ALEPH - Blessed are those who keep his law
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ALEPH Blessed (a) are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the Law of the LORD.
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Blessed are those who keep His testimonies and seek Him with all their heart.
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They do no iniquity; they walk in His ways.
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You have ordained Your precepts, that we should keep them diligently.
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Oh, that my ways were committed to keeping Your statutes!
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Then I would not be ashamed when I consider all Your commandments.
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I will praise You with an upright heart when I learn Your righteous judgments.
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I will keep Your statutes; do not utterly forsake me.
BETH - Holiness is the fruit of keeping the law of the Lord
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BETH How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your word.
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With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me stray from Your commandments.
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I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.
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Blessed are You, O LORD; teach me Your statutes.
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With my lips I proclaim all the judgments of Your mouth.
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I rejoice in the way of Your testimonies as much as in all riches.
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I will meditate on Your precepts and regard Your ways.
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I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.
GIMEL - Eyes to see the wonders of the Lord
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GIMEL Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live and keep Your word.
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Open my eyes that I may see wondrous things from Your law.
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I am a stranger on the earth; do not hide Your commandments from me.
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My soul is consumed with longing for Your judgments at all times.
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You rebuke the arrogant— the cursed who stray from Your commandments.
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Remove my scorn and contempt, for I have kept Your testimonies.
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Though rulers sit and slander me, Your servant meditates on Your statutes.
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Your testimonies are indeed my delight; they are my counselors.
DALETH - prayer to understand the ways of the Lord
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DALETH My soul cleaves to the dust; revive me according to Your word.
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I recounted my ways, and You answered me; teach me Your statutes.
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Make clear to me the way of Your precepts; then I will meditate on Your wonders.
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My soul melts with sorrow; strengthen me according to Your word.
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Remove me from the path of deceit and graciously grant me Your law.
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I have chosen the way of truth; I have set Your ordinances before me.
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I cling to Your testimonies, O LORD; let me not be put to shame.
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I run in the path of Your commandments, for You will enlarge my heart.
HE - faithfulness based on the promises of God
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HE Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, and I will keep them to the end.(b)
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Give me understanding that I may obey Your law, and follow it with all my heart.
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Direct me in the path of Your commandments, for there I find delight.
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Turn my heart to Your testimonies and not to covetous gain.
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Turn my eyes away from worthless things; revive me with Your word.(c)
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Establish Your word to Your servant, to produce reverence for You.
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Turn away the disgrace I dread, for Your judgments are good.
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How I long for Your precepts! Revive me in Your righteousness.
VAU - salvation through the word of the Lord
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WAW May Your loving devotion come to me, O LORD, Your salvation, according to Your promise.
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Then I can answer him who taunts, for I trust in Your word.
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Never take Your word of truth from my mouth, for I hope in Your judgments.
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I will always obey Your law, forever and ever.
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And I will walk in freedom, for I have sought Your precepts.
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I will speak of Your testimonies before kings, and I will not be ashamed.
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I delight in Your commandments because I love them.
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I lift up my hands to Your commandments, which I love, 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 Your word to Your servant, upon which You have given me hope.
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This is my comfort in affliction, that Your promise has given me life.
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The arrogant utterly deride me, but I do not turn from Your law.
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I remember Your judgments of old, O LORD, and in them I find comfort.
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Rage has taken hold of me because of the wicked who reject Your law.
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Your statutes are songs to me in the house of my pilgrimage.
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In the night, O LORD, I remember Your name, that I may keep Your law.
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This is my practice, for I obey Your precepts.
HETH - My inheritance is the keeping of your word
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HETH The LORD is my portion; I have promised to keep Your words.
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I have sought Your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to Your promise.
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I considered my ways and turned my steps to Your testimonies.
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I hurried without hesitating to keep Your commandments.
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Though the ropes of the wicked bind me, I do not forget Your law.
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At midnight I rise to give You thanks for Your righteous judgments.
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I am a friend to all who fear You, and to those who keep Your precepts.
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The earth is filled with Your loving devotion, O LORD; teach me Your statutes.
TETH - Learning the words of the Lord through suffering
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TETH You are good to Your servant, O LORD, according to Your word.
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Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in Your commandments.
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Before I was afflicted, I went astray; but now I keep Your word.
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You are good, and You do what is good; teach me Your statutes.
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Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, I keep Your precepts with all my heart.
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Their hearts are hard (d) and callous, but I delight in Your law.
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It was good for me to be afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes.
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The law 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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YODH Your hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding to learn Your commandments.
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May those who fear You see me and rejoice, for I have hoped in Your word.
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I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are righteous, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.
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May Your loving devotion comfort me, I pray, according to Your promise to Your servant.
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May Your compassion come to me, that I may live, for Your law is my delight.
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May the arrogant be put to shame for subverting me with a lie; I will meditate on Your precepts.
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May those who fear You turn to me, those who know Your testimonies.
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May my heart be blameless in Your statutes, that I may not be put to shame.
KAPH - Longing for peace and comfort
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KAPH My soul faints for Your salvation; I wait for Your word.
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My eyes fail, looking for Your promise; I ask, “When will You comfort me?”
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Though I am like a wineskin dried up by smoke, I do not forget Your statutes.
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How many days must Your servant wait?(e) When will You execute judgment on my persecutors?
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The arrogant have dug pits for me in violation of Your law.
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All Your commandments are faithful; I am persecuted without cause—help me!
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They almost wiped me from the earth, but I have not forsaken Your precepts.
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Revive me according to Your loving devotion, that I may obey the testimony of Your mouth.
