Samson's Strength and the Cost of Compromise

1. The children of Israel again did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight; and Yahweh delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years. 2. There was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and childless. 3. Yahweh’s angel appeared to the woman, and said to her, “See now, you are barren and childless; but you shall conceive, and bear a son. 4. Now therefore please beware and drink no wine nor strong drink, and don’t eat any unclean thing: 5. for, behold, you shall conceive, and give birth to a son. No razor shall come on his head; for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb. He shall begin to save Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.” 6. Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, “A man of God came to me, and his face was like the face of the angel of God, very awesome. I didn’t ask him where he was from, neither did he tell me his name; 7. but he said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink. Don’t eat any unclean thing; for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’” 8. Then Manoah entreated Yahweh, and said, “Oh, Lord, please let the man of God whom you sent come again to us, and teach us what we should do to the child who shall be born.” 9. God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the angel of God came again to the woman as she sat in the field, but Manoah, her husband, wasn’t with her. 10. The woman hurried and ran, and told her husband, and said to him, “Behold, the man who came to me that day has appeared to me,” 11. Manoah arose, and followed his wife, and came to the man, and said to him, “Are you the man who spoke to my wife?” He said, “I am.” 12. Manoah said, “Now let your words happen. What shall the child’s way of life and mission be?” 13. Yahweh’s angel said to Manoah, “Of all that I said to the woman let her beware. 14. She may not eat of anything that comes of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing. Let her observe all that I commanded her.” 15. Manoah said to Yahweh’s angel, “Please stay with us, that we may make a young goat ready for you.” 16. Yahweh’s angel said to Manoah, “Though you detain me, I won’t eat your bread. If you will prepare a burnt offering, you must offer it to Yahweh.” For Manoah didn’t know that he was Yahweh’s angel. 17. Manoah said to Yahweh’s angel, “What is your name, that when your words happen, we may honor you?” 18. Yahweh’s angel said to him, “Why do you ask about my name, since it is incomprehensible?” 19. So Manoah took the young goat with the meal offering, and offered it on the rock to Yahweh. Then the angel did an amazing thing as Manoah and his wife watched. 20. For when the flame went up toward the sky from off the altar, Yahweh’s angel ascended in the flame of the altar. Manoah and his wife watched; and they fell on their faces to the ground. 21. But Yahweh’s angel didn’t appear to Manoah or to his wife any more. Then Manoah knew that he was Yahweh’s angel. 22. Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, because we have seen God.” 23. But his wife said to him, “If Yahweh were pleased to kill us, he wouldn’t have received a burnt offering and a meal offering at our hand, and he wouldn’t have shown us all these things, nor would he have told us such things as these at this time.” 24. The woman bore a son, and named him Samson. The child grew, and Yahweh blessed him. 25. Yahweh’s Spirit began to move him in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol. 1. Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. 2. He came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, “I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. Now therefore get her for me as my wife.” 3. Then his father and his mother said to him, “Isn’t there a woman among your brothers’ daughters, or among all my people, that you go to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines?” Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she pleases me well.” 4. But his father and his mother didn’t know that it was of Yahweh; for he sought an occasion against the Philistines. Now at that time the Philistines ruled over Israel. 5. Then went Samson down with his father and his mother to Timnah, and came to the vineyards of Timnah; and behold, a young lion roared against him. 6. Yahweh’s Spirit came mightily on him, and he tore him as he would have torn a young goat; and he had nothing in his hand, but he didn’t tell his father or his mother what he had done. 7. He went down, and talked with the woman, and she pleased Samson well. 8. After a while he returned to take her; and he went over to see the carcass of the lion; and behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey. 9. He took it into his hands, and went on, eating as he went. He came to his father and mother, and gave to them, and they ate, but he didn’t tell them that he had taken the honey out of the lion’s body. 10. His father went down to the woman; and Samson made a feast there, for the young men used to do so. 11. When they saw him, they brought thirty companions to be with him. 12. Samson said to them, “Let me tell you a riddle now. If you can declare it to me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing; 13. but if you can’t declare it to me, then you shall give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing.” They said to him, “Tell us your riddle, that we may hear it.” 14. He said to them, “Out of the eater came out food. Out of the strong came out sweetness.” They couldn’t in three days declare the riddle. 