PSALM PARAPHRASES

PSALM  119:1-24

ALEPH

To be envied is the man who walks in the law of the Lord.  Because walking in the Lord of the Lord keeps you from being defiled.  To be envied is the man who keeps God’s testimonies.  The man who seeks God with his whole heart is also blessed.  Walking in the ways of God will keep you from sin and iniquity.  This is also following God’s command to diligently keep His precepts.  I wish that I were bent toward doing right.  I wish this desire of mine was easier to accomplish.  If I obey and do as you ask me to do, I will never be ashamed.  I’ll never be sorry that I chose to do things God’s way.  I want to seek…I want to learn.  When everything in my life is in line with your righteous judgments, then I will praise you with an upright heart.  I’m going to do the best I can to keep thy statutes…please don’t ever totally abandon me.

BETH

I know that the practice of obedience to your word brings blessing.  I also know that the way for a young man to get back on track is by heeding your Word.  With my whole heart, I know that this is right.  I want to keep seeking you every day.  I do not want to wander from thy commandments.  As much as is possible, I am trying to hide your word into my heart.  The more I know of your word, the more likely I will be to resist sin.  God you are so good to us…please teach me thy statutes.  If you teach me…I will teach and tell others.  The word of God comes from your mouth to my ears…then my mouth shares your truth with others.  I place a great deal of value on God’s word.  Finding truth in God’s word is a cause for rejoicing similar to finding a treasure and great riches.  I will keep your precepts in my mind and constantly think on them over and over again.  Keeping the thoughts of God in my mind, causes me great delight.  I also makes it very difficult to forget God’s word.  

GIMEL

I really want to have an abundant life.  I need your help to live everyday and keep your word.  Open my eyes…I want to see; I want to know;  I want to understand all the wondrous things that are found in your word.  Please don’t hide anything from me.  I am a stranger on this planet.  I need your help on how you want me to live.  My innermost being longs every day to learn more of your word.

I don’t want to be among the proud who don’t want instruction or think they don’t need instruction.  The proud would rather do things their way instead of God’s way.  As a result the proud are often rebuked; they are sometimes cursed and they always err from your commandments.   Also separate me from those who do not see the value of your word.  There are some that have a contempt for the word of God.  They disrespect it.  They could careless about your instruction.  They do not see it as worthy of their consideration.  I feel the absolute opposite.  I have kept and even embraced thy testimonies.  Other princes and leaders, even among my own people, speak against me.  They think I am foolish for trusting in you alone.  But I have thought about this…and thought about your word over and over again.  There is no question that pleasing you and following your word, gives me great delight.  Where else would I receive the necessary counsel, guidance and directions for life?

Psalm  119:25-32

DALETH

My soul is near death.  My soul is sorrowful and disheartened.  It cannot arise from the dust.  Lord, I need your word to restore life and hope to my soul.  I have made known to you how I feel about you and your word.  You know what is in my heart.  Now I want to know what you want…please teach me thy statutes.  I want to understand your word and your ways so that I can better express them to others.  Again, my soul is heavy and exhausted by trying to do all this in my own strength.  Circumstances and people have just worn me out.  I know that strength for my soul comes from your word.  

I need you to keep me on the right path.  Remove me from the people and paths that are deceitful.  Please show me grace by granting me access to the truth.  I have chosen to do things the right way.  I have my map open.  I am going to stay on the right path.   I plan to stick to the course.  Please don’t make me sorry that I chose this route.  I’m going to run this road and take it as far as I can.  Enlarge my heart so that I can fill it full of thy word and never run out of fuel.  

