Seventeenth Kathisma

Psalm 118

Blessed are the blameless in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they that search out his testi monies; they seek him out with their whole heart. They have not wrought transgressions who have walked in his ways. Thou hast commanded thy commandments diligently to be kept. O that my ways were directed to the keeping of thy statutes. Then I shall not be ashamed when I look upon all thy command ments. I shall confess thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned the judgments of thy righteousness. I shall keep thy statutes; forsake me not utterly. Wherewith shall a young man direct his way? when he shall keep thy words. With my whole heart have I sought after thee; let me not stray from thy commandments. In my heart have I hidden thy words, that I may not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O Lord; teach me thy statutes. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. In the way of thy testimonies have I delighted, as much as in all riches. Upon thy commandments shall I discourse, and I shall comprehend thy ways. Upon thy statutes shall I meditate; I shall not forget thy words. Reward thy ser vant; I shall live and I shall keep thy words. Open thou mine eyes and I shall comprehend the wonders out of thy law. A sojourner am I upon the earth; hide not from me thy com mandments. My soul hath longed and yearned for thy judg ments at all times. Thou hast rebuked the proud; cursed are they that turn away from thy commandments. Remove from me reproach and degradation, for thy testimonies have I sought out. For princes sat and spake calumnies against me, but thy servant discoursed upon thy statutes. For thy testimonies are my meditation, and thy statutes are my counsel. My soul hath cleaved to the ground; enliven me according to thy word. My ways have I declared and thou didst hear me; teach me thy statutes. Make me to understand the way of thy statutes, and I shall discourse upon thy wonders. My soul hath slumbered from indifference; secure me in thy words. The way of unrighteousness do thou withdraw from me, and by thy law have mercy on me. The way of truth have I chosen, and thy judgments have I not forgotten. I have cleaved to thy testimonies, O Lord; put me not to shame. The way of thy commandments have I run, when thou didst enlarge my heart. Lay down as a law for me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes, and I will seek it out continually. Make me to understand, and I will search out thy law, and I will keep it with my whole heart. Guide me in the path of thy commandments, for I have desired it. Incline my heart to thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away mine eyes that I behold not vanity; in thy way do thou enliven me. Set up for thy servant thy words in thy fear. Remove my reproach which I have dreaded, for thy judgments are good. Behold, I have yearned for thy commandments, in thy righteousness do thou enliven me. And let thy mercy come upon me, O Lord, thy salvation according to thy word. And I shall answer a word to them that reproach me, for I have hoped in thy words. And remove not utterly from my mouth the word of truth, for in thy judgments have I hoped. And I shall keep thy law continually, for ever and ever. And I walked at large, for thy commandments have I sought out. And I spake of thy testimonies before kings, and was not ashamed. And I meditated upon thy command ments, which I loved exceedingly. And I lifted up my hands toward thy commandments, which I loved, and I discoursed upon thy statutes. Remember thy words to thy servant, with which thou hast made me hope. This hath comforted me in my humility, for thy words have enlivened me. The proud have transgressed the law utterly, but from thy law I have not turned away. I remembered thy judgments of old, O Lord, and was comforted. Despondency hath taken hold of me, because of sinners who forsake the law. Thy statutes were songs for me, in the place of my sojourn. I remembered thy name in the night, O Lord, and I have kept thy law. This I had, because I sought out thy statutes. My portion art thou, O Lord; I said that I would keep thy law. I have entreated thy countenance with my whole heart; have mercy on me according to thy words. I have pon dered thy ways, and have turned my feet unto thy testimonies. I have made myself ready, and am not disquieted, that I may keep thy commandments. Sinners’ cords have entangled me, but thy law have I not forgotten. At midnight I arose to confess thee for the judgments of thy righteousness. A partaker am I with all them that fear thee and that keep thy commandments. The earth is full of thy mercy, O Lord; teach me thy statutes. Thou hast wrought goodness to thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word. Goodness and discipline and knowledge do thou teach me, for I have believed thy commandments. Before I was humbled I had offended; therefore I have kept thy word. Thou art good, O Lord, and in thy goodness teach me thy statutes. The unrighteousness of the proud hath been multiplied against me, but with my whole heart I will search out thy command ments. Their heart is curdled like milk, but upon thy law have I meditated. It is good for me that thou hast humbled me, that I might learn thy statutes. Good for me is the law of thy mouth, more than thousands of gold and silver.

Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding and I shall learn thy commandments. They that fear thee shall see me and they will be glad, for in thy words have I hoped. I have known, O Lord, that thy judgments are righteousness, and with truth hast thou humbled me. Let thy mercy be to comfort me, according to thy words to thy servant. Let thy compassions come to me, and I shall live, for thy law is my meditation. Let the proud be ashamed, for unrighteously have they transgressed against me, but I shall discourse upon thy commandments. Let those that fear thee and those that know thy testimonies turn to me. Let my heart be blameless in thy statutes, that I may not be ashamed. My heart fainteth for thy salvation; in thy words have I hoped. Mine eyes have grown weary for thy words, saying, When wilt thou comfort me? For I am become as a wine-skin in the frost; thy statutes I have not forgotten. How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou work judgment for me upon them that per secute me? The lawless have declared discourses, but not like unto thy law, O Lord. All thy commandments are truth; they have persecuted me unrighteously, but do thou help me. They have almost made an end of me upon the earth, but I have not forsaken thy commandments. According to thy mercy, do thou enliven me, and I shall keep the testimonies of thy mouth. O Lord, thy word abideth in heaven forever. Unto all generations is thy truth; thou hast founded the earth and it abideth. By thine order the day abideth, for all things are thy servants. Were it not that thy law is my meditation, then I should have perished in my humility. Never shall I forget thy statutes, for in them thou hast enlivened me. Middle
I am thine: save me, for thy statutes have I sought out. Sin ners have lain in wait for me to destroy me, but thy testimonies have I understood. I have seen the limit of all perfection, but thy commandment is exceeding broad. How I have loved thy law, O Lord; all the day long it is my meditation. More than mine enemies thou hast made me wise by thy commandment, for it is mine forever. More than all that teach me have I understood, for thy testimonies are my meditation. More than the elders, for thy commandments have I sought out. From every evil way have I withheld my feet, that I might keep thy words. From thy judgments have I not turned away, for thou hast laid down a law for me. How sweet are thy words to my throat, more so than honey to my mouth. From thy commandments I have understanding, therefore I have hated every way of unrighteousness. A lamp unto my feet is thy law, and a light unto my path. I have sworn and have set myself to keep the judgments of thy righteousness. I have been humbled exceedingly, O Lord, enliven me according to thy word. Be pleased with the voluntary offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me thy judgments. My soul is in thy hands continually, and thy law have I not forgotten. Sinners have laid a snare for me, but from thy commandments I have not wandered. I have inher ited thy testimonies for ever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart. I have inclined my heart to do thy statutes for ever, as a recompense. I have hated the lawless, but I have loved thy law. My helper and my succorer art thou, in thy words have I hoped. Turn away from me, ye that do evil, and I will search out the commandments of my God. Succor me according to thy words, and enliven me, and put me not to shame for mine expectation. Help me, and I shall be saved, and I shall medi tate upon thy statutes continually. Thou hast set at nought all them that turn away from thy statutes, for their invention is unrighteous. I have reckoned as lawless all the sinners of the earth, therefore have I loved thy testimonies. Nail my flesh with the fear of thee, for I have feared thy judgments. I have wrought judgment and righteousness; give me not up to them that wrong me. Accept thy servant unto good; let not the proud malign me. Mine eyes faint for thy salvation, and for the words of thy righteousness. Deal with thy servant according to thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes. Thy servant am I; make me to understand, and I shall know thy testimonies. It is time to serve the Lord; they have disregarded thy law. Therefore I have loved thy commandments more than gold and topaz. Therefore to all thy commandments have I directed myself; I have hated every unrighteous way. Wonderful are thy testimonies; there fore my soul hath searched them out. The manifestation of thy words enlighteneth the infants and maketh them to under stand. I opened my mouth and drew in spirit, for I have longed for thy commandments.

Look upon me and have mercy on me, according to the judgment of them that love thy name. Direct my steps according to thy word, and let no transgression have dominion over me. Redeem me from the calumnies of men, and I shall keep thy commandments. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant, and teach me thy statutes. Mine eyes have poured forth streams of water, because I have not kept thy law. Righteous art thou, O Lord, and upright thy judgments. Thou hast commanded righteousness for thy testimonies, and truth exceedingly. Thy zeal hath made me pine away, for mine enemies have forgotten thy words. Thy word is tried by fire, and thy servant hath loved it. I am younger and despised, but I have not forgotten thy statutes. Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is truth. Tribulations and necessities have found me, but thy commandments are my meditation. Thy testimonies are everlasting righteousness; make me to understand, and I shall live. I have cried with my whole heart; hear me, O Lord, I will seek out thy statutes. I have cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies. I anticipated the dawn and cried, in thy words have I hoped. Mine eyes anticipated the morning, that I might meditate upon thy words. Hear my voice, O Lord, according to thy mercy; according to thy judgment, enliven me. They that persecute me have drawn nigh to transgression; from thy law they are far removed. Near art thou, O Lord, and all thy ways are truth. I have known of thy testimonies from old, for thou hast founded them forever. See my humility and rescue me, for I have not forgotten thy law. Judge my judgment and redeem me, and through thy word enliven me. Salvation is far from sinners, for they have not sought out thy statutes. Thy compassions are many, O Lord; according to thy judgment, do thou enliven me. Many are they that persecute me and afflict me, but from thy testimonies have I not turned away. I beheld men without understanding and pined away, for they kept not thy words. Behold, how I have loved thy commandments, O Lord; in thy mercy enliven me. The beginning of thy words is truth, and all the judgments of thy righteousness are for ever. Princes have pursued me without a cause, and my heart was afraid because of thy words. I shall rejoice at thy words, as one that findeth much spoil. I have hated and abhorred unrigh teousness, but thy law have I loved. Seven times a day have I praised thee for the judgments of thy righteousness. Great peace to them that love thy law, and to them there is no stumbling-block. I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord, and I have loved thy commandments. My soul hath kept thy testimonies, and hath loved them exceedingly. I have kept thy command ments and thy testimonies, for all my ways are before thee, O Lord. Let my prayer come nigh before thee, O Lord; give me understanding according to thy word. Let my petition come before thee, O Lord; according to thy word deliver me. Let my lips utter a hymn, when thou shalt have taught me thy statutes. Let my tongue pronounce thy words, for all thy command ments are righteousness. Let thy hand be to save me, for I have chosen thy commandments. I have longed for thy salvation, O Lord, and thy law is my meditation. My soul shall live and praise thee, and thy judgments shall help me. I have wandered like a lost sheep; seek thy servant, for I have not forgotten thy commandments.