PSALM 118
Beati immaculati.
Of the excellence of virtue consisting in the love and observance of the commandments of God.
Alleluia.
1 ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.
2 Blessed are they who search his testimonies: that seek him with their whole heart.
3 For they that work iniquity, have not walked in his ways.
4 Thou hast commanded thy commandments to be kept most diligently.
5 O! that my ways may be directed to keep thy justifications.
6 Then shall I not be confounded, when I shall look into all thy commandments.
7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned the judgments of thy justice.
8 I will keep thy justifications: O! do not thou utterly forsake me.
9 BETH. By what doth a young man correct his way? by observing thy words.
10 With my whole heart have I sought after thee: let me not stray from thy commandments.
11 Thy words have I hidden in my heart, that I may not sin against thee.
12 Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy justifications.
13 With my lips I have pronounced all the judgments of thy mouth.
14 I have been delighted in the way of thy testimonies, as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on thy commandments: and I will consider thy ways.
16 I will think of thy justifications: I will not forget thy words.
17 GIMEL. Give bountifully to thy servant, enliven me: and I shall keep thy words.
18 Open thou my eyes: and I will consider the wondrous things of thy law.
19 I am a sojourner on the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.
20 My soul hath coveted to long for thy justifications, at all times.
21 Thou hast rebuked the proud: they are cursed who decline from thy commandments.
22 Remove from reproach and contempt: because I have sought after thy testimonies.
23 For princes sat, and spoke against me: but thy servant was employed in thy justifications.
24 For thy testimonies are my meditation: and thy justifications my counsel.
25 DALETH. My soul hath cleaved to the pavement: quicken thou me according to thy word.
26 I have declared my ways, and thou hast heard me: teach me thy justifications.
27 Make me to understand the way of thy justifications: and I shall be exercised in thy wondrous works.
28 My soul hath slumbered through heaviness: strengthen thou me in thy words.
29 Remove from me the way of iniquity: and out of thy law have mercy on me.
30 I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments I have not forgotten.
31 I have stuck to thy testimonies, O Lord: put me not to shame.
32 I have run the way of thy commandments, when thou didst enlarge my heart.
33 HE. Set before me for a law the way of thy justifications, O Lord: and I will always seek after it.
34 Give me understanding, and I will search thy law; and I will keep it with my whole heart.
35 Lead me into the path of thy commandments; for this same I have desired.
36 Incline my heart into thy testimonies and not to covetousness.
37 Turn away my eyes that they may not behold vanity: quicken me in thy way.
38 Establish thy word to thy servant, in thy fear.
39 Turn away my reproach, which I have apprehended: for thy judgments are delightful.
40 Behold I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy justice.
41 VAU. Let thy mercy also come upon me, O Lord: thy salvation according to thy word.
42 So shall I answer them that reproach me in any thing; that I have trusted in thy words.
43 And take not thou the word of truth utterly out of my mouth: for in thy words have I hoped exceedingly.
44 So shall I always keep thy law, for ever and ever.
45 And I walked at large: because I have sought after thy commandments.
46 And I spoke of thy testimonies before kings: and I was not ashamed.
47 I meditated also on thy commandments, which I loved.
48 And I lifted up my hands to thy commandments, which I loved: and I was exercised in thy justifications.
49 ZAIN. Be thou mindful of thy word to thy servant, in which thou hast given me hope.
50 This hath comforted me in my humiliation: because thy word hath enlivened me.
