Psalm 119, as is well known, is an acrostic poem. It is an extended meditation on the torah, the "law" or "teaching" of the word of God. It uses eight synonyms for torah: law, commandment, statute, precept, testimony, word, promise, and teaching. It consists of twenty-two stanzas of eight verses each. In the first stanza each sentence begins with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, in the second stanza each sentence begins with the second letter, and so on through the whole alphabet. The Hebrew alphabet is made up of twenty-two letters, and hence the twenty-two stanzas and 176 verses;.
In the version below I used the English alphabet, which includes twenty-six letters. Since I wanted the poem to have twenty-two stanzas, like the original and Hebrew version, I was, thankfully, able to avoid having to use the four letters Q, X, Y, and Z. As an aid I have included the verses that each stanza represents.
I used the well known Genevan 119 for the musical setting because of its close association with the Psalm. Whereas I used the metre of Genevan 119 I did not use the rhyming scheme, largely because an acrostic poem puts the emphasis on the first letter of the line rather than on the rhyming of the final syllable of the line.
Using the parameters of acrostic and tune the result is likely more of a hymn based on Psalm 119 than a strictly literal versification of it. The reader will need to judge whether my stanzas do justice to the stanzas found in the Bible.
One of the inspirations for this poem was the Knox Bible, as translated by Mgr. Ronald Knox, 1888-1957.
All they are blest who walk obediently
A— verses 1-8
1. All they are blest who walk obediently
According to God's cov'nant testimonies.
Against what's wrong they stand whole-heartedly
Advancing only praise to God in heaven.
And thus I know that I won't be ashamed.
Alleluia, do not forsake your servant.
2. But how can youth remain pure all their days?
By careful reading of your perfect precepts.
Beyond all measure is your holy law.
Buried and stored, your word is like a treasure.
Blessed are you, oh teach me your decrees.
Basking in joy I'll not forget your judgments.
3. Come and deal richly with your servant, LORD.
Close not my eyes that I may see your statutes.
Comfort this pilgrim as I walk the earth.
Consumed am I with longing for your guidance.
Chasten the proud who wander far astray.
Counsel all those who keep your testimonies.
4. Dust is the substance to which my soul clings.
Devoted am I to your ordinances.
Direct me to your wondrous works and ways.
Deliver me from all that's false and treach'rous.
Delightful is the pure and faithful path.
Do open wide my heart for your commandments.
5. Expound to me your statutes, which I'll keep.
Enlighten me that I may know your precepts.
Each of your laws are my delight and joy.
Establish now your promise to your servant.
Enable me to lift my eyes t'ward you
E'en as I long for all your perfect rulings.
6. Fulfill to me the promise that you made
For then I will have answers for my taunters.
Forsake me never but give me your word.
Forever will I walk before my Saviour.
Fearlessly will I speak before the kings
Flinging wide open hands in love and worship.
7. Good is your word in which you've made me hope.
Great is the comfort that your promise gives me.
Gone are the traitors who derided me.
Gleefully will I sing about your statutes.
Gloom of the night cannot erase my joy.
Grow greater love in me for all your precepts.
8. How I do promise to obey your words!
Heartfelt is my entreaty for your favour.
Having considered all your promises
Hasten will I to keep all your commandments.
Hearken, O LORD, when I arise at night
Happy to join in prayer with those who fear you.
9. In faithfulness you dealt so well with me.
Instruct me in your knowledge all-surpassing.
I went astray before you punished me.
It was to teach me, that I was afflicted.
Is not your law worth more to me than gold?
Indeed, I value it beyond all measure.
10. Just as your hands have made and fashioned me
Join to my knowledge love for righteous living.
Joy is for those who walk in godly ways.
Judge all the insolent who wronged your servant.
Journey with me for I do love your word.
Jealously keep me close to you forever.
11. Keenly my soul longs always for your grace.
Knowing your goodness, I trust you forever.
Keep close to me, heal all my bitter pain.
Kitchen-smoke burns my eyes until they're weeping.
Knaves plot and scheme for my demise, my death.
Kind as you are, save me from wicked plotting.
12. Lord, fixed in heaven is your faithful word.
Long as earth lasts it will abide forever.
Lest I should fall you've shown to me your truth.
Life-giving are your precepts and commandments.
Lend me your aid for I belong to you.
Limitless is your law and all your teaching.
13. My greatest love is for your perfect law.
More wisdom have I than all of my teachers.
Methodica'lly I keep your flawless word.
Made wise by you I shun all that is evil.
Mindful of how your words are very sweet
Morning till evening I will be your student.
14. No lamp gives light like your illum'ning word.
Never will I take back the oaths I promised
Nor will I speak against your chast'ning hand.
Now I will give my freewill gifts to praise you.
Notorious men may lay their snares for me
Nevertheless I'll serve my LORD forever.
15. Out with the double-minded! Let them flee!
O Hiding Place, please keep us safe forever.
Outside of God there is no place to go.
Of all the “gods” the LORD alone is righteous.
Our God speaks words that we will always do.
Ought we not tremble fearing God our Master!
16. Protect, O LORD, the justice of my cause.
Pledge to me, God, some good to show you love me.
Pining away my eyes look up to you.
Pity your servant for he loves your treasure
Prized far above the finest gold on earth.
Praised be your precepts loved by all the righteous.
17. Remarkable are all your holy laws
Revealed by you to give us understanding.
Return to me and all who love your name.
Rule over me that I may walk uprightly.
Redeem me from the ways of evil men.
Rivers of tears I shed for man's so sinful.
18. Steadfast and true are all God's rules and ways.
Strict righteousness is what the Lord finds pleasing.
Small and despised seem I, but blest am I:
Servant of God who does his Master's bidding.
Suff'ring always, that is my lot in life
So I depend upon your word eternal.
19. That I may keep your statutes, answer me!
To you I cry, save me your humble servant.
Toward the dawn I look with anxious heart.
Throughout the night I dwell upon your promise.
Teach me to trust in you my only Help.
Then I will stand against the persecutor.
20. Under affliction am I, rescue me.
Uphold my cause and give me life unending
Unknown to those who hate your perfect way.
Unnumbered are your gifts to those who serve you.
Unhappy are the faithless reprobates.
Unchanging is your word of truth forever.
21. Vexatious persecutors fill the earth.
Victorious am I for the LORD sustains me.
Villains I hate because they hate your law.
Value, I pray, my sevenfold thank-offr'ing.
Votive fine gifts I sacrifice to you.
Vast is your love and grace for all your people.
22. Where shall I look for wisdom in this life?
Will you not save me as you one time promised?
What sort of praise shall burst forth from my lips?
Would you but move your hand to save your servant!
Whene'er I stray like sheep that run away
Welcome me back for I love your commandments.