LAMED - The immutability of the law of the Lord
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LAMEDH Your word, O LORD, is everlasting; it is firmly fixed in the heavens.
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Your faithfulness continues through all generations; You established the earth, and it endures.
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Your ordinances stand to this day,(f) for all things are servants to You.
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If Your law had not been my delight, then I would have perished in my affliction.
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I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have revived me.
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I am Yours; save me, for I have sought Your precepts.
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The wicked wait to destroy me, but I will ponder Your testimonies.
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I have seen a limit to all perfection, but Your commandment is without limit.
MEM - Love for God's law
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MEM Oh, how I love Your law! All day long it is my meditation.
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Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for they are always with me.
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I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation.
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I discern more than the elders, for I obey Your precepts.
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I have kept my feet from every evil path, that I may keep Your word.
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I have not departed from Your ordinances, for You Yourself have taught me.
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How sweet are Your words to my taste— sweeter than honey in my mouth!
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I gain understanding from Your precepts; 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 to my path.
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I have sworn and confirmed that I will keep Your righteous judgments.
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I am severely afflicted, O LORD; revive me through Your word.
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Accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me Your judgments.
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I constantly take my life in my hands, 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 precepts.
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Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.
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I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes, even to the very end.
SAMEKH - The word of the Lord is my protection and my shield
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SAMEKH The double-minded I despise, but Your law I love.
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You are my hiding place and my shield; I put my hope in Your word.
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Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may obey the commandments of my God.
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Sustain me as You promised, that I may live; let me not be ashamed of my hope.
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Uphold me, and I will be saved, that I may always regard Your statutes.
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You reject all who stray from Your statutes, for their deceitfulness is in vain.
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All the wicked on earth You discard like dross; therefore I love Your testimonies.
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My flesh trembles in awe of You; I stand in fear of Your judgments.
AIN - The psalmist kept the law of the Lord
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AYIN I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my oppressors.
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Ensure Your servant’s well-being; do not let the arrogant oppress me.
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My eyes fail, looking for Your salvation, and for Your righteous promise.
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Deal with Your servant according to Your loving devotion, and teach me Your statutes.
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I am Your servant; give me understanding, that I may know Your testimonies.
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It is time for the LORD to act, for they have broken Your law.
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Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, even the purest gold.
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Therefore I admire all Your precepts and hate every false way.
PE - Prayer to keep the law of the Lord
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PE Wonderful are Your testimonies; therefore I obey them.
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The unfolding of Your words gives light; it informs the simple.
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I open my mouth and pant, longing for Your commandments.
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Turn to me and show me mercy, as You do to those who love Your name.
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Order my steps in Your word; let no sin rule over me.
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Redeem me from the oppression of man, that I may keep Your precepts.
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Make Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes.
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My eyes shed streams of tears because Your law is not obeyed.
TZADE - The Lord and his law are righteous
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TZADE Righteous are You, O LORD, and upright are Your judgments.
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The testimonies You have laid down are righteous and altogether faithful.
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My zeal has consumed me because my foes forget Your words.
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Your promise is completely pure; therefore Your servant loves it.
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I am lowly and despised, but I do not forget Your precepts.
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Your righteousness is everlasting and Your law is true.
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Trouble and distress have found me, but Your commandments are my delight.
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Your testimonies are righteous forever. Give me understanding, that I may live.
KOPH - Cry for salvation
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KOPH I call with all my heart; answer me, O LORD! I will obey Your statutes.
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I call to You; save me, that I may keep Your testimonies.
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I rise before dawn and cry for help; in Your word I have put my hope.
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My eyes anticipate the watches of night, that I may meditate on Your word.
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Hear my voice, O LORD, according to Your loving devotion; give me life according to Your justice.
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Those who follow after wickedness draw near; they are far from Your law.
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You are near, O LORD, and all Your commandments are true.
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Long ago I learned from Your testimonies that You have established them forever.
RESH - Keeping the law of the Lord in times of trouble
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RESH Look upon my affliction and rescue me, for I have not forgotten Your law.
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Defend my cause and redeem me; revive me according to Your word.
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Salvation is far from the wicked because they do not seek Your statutes.
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Great are Your mercies, O LORD; revive me according to Your ordinances.
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Though my persecutors and foes are many, I have not turned from Your testimonies.
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I look on the faithless with loathing because they do not keep Your word.
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Consider how I love Your precepts, O LORD; give me life according to Your loving devotion.
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The entirety of Your word is truth, and all Your righteous judgments endure forever.
SHIN - Prayer for deliverance from persecution
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SIN and SHIN Rulers persecute me without cause, but my heart fears only Your word.
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I rejoice in Your promise like one who finds great spoil.
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I hate and abhor falsehood, but Your law I love.
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Seven times a day I praise You for Your righteous judgments.
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Abundant peace belongs to those who love Your instruction; nothing can make them stumble.
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I wait for Your salvation, O LORD, and I carry out Your commandments.
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I obey Your testimonies and love them greatly.
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I obey Your precepts and Your testimonies, for all my ways are before You.
TAU - Concluding prayer
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TAW May my cry come before You, O LORD; give me understanding according to Your word.
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May my plea come before You; rescue me according to Your promise.
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My lips pour forth praise, for You teach me Your statutes.
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My tongue sings of Your word, for all Your commandments are righteous.
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May Your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen Your precepts.
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I long for Your salvation, O LORD, and Your law is my delight.
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Let me live to praise You; may Your judgments sustain me.
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I have strayed like a lost sheep; seek Your servant, for I have not forgotten Your commandments.
Footnotes