ASKING  GOD  TO  INTERVENE

Psalm 119:33-40

HE

Teach me, O Lord the way of thy statutes.  If you teach me, I will keep it all the days of my life.  Please give me not only knowledge, but comprehension.  With my whole heart I promise that I will do my best to keep your word.  Sometimes you may have to force me or push me in the right direction.  I want you to feel free to do that because I want to stay on the right path, and I need your help to do it.  No matter what I might think momentarily, doing things your way always brings me delight.  Again, please push or tip my heart in the right direction.  I want to pursue God not temporary things and pleasures.  Turn my eyes toward worthwhile pursuits.  I am tired of looking and lusting after worthless treasures.  Help me to focus on something worth living for.  Keep me from distraction.  Establish me in thy word, or establish thy word in me…both sound like good propositions.  I am thy servant.  I am a devoted servant, devoted to living in obedience to you Lord.  What you say and teach is important to me.  I am also concerned regarding what you think about me.  Please let me stay in your word so that I will not suffer reproach or run the risk of displeasing you, Lord.  If I can just stick by your judgments, I’ll be OK.  Give me the drive and the energy to do what is right in your eyes.  I really want to please you.  

Psalm 119:41-48

VAU

Lord, keep showing me your loving kindness and faithful love.  Thank you for your deliverance.  Thank you for keeping your promises.  I need you to show me favor so that I will have answers for those who reproach me.  I want my enemies to see how I benefit by trusting in you and your word.  I want them to see our relationship and allow that to answer any ridicule they may submit.  As long as you’re blessing me, I can boast and they can see.  I have put my trust in your way and your laws.  If things go poorly, then my tongue becomes silent.  The good news is that I have no plans to change course.  I will keep your law continually each day and for as long as I live.  Because I am following your way, I will live without fear.  Your way provides freedom from sin’s consequences, earthly entanglements and the snares of the Devil.  Seeking daily to follow your guidelines is a much safer path than the world has to offer.  I will speak of your truth and your way in the presence of kings.  With boldness and confidence, I will share with worldly wise and learned men apology or embarrassment.  I love your word.  It is my delight.  I will extend my arms to reach for and receive thy commandments.  I will hold them, embrace them and meditate on them continually.  I really do love your commandments.  

ZAIN

Psalm 119:49-56

Remember what you promised!  Your promises give me hope because I trust you.  The fact that I can trust in your promises gives me comfort.  Even when I am afflicted, I know that you know and that I will be delivered.  Your promises give me life when things seem hopeless.  Your promises give me strength to stand in the face of my enemies.  My proud, self-confident enemies laugh, threaten and ridicule me.  But their scornful words will not change my stand or my opinion of you and your word.  I have and I will remain faithful.  We’ve been through all this before.  The longer I live, the more examples I have of your love and deliverance.  I have remained faithful to you, but more important, you have remained faithful to me.  Past victories bring present comfort.  

When I see the arrogant behavior of the wicked, I am horrified.  They abandon the very thing that they need most.  Do they not understand the consequences of defiance of God and his word?  Don’t they understand what could happen?  Don’t they understand what will happen?  The wicked want no part of God’s law.  But I will write songs about God’s law and sing them everyday throughout the course of my lifetime.  God’s word is an integral part of my journey through this world.  From morning till night, I keep thy law in remembrance.  When others fear the night, or when others believe that the night covers their sin, I will be resting in thy promises.  I have hope, comfort, strength, confidence, joy and safety all because I have kept thy precepts.  

Psalm 119:57-64

Lord, thou art my portion.  You are all I need to find purpose and fulfillment in this life.  I have said it and re-said it, that I will keep following your word.  I so desire to be in your favor.  With my whole heart, I want you to be pleased with my life and choices.  Sometimes I don’t do so well...in those times I’m counting on your mercy.  You promised me your loving kindness, and I’m counting on it.  I took a little time and considered the path that I was on…I immediately adjusted my course and turned toward your testimonies.  I ran without delay to get back to the path that those who live in obedience to you, follow.  Sometimes while trying to stay on this path, there will be obstacles that try to derail us.  The wicked of this world cannot stand when someone has chosen to do right.  They will try to disrupt and take away from us things that are of great value.  I refuse to let them win; I refuse to forget God’s instructions; I refuse to let them rob me of my fellowship or my delight in the things of God.  I really don’t care where or when the wicked attack…I will thank God for his righteous character and judgments.  I will distance myself from the wicked and become a companion of those who fear God.  Those men and women who have a respect for God and what God has to say.  This awesome respect for God manifests itself in God’s people living in obedience to Him.  Everywhere you look you see God’s loving kindness to this world and mankind.  Who would not want to be on his side, serve Him and learn from Him?

