THE PSALMS BOOK FIVE Part 2 (PSALM 119) THE HEBREW ALPHABET (CONSONANTS) VOWELS - see end of file Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things from Your Torah. Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path. The sum total of Your Word is truth; and every one of Your righteous judgments is everlasting. I rejoice at Your Word, as one who finds great spoil or treasure. Great peace have they who love Your Torah; and for them there is no stumbling-block. (Psalm 119:18, 105, 160, 162, 165) OUR COLOURED TEXT Our text is coloured to highlight Deity, promises, blessings, prophecies, praise, salvation, judgment and emphasis. This is to encourage an analytical eye while studying the psalms. COLOUR SCHEME: ORANGE for Names, titles & attributes of God. GREEN for blessings, promises & answered prayer. RED for salvation & deliverance. MAJENTA for worship, praise & thanksgiving. PURPLE for Messianic passages. DARK BLUE for prophetic passages. BROWN for warnings, discipline, & judgments, BLUE for general text or emphasis. Suggested memory verses - the verse number is indicated in red. (YHWH may be pronounced as Yahweh)
PSALM 119 The Torah (Instruction) of YHWH. The Word of God. INTRODUCTION Psalm 119 is an anonymous writing, but many scholars believe it was written by one of the Jewish exiles in Babylon possibly Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah, Ezekiel or Ezra. It is a unique psalm, composed as an alphabetic acrostic, and divided into 22 stanzas, each with eight verses. The 22 stanzas are headed by one of the 22 consonants of the Hebrew alphabet, in strict alphabetical order. Each of the eight verses in a stanza begin with the same Hebrew consonant. The first stanza (vss 1-8), is under the first Hebrew consonant, Aleph, and so each of the eight verses begin with Aleph. The second stanza (vss 9-16) is under Beit, and so the eight verses all begin with B, and so on. Hebrew is the language which God first chose to record His revealed truth in the Old Testament. Psalm 119 conveys the message that the Word of God contains everything man needs to know. Except for verses 1-3 and 115, every verse is prayer to YHWH the LORD. The psalmist uses the key word torah (instruction/teaching) and ten other words as synonyms for the Word of God. Every verse except 90, 121, 122 and 132 uses one of these words; and some verses use more than one: Hebrew Meaning (h is a guttural h) torah edah / edut LAW / INSTRUCTION/ DIRECTION / Torah-TEACHING TESTIMONIES (or PRECEPTS) dereh /orah WAY / WAYS pikudim hok mitzwah mishpat davar imrah PRECEPTS (or ORDERS) STATUTES (or DECREES /LAWS) COMMANDS JUDGMENTS (or ORDINANCES) WORD WORD - utterance, saying or speech These synonyms are coloured blue throughout this psalm. At the top of each stanza in this psalm, we feature the Hebrew consonant as given in most Bibles, and the equivalent letter in English. Through this we encourage readers to learn the Hebrew alef-beit (alphabet). We hope to introduce a Psalm 199 Hebrew Companion in the near future. It will supply a number of Hebrew words, and various Hebrew scriptures along with their transliteration into English, for those who would like to learn a little of the language.
ALEPH (pronounced, a-lef) ALEF is not the letter A ; Alef is a consonant that has only a breathing sound when it is connected to a vowel. When the attached vowel is a, it takes on the sound of ah as in car. (For the Hebrew vowels a, e, i, o, u - see table at end of file). PSALM 119:1-8 1 How blessed are they who are perfect - upright and blameless in the way, who walk in the instruction of YHWH. 2 How blessed are they who observe and guard His testimonies, who seek Him with all their heart. 3 Yes, they do nothing unrighteous; they walk in His ways. 4 You have commanded us to guard Your precepts and to keep them diligently. 5 Oh that my ways were steadfast in keeping Your statutes! 6 Then I would not be put to shame, as I look into all Your commands. 7 I will praise You with an upright of heart, as I learn Your righteousness judgments. 8 I will guard Your statutes; oh, do not utterly forsake me! BETH (pronounced, bait) Beth is pronounced as a B and as a V. If the letter has a dot in its centre it is b. Without a dot it is v. PSALM 119 : 9-16 9 9 How can a young man cleanse his way? By observing and living according to Your Word. 10 With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me stray from Your commands. 11 I have hidden Your words in my heart that I might not sin against You.
