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PSALM 119

ALEPH.

  1. Blessed are the perfect in the way, who walk in the law of jehovah.
  2. Blessed are they who keep his testimonies, who seek him with the whole heart,
  3. Even they who do no iniquity: who walk in his ways.
  4. You have commanded your precepts, that they may be diligently kept.
  5. O that my ways were directed to keep your statutes!
  6. Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect to all your commandments.
  7. I will praise you with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned the judgements of your justice.
  8. I will keep your statutes: O forsake me not utterly!
  9. beth.

  10. Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed according to your Word.
  11. With my whole heart have I sought you: O let me not wander from your commandments!
  12. Your word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
  13. Blessed are you, O jehovah! teach me your statutes.
  14. With my lips have I declared all the judgements of your mouth.
  15. I rejoice in the way of your testimonies, as in all riches.
  16. I meditate upon your precepts, and have respect to your ways.
  17. I take delight in your statutes; I do not forget your word.
  18. gimel.

  19. Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word.
  20. Open you mine eyes, that I may behold the wondrous things of your law.
  21. I am a sojourner in the earth; hide not your commandments from me.
  22. My soul is broken down through continually longing for your judgements.
  23. You rebuke the proud; cursed are those who err from your commandments!
  24. Remove from me reproach and contempt; because I have kept your testimonies.
  25. Although princes do sit and speak against me; your servant meditates in your statutes.
  26. Your testimonies also are my delight, they are my counsellors.
  27. DALETH.

  28. My soul cleaves to the dust: revive me according to your word.
  29. I have declared my ways, and you have answered me; teach me your statutes.
  30. Make me to understand the way of your precepts; so shall I meditate upon your wondrous works.
  31. My soul melts for heaviness; raise me up according to your word.
  32. Remove from me the way of lying; and graciously grant me your law.
  33. I have chosen the way of truth; your judgements have I placed before me.
  34. I cleave to your testimonies; O jehovah, let me not be put to shame.
  35. I will run in the way of your commandments, because you have enlarged my heart.
  36. he.

  37. Teach me, O jehovah, the way of your statutes, that I may keep it to the end.
  38. Give me understanding and I shall keep your law, yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
  39. Make me to walk in the path of your commandments, for therein do I delight.
  40. Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to covetousness.
  41. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, and revive me in your way.
  42. Establish your word to your servant, who is devoted to your fear.
  43. Turn away my reproach which I have dreaded; for your judgements are good.
  44. Behold, I have longed after your precepts; revive me through your justice.
  45. vau.

  46. Let your mercies come to me, O jehovah, your salvation according to your word.
  47. That I may answer him that reproaches me, for I trust in your word.
  48. And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for I have hoped in your judgements.
  49. So shall I keep your law continually, for ever and ever.
  50. I will walk in a broad place, for I have sought out your precepts.
  51. I will speak of your testimonies also before kings, and I will not be ashamed.
  52. And I will take delight in your commandments which I have loved.
  53. My hands also will I lift up to your commandments which I have loved, and I will meditate upon your statutes.
  54. zain.

  55. Remember the word to your servant, upon which you have caused me to hope.
  56. This is my comfort in mine affliction, for your word has revived me.
  57. The proud have had me greatly in derision; I have not declined from your law.
  58. I remember your judgements of old, O jehovah, and have comforted myself.
  59. The burning wind has seized me, because of the wicked that forsake your law.
  60. Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning.
  61. I remember your name, O jehovah, in the night, and I keep your law.
  62. This I had, because I kept your precepts.
  63. cheth.

  64. You are my portion, O jehovah; I have said that I would keep your words.
  65. I entreat your favour with my whole heart; be merciful to me according to your word.
  66. I have thought on my ways, and I turn my feet to your testimonies.
  67. I hasten, and do not delay to keep your commandments.
  68. The cords of the wicked encompass me; I do not forget your law.
  69. At midnight I will arise to give thanks to you, because of your just judgements.
  70. I am a companion of all those who fear you, and of those who keep your precepts.
  71. The earth, O jehovah, is full of your mercy; O teach me your statutes!
  72. teth.

