1: You're blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by GOD.
2: You're blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him.
3: That's right--you don't go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set.
4: You, GOD, prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it.
5: Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course you set;
6: Then I'd never have any regrets in comparing my life with your counsel.
7: I thank you for speaking straight from your heart; I learn the pattern of your righteous ways.
8: I'm going to do what you tell me to do; don't ever walk off and leave me. [JC]
9: How can a young person live a clean life? By carefully reading the map of your Word.
10: I'm single-minded in pursuit of you; don't let me miss the road signs you've posted.
11: I've banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won't sin myself bankrupt.
12: Be blessed, GOD; train me in your ways of wise living.
13: I'll transfer to my lips all the counsel that comes from your mouth;
14: I delight far more in what you tell me about living than in gathering a pile of riches.
15: I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you, I attentively watch how you've done it.
16: I relish everything you've told me of life, I won't forget a word of it. [JC]
17: Be generous with me and I'll live a full life; not for a minute will I take my eyes off your road.
18: Open my eyes so I can see what you show me of your miracle-wonders.
19: I'm a stranger in these parts; give me clear directions.
20: My soul is starved and hungry, ravenous!- insatiable for your nourishing commands.
21: And those who think they know so much, ignoring everything you tell them--let them have it!
22: Don't let them mock and humiliate me; I've been careful to do just what you said.
23: While bad neighbors maliciously gossip about me, I'm absorbed in pondering your wise counsel.
24: Yes, your sayings on life are what give me delight; I listen to them as to good neighbors! [JC]
25: I'm feeling terrible--I couldn't feel worse! Get me on my feet again. You promised, remember?
26: When I told my story, you responded; train me well in your deep wisdom.
27: Help me understand these things inside and out so I can ponder your miracle-wonders.
28: My sad life's dilapidated, a falling-down barn; build me up again by your Word.
29: Barricade the road that goes Nowhere; grace me with your clear revelation.
30: I choose the true road to Somewhere, I post your road signs at every curve and corner.
31: I grasp and cling to whatever you tell me; GOD, don't let me down!
32: I'll run the course you lay out for me if you'll just show me how. [JC]
33: GOD, teach me lessons for living so I can stay the course.
34: Give me insight so I can do what you tell me--my whole life one long, obedient response.
35: Guide me down the road of your commandments; I love traveling this freeway!
36: Give me a bent for your words of wisdom, and not for piling up loot.
37: Divert my eyes from toys and trinkets, invigorate me on the pilgrim way.
38: Affirm your promises to me--promises made to all who fear you.
39: Deflect the harsh words of my critics--but what you say is always so good.
40: See how hungry I am for your counsel; preserve my life through your righteous ways! [JC]
41: Let your love, GOD, shape my life with salvation, exactly as you promised;
42: Then I'll be able to stand up to mockery because I trusted your Word.
43: Don't ever deprive me of truth, not ever--your commandments are what I depend on.
44: Oh, I'll guard with my life what you've revealed to me, guard it now, guard it ever;
45: And I'll stride freely through wide open spaces as I look for your truth and your wisdom;
46: Then I'll tell the world what I find, speak out boldly in public, unembarrassed.
47: I cherish your commandments--oh, how I love them!-
48: relishing every fragment of your counsel. [JC]
49: Remember what you said to me, your servant--I hang on to these words for dear life!
50: These words hold me up in bad times; yes, your promises rejuvenate me.
51: The insolent ridicule me without mercy, but I don't budge from your revelation.
52: I watch for your ancient landmark words, and know I'm on the right track.
53: But when I see the wicked ignore your directions, I'm beside myself with anger.
54: I set your instructions to music and sing them as I walk this pilgrim way.
55: I meditate on your name all night, GOD, treasuring your revelation, O GOD.
56: Still, I walk through a rain of derision because I live by your Word and counsel. [JC]
57: Because you have satisfied me, GOD, I promise to do everything you say.
58: I beg you from the bottom of my heart: smile, be gracious to me just as you promised.
59: When I took a long, careful look at your ways, I got my feet back on the trail you blazed.
60: I was up at once, didn't drag my feet, was quick to follow your orders.
61: The wicked hemmed me in--there was no way out--but not for a minute did I forget your plan for me.