TETH

CHASTENING  AND  AFFLICTION

Psalm 119:65-72

I have served you for many years and I have no complaints.  I have served you and you have treated me well, just as you promised.  If it’s OK with you, I’d like to keep going.  Please continue to teach me good judgment and knowledge.  I believe with my whole heart that this is the path that I should be on.  I have wandered from the path from time to time.  But I encountered much difficulty and affliction.  These disasters brought me right back to you.  No matter how far we drift away from God, we are only one step away from restoration.  God, I know you want the best for me.  You are a good God and everything thing you do is good.  Both your character and your behavior is always good.  The proud have forged a lie against me.  They always want to accuse and cause me to doubt.  I will not waver in my trust for you.  I will trust you and your precepts with my whole heart.  The wicked have so much of this world’s temporary goods that the see no reason to change their behavior.  Their heart is fat and content with their accomplishments and a life without God.  Mine is not.  I delight in your law.  I am thankful that you do not leave me to my own devices.  I’m thankful for the chastening…it helps me learn.  The goal of discipline is to keep the subject from harm and show them the way that pleases God.  This instruction is priceless.  It is worth more that thousands of gold and silver coins.

JOD

JOY  OF  GODLY  COMPANIONS

Psalm  119:73-80

Lord, you are my creator.  Your hands have made me and fashioned me.  Since you know so much about me, help me to understand the way that is best for my life.  I want to learn your commandments and laws.  It is good to see others that have the same point of view.  I am an encouragement to them, and they are an encouragement to me.  It is of great gladness to the righteous, when others boldly stand for right.  God will always do what’s best for me, even if I don’t understand.  Trouble and affliction may come my way, but I know that God’s faithful love is at work.  Now even though I need chastening from time to time, I am far more thankful for his mercy.  I am comforted by His loving kindness towards me.  His promises to love me and protect me, give me reason for living and reason for not feeling hopeless when trouble comes.  I delight in knowing that He cares for me.  One day that self-sufficient proud crowd will be sorry for the choices they have made.  Oh, they certainly have attacked me without cause, but the bigger issue is the future consequences of their behavior.  They walk everyday awaiting judgment.  I walk everyday meditating on your precepts.  There are others who are like-minded in their fear of the Lord.  These servants of God know His testimonies.  Let us jointly be immersed in God’s word.  This behavior will keep our hearts healthy and sound.  We also continue to have the assurance that we will never be sorry that we chose to follow the Lord.  There will be NO REGRETS.

CAPH

I cannot hang on much longer!  My soul is about to faint, if your deliverance doesn’t happen soon.  But I want you to know that I am still trusting in your word.  My eyes are losing faith.  When will you come to my rescue?  When will I receive some comfort regarding your promises?  I feel like I have been forgotten and discarded, like old wineskins tossed in the fire.  I’m doing my best to stay faithful and to not forget your promises to me.  How many days of suffering must I endure?

       When are you going to step in and right the wrongs?  You are aware of the enemies’ attacks!  They persecute me.  They lay traps and dig pits wrongfully and without cause.  They are not acting on your behalf to chasten me…I have done nothing wrong.  Lord, I need your help. They have almost consumed me.  If it wasn’t for my knowledge that all your commands and promises are sure and certain.  Because I know your words are faithful words, I did not forsake any of your precepts.  Please Lord, I am aware that when you come to my rescue, your loving kindness will restore my life.  Your loving kindness will completely restore my faith in your word.  

LONGEVITY  OF  GOD’S  WORD

Psalm 199:89-96

LAMED

Nothing is certain with man and the temporary nature of the earth.  But God’s Word is certain.  It is forever settled and established in heaven, out of the reach of any outside influence.  God has been forever faithful to every generation of mankind.  Since the earth was created and man was first formed, God has been faithful.  God has faithfully taken care of man and provided him with a place to live.  God established the earth and it continues to abide by God’s laws and direction.  From the first day, until this day, all of creation is God’s servant. 