12 Blessed are You, O YHWH; Teach me Your statutes. 13 With my lips I have recounted all the judgments of Your mouth. 14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as over and above all riches. 15 I meditate on Your precepts, and meditate on Your ways. 16 I delight in Your laws; I will not forget Your Word. GIMEL (pronounced, gim-mel) Gimel is equivalent to the English G. PSALM 119 : 17-24 17 Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live; I will keep Your Word. 18 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things from Your Torah. 19 I am a temporary resident on the earth; do not hide Your commands from me. 20 My soul is crushed with longing for Your judgments at all times. 21 You rebuke the arrogant, the cursed ones, who are straying from Your commands. 22 Take away reproach and contempt from me, for I have kept Your testimonies. 23 Princes also sat and spoke against me, But Your servant meditates on Your statutes. 24 Your testimonies also are my delight; they are my counsellors. DALETH (pronounced, dah-let) Dalet is equivalent to the English D. PSALM 119 : 25-32 25 My soul has been clinging to the dust. Oh revive me according to Your Word.
26 I have recounted my ways, and You have answered me; Teach me Your statutes. 27 Make me understand the way of Your precepts, that I might meditate on Your wonders. 28 My soul melts because of heaviness; strengthen me according to Your Word. 29 Remove the way of falsehood from me, and favour me with Your instruction. 30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set Your judgments before me. 31 I have clung to Your testimonies; O YHWH, do not put me to shame! 32 I will run in the way of Your commands, for You enlarge my heart. HE (pronounced, hey) HEY is equivalent to the English H. PSALM 119 : 33-40 33 Teach me, O YHWH, the way of Your statutes, and I will keep it to the end. 34 Give me understanding, that I may guard Your Torah, and keep it with all my heart. 35 Cause me to walk in the path of Your commands, for I have delighted in it. 36 Incline my heart to Your testimonies, and not to covetousness and gain. 37 Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your ways. 38 Establish Your Word to Your servant, that which is concerning the awe of You. 39 Turn away my reproach which I dread, for Your judgments are good. 40 See how I have longed for Your precepts. Oh revive me in Your righteousness.
VAV (pronounced, vahv) Vav is equivalent to the English V, which often changes to a W in the middle of a word as in YHVH - Yahweh). The letter vav is often used as frame for the vowels o and u. vav with a dot above it loses the v sound and becomes o (as in row). vav with a dot on the left side loses the v sound becomes u (oo). PSALM 119 : 41-48 48 41 Let Your mercy and lovingkindness come to me, O YHWH - Your salvation according to Your Word; 42 that I may answer him who reproaches me; for I have trusted in Your Word. 43 Do not take the Word of truth completely from my mouth, for I have hoped in Your judgments. 44 I will guard Your instruction continually, forever and ever. 45 I will walk at liberty, for I have sought Your precepts. 46 I will speak of Your testimonies before kings, and will not be ashamed. 47 I will delight in Your commands, which I have loved. 48 I will lift up my hands also to Your commands which I love; and I will meditate on Your statutes. ZAYIN (pronounced, zah-yin) Zayin is equivalent to the English Z. PSALM 119 : 49-56 49 Remember the word to Your servant, on which You have caused me to hope. 50 This is my comfort in my affliction: That Your Word has revived and given me life. 51 The proud have absolutely derided me, Yet I have not turned aside from Your instruction.