15. On the seventh day, they said to Samson’s wife, “Entice your husband, that he may declare to us the riddle, lest we burn you and your father’s house with fire. Have you called us to impoverish us? Isn’t that so?” 16. Samson’s wife wept before him, and said, “You just hate me, and don’t love me. You’ve told a riddle to the children of my people, and haven’t told it to me.” He said to her, “Behold, I haven’t told my father or my mother, so why should I tell you?” 17. She wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted; and on the seventh day, he told her, because she pressed him severely; and she told the riddle to the children of her people. 18. The men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, “What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?” He said to them, “If you hadn’t plowed with my heifer, you wouldn’t have found out my riddle.” 19. Yahweh’s Spirit came mightily on him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and struck thirty men of them, and took their plunder, then gave the changes of clothing to those who declared the riddle. His anger burned, and he went up to his father’s house. 20. But Samson’s wife was given to his companion who had been his friend. 1. But after a while, in the time of wheat harvest, Samson visited his wife with a young goat. He said, “I will go in to my wife’s room.” But her father wouldn’t allow him to go in. 2. Her father said, “I most certainly thought that you utterly hated her; therefore I gave her to your companion. Isn’t her younger sister more beautiful than she? Please take her, instead.” 3. Samson said to them, “This time I will be blameless in the case of the Philistines, when I harm them.” 4. Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took torches, and turned tail to tail, and put a torch in the middle between every two tails. 5. When he had set the torches on fire, he let them go into the standing grain of the Philistines, and burned up both the shocks and the standing grain, and also the olive groves. 6. Then the Philistines said, “Who has done this?” They said, “Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he has taken his wife, and given her to his companion.” The Philistines came up, and burned her and her father with fire. 7. Samson said to them, “If you behave like this, surely I will take revenge on you, and after that I will cease.” 8. He struck them hip and thigh with a great slaughter; and he went down and lived in the cave in Etam’s rock. 9. Then the Philistines went up, encamped in Judah, and spread themselves in Lehi. 10. The men of Judah said, “Why have you come up against us?” They said, “We have come up to bind Samson, to do to him as he has done to us.” 11. Then three thousand men of Judah went down to the cave in Etam’s rock, and said to Samson, “Don’t you know that the Philistines are rulers over us? What then is this that you have done to us?” He said to them, “As they did to me, so I have done to them.” 12. They said to him, “We have come down to bind you, that we may deliver you into the hand of the Philistines.” Samson said to them, “Swear to me that you will not attack me yourselves.” 13. They spoke to him, saying, “No; but we will bind you securely, and deliver you into their hands; but surely we will not kill you.” They bound him with two new ropes, and brought him up from the rock. 14. When he came to Lehi, the Philistines shouted as they met him. Then Yahweh’s Spirit came mightily on him, and the ropes that were on his arms became as flax that was burned with fire, and his bands dropped from off his hands. 15. He found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, put out his hand, took it, and struck a thousand men with it. 16. Samson said, “With the jawbone of a donkey, heaps on heaps; with the jawbone of a donkey I have struck a thousand men.” 17. When he had finished speaking, he threw the jawbone out of his hand; and that place was called Ramath Lehi. 18. He was very thirsty, and called on Yahweh, and said, “You have given this great deliverance by the hand of your servant; and now shall I die of thirst, and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?” 19. But God split the hollow place that is in Lehi, and water came out of it. When he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived. Therefore its name was called En Hakkore, which is in Lehi, to this day. 20. He judged Israel twenty years in the days of the Philistines.

1. Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples, 2. saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees sat on Moses’ seat. 3. All things therefore whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do, but don’t do their works; for they say, and don’t do. 4. For they bind heavy burdens that are grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not lift a finger to help them. 5. But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad, enlarge the fringes of their garments, 6. and love the place of honor at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7. the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi, Rabbi’ by men. 8. But don’t you be called ‘Rabbi,’ for one is your teacher, the Christ, and all of you are brothers. 9. Call no man on the earth your father, for one is your Father, he who is in heaven. 10. Neither be called masters, for one is your master, the Christ. 11. But he who is greatest among you will be your servant. 12. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. 13. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and as a pretense you make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. 14. “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men; for you don’t enter in yourselves, neither do you allow those who are entering in to enter. 15. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel around by sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of Gehenna as yourselves. 16. “Woe to you, you blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obligated.’ 17. You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold? 18. ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obligated?’ 19. You blind fools! For which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift? 20. He therefore who swears by the altar, swears by it, and by everything on it. 21. He who swears by the temple, swears by it, and by him who has been living in it. 22. He who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by him who sits on it. 23. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. But you ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone. 24. You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel! 25. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and unrighteousness. 26. You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the platter, that its outside may become clean also. 27. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitened tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. 28. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. 29. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and decorate the tombs of the righteous, 30. and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we wouldn’t have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’ 31. Therefore you testify to yourselves that you are children of those who killed the prophets. 32. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. 33. You serpents, you offspring of vipers, how will you escape the judgment of Gehenna? 34. Therefore behold, I send to you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city; 35. that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed between the sanctuary and the altar. 36. Most certainly I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation. 37. “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I would have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you would not! 38. Behold, your house is left to you desolate. 39. For I tell you, you will not see me from now on, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’” 1. Jesus went out from the temple, and was going on his way. His disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple. 2. But he answered them, “You see all of these things, don’t you? Most certainly I tell you, there will not be left here one stone on another, that will not be thrown down.” 3. As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?” 4. Jesus answered them, “Be careful that no one leads you astray. 5. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will lead many astray. 6. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you aren’t troubled, for all this must happen, but the end is not yet. 7. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines, plagues, and earthquakes in various places. 8. But all these things are the beginning of birth pains. 9. Then they will deliver you up to oppression, and will kill you. You will be hated by all of the nations for my name’s sake. 10. Then many will stumble, and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another. 11. Many false prophets will arise, and will lead many astray. 12. Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold. 13. But he who endures to the end, the same will be saved. 14. This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. 15. “When, therefore, you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16. then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take out the things that are in his house. 18. Let him who is in the field not return back to get his clothes. 19. But woe to those who are with child and to nursing mothers in those days! 20. Pray that your flight will not be in the winter, nor on a Sabbath, 21. for then there will be great oppression, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will be. 22. Unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones, those days will be shortened. 23. “Then if any man tells you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or, ‘There,’ don’t believe it. 24. For there will arise false christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones. 25. “Behold, I have told you beforehand. 26. If therefore they tell you, ‘Behold, he is in the wilderness,’ don’t go out; ‘Behold, he is in the inner rooms,’ don’t believe it. 27. For as the lightning flashes from the east, and is seen even to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28. For wherever the carcass is, that is where the vultures gather together. 29. But immediately after the oppression of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken; 30. and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. 