Text of Psalm 118
Psalm 118 in Church Slavonic is traditionally heard in Orthodox churches during divine services. It is not prohibited to use it to privately address the Almighty. Moreover, this option is preferable, but it is not available to everyone, since the most important thing in prayer is to understand its meaning. Those who have not studied Old Church Slavonic should read the Russian translation of the song.
In Church Slavonic
In Russian
History of writing
Little information has survived to this day about the creation of Psalm 118. Its text in Greek begins with the injunction “Hallelujah,” which makes it possible to characterize it with the word “praise.” However, there is no such reference in other versions (other translations) of the prayer.
Theologians and historians suggest that this psalm was composed in the 5th century BC. e., it is important to note that the prophet David lived on earth 1000 years before the birth of Christ. This means that the latter could not write this work. The fact that the song of praise dates back to the fifth century is indicated by its content.
The text mentions the persecution of the Jewish people, as well as betrayal, that is, the apostasy of some Jews. Psalm 119 also mentions the fate of the righteous who sought salvation in God, as well as the fate of the wicked, punished by suffering under enemy oppression. These events are comparable to those that occurred during the period of captivity of the chosen people by their enemies from Persia.
Psalm 118
1 Blessed are those who are blameless in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.
2 Blessed are those who search His testimonies; they will seek Him with all their hearts.
3 For those who do not commit iniquity have walked in His ways.
4 You commanded that Your commandments should be kept firmly.
5 Oh, that my ways would be directed to keep Your commandments!
6 Then I would not be ashamed, considering all Your commandments.
7 I will glorify You in uprightness of heart when I learn the judgments of Your righteousness.
8 I will keep Your commandments; don't leave me until the end.
9 How will the young man correct his path? In preserving Your words.
10 With all my heart I have sought You; do not turn me away from Your commandments.
11 I have hidden Your sayings in my heart, so as not to sin against You.
12 Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your commandments.
13 With my mouth I have declared all the judgments of Your mouth.
14 In the way of Your testimonies I have enjoyed myself, as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on Your commandments and understand Your ways.