I am trying to be forever faithful in return for all God has done.  I can’t imagine where I would be without God or his guidance for my life.  No doubt I would have made many wrong choices.  I would have suffered affliction and consequence.  I most likely would be dead.  I am never going to forget God’s laws and instruction.  They have saved my life more than once.  I belong to you, Lord,  that makes you responsible for my care.  I am counting on you to take care of your own.  I will keep seeking to obey you each day.  The wicked wait and look for an opportunity to destroy me.  But because I am safe in your care, that opportunity will never come.  They are focused on destroying me, and I am focused on your testimonies.  

When we consider the things of this earth, “ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END”.  Nothing in this world is complete or perfect.  But God’s Word is perfect.  When everything else fades, God’s Word can be clearly seen.  God’s Word will not fade away, it will not shrink into insignificance.  God’s Word will still be standing when everything else is gone.  It is above and beyond all else!

Psalm 119:97-104

MEM

I think constantly of God’s law.  I really love God’s Word.  It is amazing, even to me, how much I love God’s Word.  Why do I love it so much?  Because the study of God’s Word makes me wiser than my enemies.  The truths of God’s Word are ever with me.  There is a difference between God’s wisdom and man’s wisdom.  My dedication to God’s Word has given me spiritual understanding beyond my teachers.  In some areas, these people are a lot smarter than I am, and I can certainly learn from them.  However, my time spent meditating on God’s Word gives me wisdom beyond many people throughout the ages that are a lot smarter than myself.  Knowledge and understanding of God’s Word gives me an advantage over my enemies, my instructors and all the wise men who ever lived.  

Knowledge, understanding and continual meditation of God’s Word has kept me from much trouble.  The importance of keeping God’s Word has kept my feet from temptation and disaster.  I’ve kept my feet firmly planted in God’s Word, your teaching has not been in vain.  How much I love your Word amazes me.  It gives me great satisfaction.  It feels so good to do right.  It is sweeter to my soul than honey is to my lips.  The other side of the coin is that my love for God and His Word gives me a hatred for evil.  I hate every form of evil.  I hate what God hates.

DETERMINED  DEVOTION

Psalm 119:105-112 

NUN

Thy word is a lamp unto me feet and a light unto my path.  God’s Word is my light in a dark place.  God’s Word enables me to see where I am and also lights the path ahead.  I will follow the light.  I will take an oath if necessary.  I will do exactly as God commands.  I will keep God’s statutes.  

God’s Word is my life.  There are many pulls and afflictions that surround me.  I do not hesitate to call on you for help.  Please accept my praise and thanks for your help.  Please keep teaching me your judgments.  Often I feel alone, somehow feeling the fate of my soul is in my own hands.  I’m fighting to keep my head above water, but I have not forgotten thy law.  Despite the snares and continual attack of the enemy, I have not erred from thy Word

God’s Word is my legacy.  I’m definitely going to pass this knowledge on to my children and future generations.  It’s been good for me, and I want my family to reap the same benefits.  There is joy in serving Jesus.  I’m not going to change my mind.  I will live in obedience to your word always.  I am determined to serve you all the days of my life.

SAFETY  IN  GOD’S  WORD

Psalm 119:113-120

SAMECH

The human mind is an amazing thing, but also something that is difficult to control.  I love your law, but I hate worthless thoughts that lead me astray or cause me to doubt your goodness.  Any thoughts that leave God out are vain thoughts.  I need protection from these thoughts.  Your Word can be my safe hiding place.  God’s Word serves as my shield and my hope.  

I need protection from others trying to lead me astray.  Some people, I just have to distance myself from.  If I’m going to stay on track, these people will have to depart out of my life.  I’m determined to keep God’s law, but I still am going to need a lot of help from God himself.  Please uphold me…your word promises that you will.  Don’t let me down.  Don’t make me sorry that I chose to trust you.  If you hold me up, I’ll be safe and I’ll never abandon your statutes.  