31. He will send out his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. 32. “Now from the fig tree learn this parable. When its branch has now become tender, and produces its leaves, you know that the summer is near. 33. Even so you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 34. Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away, until all these things are accomplished. 35. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 36. But no one knows of that day and hour, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37. “As the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38. For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship, 39. and they didn’t know until the flood came, and took them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one will be left. 41. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and one will be left. 42. Watch therefore, for you don’t know in what hour your Lord comes. 43. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 44. Therefore also be ready, for in an hour that you don’t expect, the Son of Man will come. 45. “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season? 46. Blessed is that servant whom his lord finds doing so when he comes. 47. Most certainly I tell you that he will set him over all that he has. 48. But if that evil servant should say in his heart, ‘My lord is delaying his coming,’ 49. and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with the drunkards, 50. the lord of that servant will come in a day when he doesn’t expect it, and in an hour when he doesn’t know it, 51. and will cut him in pieces, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be. 1. “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3. Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them, 4. but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5. Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold! The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!’ 7. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8. The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9. But the wise answered, saying, ‘What if there isn’t enough for us and you? You go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10. While they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11. Afterward the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’ 12. But he answered, ‘Most certainly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ 13. Watch therefore, for you don’t know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. 14. “For it is like a man, going into another country, who called his own servants, and entrusted his goods to them. 15. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey. 16. Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17. In the same way, he also who got the two gained another two. 18. But he who received the one talent went away and dug in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. 19. “Now after a long time the lord of those servants came, and reconciled accounts with them. 20. He who received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents. Behold, I have gained another five talents besides them.’ 21. “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22. “He also who got the two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents. Behold, I have gained another two talents besides them.’ 23. “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 24. “He also who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter. 25. I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have what is yours.’ 26. “But his lord answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I didn’t sow, and gather where I didn’t scatter. 27. You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest. 28. Take away therefore the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29. For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away. 30. Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 31. “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32. Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33. He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34. Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35. for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in. 36. I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.’ 37. “Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink? 38. When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you? 39. When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?’ 40. “The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ 41. Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels; 42. for I was hungry, and you didn’t give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink; 43. I was a stranger, and you didn’t take me in; naked, and you didn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ 44. “Then they will also answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn’t help you?’ 45. “Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you didn’t do it to one of the least of these, you didn’t do it to me.’ 46. These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

1. Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to Yahweh’s law. 2. Blessed are those who keep his statutes, who seek him with their whole heart. 3. Yes, they do nothing wrong. They walk in his ways. 4. You have commanded your precepts, that we should fully obey them. 5. Oh that my ways were steadfast to obey your statutes! 6. Then I wouldn’t be disappointed, when I consider all of your commandments. 7. I will give thanks to you with uprightness of heart, when I learn your righteous judgments. 8. I will observe your statutes. Don’t utterly forsake me. 9. How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. 10. With my whole heart, I have sought you. Don’t let me wander from your commandments. 11. I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. 12. Blessed are you, Yahweh. Teach me your statutes. 13. With my lips, I have declared all the ordinances of your mouth. 14. I have rejoiced in the way of your testimonies, as much as in all riches. 