  73. You have done good to your servant, O jehovah, according to your word.
  74. Teach me good judgement and knowledge, for I have believed your commandments.
  75. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now do I keep your word.
  76. You are good, and do good; teach me your statutes.
  77. The proud have forged a lie against me; I will keep your precepts with my whole heart.
  78. Their heart is enclosed in fat; I delight in your law.
  79. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.
  80. The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver.
  81. jod.

  82. Your hands have made me and prepared me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
  83. They that fear you will see me and be glad, because I have hoped in your word.
  84. I know, O jehovah, that your judgements are just, and that you, in faithfulness, have afflicted me.
  85. Let, I pray you, your mercy be my comfort, according to your Word to your servant.
  86. Let your tender mercies come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight.
  87. Let the proud be ashamed, for by falsehood they treat me perversely; I will meditate in your precepts.
  88. Let those that fear you turn to me, even those who know your testimonies.
  89. Let my heart be perfect in your statutes, that I may not be ashamed.
  90. caph.

  91. My soul faints for your salvation; I hope in your word.
  92. Mine eyes waste away in longing for your word, while I say, When will you comfort me?
  93. For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; I do not forget your statutes.
  94. How many are the days of your servants? When will you execute judgement on them that persecute me?
  95. The proud have dug pits for me, which are not after your law.
  96. All your commandments are truth: they persecute me with falsehood; help you me.
  97. They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not your precepts.
  98. Revive me according to your mercy, that I may keep the testimony of your mouth.
  99. lamed.

  100. For ever, O jehovah, your word is established in the heavens.
  101. Your faithfulness is from generation to generation; you have established the earth, and it stands firm.
  102. They continue to this day according to your judgements; for they are all your servants.
  103. Unless your law had been my delights, I should have perished long ago in mine affliction.
  104. Never will I forget your precepts, for by them have you revived me.
  105. I am yours, save me; for I have sought out your precepts.
  106. The wicked have lain in wait for me to destroy me; but I will consider your testimonies.
  107. I have seen an end of all perfection; your commandment is exceedingly broad.
  108. mem.

  109. O how I love your law! it is my meditation all the day.
  110. Your commandments make me wiser than mine enemies; because they are ever with me.
  111. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation.
  112. I understand more than the aged, because I keep your precepts.
  113. I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep your word.
  114. I have not departed from your judgements, for you have taught me.
  115. How sweet are your words to my palate, yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
  116. Through your precepts I have understanding; therefore do I hate every false way.
  117. NUN.

  118. Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.
  119. I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep your judgements.
  120. I am exceedingly afflicted; revive me, O jehovah, according to your word.
  121. Accept, I beseech you, the free-will offerings of my mouth, O jehovah, and teach me your judgements.
  122. My soul is continually in my hand, yet do I not forget your law.
  123. The wicked have laid a snare for me, yet have I not gone astray from your precepts.
  124. Your testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart.
  125. I have inclined my heart to perform your statutes always, even to the end.
  126. samech.

  127. I hate vain imaginations, but your law do I love.
  128. You are my hiding-place and my shield; I hope in your word.
  129. Depart from me you evil doers, for I will keep the commandments of my god.
  130. Uphold me according to your word, that I may live; and let me not be ashamed of my hope.
  131. Hold you me up and I shall he saved, and I will have respect to your statutes continually.
  132. You have rejected all who go astray from your statutes, for their deceit is falsehood.
  133. You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross, therefore do I love your testimonies.
  134. My flesh trembles for fear of you, and I am afraid of your judgements.
  135. ain.

  136. I have done judgement and justice; leave me not to mine oppressors.
  137. Be surety for your servant for good; let not the proud oppress me.
  138. Mine eyes waste away in looking for your salvation, and for the word of your justice.
  139. Deal with your servant according to your mercy, and teach me your statutes.
  140. I am your servant, give me understanding that I may know your testimonies.
  141. It is time for you, O jehovah, to work, for they have broken your law.
  142. Therefore I love your commandments above gold, yea, above fine gold.
  143. Therefore I esteem all your precepts concerning all things to be right, and I hate every false way.
  144. pe.

