א Aleph

Blessings to those

who are obedient to Gods words

¹ Blessed are those who live without blame.
They live in keeping with the law of the Lord.
² Blessed are those who obey his covenant laws.
They trust in him with all their hearts.
³ They don’t do anything wrong.
They live as he wants them to live.
⁴ You have given me rules
that I must obey completely.
⁵ I hope I will always stand firm
in following your orders.
⁶ Then I won’t be put to shame
when I think about all your commands.
⁷ I will praise you with an honest heart
as I learn about how fair your decisions are.
⁸ I will obey your orders.
Please don’t leave me all alone.

ב Beth

An open & desirous heart to

learn his commandments

 

⁹ How can a young person keep their life pure?
By living according to your word.
¹⁰ I trust in you with all my heart.
Don’t let me wander away from your commands.
¹¹ I have hidden your word in my heart
so that I won’t sin against you.
¹² Lord, I give praise to you.
Teach me your orders.
¹³ With my lips, I talk about
all the decisions you have made.
¹⁴ Following your covenant laws gives me joy
just as great riches give joy to others.
¹⁵ I spend time thinking about your rules.
I consider how you want me to live.
¹⁶ I take delight in your orders.
I won’t fail to obey your word.

ג Gimel

 

Confidence in the presence of God

removes the reason for reproach and contempt

¹⁷ Be good to me while I am alive.
Do this so that I may obey your word.
¹⁸ Open my eyes so that I can see
the wonderful truths in your law.
¹⁹ I’m a stranger on earth.
Don’t hide your commands from me.
²⁰ My heart is filled with longing
for your laws at all times.
²¹ You correct proud people. They are under your curse.
They wander away from your commands.
²² I obey your covenant laws.
So don’t let evil people laugh at me or hate me.
²³ Even if rulers sit together and tell lies about me,
I will spend time thinking about your orders.
²⁴ Your covenant laws are my delight.
They give me wise advice.

ד Daleth

Gods words strengthen, revive

and direct the weak in heart

²⁵ I lie in the dust. I’m about to die.
Keep me alive as you have promised.
²⁶ I told you how I’ve lived, and you gave me your answer.
Teach me your orders.
²⁷ Help me understand how your rules direct me to live.
Then I may think deeply about the wonderful things you have done.
²⁸ My sadness has worn me out.
Give me strength as you have promised.
²⁹ Keep me from cheating and telling lies.
Be kind to me and teach me your law.
³⁰ I have chosen to be faithful to you.
I put my trust in your laws.
³¹ Lord, I’m careful to obey your covenant laws.
Don’t let me be put to shame.
³² I am quick to follow your commands because
you have added to my understanding.

ה He

A prayer of wisdom & understanding

³³ Lord, teach me how your orders direct me to live.
Then I will live that way to the very end.
³⁴ Help me understand your law so that I may follow it.
I will obey it with all my heart.
³⁵ Teach me to live as you command,
because that makes me very happy.
³⁶ Make me want to follow your covenant laws
instead of wanting to gain things only for myself.
³⁷ Turn my eyes away from things that are worthless.
Keep me alive as you have promised.
³⁸ Keep your promise to me.
Then other people will have respect for you.
³⁹ Please don’t let me be put to shame.
Your laws are good.
⁴⁰ I really want to follow your rules.
Keep me alive, because you do what is right.

ו Waw

 

Prayer for Mercy

 

⁴¹ Lord, show me your faithful love.
Save me as you have promised.
⁴² Then I can answer anyone who makes fun of me,
because I trust in your word.
⁴³ Help me always to tell the truth about how faithful you are.
I have put my hope in your laws.
⁴⁴ I will always obey your law,
forever and ever.
⁴⁵ I will lead a full and happy life,
because I’ve tried to obey your rules.
⁴⁶ I will talk about your covenant laws to kings.
I will not be put to shame.
⁴⁷ I take delight in obeying your commands
because I love them.
⁴⁸ I reach out for your commands that I love.
I do this so that I may think deeply about your orders.

ז Zayin

Trusting in God

⁴⁹ Remember what you have said to me.
You have given me hope.
⁵⁰ Even when I suffer, I am comforted
because you promised to keep me alive.
⁵¹ Proud people make fun of me without mercy.
But I don’t turn away from your law.
⁵² Lord, I remember the laws you gave long ago.
I find comfort in them.
⁵³ I am very angry
because evil people have turned away from your law.
⁵⁴ No matter where I live,
I sing about your orders.
⁵⁵ Lord, during the night I remember who you are.
That’s why I keep your law.
⁵⁶ I have really done my best
to obey your rules.

ח Heth

Prayer for Grace

⁵⁷ Lord, you are everything I need.
I have promised to obey your words.
⁵⁸ I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.
⁵⁹ I have thought about the way I live.
And I have decided to follow your covenant laws.
⁶⁰ I won’t waste any time.
I will be quick to obey your commands.
⁶¹ Evil people may tie me up with ropes.
But I won’t forget to obey your law.
⁶² At midnight I get up to give you thanks
because your decisions are very fair.
⁶³ I’m a friend to everyone who has respect for you.
I’m a friend to everyone who follows your rules.
⁶⁴ Lord, the earth is filled with your love.
Teach me your orders.