15. I will meditate on your precepts, and consider your ways. 16. I will delight myself in your statutes. I will not forget your word. 17. Do good to your servant. I will live and I will obey your word. 18. Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things out of your law. 19. I am a stranger on the earth. Don’t hide your commandments from me. 20. My soul is consumed with longing for your ordinances at all times. 21. You have rebuked the proud who are cursed, who wander from your commandments. 22. Take reproach and contempt away from me, for I have kept your statutes. 23. Though princes sit and slander me, your servant will meditate on your statutes. 24. Indeed your statutes are my delight, and my counselors. 25. My soul is laid low in the dust. Revive me according to your word! 26. I declared my ways, and you answered me. Teach me your statutes. 27. Let me understand the teaching of your precepts! Then I will meditate on your wondrous works. 28. My soul is weary with sorrow: strengthen me according to your word. 29. Keep me from the way of deceit. Grant me your law graciously! 30. I have chosen the way of truth. I have set your ordinances before me. 31. I cling to your statutes, Yahweh. Don’t let me be disappointed. 32. I run in the path of your commandments, for you have set my heart free. 33. Teach me, Yahweh, the way of your statutes. I will keep them to the end. 34. Give me understanding, and I will keep your law. Yes, I will obey it with my whole heart. 35. Direct me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in them. 36. Turn my heart toward your statutes, not toward selfish gain. 37. Turn my eyes away from looking at worthless things. Revive me in your ways. 38. Fulfill your promise to your servant, that you may be feared. 39. Take away my disgrace that I dread, for your ordinances are good. 40. Behold, I long for your precepts! Revive me in your righteousness. 41. Let your loving kindness also come to me, Yahweh, your salvation, according to your word. 42. So I will have an answer for him who reproaches me, for I trust in your word. 43. Don’t snatch the word of truth out of my mouth, for I put my hope in your ordinances. 44. So I will obey your law continually, forever and ever. 45. I will walk in liberty, for I have sought your precepts. 46. I will also speak of your statutes before kings, and will not be disappointed. 47. I will delight myself in your commandments, because I love them. 48. I reach out my hands for your commandments, which I love. I will meditate on your statutes. 49. Remember your word to your servant, because you gave me hope. 50. This is my comfort in my affliction, for your word has revived me. 51. The arrogant mock me excessively, but I don’t swerve from your law. 52. I remember your ordinances of old, Yahweh, and have comforted myself. 53. Indignation has taken hold on me, because of the wicked who forsake your law. 54. Your statutes have been my songs, in the house where I live. 55. I have remembered your name, Yahweh, in the night, and I obey your law. 56. This is my way, that I keep your precepts. 57. Yahweh is my portion. I promised to obey your words. 58. I sought your favor with my whole heart. Be merciful to me according to your word. 59. I considered my ways, and turned my steps to your statutes. 60. I will hurry, and not delay, to obey your commandments. 61. The ropes of the wicked bind me, but I won’t forget your law. 62. At midnight I will rise to give thanks to you, because of your righteous ordinances. 63. I am a friend of all those who fear you, of those who observe your precepts. 64. The earth is full of your loving kindness, Yahweh. Teach me your statutes. 65. Do good to your servant, according to your word, Yahweh. 66. Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments. 67. Before I was afflicted, I went astray; but now I observe your word. 68. You are good, and do good. Teach me your statutes. 69. The proud have smeared a lie upon me. With my whole heart, I will keep your precepts. 70. Their heart is as callous as the fat, but I delight in your law. 71. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn your statutes. 72. The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver. 73. Your hands have made me and formed me. Give me understanding, that I may learn your commandments. 74. Those who fear you will see me and be glad, because I have put my hope in your word. 75. Yahweh, I know that your judgments are righteous, that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. 76. Please let your loving kindness be for my comfort, according to your word to your servant. 77. Let your tender mercies come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight. 78. Let the proud be disappointed, for they have overthrown me wrongfully. I will meditate on your precepts. 79. Let those who fear you turn to me. They will know your statutes. 80. Let my heart be blameless toward your decrees, that I may not be disappointed. 81. My soul faints for your salvation. I hope in your word. 82. My eyes fail for your word. I say, “When will you comfort me?” 83. For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke. I don’t forget your statutes. 84. How many are the days of your servant? When will you execute judgment on those who persecute me? 85. The proud have dug pits for me, contrary to your law. 86. All of your commandments are faithful. They persecute me wrongfully. Help me! 87. They had almost wiped me from the earth, but I didn’t forsake your precepts. 88. Preserve my life according to your loving kindness, so I will obey the statutes of your mouth. 89. Yahweh, your word is settled in heaven forever. 90. Your faithfulness is to all generations. You have established the earth, and it remains. 91. Your laws remain to this day, for all things serve you. 92. Unless your law had been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. 93. I will never forget your precepts, for with them, you have revived me. 94. I am yours. Save me, for I have sought your precepts. 95. The wicked have waited for me, to destroy me. I will consider your statutes. 96. I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commands are boundless. 