  145. Wonderful are your testimonies, therefore does my soul keep them.
  146. The opening of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.
  147. I open my mouth and pant, because I long for your commandments.
  148. Look you upon me, and be merciful to me, as you are wont to do to those that love your name.
  149. Establish my steps in your word, and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
  150. Deliver me from the oppression of man, that I may keep your precepts.
  151. Make your face to shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes.
  152. Streams of water run down mine eyes, because they keep not your law.
  153. TSADDI.

  154. Just are you, O jehovah, and upright are your judgements.
  155. Your testimonies that you have commanded are just, and very faithful.
  156. My zeal has consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten your words.
  157. Your word is exceedingly pure, therefore your servant loves it.
  158. I am little and despised, yet do I not forget your precepts.
  159. Your justice is everlasting justice, and your law is truth.
  160. Distress and anguish have overtaken me; your commandments are my delights.
  161. The justice of your testimonies is everlasting; give me understanding, that I may live.
  162. koph.

  163. I cry with my whole heart; answer me, O jehovah; I will keep your statutes.
  164. I cry to you; save me, that I may keep your testimonies.
  165. Before the dawn of the morning I cry aloud; I hope in your words.
  166. Mine eyes anticipate the watches of the night, that I may meditate upon your word.
  167. Hear my voice according to your mercy; O jehovah, revive me according to your judgement.
  168. They draw near that pursue wicked devices; they are far from your law.
  169. You are near, O jehovah, and all your commandments are truth.
  170. From your testimonies I have known what is of old, for you have founded them for ever.
  171. resh.

  172. Behold mine affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget your law.
  173. Plead you my cause and redeem me; revive me, according to your word.
  174. Salvation is far from the wicked, for they seek not your statutes.
  175. Manifold are your tender mercies, O jehovah; revive me, according to your judgements.
  176. Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; I do not decline from your testimonies.
  177. I behold perfidious men and am grieved, because they keep not your word.
  178. Behold, how I love your precepts; revive me, O jehovah, according to your mercy.
  179. For the sum of your word is truth, and every one of your just judgements endures for ever.
  180. shin

  181. Princes have persecuted me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your word,
  182. I rejoice over your word, as one that finds great spoil,
  183. I hate and abhor falsehood; your law do I love.
  184. Seven times a day do I praise you, because of your just judgements.
  185. Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing shall offend them.
  186. I have hoped for your salvation, O jehovah, and have done your commandments.
  187. My soul has kept your testimonies, and I love them exceedingly.
  188. I have kept your precepts and your testimonies, for all my ways are before you.
  189. thau.

  190. Let my cry come near before you, O jehovah; give me understanding according to your word.
  191. Let my supplication come before you, deliver me according to your word.
  192. My lips shall pour forth praise, for you have taught me your statutes.
  193. My tongue shall speak of your word, for all your commandments are just.
  194. Let your hand help me, for I have chosen your precepts.
  195. I long for your salvation, O jehovah, and your law is my delight.
  196. Let my soul live, and it shall praise you; and let your judgements help me.
  197. I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.

The Internal Sense

That the lord fulfilled the law, or the Word, from its first principles to its ultimates, and was therefore hated, and suffered temptations, and that thus he united his Human to his Divine, verses 1—176.

Exposition

Aleph. All syllables and letters of the alphabet in the spiritual world signify things, hence originate the speech and writing of those who are there, and hence it is, that the lord describes his divinity and infinity by Alpha and Omega, by which is signified that he is the All in All of heaven and the church, since every letter signifies a thing in the spiritual world, and consequently in the language of angels, therefore David wrote the cxix. Psalm, in order, according to the letters of the alphabet, beginning with Aleph and ending with Thau, as may appear from the initials of the verses; something similar appears in Psalm cxi, but not so evidently. Ap. Re. 38.

Verse 1. Blessed are the perfect in the way. By the perfect in the way are meant those who are in truth grounded in good, or who speak and do the truth from charity. AC 612.