52 I remembered Your ancient judgments, O YHWH, and I comfort myself in them. 53 Indignation has gripped me because of the wicked who forsake Your Torah. 54 Your statutes have been songs for me wherever I lodge. 55 O YHWH, I have remembered Your Name in the night, and I guard Your instruction. 56 This has been a blessing to me, because I have kept Your precepts. HETH (pronounced, het guttural h) HET does not have an equivalent letter in English. It is a throaty, guttural h. The line under h indicates guttural. It is similar to the ch in the Scottish word loch. It is often written in English as ch or kh but neither is a true representation of het. Het is an h from the throat. You can practise the sound by saying ha and lightly clearing your throat at the same time. It s easier to pronounce in the middle of a word. Try EHAD (the e is as in met). (We have indicated Guttural sounds in green/underlined h.) PSALM 119 : 57-64 57 YHWH is my portion; I have promised to keep Your words. 58 I have sought Your Face with all my heart; Show me favour according to Your Word. 59 I have considered my ways, and turned my feet to Your testimonies. 60 I hurried and did not delay to keep Your commands. 61 The cords of the wicked have encircled me, but I have not forgotten Your instruction. 62 At midnight I rise to give thanks to You because of Your righteous judgments. 63 I am a companion of all those who fear You, and of those guarding Your precepts. 64 The earth is full of Your lovingkindness, O YHWH. Teach me Your statutes.
TETH (pronounced, tet) TET is equivalent to the English T. (There are two Hebrew letters pronounced as T. Teth is the first. The second is Tav which is the last of the 22 Hebrew consonants.) PSALM 119 : 65-72 65 You have dealt well with Your servant, O YHWH, according to Your Word. 66 Teach me good discernment and knowledge, for I have believed in Your commands. 67 Before I was afflicted I was going astray, but now I have guarded Your Word. 68 You are good, and what You are doing is good. Teach me Your statutes. 69 The proud have forged falsehood against me, and smeared me with lies; but I will keep Your precepts with all my heart. 70 Their heart has become like fat, without feeling, but as for me, I have delighted in Your Torah. 71 It was good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes. 72 The instruction of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces. YODH (pronounced, yod) Yodh is equivalent to the English Y. Yodh is also used along with the vowels of e, and i, In these cases the v sound is lost, and it is pronounced as e (as in they), or i (as in marine.) (see vowel chart at end of this file.) PSALM 119 : 73-80 73 Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding, that I may learn Your commands. 74 Those who fear You see me and rejoice, because I have put my hope in Your Word. 75 I know, O YHWH, that Your judgments are righteous, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.
76 O let Your lovingkindness be a comfort to me, according to Your Word to Your servant. 77 Let Your tender mercies come to me that I may live, for Your instruction is my delight. 78 Let the proud be put to shame, for with lies they dealt corruptly with me; but I meditate on Your precepts. 79 Let those who fear You turn to me, and those who know Your testimonies. 80 Let my heart be perfect - blameless in Your statutes, so that I may not be put to shame. KAPH (pronounced kaf and haf) KAF is equivalent to the English K and H. If the letter has a dot in its centre it is pronounced as a k. Without a dot it is pronounced as a h We have indicated guttural sounds in green and underlined h. (Note that five of the Hebrew consonants have a different written form when it is the last letter of a word. These endings letters are called soffits. The five soffits are the ending form of the letters kaph (haf), mem, nun, pe (fey), tzadi.) kaph soffit is a guttural h which is written at At the start or in the middle of a word, kaph, is At the end of a word it is PSALM 119 : 81-88 88 81 My soul has languished for Your salvation; for I have put my hope in Your Word. 82 My eyes have pined away with longing for Your Word, asking, "When will it comfort me?" 83 Though I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, I have not forgotten 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, which are contrary to Your instruction. 86 All Your commands are trustworthy; They have persecuted me with lies. Help me! 87 They have almost consumed me on earth, But I, yes I did not forsake Your precepts. 88 Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.
LAMEDH (pronounced, lah-med) Lahmed is equivalent to the English L PSALM 119 : 89-96 96 89 Forever, O YHWH, Your Word is settled in heaven. 90 Your faithfulness endures throughout all generations; You established the earth, and it stands fast. 91 They - the heavenly host - stand this day according to Your decrees, for all are Your servants. 92 If Your instruction had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. 93 I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have given me life me. 94 I am Yours, save me; for I have sought Your precepts. 95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me, but I will ponder and understand Your testimonies. 96 I have seen an end - the limit - of all perfection; but Your command is exceedingly wide - without limits. MEM (pronounced, mem) MEM is equivalent to the English M MEM is the second consonant with a soffit form which is written as - At the start or in the middle of a word, mem, is At the end of a word it is PSALM 119 : 97-104 97 O how I love Your Torah Your instruction! It is my meditation all the day. 98 Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever before me. 99 I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation.