16 I will pay attention to Your commandments; I will not forget Your words.
17 Reward Your servant, revive me, and I will keep Your words.
18 Open my eyes, that I may understand the wonders of Your law.
19 I am a sojourner on the earth: hide not Thy commandments from me.
20 My soul has desired to strive for Your judgments at all times.
21 You have rebuked the proud; Cursed are those who turn away from Your commandments.
22 Take away from me reproach and contempt, for I have sought Your testimonies.
23 For behold, the princes sat and slandered me, but Your servant reasoned about Your commandments.
24 For Thy testimonies are my occupation, and my counselors are Thy commandments.
25 My soul is drawn to the earth; quicken me according to Your word.
26 I made known my ways, and You heard me; teach me Your commandments.
27 Make me understand the way of Your commandments, and I will reason about Your wonders.
28 My soul has fallen asleep from negligence: strengthen me in Your words.
29 Remove the way of unrighteousness from me, and have mercy on me with Your law.
30 I have chosen the path of truth and have not forgotten Your judgments.
31 I cleave to Your testimonies; Lord, don't shame me!
32 I ran the path of Your commandments when You enlarged my heart.
33 Make for me, O Lord, the way of Your commandments as a law, and I will seek it constantly.
34 Give me understanding, and I will search for Your law, and will keep it with all my heart.
35 Guide me on the path of Your commandments, for I have desired it.
36 Incline my heart to Your testimonies, and not to greed.
37 Turn away my eyes, so as not to see vanity; on Your path revive me.
38 Make Thy servant Thy word to fear.
39 Remove my reproach, which I fear, for Your judgments are good.
40 Behold, I have desired Your commandments; quicken me in Your righteousness.
41 And let Your mercy, O Lord, come upon me, Your salvation according to Your word.
42 And I will answer those who reproach my word, for I trust in Your words.
43 And take not the words of truth from my mouth until the end, for I have trusted in Your judgments.
44 And I will keep Your law always, forever and ever.
45 And I walked in the open air, for I sought Your commandments,
46 and spoke of Your testimonies before kings and was not ashamed,
47 and practiced Your commandments, which I loved dearly,
48 And I lifted up my hands to Thy commandments, which I loved, and reasoned about Thy commandments.
49 Remember Your words to Your servant, with which You gave me hope.
50 This comforted me in my humiliation, that Your word revived me.
51 The proud have transgressed the law to the extreme, but I have not deviated from Your law.
52 I remembered Your judgments from time immemorial, O Lord, and I was comforted.
53 Sorrow has come upon me because of sinners who forsake Your law.
54 Thy commandments were like songs to me in the place of my journey.
55 I remembered Your name at night, O Lord, and kept Your law.
56 This happened to me, because I sought Your commandments.
57 You are my destiny, Lord; I said: I will try to preserve Your law.
58 I prayed before You with all my heart; have mercy on me according to your word.
59 I have pondered Your ways and turned my feet to Your testimonies.
60 I prepared myself and was not dismayed to keep Your commandments.
61 The ropes of sinners have entwined me, and I have not forgotten Your law.
62 At midnight I rose to glorify You for Your righteous judgments.
63 I am a fellow member of all those who fear You and keep Your commandments.
64 The earth is full of Thy mercy, O Lord: teach me Thy commandments.
65 You have dealt kindly with Your servant, O Lord, according to Your word.
66 Teach me kindness, good manners, and knowledge, for I have believed Your commandments.
67 Before I humbled myself, I sinned, therefore I have kept Your word.
68 You are good, O Lord, and in Your goodness teach me Your commandments.
69 The iniquity of the proud has increased against me, but I will search Your commandments with all my heart.
70 Their heart thickened like milk, but I delved deeper into Your law.
71 It is good for me that You have humbled me, that I might learn Your commandments.
72 The law of Your mouth is more good to me than thousands of gold and silver.
73 Thy hands made me and formed me; Give me understanding, and I will learn Your commandments.
74 Those who fear You will see me and rejoice, for I have trusted in Your words.
75 I have known, O Lord, that Thy judgments are righteous, and in truth Thou hast humbled me.
76 May Thy mercy be a comfort to me, according to Thy word to Thy servant.
77 Let Your compassion come to me, and I will live, for Your law is my occupation.
78 Let the proud be ashamed, for they have committed iniquity against me unjustly, but I will reason about Your commandments.