Verses 1 to 27. The subject treated of throughout the whole of this Psalm is concerning the Word, and concerning the things belonging to the Word, which, it is evident, are precepts, statutes, judgements, testimonies, commandments, and ways; but what is specifically meant by these expressions cannot possibly be seen from the sense of the letter, in which they appear only as a repetition of the same thing; it may, however, be seen from the internal sense, in which things altogether different are signified by precepts, by statutes, by judgements, testimonies, commandments, and ways. AC 3382

Verses 2 to 7. In several passages mention is made of testimonies, and at the same time of law, precepts, commandments, statutes, and judgements, and in those passages by testimonies and commandments are signified such things as teach life, by law and precepts such things as teach doctrine, by statutes and judgements such things as teach ceremonies of worship. AE 392.

The precepts of the decalogue were called a testimony, because they had relation to a covenant, thus to conjunction between the lord and man, which conjunction cannot exist unless man keeps those precepts, not only in the external form, but also in the internal. AC 4197.

Verses 6 to 17. Word denotes doctrine in general; that a distinction is here made between precepts, judgements, testimonies, commandments, statutes, ways, and lips, is evident, all which things appertain to the Word or doctrine; in other parts of the Word also these expressions have a distinct signification. AC 1288.

Verse 25. My soul cleaves to the dust, etc. The reason why dust denotes what is damned is because the places where evil spirits are, at the sides beneath the soles of the feet, appear as earth, and indeed as earth uncultivated and dry, under which are certain hells; this earth is what is called damned earth, and the dust there signifies what is damned. AC 7418.

Verse 27. Make me to understand the way of your precepts, etc. The way of commandments and precepts is called the way of truth, the contrary way is called the way of a lie,—false doctrine. AC 627.

Verse 37. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, etc. That vanity denotes the false principle of doctrine and religion is evident from this passage. AC 9248.

Verse 103. How sweet are your words to my palate, yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! The reason why honey denotes delight is because it is sweet, and every thing sweet in the natural world corresponds to what is delightful in the spirit; the reason why it is said the delight thereof, namely the delight of truth derived from good in the exterior and natural principle is because every truth, and especially every truth of good, has its delight, but a delight arising from the affection of good and truth, and from consequent use. AC 5620.

Verse 135. Make your face to shine upon your servant, etc. That the face of jehovah or the lord is mercy, and also peace and good, because these are of mercy, may likewise be manifest from this passage, where face also denotes mercy, AC 5585.

Verse 154, Plead you my cause and deliver me; revive me according to your word. To plead my cause denotes to defend truth against falsehood, and to liberate. AC . 9024.

Verse 164. Seven times a day do I praise you because of your just judgements. The number seven was accounted holy to the six days of creation: hence in the ceremonies of the Jewish church, the number seven so often occurs, and is everywhere accounted holy. AC 395.

That seven signifies an entire period from beginning to end, thus what is full, is manifest from several passages in the Word, as in Isaiah, "The light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be seven-fold, as the light of seven days, in the day wherein jehovah shall bind up the breach of his people," Isaiah 30:26; where the subject treated of is concerning the salvation of the faithful, and concerning their intelligence and wisdom in the lord's kingdom; the moon is faith from the lord, thus faith in the lord, and the sun love from the lord, thus love to the lord; the light of the sun being seven-fold as the light of seven days, denotes a full state of intelligence and wisdom derived from love and faith from the lord. AC 9228

As this Psalm treats of the Word, and of the life according to the Word, the reader is especially recommended to peruse the two works of the New Jerusalem on those very important subjects, the heads of which shall be here adduced:—

On the Word, or Sacred Scripture.

I. That the Sacred Scripture, or Word, is Divine Truth itself............................................................... SS 1

II. That in the Word then; in a spiritual sense, heretofore unknown,—

    1. What the spiritual sense is.................................SS 5
    2. That the spiritual sense is in all, and every part of the Word................................................... SS 9
    3. That it is owing to the spiritual sense that the Word is divinely inspired, and holy in every syllable... SS 18
    4. That the spiritual sense of the Word has heretofore remained unknown....................................... SS 20
    5. That hereafter the spiritual sense of the Word will be made known to none, but those who are principled in genuine truths from the Lord......... SS 26

III. That the literal sense of the Word is the basis, the continent, and the firmament of its spiritual and celestial sense.................................................................. SS 27

IV. That Divine Truth, in the literal sense of the Word, is in its fullness, in its sanctity, and in its power............... SS 37

