[Aleph]

¹ ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way,
who walk in the law of the LORD.
² Blessed are they that keep his testimonies,
and that seek him with the whole heart.
³ They also do no iniquity:
they walk in his ways.
⁴ Thou hast commanded us
to keep thy precepts diligently.
⁵ O that my ways were directed
to keep thy statutes!
⁶ Then shall I not be ashamed ,
when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
⁷ I will praise thee with uprightness of heart,
when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.
⁸ I will keep thy statutes:
O forsake me not utterly [unto completion].

[Beth]

⁹ BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?
by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
¹⁰ With my whole heart have I sought thee:
O let me not wander from thy commandments.
¹¹ Thy word have I hid in mine heart,
that I might not sin against thee.
¹² Blessed art thou, O LORD:
teach me thy statutes.
¹³ With my lips
have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
¹⁴ I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies,
as much as in all riches.
¹⁵ I will meditate in thy precepts,
and have respect unto thy ways.
¹⁶ I will delight myself in thy statutes:
I will not forget thy word.

[Gimel]

¹⁷ GIMEL. Deal bountifully with thy servant,
that I may live,
and keep thy word.
¹⁸ Open thou mine eyes,
that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
¹⁹ I am a stranger in the earth:
hide not thy commandments from me.
²⁰ My soul breaketh
for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments
at all times.
²¹ Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed,
which do err from thy commandments.
²² Remove from me reproach and contempt;
for I have kept thy testimonies.
²³ Princes also did sit and speak against me:
but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.
²⁴ Thy testimonies also are my delight
and my counsellors [men of my advice].

[Daleth]

²⁵ DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the dust:
quicken thou me according to thy word.
²⁶ I have declared my ways,
and thou heardest me:
teach me thy statutes.
²⁷ Make me to understand the way of thy precepts:
so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.
²⁸ My soul melteth for heaviness:
strengthen thou me according unto thy word.
²⁹ Remove from me the way of lying:
and grant me thy law graciously.
³⁰ I have chosen the way of truth:
thy judgments have I laid before me.
³¹ I have stuck unto thy testimonies:
O LORD, put me not to shame.
³² I will run the way of thy commandments,
when thou shalt enlarge my heart.

[He]

³³ HE. Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes;
and I shall keep it unto the end.
³⁴ Give me understanding,
and I shall keep thy law;
yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
³⁵ Make me to go in the path of thy commandments;
for therein do I delight.
³⁶ Incline my heart unto thy testimonies,
and not to covetousness.
³⁷ Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity;
and quicken thou me in thy way.
³⁸ Stablish thy word unto thy servant,
who is devoted to thy fear.
³⁹ Turn away my reproach which I fear:
for thy judgments are good.
⁴⁰ Behold, I have longed after thy precepts:
quicken me in thy righteousness.

[Vau]

⁴¹ VAU. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD,
even thy salvation,
according to thy word [commandment].
⁴² So shall I have wherewith [a word] to answer him that reproacheth me:
for I trust in thy word.
⁴³ And take not the word of truth utterly [unto completion] out of my mouth;
for I have hoped in thy judgments.
⁴⁴ So shall I keep thy law continually
for ever and ever [for always and perpetually].
⁴⁵ And I will walk at liberty:
for I seek thy precepts.
⁴⁶ I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings,
and will not be ashamed.
⁴⁷ And I will delight myself in thy commandments,
which I have loved.
⁴⁸ My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments,
which I have loved;
and I will meditate in thy statutes.

[Zain]

⁴⁹ ZAIN. Remember the word unto thy servant,
upon which thou hast caused me to hope.
⁵⁰ This is my comfort in my affliction:
for thy word hath quickened me.
⁵¹ The proud have had me greatly [unto completion] in derision:
yet have I not declined from thy law.
⁵² I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD;
and have comforted myself.
⁵³ Horror hath taken hold upon me
because of the wicked that forsake thy law.
⁵⁴ Thy statutes have been my songs
in the house of my pilgrimage.
⁵⁵ I have remembered thy name, O LORD,
in the night,
and have kept thy law.
⁵⁶ This I had,
because I kept thy precepts.

[Cheth]

⁵⁷ CHETH. Thou art my portion, O LORD:
I have said that I would keep thy words.
⁵⁸ I intreated thy favour with my whole heart:
be merciful unto me according to thy word.
⁵⁹ I thought on my ways,
and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
⁶⁰ I made haste,
and delayed not to keep thy commandments.
⁶¹ The bands of the wicked have robbed me:
but I have not forgotten thy law.
⁶² At midnight [in the midst of night] I will rise to give thanks unto thee
because of thy righteous judgments.
⁶³ I am a companion of all them that fear thee,
and of them that keep thy precepts.
⁶⁴ The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy:
teach me thy statutes.