ט Teth

 

The Wonder of keeping

God’s Commandments

⁶⁵ Lord, be good to me
as you have promised.
⁶⁶ Increase my knowledge and give me good sense
because I trust your commands.
⁶⁷ Before I went through suffering, I went down the wrong path.
But now I obey your word.
⁶⁸ You are good, and what you do is good.
Teach me your orders.
⁶⁹ The lies of proud people have taken away my good name.
But I follow your rules with all my heart.
⁷⁰ Their unfeeling hearts are hard and stubborn.
But I take delight in your law.
⁷¹ It was good for me to suffer.
That’s what helped me to understand your orders.
⁷² The law you gave is worth more to me
than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.

י Yodh

Prayer of Hope

⁷³ You made me and formed me with your own hands.
Give me understanding so that I can learn your commands.
⁷⁴ May those who have respect for you be filled with joy when they see me.
I have put my hope in your word.
⁷⁵ Lord, I know that your laws are right.
You were faithful to your promise when you made me suffer.
⁷⁶ May your faithful love comfort me
as you have promised me.
⁷⁷ Show me your tender love so that I can live.
I take delight in your law.
⁷⁸ May proud people be put to shame for treating me badly for no reason.
I will think deeply about your rules.
⁷⁹ May those who have respect for you come to me.
Then I can teach them your covenant laws.
⁸⁰ May I follow your orders with all my heart.
Then I won’t be put to shame.

כ Kaph

 

A Prayer for Deliverance & Redemption

 

⁸¹ I deeply long for you to save me.
I have put my hope in your word.
⁸² My eyes grow tired looking for what you have promised.
I say, “When will you comfort me?”
⁸³ I’m as useless as a wineskin that smoke has dried up.
But I don’t forget to follow your orders.
⁸⁴ How long do I have to wait?
When will you punish those who attack me?
⁸⁵ Proud people do what is against your law.
They dig pits for me to fall into.
⁸⁶ All your commands can be trusted.
Help me, because people attack me without any reason.
⁸⁷ They almost wiped me off the face of the earth.
But I have not turned away from your rules.
⁸⁸ Keep me alive, because of your faithful love.
Do this so that I may obey the covenant laws you have given.

ל Lamedh

Faith in the Law of the Lord

⁸⁹ Lord, your word lasts forever.
It stands firm in the heavens.
⁹⁰ You will be faithful for all time to come.
You made the earth, and it continues to exist.
⁹¹ Your laws continue to this very day,
because all things serve you.
⁹² If I had not taken delight in your law,
I would have died because of my suffering.
⁹³ I will never forget your rules.
You have kept me alive, because I obey them.
⁹⁴ Save me, because I belong to you.
I’ve tried to obey your rules.
⁹⁵ Sinful people are waiting to destroy me.
But I will spend time thinking about your covenant laws.
⁹⁶ I’ve learned that everything has its limits.
But your commands are perfect. They are always there when I need them.

מ Mem

Love for the Law of the Lord

⁹⁷ Lord, I really love your law!
All day long I spend time thinking about it.
⁹⁸ Your commands make me wiser than my enemies
because your commands are always in my heart.
⁹⁹ I know more than all my teachers do,
because I spend time thinking about your covenant laws.
¹⁰⁰ I understand more than the elders do,
because I obey your rules.
¹⁰¹ I’ve kept my feet from every path that sinners take
so that I might obey your word.
¹⁰² I haven’t turned away from your laws,
because you yourself have taught me.
¹⁰³ Your words are very sweet to my taste!
They are sweeter than honey to me.
¹⁰⁴ I gain understanding from your rules.
So I hate every path that sinners take.

נ Nun

Gods Guidance and bondage breaker

¹⁰⁵ Your word is like a lamp that shows me the way.
It is like a light that guides me.
¹⁰⁶ I have made a promise
to follow your laws, because they are right.
¹⁰⁷ I have suffered very much.
Lord, keep me alive as you have promised.
¹⁰⁸ Lord, accept the praise I freely give you.
Teach me your laws.
¹⁰⁹ I keep putting my life in danger.
But I won’t forget to obey your law.
¹¹⁰ Evil people have set a trap for me.
But I haven’t wandered away from your rules.
¹¹¹ Your covenant laws are your gift to me forever.
They fill my heart with joy.
¹¹² I have decided to obey your orders
to the very end.

ס Samekh

God’s Guidance and Protection

 

¹¹³ I hate people who can’t make up their minds.
But I love your law.
¹¹⁴ You are my place of safety.
You are like a shield that keeps me safe.
I have put my hope in your word.
¹¹⁵ Get away from me, you who do evil!
Then I can do what my God commands me to do.
¹¹⁶ My God, keep me going as you have promised. Then I will live.
Don’t let me lose all hope.
¹¹⁷ Take good care of me, and I will be saved.
I will always honor your orders.
¹¹⁸ You turn your back on all those who wander away from your orders.
Their wrong thoughts will be proved to be wrong.
¹¹⁹ You throw away all the sinners on earth as if they were trash.
So I love your covenant laws.
¹²⁰ My body trembles because I have respect for you.
I have great respect for your laws.