  1. That the truths of the literal sense of the Word are meant by the precious stones, of which the foundations of the New Jerusalem were built, as mentioned in the Revelation 21:17 to 21............... SS 43
  2. That the truths and goods of the literal sense of the Word, are meant by the Urim and Thummim...... SS 44
  3. That the truths of the literal sense of the. Word are meant by the precious stones in the Garden of Eden, wherein the King of Tyre is said to have been......................................................... SS 45
  4. That the literal sense of the Word is signified by the curtains and veils of the tabernacle.................. SS 46
  5. That the externals of the Word, or the things belonging to the literal sense, were represented by the externals of the temple at Jerusalem............ SS 47
  6. That the Word in its glory was represented in the person of the Lord, at his Transfiguration......... SS 48

V. That the doctrine of the church ought to be drawn from the literal sense of the Word, and to be confirmed thereby SS 50

  1. That the Word, without doctrine, cannot be understood......................................................... SS 51
  2. That doctrine ought to be drawn from the literal sense of the Word, and to be confirmed thereby... SS 53
  3. That genuine truth, which doctrine is to teach, is apparent in the literal sense of the Word, to those only who are in illustration from the Lord......... SS 57

VI. That by the literal sense of the Word, man has conjunction with the Lord and consociation with the angels...... SS 62

VII. That the Word is in all the heavens, and that the wisdom of the angels is thence derived........................ SS 70

VIII. That the church exists from the Word, and that, with man, the quality of the church is according to his understanding of the Word............................................. SS 76

IX. That there is a marriage of the Lord and the church, and thence a marriage of good and truth, in every part of the Word............................................................. SS 80

X. That heretical opinions may be collected and imbibed from the letter of the Word, but that to confirm such opinions is hurtful.............................................................. SS 91

XI. That the Lord came into the world that he might fulfill all things contained in the Word, and thereby become Divine Truth or the Word in its ultimates................. SS 98

XII. That previous to the Word which the world now possesses, there existed a Word which is lost.................. SS 101

XIII. That by means of the Word, light is communicated to those who are out of the pale of the church, and are not in possession of the Word....................................... SS 104

XIV. That without the Word, no one would have any knowledge of God, or of heaven and hell, or of a life after death, and much less of the Lord.............................. SS 114

On the White Horse................................................... 1

References to passages in the Arcana Coelestia..................... 6

On the Doctrine of Life.

I. That all religion has relation to life, and that the life of religion is to do good............................................. DLife 1

II. That no one can do good, which is really good, from himself...............................................................DLife 9

III. That so far as man shuns evils as sins, so far he does what is good, not from himself, but from the Lord............... DLife 18

  1. That the good things which a man wills and does are not good, before he shuns evils as sins......... DLife 24
  2. That the pious things which a man thinks and speaks before he shuns evils, are not pious......... DLife 25
  3. That man has no wisdom, unless he shuns evils as sins, notwithstanding his being skilful and wise in many things................................................ DLife 26

IV. That so far as any one shuns evils as sins, so far he loves truths............................................................... DLife 32

V. That so far as any one shuns evils as sins, so far he has faith, and is spiritual............................................. DLife 42

VI. That the Decalogue teaches what evils are sins............ DLife 53

VII. That murders, adulteries, thefts, and false witness, of every kind, with the cravings prompting thereto, are evils which ought to be shunned as sins.................. DLife 62

VIII. That so far as any one shuns murders of every kind as sins, so far he has love towards his neighbour............... DLife 67

IX. That so far as any one shuns adulteries of every kind as sins, so far he loves chastity.................................... DLife 74

X. That so far as any one shuns thefts of every kind as sins, so far he loves sincerity.......................................... DLife 80

XI. That so far as any one shuns false witness of every kind as sins, so far he loves truth.................................... DLife 87

XII. That it is not possible for any one to shun evils as sins, so that he may hold them inwardly in aversion, except by combats against them............................................. DLife 92

XIII. That man ought to shun evils as sins, and to fight against them, as from himself.................................... DLife 101

XIV. That if any one shuns evils for any other reason than because they are sins, he does not shun them, but only prevents their appearing before the eyes of the world...... DLife 108

 

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