[Teth]

⁶⁵ TETH. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD,
according unto thy word.
⁶⁶ Teach me good judgment and knowledge:
for I have believed thy commandments.
⁶⁷ Before I was afflicted I went astray:
but now have I kept thy word.
⁶⁸ Thou art good,
and doest good;
teach me thy statutes.
⁶⁹ The proud have forged a lie against me:
but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.
⁷⁰ Their heart is as fat as grease;
but I delight in thy law.
⁷¹ It is good for me that I have been afflicted;
that I might learn thy statutes.
⁷² The law of thy mouth
is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

[Jod]

⁷³ JOD. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me:
give me understanding,
that I may learn thy commandments.
⁷⁴ They that fear thee will be glad when they see me;
because I have hoped in thy word.
⁷⁵ I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right,
and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
⁷⁶ Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort,
according to thy word unto thy servant.
⁷⁷ Let thy tender mercies come unto me,
that I may live:
for thy law is my delight.
⁷⁸ Let the proud be ashamed;
for they dealt perversely with me without a cause:
but I will meditate in thy precepts.
⁷⁹ Let those that fear thee turn unto me,
and those that have known thy testimonies.
⁸⁰ Let my heart be sound in thy statutes;
that I be not ashamed.

[Caph]

⁸¹ CAPH. My soul fainteth for thy salvation:
but I hope in thy word.
⁸² Mine eyes fail for thy word,
saying, When wilt thou comfort me?
⁸³ For I am become like a bottle in the smoke;
yet do I not forget thy statutes.
⁸⁴ How many are the days of thy servant?
when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?
⁸⁵ The proud have digged pits for me,
which are not after thy law.
⁸⁶ All thy commandments are faithful:
they persecute me wrongfully;
help thou me.
⁸⁷ They had almost consumed me upon earth;
but I forsook not thy precepts.
⁸⁸ Quicken me after thy lovingkindness;
so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.

[Lamed]

⁸⁹ LAMED. For ever, O LORD,
thy word is settled in heaven.
⁹⁰ Thy faithfulness is unto all generations [to generation and generation]:
thou hast established the earth,
and it abideth.
⁹¹ They continue this day
according to thine ordinances:
for all are thy servants.
⁹² Unless thy law had been my delights,
I should then have perished in mine affliction.
⁹³ I will never forget [perpetually not shall I forget] thy precepts:
for with them thou hast quickened me.
⁹⁴ I am thine,
save me;
for I have sought thy precepts.
⁹⁵ The wicked have waited for me to destroy me:
but I will consider thy testimonies.
⁹⁶ I have seen an end of all perfection:
but thy commandment is exceeding broad.

[Mem]

⁹⁷ MEM. O how love I thy law!
it is my meditation all the day.
⁹⁸ Thou through thy commandments
hast made me wiser than mine enemies:
for they are ever with me.
⁹⁹ I have more understanding than all my teachers:
for thy testimonies are my meditation.
¹⁰⁰ I understand more than the ancients,
because I keep thy precepts.
¹⁰¹ I have refrained my feet from every evil way,
that I might keep thy word.
¹⁰² I have not departed from thy judgments:
for thou hast taught me.
¹⁰³ How sweet are thy words unto my taste!
yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
¹⁰⁴ Through thy precepts I get understanding:
therefore I hate every false way.

[Nun]

¹⁰⁵ NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,
and a light unto my path.
¹⁰⁶ I have sworn,
and I will perform it,
that I will keep thy righteous judgments.
¹⁰⁷ I am afflicted very much [unto completion]:
quicken me, O LORD,
according unto thy word.
¹⁰⁸ Accept, I beseech thee,
the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD,
and teach me thy judgments.
¹⁰⁹ My soul is continually in my hand:
yet do I not forget thy law.
¹¹⁰ The wicked have laid a snare for me:
yet I erred not from thy precepts.
¹¹¹ Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever:
for they are the rejoicing of my heart.
¹¹² I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway,
even unto the end.

[Samech]

¹¹³ SAMECH. I hate vain thoughts:
but thy law do I love.
¹¹⁴ Thou art my hiding place
and my shield:
I hope in thy word.
¹¹⁵ Depart from me, ye evildoers:
for I will keep the commandments of my God.
¹¹⁶ Uphold me according unto thy word ["your commandments"],
that I may live:
and let me not be ashamed of my hope.
¹¹⁷ Hold thou me up
and I shall be safe:
and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.
¹¹⁸ Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes:
for their deceit is falsehood.
¹¹⁹ Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross:
therefore I love thy testimonies.
¹²⁰ My flesh trembleth for fear of thee;
and I am afraid of thy judgments.