I follow your Word because I need protection from your judgments.  Those who err from the truth of your Word will be trodden down.  Some of these people are the deceivers and some of them are the ones being deceived.  The wicked, or anyone who is trusting in the wrong thing will be skimmed off like dross from precious metal, and then will be discarded.  This knowledge keeps me in line.  My flesh trembles, being on the opposite side of where God is, causes me to fear.  I have a healthy respect for God and His Word.  It matters what God says and It matters how I respond to what God says.  

Psalm 119:121-128

AIN

I have obeyed your Word.  I have done what is right.  With the assistance of your Word, I have been making right decisions and making judgments without respect of persons.  So…do not let me be a victim to those who are trying to take advantage of me.  You promised to keep me from loss.  You promised to step in and help.  I am your servant, let not the proud, arrogant haters of your Word have any success against me.  My eyes see no help on the horizon.  Actually, my eyes are tired of looking for deliverance.  You gave me your Word.

Because I am thy servant, I am counting on you for understanding.  I know that I do not deserve your help.  But I will accept thy mercy.  I know that I have a lot to learn…please keep teaching me.  I want understanding so that I can know your Word better.

Please Lord, give me patience.  I’d love to see you handle this problem right now.  I feel that it is time.  The behavior of the wicked is not going to change, and you’ve waited long enough.  Your word and your promises mean a lot to me.  I value your Word and precepts above gold…even the finest and purest of gold.  I also know that whatever you do and whenever you do it…it will be right.  You are right about ALL THINGS.

Psalm  119:129-136

PE

Thy testimonies are wonderful.  They are “beautiful words and wonderful words”, that is why I keep them.  God’s Word is absolutely necessary for understanding the issues of life.  As God’s Word enters my heart, mind and soul, it gives light and clarity.  If you find yourself in a position where you are lacking wisdom and knowledge, God’s Word will enlighten your eyes.  I long for the truth and guidance of God’s Word.  My soul pants and longs for thy commandments as someone desperate for water.    

Obedience to God’s Word is absolutely necessary for us to receive the blessings of God.  Despite my obedience, God’s blessings come as a result of His mercy.  This has always been the case for those who have a love for God’s name.  Order my steps!  From the principles set forth in your Word guide each and every step I take.  May the direction that I take be in accordance with the path that you have chosen for me.  Keep me from evil!  Help me resist temptation.  Don’t let sin win.  Keep me from evil people who might seek my destruction or lead me astray.  Keep me in thy favor.  Keep teaching me.  I am your servant and your student.  I want your smile of approval on my life.

It gives me great sadness when I think of those who have no interest in following your Word.  I am broken hearted and cannot stop crying, as I hate to see others with no regard for God’s laws, and I hate to think of what is going to happen to them.  

TZADDI*

Righteous art thou, O Lord, and upright are thy judgments.  God has never done and can do no wrong.  The assembly and compilation of His Word is likewise without wrong.  Everything God says or commands in righteous.  God’s Word is perfectly reliable.  His Word is VERY faithful.  God’s Word is 100% pure without flaw or error.  It is VERY pure.  God’s Word will never change.  There is no limitation by time or circumstance.  God’s Word is everlasting and sure.  God’s Word is not a truth, or the source of truth…it is THE truth.  

A righteous man finds himself in pursuit of God’s Word.  The enemies of God have chosen to ignore God’s direction and commands.  This behavior has been a motivation for me to zealously pursue thy Word.  Nothing else consumes me and gains my focus as the Word of God.  I am a servant who loves God’s Word.  I love God’s Word because it is without error and without flaw.   I am a man of little consequence, but God’s Word is of supreme consequence.  What God has to say is important to me.  I will not despise or forget God’s Word.  Regardless of the circumstance I might find myself in, whether in trouble or anguish, I will delight in God’s Word.  How else am I going to get through these difficulties.  I understand the importance of God’s Word for negotiating this life and preparing for the life to come.   So please God, from your righteous Word, teach me and give me understanding.

* The Hebrew word for righteousness is “TZADIK”

*The Hebrew word for a righteous person is “TZADDI”…the same as the letter!

How many times is “righteousness” mentioned in these eight verses?

--Paraphrase--

         Fred A Goebert