and they that know thy testimonies.  

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  Let my heart be undefiled in thy justifications, that I may not be confounded. CAPH  

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  My soul hath fainted after thy salvation: and in thy word I have very much hoped.  

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  My eyes have failed for thy word, saying: When wilt thou comfort me?  

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  For I am become like a bottle in the frost: I have not forgotten thy justifications.  

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  How many are the days of thy servant: when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?  

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  The wicked have told me fables: but not as thy law.  

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  All thy statutes are truth: they have persecuted me unjustly, do thou help me.  

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  They had almost made an end of me upon earth: but I have not forsaken thy commandments.  

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  Quicken thou me according to thy mercy: and I shall keep the testimonies of thy mouth. LAMED  

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  For ever, O Lord, thy word standeth firm in heaven.  

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  Thy truth unto all generations: thou hast founded the earth, and it continueth.  

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  By thy ordinance the day goeth on: for all things serve thee.  

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  Unless thy law had been my meditation, I had then perhaps perished in my abjection.  

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  Thy justifications I will never forget: for by them thou hast given me life.  

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  I am thine, save thou me: for I have sought thy justifications.  

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  The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I have understood thy testimonies.  

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  I have seen an end to all persecution: thy commandment is exceeding broad. MEM  

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  O how have I loved thy law, O Lord! it is my meditation all the day.  

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  Through thy commandment, thou hast made me wiser than my enemies: for it is ever with me.  

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  I have understood more than all my teachers: because thy testimonies are my meditation.  

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  I have had understanding above ancients: because I have sought thy commandments.  

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  I have restrained my feet from every evil way: that I may keep thy words.  

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  I have not declined from thy judgments, because thou hast set me a law.  

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  How sweet are thy words to my palate! more than honey to my mouth.  

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  By thy commandments I have had understanding: therefore have I hated every way of iniquity. NUN  

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  Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my paths.  

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  I have sworn and am determined to keep the judgments of thy justice.  

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  I have been humbled, O Lord, exceedingly: quicken thou me according to thy word.  

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  The free offerings of my mouth make acceptable, O Lord: and teach me thy judgments.  

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  My soul is continually in my hands: and I have not forgotten thy law.  

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  Sinners have laid a snare for me: but I have not erred from thy precepts.  

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  I have purchased thy testimonies for an inheritance for ever: because they are a joy to my heart.  

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  I have inclined my heart to do thy justifications for ever, for the reward. SAMECH  

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  I have hated the unjust: and have loved thy law.  

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  Thou art my helper and my protector: and in thy word I have greatly hoped.  

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  Depart from me, ye malignant: and I will search the commandments of my God.  

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  Uphold me according to thy word, and I shall live: and let me not be confounded in my expectation.  

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  Help me, and I shall be saved: and I will meditate always on thy justifications.  

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  Thou hast despised all them that fall off from thy judgments; for their thought is unjust.  

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  I have accounted all the sinners of the earth prevaricators: therefore have I loved thy testimonies.  

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  Pierce thou my flesh with thy fear: for I am afraid of thy judgments. AIN  

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  I have done judgment and justice: give me not up to them that slander me.  

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  Uphold thy servant unto good: let not the proud calumniate me.  

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  My eyes have fainted after thy salvation: and for the word of thy justice.  

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  Deal with thy servant according to thy mercy: and teach me thy justifications.  

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  I am thy servant: give me understanding that I may know thy testimonies.  

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  It is time, O Lord, to do: they have dissipated thy law.  

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  Therefore have I loved thy commandments above gold and the topaz.  

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  Therefore was I directed to all thy commandments: I have hated all wicked ways. PHE  

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  Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore my soul hath sought them.  

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  The declaration of thy words giveth light: and giveth understanding to little ones.  

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  I opened my mouth and panted: because I longed for thy commandments.  

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  Look thou upon me, and have mercy on me, according to the judgment of them that love thy name.  

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  Direct my steps according to thy word: and let no iniquity have dominion over me.  

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  Redeem me from the calumnies of men: that I may keep thy commandments.  

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  Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: and teach me thy justifications.  

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  My eyes have sent forth springs of water: because they have not kept thy law. SADE  

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  Thou art just, O Lord: and thy judgment is right.  

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  Thou hast commanded justice thy testimonies: and thy truth exceedingly.  

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  My zeal hath made me pine away: because my enemies forgot thy words.  

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  Thy word is exceedingly refined: and thy servant hath loved it.  

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  I am very young and despised; but I forgot not thy justifications.  

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  Thy justice is justice for ever: and thy law is the truth.  

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  Trouble and anguish have found me: thy commandments are my meditation.  

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  Thy testimonies are justice for ever: give me understanding, and I shall live. COPH  

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  I cried with my whole heart, hear me, O Lord: I will seek thy justifications.  

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  I cried unto thee, save me: that I may keep thy commandments.  

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  I prevented the dawning of the day, and cried: because in thy words I very much hoped.  

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  My eyes to thee have prevented the morning: that I might meditate on thy words.  

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  Hear thou my voice, O Lord, according to thy mercy: and quicken me according to thy mercy.  

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  They that persecute me have drawn nigh to iniquity; but they are gone far off from the law.  

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  Thou art near, O Lord: and all thy ways are truth.  

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  I have known from the beginning concerning thy testimonies: that thou hast founded them for ever. RES  

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  See my humiliation and deliver me: for I have not forgotten the law.  

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  Judge my judgment and redeem me: quicken thou me for thy word's sake.  

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  Salvation is far from sinners; because they have not sought thy justifications.  

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  Many, O Lord, are thy mercies: quicken me according to thy judgment.  

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  Many are they that persecute me, and afflict me; but I have not declined from thy testimonies.  

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  I beheld the transgressors, and I pined away; because they kept not thy word.  

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  Behold I have loved thy commandments, O Lord; quicken me thou in thy mercy.  

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  The beginning of thy words is truth: all the judgments of thy justice are for ever. SIN  

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  Princes have persecuted me without cause: and my heart hath been in awe of thy words.  

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  I will rejoice at thy words, as one that hath found great spoil.  

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  I have hated and abhorred iniquity; but I have loved thy law.  

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  Seven times a day I have given praise to thee, for the judgments of thy justice.  

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  Much peace have they that love thy law, and to them there is no stumbling block  

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  I looked to thy salvation, O Lord: and I loved thy commandments.  

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  My soul hath kept thy testimonies: and hath loved them exceedingly.  

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  I have kept thy commandments and thy testimonies: because all my ways are in thy sight. TAU  

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  Let my supplication, O Lord, come near in thy sight: give me understanding according to thy word.  

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  Let my request come in before thee; deliver thou me according to thy word.  

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  My lips shall utter a hymn, when thou shalt teach me thy justifications.  

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  My tongue shall pronounce thy word: because all thy commandments are justice.  

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  Let thy hand be with me to save me; for I have chosen thy precepts.  

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  I have longed for thy salvation, O Lord; and thy law is my meditation.  

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  My soul shall live and shall praise thee: and thy judgments shall help me.  

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  I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost: seek thy servant, because I have not forgotten thy commandments.  

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