[Ain]

¹²¹ AIN. I have done judgment and justice:
leave me not to mine oppressors.
¹²² Be surety for thy servant for good:
let not the proud oppress me.
¹²³ Mine eyes fail for thy salvation,
and for the word [commandment] of thy righteousness.
¹²⁴ Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy,
and teach me thy statutes.
¹²⁵ I am thy servant;
give me understanding,
that I may know thy testimonies.
¹²⁶ It is time for thee, LORD, to work:
for they have made void thy law.
¹²⁷ Therefore I love thy commandments above gold;
yea, above fine gold.
¹²⁸ Therefore I esteem all thy precepts
concerning all things
to be right;
and I hate every false way.

[Pe]

¹²⁹ PE. Thy testimonies are wonderful:
therefore doth my soul keep them.
¹³⁰ The entrance of thy words giveth light;
it giveth understanding unto the simple.
¹³¹ I opened my mouth, and panted:
for I longed for thy commandments.
¹³² Look thou upon me,
and be merciful unto me,
as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name.
¹³³ Order my steps in thy word:
and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
¹³⁴ Deliver me from the oppression of man:
so will I keep thy precepts.
¹³⁵ Make thy face to shine upon thy servant;
and teach me thy statutes.
¹³⁶ Rivers of waters run down mine eyes,
because they keep not thy law.

[Tzaddi]

¹³⁷ TZADDI. Righteous art thou, O LORD,
and upright are thy judgments.
¹³⁸ Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded
are righteous
and very faithful.
¹³⁹ My zeal hath consumed me,
because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.
¹⁴⁰ Thy word is very pure:
therefore thy servant loveth it.
¹⁴¹ I am small and despised:
yet do not I forget thy precepts.
¹⁴² Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
and thy law is the truth.
¹⁴³ Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me:
yet thy commandments are my delights.
¹⁴⁴ The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting:
give me understanding,
and I shall live.

[Koph]

¹⁴⁵ KOPH. I cried with my whole heart;
hear me, O LORD:
I will keep thy statutes.
¹⁴⁶ I cried unto thee;
save me,
and I shall keep thy testimonies.
¹⁴⁷ I prevented the dawning of the morning,
and cried:
I hoped in thy word.
¹⁴⁸ Mine eyes prevent the night watches,
that I might meditate in thy word.
¹⁴⁹ Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness:
O LORD, quicken me according to thy judgment.
¹⁵⁰ They draw nigh that follow after mischief:
they are far from thy law.
¹⁵¹ Thou art near, O LORD;
and all thy commandments are truth.
¹⁵² Concerning thy testimonies,
I have known of old
that thou hast founded them for ever.

[Resh]

¹⁵³ RESH. Consider mine affliction,
and deliver me:
for I do not forget thy law.
¹⁵⁴ Plead my cause,
and deliver me:
quicken me according to thy word.
¹⁵⁵ Salvation is far from the wicked:
for they seek not thy statutes.
¹⁵⁶ Great are thy tender mercies, O LORD:
quicken me according to thy judgments.
¹⁵⁷ Many are my persecutors and mine enemies;
yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.
¹⁵⁸ I beheld the transgressors,
and was grieved;
because they kept not thy word [commandment].
¹⁵⁹ Consider how I love thy precepts:
quicken me, O LORD,
according to thy lovingkindness.
¹⁶⁰ Thy word is true from the beginning:
and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

[Schin]

¹⁶¹ SCHIN. Princes have persecuted me without a cause:
but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.
¹⁶² I rejoice at thy word,
as one that findeth great spoil.
¹⁶³ I hate and abhor lying:
but thy law do I love.
¹⁶⁴ Seven times a day do I praise thee
because of thy righteous judgments.
¹⁶⁵ Great peace have they which love thy law:
and nothing shall offend them [and there is nothing of a stumbling block to them].
¹⁶⁶ LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation,
and done thy commandments.
¹⁶⁷ My soul hath kept thy testimonies;
and I love them exceedingly.
¹⁶⁸ I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies:
for all my ways are before thee.

[Tau]

¹⁶⁹ TAU. Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD:
give me understanding according to thy word.
¹⁷⁰ Let my supplication come before thee:
deliver me according to thy word [commandment].
¹⁷¹ My lips shall utter praise,
when thou hast taught me thy statutes.
¹⁷² My tongue shall speak of thy word:
for all thy commandments are righteousness.
¹⁷³ Let thine hand help me;
for I have chosen thy precepts.
¹⁷⁴ I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD;
and thy law is my delight.
¹⁷⁵ Let my soul live,
and it shall praise thee;
and let thy judgments help me.
¹⁷⁶ I have gone astray like a lost sheep;
seek thy servant;
for I do not forget thy commandments.

* NOTE: On Opening and Closing Comments in the Psalms.
[Some commentators take the Psalm in Habakkuk 3 to be a standard model for the Psalms.
Habakkuk's Psalm begins with the name of the composer (Habakkuk) and a musical notation ("upon Shigionoth").
It closes with a dedication or a "send to" notice ("To the chief singer on my stringed instruments").
I have arranged similar material, where it is found in the Psalter, in accord with the model in Habakkuk.]