A manual of the book of Psalms · Martin Luther
ס SAMECH.
I hate _vain_ thoughts: but thy law do I love. Thou _art_ my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word. Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God. Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope. Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually. Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: for their deceit _is_ falsehood. Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth _like_ dross: therefore I love thy testimonies. My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments. I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressors. Be surety for thy servant for good: let not the proud oppress me. Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness. Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes. I _am_ thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies. _It is_ time for _thee_, LORD, to work: _for_ they have made void thy law. Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. Therefore I esteem all _thy_ precepts _concerning_ all _things to be_ right; _and_ I hate every false way.
Thy testimonies _are_ wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them. The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments. Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name. Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes. Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law. Righteous _art_ thou, O LORD, and upright _are_ thy judgments. Thy testimonies _that_ thou hast commanded _are_ righteous and very faithful. My zeal hath consumed me: because mine enemies have forgotten thy words. Thy word _is_ very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it. I _am_ small and despised; _yet_ do not I forget thy precepts. Thy righteousness _is_ an everlasting righteousness, and thy law _is_ the truth. Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me; _yet_ thy commandments _are_ my delights. The righteousness of thy testimonies _is_ everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live. I cried with _my_ whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes. I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.
I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word. Mine eyes prevent the _night_-watches, that I might meditate in thy word. Hear my voice, according unto thy loving-kindness: O LORD, quicken me according to thy judgment. They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law. Thou _art_ near, O LORD; and all thy commandments _are_ truth. Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever. Consider mine affliction, and deliver me; for I do not forget thy law. Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word. Salvation _is_ far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes. Great _are_ thy tender mercies, O LORD; quicken me according to thy judgments. Many _are_ my persecutors and mine enemies; _yet_ do I not decline from thy testimonies. I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word. Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy loving-kindness. Thy word _is_ true _from_ the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments _endureth_ for ever. Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word. I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil. I hate and abhor lying: _but_ thy law do I love. Seven times a-day do I praise thee, because of thy righteous judgments. Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments. My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly. I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways _are_ before thee.
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.