The purpose of this page is to give the English language reader the opportunity to experience Psalm 119 the way an original Hebrew reader would have seen it, except I enhanced the initial letters to make the effect more pronounced. I only did four lines for each letter and omitted about four letters. Hebrew has 22 letters in their alphabet, so it used slightly more than half of the verses. Note that there is little or no continuity between the verses in the original Psalm, so re-arranging them does not significantly affect the meaning.I started with the King James text (which is in the public domain), modernized the language somewhat, then alphabetized the verses and picked out the four best for each letter. I filled in the gaps from the remaining verses by re-arranging (and sometimes changing) the words. I suspect the original composer did the same thing, wrote out all the ideas he had in mind, then sorted them and re-arranged the words as needed to make things come out. Some letters I just couldn't do without a lot more effort.
The original verse numbers are shown in brackets at the end of each verse. -- Tom Pittman
Awesome are the undefiled in the way,
who walk in the law of the LORD. [1]
Awesome are they that keep his testimonies,
and that seek him with their whole heart. [2]
Also they do no iniquity: they walk in
his ways. [3]
And I will walk at liberty: for I seek
your precepts. [45]
Blessed are you, O LORD: teach me your
statutes. [12]
Behold, I have longed after your precepts:
quicken me in your righteousness. [40]
Before I was afflicted I went astray: but
now have I kept your word. [67]
Be surety for your servant for good: let
not the proud oppress me. [122]
Concerning your testimonies, I have known
of old that you have founded them for ever. [152]
Consider my affliction, and deliver me:
for I do not forget your law. [153]
Consider how I love your precepts: quicken
me, O LORD, according to your lovingkindness. [159]
Cleaves my soul unto the dust: quicken
me according to your word. [25]
Deal bountifully with your servant, that
I may live, and keep your word. [17]
Depart from me, you evildoers: for I will
keep the commandments of my God. [115]
Deal with your servant according unto your
mercy, and teach me your statutes. [124]
Deliver me from the oppression of man:
so will I keep your precepts. [134]
Ever and ever I will keep your law continually.
[44]
Even to the end I have inclined mine heart
to perform your statutes always. [112]
Every one of your righteous judgments endures
for ever, and your word is true from the beginning. [160]
Exceedingly I love your testimonies; and
my soul has kept them. [167]
For I am become like a bottle in the smoke;
yet do I not forget your statutes. [83]
Faithful are all your commandments: they
persecute me wrongfully; help me. [86]
For ever, O LORD, your word is settled
in heaven. [89]
Freewill offerings of my mouth, accept
O LORD, and teach me your judgments. [108]
Give me understanding, and I shall keep
your law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. [34]
Give your servant understanding, that I
may know your testimonies. [125]
Great are your tender mercies, O LORD:
quicken me according to your judgments. [156]
Great peace have they which love your law:
and nothing shall offend them. [165]
Horror has taken hold upon me because of
the wicked that forsake your law. [53]
How many are the days of your servant?
When wilt you execute judgment on them that persecute me? [84]
Hold me up, and I shall be safe: and I
will have respect unto your statutes continually. [117]
Hear my voice according unto your lovingkindness:
O LORD, quicken me according to your judgment. [149]
Incline my heart unto your testimonies,
and not to covetousness. [36]
It is good for me that I have been afflicted;
that I might learn your statutes. [71]
It is time for you, LORD, to work: for
they have made void your law. [126]
I hate and abhor lying: but your law do
I love. [163]
Judgments, I have laid yours before me:
I have chosen the way of truth. [30]
Jeered me the proud did greatly: yet have
I not declined from your law. [51]
Justice and judgment I have done: leave
me not to my oppressors. [121]
Judgment good and knowledge teach me: for
I have believed your commandments. [66]
Keepers your precepts I am a companion
of, and of all them that fear you. [63]
Know I, O LORD, that your judgments are
right, and that you in faithfulness have afflicted me. [75]
Kept I your precepts and your testimonies:
for all my ways are before you. [168]
Kings will hear of your testimonies from
me, and I will not be ashamed. [46]
Let those that fear you turn to me, and
those that have known your testimonies. [79]
Look upon me, and be merciful unto me,
as you used to do unto those that love your name. [132]
LORD, I have hoped for your salvation,
and done your commandments. [166]
Let your hand help me; for I have chosen
your precepts. [173]
My soul breaks for the longing that it
has to your judgments at all times. [20]
Make your face to shine upon your servant;
and teach me your statutes. [135]
My eyes fail for your salvation, and for
the word of your righteousness. [123]
Many are my persecutors and my enemies;
yet do I not decline from your testimonies. [157]
Nightly I remembered your name, O LORD,
and have kept your law. [55]
No delay, I made haste to keep your commandments.
[60]
Never will I forget your precepts: for
with them you have quickened me. [93]
Near before you, O LORD, let my cry come:
give me understanding according to your word. [169]
Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous
things out of your law. [18]
Out of my mouth do not take the word of
truth; for I have hoped in your judgments. [43]
Of all perfection I have seen an end: but
your commandment is exceeding broad. [96]
Order my steps in your word: and let not
any iniquity have dominion over me. [133]
Princes also did sit and speak against
me: but your servant did meditate in your statutes. [23]
Put me not to shame: O LORD, I have stuck
to your testimonies. [31]
Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken
me according to your word. [154]
Princes have persecuted me without a cause:
but my heart stands in awe of your word. [161]
Quicken me after your lovingkindness; so
shall I keep the testimony of your mouth. [88]
...?
Remove from me reproach and contempt; for
I have kept your testimonies. [22]
Remember the word to your servant, on which
you have caused me to hope. [49]
Rivers of water run down my eyes, because
they keep not your law. [136]
Righteous you are, O LORD, and upright
are your judgments. [137]
Set up your word for your servant, who
is devoted to your fear. [38]
So shall I have wherewith to answer him
that reproaches me: for I trust in your word. [42]
Salvation is far from the wicked: for they
seek not your statutes. [155]
Seven times a day I praise you because
of your righteous judgments. [164]
Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes;
and I shall keep it unto the end. [33]
This has been my practice, I kept your
precepts. [56]
The bands of the wicked have robbed me:
but I have not forgotten your law. [61]
Trouble and anguish have taken hold on
me: yet your commandments are my delights. [143]
Understanding give me, that I may learn
your commandments: for your hands have made me and fashioned me. [73]
Unless your law had been my delight, I
should then have perished in my affliction. [92]
Unto my feet your word is a lamp, and a
light to my path. [105]
Uphold me according unto your word, that
I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope. [116]
Very much I am afflicted: quicken me, O
LORD, according unto your word. [107]
Vain thoughts I hate: but your law do I
love. [113]
Very pure is your word: therefore your
servant loves it. [140]
...?
Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his
way? by taking heed to it according to your word. [9]
With my whole heart have I sought you:
O let me not wander from your commandments. [10]
With my lips have I declared all the judgments
of your mouth. [13]
Wonderful your testimonies are: therefore
my soul keeps them. [129]
...?