97. How I love your law! It is my meditation all day. 98. Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for your commandments are always with me. 99. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. 100. I understand more than the aged, because I have kept your precepts. 101. I have kept my feet from every evil way, that I might observe your word. 102. I have not turned away from your ordinances, for you have taught me. 103. How sweet are your promises to my taste, more than honey to my mouth! 104. Through your precepts, I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. 105. Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path. 106. I have sworn, and have confirmed it, that I will obey your righteous ordinances. 107. I am afflicted very much. Revive me, Yahweh, according to your word. 108. Accept, I beg you, the willing offerings of my mouth. Yahweh, teach me your ordinances. 109. My soul is continually in my hand, yet I won’t forget your law. 110. The wicked have laid a snare for me, yet I haven’t gone astray from your precepts. 111. I have taken your testimonies as a heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. 112. I have set my heart to perform your statutes forever, even to the end. 113. I hate double-minded men, but I love your law. 114. You are my hiding place and my shield. I hope in your word. 115. Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God. 116. Uphold me according to your word, that I may live. Let me not be ashamed of my hope. 117. Hold me up, and I will be safe, and will have respect for your statutes continually. 118. You reject all those who stray from your statutes, for their deceit is in vain. 119. You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross. Therefore I love your testimonies. 120. My flesh trembles for fear of you. I am afraid of your judgments. 121. I have done what is just and righteous. Don’t leave me to my oppressors. 122. Ensure your servant’s well-being. Don’t let the proud oppress me. 123. My eyes fail looking for your salvation, for your righteous word. 124. Deal with your servant according to your loving kindness. Teach me your statutes. 125. I am your servant. Give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies. 126. It is time to act, Yahweh, for they break your law. 127. Therefore I love your commandments more than gold, yes, more than pure gold. 128. Therefore I consider all of your precepts to be right. I hate every false way. 129. Your testimonies are wonderful, therefore my soul keeps them. 130. The entrance of your words gives light. It gives understanding to the simple. 131. I opened my mouth wide and panted, for I longed for your commandments. 132. Turn to me, and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name. 133. Establish my footsteps in your word. Don’t let any iniquity have dominion over me. 134. Redeem me from the oppression of man, so I will observe your precepts. 135. Make your face shine on your servant. Teach me your statutes. 136. Streams of tears run down my eyes, because they don’t observe your law. 137. You are righteous, Yahweh. Your judgments are upright. 138. You have commanded your statutes in righteousness. They are fully trustworthy. 139. My zeal wears me out, because my enemies ignore your words. 140. Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them. 141. I am small and despised. I don’t forget your precepts. 142. Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness. Your law is truth. 143. Trouble and anguish have taken hold of me. Your commandments are my delight. 144. Your testimonies are righteous forever. Give me understanding, that I may live. 145. I have called with my whole heart. Answer me, Yahweh! I will keep your statutes. 146. I have called to you. Save me! I will obey your statutes. 147. I rise before dawn and cry for help. I put my hope in your words. 148. My eyes stay open through the night watches, that I might meditate on your word. 149. Hear my voice according to your loving kindness. Revive me, Yahweh, according to your ordinances. 150. They draw near who follow after wickedness. They are far from your law. 151. You are near, Yahweh. All your commandments are truth. 152. Of old I have known from your testimonies, that you have founded them forever. 153. Consider my affliction, and deliver me, for I don’t forget your law. 154. Plead my cause, and redeem me! Revive me according to your promise. 155. Salvation is far from the wicked, for they don’t seek your statutes. 156. Great are your tender mercies, Yahweh. Revive me according to your ordinances. 157. Many are my persecutors and my adversaries. I haven’t swerved from your testimonies. 158. I look at the faithless with loathing, because they don’t observe your word. 159. Consider how I love your precepts. Revive me, Yahweh, according to your loving kindness. 160. All of your words are truth. Every one of your righteous ordinances endures forever. 161. Princes have persecuted me without a cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words. 162. I rejoice at your word, as one who finds great plunder. 163. I hate and abhor falsehood. I love your law. 164. Seven times a day, I praise you, because of your righteous ordinances. 165. Those who love your law have great peace. Nothing causes them to stumble. 166. I have hoped for your salvation, Yahweh. I have done your commandments. 167. My soul has observed your testimonies. I love them exceedingly. 168. I have obeyed your precepts and your testimonies, for all my ways are before you. 169. Let my cry come before you, Yahweh. Give me understanding according to your word. 170. Let my supplication come before you. Deliver me according to your word. 171. Let my lips utter praise, for you teach me your statutes. 172. Let my tongue sing of your word, for all your commandments are righteousness. 173. Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts. 174. I have longed for your salvation, Yahweh. Your law is my delight. 175. Let my soul live, that I may praise you. Let your ordinances help me. 176. I have gone astray like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I don’t forget your commandments.