62: I get up in the middle of the night to thank you; your decisions are so right, so true--I can't wait till morning!
63: I'm a friend and companion of all who fear you, of those committed to living by your rules.
64: Your love, GOD, fills the earth! Train me to live by your counsel. [JC]
65: Be good to your servant, GOD; be as good as your Word.
66: Train me in good common sense; I'm thoroughly committed to living your way.
67: Before I learned to answer you, I wandered all over the place, but now I'm in step with your Word.
68: You are good, and the source of good; train me in your goodness.
69: The godless spread lies about me, but I focus my attention on what you are saying;
70: They're bland as a bucket of lard, while I dance to the tune of your revelation.
71: My troubles turned out all for the best--they forced me to learn from your textbook.
72: Truth from your mouth means more to me than striking it rich in a gold mine. [JC]
73: With your very own hands you formed me; now breathe your wisdom over me so I can understand you.
74: When they see me waiting, expecting your Word, those who fear you will take heart and be glad.
75: I can see now, GOD, that your decisions are right; your testing has taught me what's true and right.
76: Oh, love me--and right now!-hold me tight! just the way you promised.
77: Now comfort me so I can live, really live; your revelation is the tune I dance to.
78: Let the fast-talking tricksters be exposed as frauds; they tried to sell me a bill of goods, but I kept my mind fixed on your counsel.
79: Let those who fear you turn to me for evidence of your wise guidance.
80: And let me live whole and holy, soul and body, so I can always walk with my head held high. [JC]
81: I'm homesick--longing for your salvation; I'm waiting for your word of hope.
82: My eyes grow heavy watching for some sign of your promise; how long must I wait for your comfort?
83: There's smoke in my eyes--they burn and water, but I keep a steady gaze on the instructions you post.
84: How long do I have to put up with all this? How long till you haul my tormentors into court?
85: The arrogant godless try to throw me off track, ignorant as they are of God and his ways.
86: Everything you command is a sure thing, but they harass me with lies. Help!
87: They've pushed and pushed--they never let up--but I haven't relaxed my grip on your counsel.
88: In your great love revive me so I can alertly obey your every word. [JC]
89: What you say goes, GOD, and stays, as permanent as the heavens.
90: Your truth never goes out of fashion; it's as up--to-date as the earth when the sun comes up.
91: Your Word and truth are dependable as ever; that's what you ordered--you set the earth going.
92: If your revelation hadn't delighted me so, I would have given up when the hard times came.
93: But I'll never forget the advice you gave me; you saved my life with those wise words.
94: Save me! I'm all yours. I look high and low for your words of wisdom.
95: The wicked lie in ambush to destroy me, but I'm only concerned with your plans for me.
96: I see the limits to everything human, but the horizons can't contain your commands! [JC]
97: Oh, how I love all you've revealed; I reverently ponder it all the day long.
98: Your commands give me an edge on my enemies; they never become obsolete.
99: I've even become smarter than my teachers since I've pondered and absorbed your counsel.
100: I've become wiser than the wise old sages simply by doing what you tell me.
101: I watch my step, avoiding the ditches and ruts of evil so I can spend all my time keeping your Word.
102: I never make detours from the route you laid out; you gave me such good directions.
103: Your words are so choice, so tasty; I prefer them to the best home cooking.
104: With your instruction, I understand life; that's why I hate false propaganda. [JC]
105: By your words I can see where I'm going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path.
106: I've committed myself and I'll never turn back from living by your righteous order.
107: Everything's falling apart on me, GOD; put me together again with your Word.
108: Festoon me with your finest sayings, GOD; teach me your holy rules.
109: My life is as close as my own hands, but I don't forget what you have revealed.
110: The wicked do their best to throw me off track, but I don't swerve an inch from your course.
111: I inherited your book on living; it's mine forever--what a gift! And how happy it makes me!
112: I concentrate on doing exactly what you say--I always have and always will. [JC]
113: I hate the two-faced, but I love your clear-cut revelation.
114: You're my place of quiet retreat; I wait for your Word to renew me.
115: Get out of my life, evildoers, so I can keep my God's commands.
116: Take my side as you promised; I'll live then for sure. Don't disappoint all my grand hopes.
117: Stick with me and I'll be all right; I'll give total allegiance to your definitions of life.