79 Let those who fear You and know Your testimonies turn to me.
80 Let my heart be blameless in Your commandments, so that I will not be ashamed.
81 My soul faints for Your salvation, and I have trusted in Your word.
82 My eyes fail because of Thy word; I say: “When will You console me?”
83 For I have become like fur in the cold; I have not forgotten Your commandments.
84 How many days are your servant? When will you bring justice against those who persecute me?
85 The transgressors have told me reasonings, but not according to Your law, O Lord.
86 All Your commandments are truth; they began to persecute me unjustly, help me.
87 They almost finished me on earth, but I did not forsake Your commandments.
88 According to Your mercy, quicken me, and I will keep the testimony of Your mouth.
89 Forever, O Lord, Your word remains in heaven.
90 Thy truth endureth unto generation and generation: Thou hast founded the earth, and it endureth.
91 According to Your command the day continues, for everything serves You.
92 For if Thy law had not been my occupation, then I would have perished in my humiliation.
93 I will never forget Your commandments, for through them You have revived me.
94 I am Yours, save me, for I have sought Your commandments.
95 Sinners began to wait for me to destroy me, but I understood Your testimonies.
96 I have seen the limit of every accomplishment; Your commandment is very broad.
97 How I have loved Your law, O Lord, it is my occupation all day long.
98 You have made me wiser than my enemies in Your commandment, for it is mine forever.
99 I began to understand better than all those who taught me, for Your testimonies are my occupation.
100 I began to understand better than the elders, for I sought Your commandments.
101 I have kept my feet from every evil way, to keep Your words.
102 I have not turned aside from Your judgments, for You have given me the law.
103 How sweet are Your words to my throat, better than honey to my lips.
104 From Your commandments I have gained understanding, therefore I have hated every way of unrighteousness.
105 Your law is a lamp to my feet and a light to my paths.
106 I have sworn and decreed that I will preserve the judgments of Your righteousness.
107 I was brought low to the utmost; Lord, revive me according to Thy word.
108 Accept the voluntary sacrifices of my mouth graciously, O Lord, and teach me Your judgments.
109 My soul is constantly in Your hands, and I have not forgotten Your law.
110 Sinners have laid a trap for me, but I have not deviated from Your commandments.
111 I have inherited Your testimonies forever, for they are the joy of my heart.
112 I have bowed my heart to fulfill Your commandments forever, for the sake of reward.
113 I have hated the transgressors, but I have loved Your law.
114 My helper and my protector are You; I have trusted in Your words.
115 Depart from me, you who do evil, and I will search the commandments of my God.
116 Support me according to Your word, and I will live, and do not put me to shame in my waiting.
117 Help me, and I will be saved, and I will always attend to Your commandments.
118 You have counted as nothing all those who turn away from Your commandments, for their thoughts are unrighteous.
119 I counted all the sinners of the earth as criminals, therefore I loved Your testimonies.
120 Fill my flesh with fear of You, for I am afraid of Your judgments.
121 I have done justice and righteousness; do not hand me over to those who offend me.
122 Accept Thy servant for good, so that the proud do not slander me.
123 My eyes fail for Thy salvation and the word of Thy righteousness.
124 Do unto Thy servant according to Thy mercy, and teach me Thy commandments.
125 I am Your servant; give me understanding, and I will know Your testimonies.
126 It is time for the Lord to act: they have destroyed Your law,
127 Therefore have I loved Your commandments more than gold and topaz;
128 Therefore I was guided by all Your commandments; I hated every way of unrighteousness.
129 Your testimonies are wondrous, therefore my soul began to search them.
130 The manifestation of Your words enlightens and admonishes little children.
131 I opened my mouth and drew the Spirit into me, for I desired Your commandments.
132 Look upon me and have mercy on me according to the judgment of those who love Your name.
133 Direct my steps according to Your word, and let no iniquity take possession of me.
134 Deliver me from human slander, and I will keep Your commandments.
135 Show the light of Your face to Your servant and teach me Your commandments.
136 My eyes have poured out from the fountains of water, because I have not kept Your law.
137 You are righteous, O Lord, and your judgments are just.
138 You have commanded righteousness - Your testimonies and truth - firmly.
139 Zeal for You has exhausted me, for my enemies have forgotten Your words.
140 Thy word was completely purified by fire, and Thy servant loved it.
141 I am very young and despised; I have not forgotten Your commandments.
142 Your righteousness is righteousness forever, and Your law is truth.
143 Sorrows and troubles overtook me; Your commandments are my occupation.
144 Your testimonies are truth forever; Give me some understanding, and I will live.
145 I cried with all my heart, hear me, O Lord, I will seek your commandments.
146 I cried to You, save me, and I will keep Your testimonies.
147 I hastened at an inopportune hour and cried out: “I trusted in Your words.”
148 My eyes were opened until dawn to delve into Your words.
149 Hear my voice, O Lord, according to Thy mercy, according to Thy judgment, quicken me.
150 Those who persecute me without law have drawn near, but they have departed from Your law.
151 You are near, O Lord, and all Your ways are truth.
152 From the beginning I knew from Your testimonies that You founded them forever.
153 Look at my humiliation and deliver me, for I have not forgotten Your law.
154 Judge my case and deliver me; revive me according to Your word.
155 Salvation is far from sinners, for they have not sought Your commandments.
156 Great is Thy compassion, O Lord; according to Thy judgment, quicken me.
157 There are many who drive me out and oppress me; I have not turned aside from Your testimonies.
158 I saw the foolish and fainted, because they did not keep Your words.
159 See that I have loved Your commandments, O Lord; according to Your mercy, quicken me.
160 The beginning of Your words is truth, and forever are all the judgments of Your righteousness.
161 The princes began to persecute me innocently, but because of Your words my heart was afraid.
162 I will rejoice in Your words, like one who finds much spoil.
163 I hated and despised unrighteousness, but I loved Your law.
164 Seven times a day I praised You for the judgments of Your righteousness.
165 Great peace is there for those who love Your law, and there is no stumbling block for them.
166 I have waited for Your salvation, O Lord, and have loved Your commandments.
167 My soul has preserved Your testimonies, and loved them deeply.
168 I have kept Your commandments and Your testimonies, for all my ways are before You, O Lord.
169 Let my prayer come near before Thy face, O Lord; give me understanding according to Thy word.
170 Let my petition come before Thy face, O Lord; deliver me according to Thy word.
171 My lips will pour out song when You teach me Your commandments.
172 My tongue will utter Your words, for all Your commandments are truth.
173 Let Your hand be to save me, for I have chosen Your commandments.
174 I have desired Your salvation, O Lord, and Your law is my occupation.
175 My soul will live and praise You, and Your judgments will help me.
176 I am lost, like a lost sheep; Seek Your servant, for I have not forgotten Your commandments.
In what cases and how is Psalm 119 read?
According to church tradition, prayer services in churches are chanted in Old Church Slavonic. This work is performed during services on Sundays, as well as during Lent. They say prayer privately, trying to get rid of life’s adversities, to overcome the difficulties that have befallen them.
At home, reading text in Russian is not prohibited. It is recommended to do this in solitude, place it near holy images, and focus on communicating with the Lord.
Interpretation
The main idea of Psalm 119 is to sing of the power and beauty of the Lord. An important emphasis is also placed on faith in Him, a person’s love for the Almighty. If we consider the text in more detail, it is easy to come to the conclusion that its content is very diverse: it contains a description of the persecution of the Jews, their misfortunes, a description of hope that does not allow the weakened people to submit to the enemy.
The prayer consists of 22 stanzas, it includes 176 verses. Its main feature is that each 8-line stanza begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet (they are in the correct order).
To understand the meaning of Psalm 119, break it down into parts:
- Verse 1 to 8 – the author talks about how important it is to keep God’s law.
- Verses 9 and 10 – spiritual purity is preserved only in living conditions according to the Lord’s plan.
- Verses 11 to 16 are a description of the image of the righteous, his life.
- Verse 17 to 20 – the psalmist asks the Most High for guidance.
- Verses 21 to 23 are a description of the persecution of the Jews who sought salvation in God.
- Verses 33 to 39 are recognition of the power of the One Creator, his praise, prayer for protection.
- Verse 67 - the author writes about punishment for the Jews for their sins, the punishment in this case is the oppression of enemies.
- Verses 69 and 70 describe the struggle of the chosen people with the pagans.
- Verse 90 to 93 is a glorification of God's greatness and mercy, on which man is dependent.
Theological interpretation of Psalm 118
Each part of the psalm mentions either a law (meaning God’s law, which had a literal meaning for the Jews), or a path, a commandment, etc. The author clearly put the Biblical commandments in the first place in his life and tried in every possible way to fulfill them.
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Although David himself committed grave sins, over time he became wiser. Many theologians believe that he wrote this work already in adulthood. It was supposed to be a fatherly instruction to young Solomon.