100 I understand more than the elders, because I have kept Your precepts. 101 I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your Word. 102 I have not turned aside from Your judgments, for You Yourself have taught me. 103 How sweet Your Word has been to my taste! Sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 From Your precepts I gain understanding; therefore I have hated every false way. NUN (pronounced, noon) NUN is equivalent to the English N NUN is the third consonant with a soffit form which is written as - At the start or in the middle of a word, nun, is At the end of a word it is PSALM 119 : 105-112 112 105 Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path. 106 I have taken an oath, and I confirm that I will keep Your righteous judgments. 107 I have been afflicted very much; revive me, O YHWH, according to Your Word. 108 I beseech You, O YHWH, accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, and teach me Your judgments. 109 My life is continually in my hand - in danger, yet I do not forget Your instruction. 110 The wicked have laid a snare for me, yet I have not gone astray from Your precepts. 111 Your testimonies are my inheritance forever, for they are the joy of my heart. 112 I have inclined my heart to keep Your statutes forever, to the very end.
SAMEKH (pronounced, sah-meh) SAMEH or is equivalent to the English S (Note: Hebrew has two letters for S. SEEN is also the letter S as we will see later) PSALM 119 : 113-120 120 113 I have hated doubting and double-minded men but I have loved Your Torah. 114 You are my Hiding Place and my Shield; I have hoped in Your Word. 115 Depart from me, you evildoers, for I keep the commands of my God. 116 Support me according to Your Word, that I may live; and do not put me to shame because of my hope. 117 Hold me up that I might be saved, and I will look to Your statutes continually. 118 You have trodden down all who go astray from Your statutes. for falsehood is their deceit. 119 You have removed all the wicked of the earth like dross; therefore I have loved Your testimonies. 120 My flesh has trembled for fear of You, And I have been in awe of Your judgments. AYIN (pronounced, ah-yin) AYIN, like Alef, is a consonant that has only a breathing sound. When a vowel is attached to it, it takes on the sound of the vowel. (For the Hebrew vowels a, e, i, o, u - see table at end of file). PSALM 119 : 121-128 128 121 I have done justice and righteousness; do not leave me to my oppressors. 122 Ensure Your servant's well-being; do not let the proud oppress me. 123 My eyes fail, looking for Your salvation, and for Your righteous Word.
124 Deal with Your servant according to Your lovingkindness, and teach me Your statutes. 125 I am Your servant; give me understanding, that I may know Your testimonies. 126 It is time for YHWH to act, for they have broken Your Torah. 127 Therefore I have loved Your commands more than gold, even fine gold. 128 Therefore I have declared all Your precepts as totally right; I have hated every false way. PE (pronounced, pey / fey) PEY is pronounced as a P and FEY as F. If the letter has a dot in its centre it is P. Without a dot it is F. FEY is the fourth consonant with a soffit form which is written as - At the start or in the middle of a word, FEY is At the end of a word it is PSALM 119 : 129-136 136 129 Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul has kept them. 130 The unfolding of Your words gives light; and gives understanding to the simple. 131 I have opened my mouth; yes, I have panted, for I have longed for Your commands. 132 Look upon me and be gracious to me, after Your manner with those who love Your Name. 133 Establish my footsteps by Your Word, and let no wickedness rule over me. 134 Redeem me from the oppression of man, that I may keep Your precepts. 135 Make Your Face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes. 136 Streams of water flow down from my eyes, because the people do not keep Your instruction.
