The Bible Story Part 297

Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, And not to covetousness.

Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, And quicken me in thy ways.

Confirm thy word unto thy servant, Which belongeth unto the fear of thee.

Turn away my reproach whereof I am afraid; For thy judgments are good.

Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: Quicken me in thy righteousness.

Let thy mercies also come unto me, O Lord, {146} Even thy salvation, according to thy word.

So shall I have an answer for him that reproacheth me; For I trust in thy word.

And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; For I have hoped in thy judgments.

So shall I observe thy law continually For ever and ever.

And I will walk at liberty; For I have sought thy precepts.

I will also speak of thy testimonies before kings, And will not be ashamed.

And I will delight myself in thy commandments, Which I have loved.

I will lift up my hands also unto thy commandments, which I have loved; And I will meditate in thy statutes.

Thy hands have made me and fas.h.i.+oned me: Give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.

They that fear thee shall see me and be glad; Because I have hoped in thy word.

I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are righteous, And that in faithfulness thou hast afflicted me.

Let, I pray thee, thy lovingkindness be for my comfort, According to thy word unto thy servant.

Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: For thy law is my delight.

Let the proud be ashamed; for they have overthrown me wrongfully: {147} But I will meditate in thy precepts.

Let those that fear thee turn unto me, And they shall know thy testimonies.

Let my heart be perfect in thy statutes; That I be not ashamed.

My soul fainteth for thy salvation: But I hope in thy word.

Mine eyes fail for thy word, While I say, "When wilt thou comfort me?"

For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; Yet do I not forget thy statutes.

How many are the days of thy servant?

When wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?

The proud have digged pits for me, Who are not after thy law.

All thy commandments are faithful: They persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.

They had almost consumed me upon earth; But I forsook not thy precepts.

Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; So shall I observe the testimony of thy mouth.

For ever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven.

Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: Thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.

They abide this day according to thine ordinances; For all things are thy servants. {148} Unless thy law had been my delight, I should then have perished in mine affliction.

I will never forget thy precepts; For with them thou hast quickened me.

I am thine, save me; For I have sought thy precepts.

The wicked have waited for me to destroy me; But I will consider thy testimonies.

I have seen an end of all perfection; But thy commandment is exceeding broad.

Oh how love I thy law!

It is my meditation all the day.

Thy commandments make me wiser than mine enemies; For they are ever with me.

I have more understanding than all my teachers; For thy testimonies are my meditation.

I understand more than the aged, Because I have kept thy precepts.

I have refrained my feet from every evil way, That I might observe thy word.

I have not turned aside from thy judgments; For thou hast taught me.

How sweet are thy words unto my taste!

Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Through thy precepts I get understanding: Therefore I hate every false way.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

I have sworn, and have confirmed it, That I will observe thy righteous judgments. {149} I am afflicted very much: Quicken me, O Lord, according unto thy word.

Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, And teach me thy judgments.

My soul is continually in my hand; Yet do I not forget thy law.

The wicked have laid a snare for me; Yet went I not astray from thy precepts.

Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever; For they are the rejoicing of my heart.

I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes, For ever, even unto the end.

I hate them that are of a double mind; But thy law do I love.

Thou art my hiding place and my s.h.i.+eld: I hope in thy word.

Depart from me, ye evil-doers; That I may keep the commandments of my G.o.d.

Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live; And let me not be ashamed of my hope.

Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe, And shall have respect unto thy statutes continually.

Thou hast set at nought all them that err from thy statutes; For their deceit is falsehood.

Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: Therefore I love thy commandments.

My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; {150} And I am afraid of thy judgments.

I have done judgment and justice: Leave me not to mine oppressors.

Be surety for thy servant for good: Let not the proud oppress me.

Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, And for thy righteous word.

Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, And teach me thy statutes.

I am thy servant, give me understanding; That I may know thy testimonies.

It is time for the Lord to work; For they have made void thy law.

Therefore I love thy commandments Above gold, yea, above fine gold.

Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; And I hate every false way.

Thy testimonies are wonderful: Therefore doth my soul keep them.

The opening of thy words giveth light; It giveth understanding unto the simple.

I opened wide my mouth, and panted; For I longed for thy commandments.

Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me, As thou usest to do unto those that love thy name.

Order my footsteps in thy word; And let not any iniquity have dominion over me. {151} Redeem me from the oppression of man: So will I observe thy precepts.

Make thy face to s.h.i.+ne upon thy servant; And teach me thy statutes.

Mine eyes run down with rivers of water, Because they observe not thy law.

Righteous art thou, O Lord, And upright are thy judgments.

Thou hast commanded thy testimonies in righteousness and very faithfulness.

My zeal hath consumed me, Because mine adversaries have forgotten thy words.

Thy word is very pure; Therefore thy servant loveth it.

I am small and despised: Yet do not I forget thy precepts.

Thy righteousness is everlasting righteousness, And thy law is truth.

Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: Yet thy commandments are my delight.

Thy testimonies are righteous for ever: Give me understanding, and I shall live.

I have called with my whole heart; answer me, O Lord: I will keep thy statutes.

I have called unto thee; save me, And I shall observe thy testimonies.

I rose before the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy words. {152} Mine eyes out.w.a.tched the night watches, That I might meditate in thy word.

Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: Quicken me, O Lord, according to thy judgments.

They draw nigh that follow after wickedness; They are far from thy law.

Thou art nigh, O Lord, And all thy commandments are truth.

Of old have I known from thy testimonies, That thou hast founded them for ever.