118: Expose all who drift away from your sayings; their casual idolatry is lethal.
119: You reject earth's wicked as so much rubbish; therefore I lovingly embrace everything you say.
120: I shiver in awe before you; your decisions leave me speechless with reverence. [JC]
121: I stood up for justice and the right; don't leave me to the mercy of my oppressors.
122: Take the side of your servant, good God; don't let the godless take advantage of me.
123: I can't keep my eyes open any longer, waiting for you to keep your promise to set everything right.
124: Let your love dictate how you deal with me; teach me from your textbook on life.
125: I'm your servant--help me understand what that means, the inner meaning of your instructions.
126: It's time to act, GOD; they've made a shambles of your revelation!
127: Yea-Saying God, I love what you command, I love it better than gold and gemstones;
128: Yea-Saying God, I honor everything you tell me, I despise every deceitful detour. [JC]
129: Every word you give me is a miracle word--how could I help but obey?
130: Break open your words, let the light shine out, let ordinary people see the meaning.
131: Mouth open and panting, I wanted your commands more than anything.
132: Turn my way, look kindly on me, as you always do to those who personally love you.
133: Steady my steps with your Word of promise so nothing malign gets the better of me.
134: Rescue me from the grip of bad men and women so I can live life your way.
135: Smile on me, your servant; teach me the right way to live.
136: I cry rivers of tears because nobody's living by your book! [JC]
137: You are right and you do right, GOD; your decisions are right on target.
138: You rightly instruct us in how to live ever faithful to you.
139: My rivals nearly did me in, they persistently ignored your commandments.
140: Your promise has been tested through and through, and I, your servant, love it dearly.
141: I'm too young to be important, but I don't forget what you tell me.
142: Your righteousness is eternally right, your revelation is the only truth.
143: Even though troubles came down on me hard, your commands always gave me delight.
144: The way you tell me to live is always right; help me understand it so I can live to the fullest. [JC]
145: I call out at the top of my lungs, "GOD! Answer! I'll do whatever you say."
146: I called to you, "Save me so I can carry out all your instructions."
147: I was up before sunrise, crying for help, hoping for a word from you.
148: I stayed awake all night, prayerfully pondering your promise.
149: In your love, listen to me; in your justice, GOD, keep me alive.
150: As those out to get me come closer and closer, they go farther and farther from the truth you reveal;
151: But you're the closest of all to me, GOD, and all your judgments true.
152: I've known all along from the evidence of your words that you meant them to last forever. [JC]
153: Take a good look at my trouble, and help me--I haven't forgotten your revelation.
154: Take my side and get me out of this; give me back my life, just as you promised.
155: "Salvation" is only gibberish to the wicked because they've never looked it up in your dictionary.
156: Your mercies, GOD, run into the billions; following your guidelines, revive me.
157: My antagonists are too many to count, but I don't swerve from the directions you gave.
158: I took one look at the quitters and was filled with loathing; they walked away from your promises so casually!
159: Take note of how I love what you tell me; out of your life of love, prolong my life.
160: Your words all add up to the sum total: Truth. Your righteous decisions are eternal. [JC]
161: I've been slandered unmercifully by the politicians, but my awe at your words keeps me stable.
162: I'm ecstatic over what you say, like one who strikes it rich.
163: I hate lies--can't stand them!- but I love what you have revealed.
164: Seven times each day I stop and shout praises for the way you keep everything running right.
165: For those who love what you reveal, everything fits--no stumbling around in the dark for them.
166: I wait expectantly for your salvation; GOD, I do what you tell me.
167: My soul guards and keeps all your instructions--oh, how much I love them!
168: I follow your directions, abide by your counsel; my life's an open book before you. [JC]
169: Let my cry come right into your presence, GOD; provide me with the insight that comes only from your Word.
170: Give my request your personal attention, rescue me on the terms of your promise.
171: Let praise cascade off my lips; after all, you've taught me the truth about life!
172: And let your promises ring from my tongue; every order you've given is right.
173: Put your hand out and steady me since I've chosen to live by your counsel.
174: I'm homesick, GOD, for your salvation; I love it when you show yourself!
175: Invigorate my soul so I can praise you well, use your decrees to put iron in my soul.
176: And should I wander off like a lost sheep--seek me! I'll recognize the sound of your voice.