ע Ayin

The goodness of Gods Law

¹²¹ I have done what is right and fair.
So don’t leave me to those who treat me badly.
¹²² Make sure that everything goes well with me.
Don’t let proud people treat me badly.
¹²³ My eyes grow tired as I look to you to save me.
Please save me as you have promised.
¹²⁴ Be good to me, because you love me.
Teach me your orders.
¹²⁵ I serve you, so help me to understand what is right.
Then I will understand your covenant laws.
¹²⁶ Lord, it’s time for you to act.
People are breaking your law.
¹²⁷ I love your commands more than gold.
I love them more than pure gold.
¹²⁸ I consider all your rules to be right.
So I hate every path that sinners take.

פ Pe

 

A prayer of steadfastness

¹²⁹ Your covenant laws are wonderful.
So I obey them.
¹³⁰ When your words are made clear, they bring light.
They bring understanding to childish people.
¹³¹ I open my mouth and pant like a dog,
because I long to know your commands.
¹³² Turn to me and have mercy on me.
That’s what you’ve always done for those who love you.
¹³³ Teach me how to live as you have promised.
Don’t let any sin be my master.
¹³⁴ Set me free from people who treat me badly.
Then I will obey your rules.
¹³⁵ Have mercy on me.
Teach me your orders.
¹³⁶ Streams of tears flow from my eyes,
because people don’t obey your law.

צ Tsadhe

Salvation Prayer

¹³⁷ Lord, you do what is fair.
And your laws are right.
¹³⁸ The laws you have made are fair.
They can be completely trusted.
¹³⁹ My anger is wearing me out,
because my enemies don’t pay any attention to your words.
¹⁴⁰ Your promises have proved to be true.
I love them.
¹⁴¹ I’m not important. People look down on me.
But I don’t forget to obey your rules.
¹⁴² You always do what is right.
And your law is true.
¹⁴³ I’ve had my share of trouble and suffering.
But your commands give me delight.
¹⁴⁴ Your covenant laws are always right.
Help me to understand them. Then I will live.

ק Qoph

A Prayer of Deliverance & Upliftment

¹⁴⁵ Lord, I call out to you with all my heart.
Answer me, and I will obey your orders.
¹⁴⁶ I call out to you.
Save me, and I will keep your covenant laws.
¹⁴⁷ I get up before the sun rises. I cry out for help.
I’ve put my hope in your word.
¹⁴⁸ My eyes stay open all night long.
I spend my time thinking about your promises.
¹⁴⁹ Listen to me, because you love me.
Lord, keep me alive as you have promised.
¹⁵⁰ Those who think up evil plans are near.
They have wandered far away from your law.
¹⁵¹ But Lord, you are near.
All your commands are true.
¹⁵² Long ago I learned from your covenant laws
that you made them to last forever.

ר Resh

 

A Plea for Help

¹⁵³ Look at how I’m suffering!
Save me, because I haven’t forgotten to obey your law.
¹⁵⁴ Stand up for me and set me free.
Keep me alive as you have promised.
¹⁵⁵ Those who are evil are far from being saved.
They don’t want to obey your orders.
¹⁵⁶ Lord, you have deep concern for me.
Keep me alive as you have promised.
¹⁵⁷ Many enemies attack me.
But I haven’t turned away from your covenant laws.
¹⁵⁸ I get very angry when I see people who aren’t faithful to you.
They don’t obey your word.
¹⁵⁹ See how I love your rules!
Lord, keep me alive, because you love me.
¹⁶⁰ All your words are true.
All your laws are right. They last forever.

ש Sin and Shin

Submitting to the Will of God

 

¹⁶¹ Rulers attack me for no reason.
But I tremble because of your word.
¹⁶² I’m filled with joy because of your promise.
It’s like finding a great fortune.
¹⁶³ I hate lies with a deep hatred.
But I love your law.
¹⁶⁴ Seven times a day I praise you
for your laws, because they are right.
¹⁶⁵ Those who love your law enjoy great peace.
Nothing can make them trip and fall.
¹⁶⁶ Lord, I wait for you to save me.
I follow your commands.
¹⁶⁷ I obey your covenant laws,
because I love them greatly.
¹⁶⁸ I obey your rules and your covenant laws,
because you know all about how I live.

ת Taw

 

A Prayer for Hope

¹⁶⁹ Lord, may you hear my cry.
Give me understanding, just as you said you would.
¹⁷⁰ May you hear my prayer.
Save me, just as you promised.
¹⁷¹ May my lips pour out praise to you,
because you teach me your orders.
¹⁷² May my tongue sing about your word,
because all your commands are right.
¹⁷³ May your hand be ready to help me,
because I have chosen to obey your rules.
¹⁷⁴ Lord, I long for you to save me.
Your law gives me delight.
¹⁷⁵ Let me live so that I can praise you.
May your laws keep me going.
¹⁷⁶ Like a lost sheep, I’ve gone down the wrong path.
Come and look for me,
because I haven’t forgotten to obey your commands.