TZADI (pronounced, tzah-dee) TZADI is equivalent to the English Ts or Tz as in quartz or pants. TZADI is the fifth consonant with a soffit form which is written as - At the start or in the middle of a word, Tzadi, is At the end of a word it is PSALM 119 : 137-144 144 137 Righteous are You, O YHWH, and upright are Your judgments. 138 You have commanded and appointed Your testimonies; they are righteous and fully trustworthy. 139 My zeal has consumed me, because my adversaries have forgotten Your words. 140 Your Word has been thoroughly tested, and Your servant has loved it. 141 I am small and despised, yet I have not forgotten Your precepts. 142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your instruction is truth. 143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold of me; yet Your commands are my delight. 144 Your testimonies are righteous forever; Give me understanding that I may live. KOPH (often written as Qoph) (pronounced, kohf) KOPH is pronounced as a K. PSALM 119 : 145-152 152 145 I have called with all my heart; answer me, O YHWH! I will keep Your statutes. 146 I have called to You; save me, and I will keep Your testimonies.
147 I anticipate the dawn and cry for help; I have hoped in Your Word. 148 My eyes anticipate the night watches, that I may meditate on Your Word. 149 Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness; revive me, O YHWH, according to Your judgment. 150 They who pursue wickedness draw near; they are far from Your instruction. 151 You are near, O YHWH, and all Your commands are truth. 152 For a long time I have known Your testimonies; that You have founded them forever. RESH (pronounced, reysh) RESH is pronounced as a R. PSALM 119 : 153-160 160 153 See my affliction and rescue me, for I have not forgotten Your instruction. 154 Plead my cause and redeem me; revive me according to Your Word. 155 Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek Your statutes. 156 Your mercies are many, O YHWH; revive me according to Your judgments. 157 Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, yet I do not turn aside from Your testimonies. 158 I have seen the treacherous and I am grieved, because they have not kept Your Word. 159 See me, for I have loved Your precepts; revive me, O YHWH, according to Your lovingkindness. 160 The sum total of Your Word is truth; and every one of Your righteous judgments is everlasting.
SHIN/SIN (pronounced, sheen/seen) Here we have two look-alike consonants - SHEEN has a dot on upper right side SEEN has a dot on upper left side (Note: Hebrew has two letters for S. Sameh and is pronounced as ( SH ) and is pronounced as ( S ) is the other letter S as we saw earlier) PSALM 119 : 161-168 168 161 Princes have persecuted me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of Your words. 162 I rejoice at Your Word, as one who finds great spoil or treasure. 163 I hate and loathe falsehood, but I have loved Your instruction. 164 Seven times a day I have praised You, because of Your righteous judgments. 165 Great peace have they who love Your Torah, and for them there is no stumbling-block. 166 I have waited for Your salvation, O YHWH, and have done Your commands. 167 My soul has kept Your testimonies, and I love them exceedingly. 168 I have kept Your precepts and Your testimonies, for all my ways are before You. TAV (pronounced, tahv) TAV is pronounced as a T. In Hebrew there are two letters pronounced as T -- TETH and TAV. We have already seen TETH (tet). Now we come to the second T, TAV, which is the last of the 22 Hebrew consonants. PSALM 119 : 169-176 176 169 Let my cry come before You, O YHWH; give me understanding according to Your Word. 170 Let my supplication come before You; and deliver me according to Your Word.
171 My lips give forth praise, for You teach me Your statutes. 172 My tongue sings of Your Word, for all Your commands are righteousness. 173 Your Hand is a help to me, for I have chosen Your precepts. 174 I have longed for Your salvation, O YHWH, and Your instruction is my delight. 175 My soul lives, and it praises You, and Your judgments help me. 176 I have strayed like a lost sheep; seek Your servant, for I have not forgotten Your commands. END OF PSALMS BOOK FIVE Part 2 of 3 HEBREW VOWELS HALF VOWELS ARE USUALLY REPRESENTED BY AN APOSTROPHE ( ) AS IN Y SHUA. THE HALF VOWEL IN Y HAS A VERY SHORT SOUND - Ye AND THE ACCENT COMES ON THE NEXT LETTER YeSHU SHUA (Many English words also have short (half) vowels, such as in BeNEATH NEATH, america MERICA, RePENT PENT, DeLAY LAY)