The Longest Psalm

by Frederick Hoehn, copyright 2014, all rights reserved.

Chapter 1

The longest Psalm is Psalm 119, with one hundred seventy six verses.  Some Bibles divide Psalm 119 into groups of eight verses, with each group starting with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet, from Aleph to Tau.

So, twenty two letters multiplied by eight equals one hundred seventy six verses.

Here is Psalm 119 from the Holy Bible, Hoehn Version.

___Psalm 119

1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.

2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.

3 They also don't sin, they walk in his ways.

4 You've commanded us to keep your precepts diligently.

5 O that my ways were directed to keep your statutes!

6 Then I won't be ashamed, when I have respect to all your commandments.

7 I'll praise you with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned your righteous judgments.

8 I'll keep your statutes, O don't completely forsake me.

9 How shall a young man cleanse his way?  By giving heed to your word.

10 I've sought you with my whole heart, O don't let me wander from your commandments.

11 I've hidden your word in my heart so that I won't sin against you.

12 Blessed are you, O Lord, teach me your statutes.

13 I've declared with my lips all the judgments of your mouth.

14 I've rejoiced in the way of your testimonies, as much as in all riches.

15 I'll meditate in your precepts, and have respect to your ways.

16 I'll delight myself in your statutes, I won't forget your word.

17 Deal abundantly with your servant, so I can live, and keep your word.

18 Open my eyes so that I'll see wondrous things out of your law.

19 I'm a stranger in the earth, don't hide your commandments from me.

20 My soul breaks for the longing that it has to your judgments at all times.

21 You've reprimanded the proud that are cursed, who err from your commandments.

22 Remove reproach and contempt from me, for I've kept your testimonies.

23 Princes also sat and spoke against me, but your servant meditated in your statutes.

24 Your testimonies also are my delight and my counselors.

25 My soul sticks to the dust, make me alive according to your word.

26 I've declared my ways, and you heard me, teach me your statutes.

27 Make me to understand the way of your precepts, so I shall talk of your wondrous works.

28 My soul melts for heaviness, strengthen me according to your word.

29 Remove the way of lying from me, and grant me your law graciously.

30 I've chosen the way of truth, I've laid your judgments before me.

31 I've stuck to your testimonies, O Lord, don't put me to shame.

32 I will run the way of your commandments, when you enlarge my heart.

33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes, and I'll keep it to the end.

34 Give me understanding, and I'll keep your law, yes, I'll observe it with my whole heart.

35 Make me to go in the path of your commandments, for in it I delight.

36 Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to covetousness.

37 Turn my eyes away from seeing vanity, and make me alive in your way.

38 Establish your word to your servant, who is devoted to your fear.

39 Turn away my reproach that I fear, for your judgments are good.

40 See, I've longed after your precepts, make alive me in your righteousness.

41 Let your mercies come also to me, O Lord, your salvation, according to your word.

42 So I shall have what to answer to him that reproaches me, for I trust in your word.

43 And don't take the word of truth completely out of my mouth, for I've hoped in your judgments.

44 So I shall keep your law continually forever and always.

45 And I'll walk at liberty, for I seek your precepts.

46 I will speak of your testimonies also before kings, and won't be ashamed.

47 And I'll delight myself in your commandments that I've loved.

48 I will also lift up my hands to your commandments that I have loved, and I will meditate in your statutes.

49 Remember the word to your servant, on which you have caused me to hope.

50 This is my comfort in my affliction, for your word has made me alive.

51 The proud have had me greatly in derision, yet I haven't declined from your law.

52 I remembered your judgments of old, O Lord, and have comforted myself.

53 Horror has taken hold on me because of the wicked that forsake your law.

54 Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.

55 I've remembered your name, O Lord, in the night, and have kept your law.

56 This I had, because I kept your precepts.

57 You are my portion, O Lord, I've said that I would keep your words.

58 I entreated your favor with my whole heart, be merciful to me according to your word.

59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet to your testimonies.

60 I made haste, and didn't delay to keep your commandments.

61 The gangs of the wicked have robbed me, but I haven't forgotten your law.

62 At midnight I'll rise to give thanks to you because of your righteous judgments.

63 I'm a companion of all of those who fear you, and of those who keep your precepts.

64 The earth, O Lord, is full of your mercy, teach me your statutes.

65 You've dealt well with your servant, O Lord, according to your word.

66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I've believed your commandments.

67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I've kept your word.

68 You are good, and do good, teach me your statutes.

69 The proud have forged a lie against me, but I'll keep your precepts with my whole heart.

70 Their heart is as fat as grease, but I delight in your law.

71 It is good for me that I've been afflicted, so that I would learn your statutes.

72 The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver.

73 Your hands have made me and fashioned me, give me understanding, so I will learn your commandments.

74 Those who fear you will be glad when they see me, because I've hoped in your word.

75 I know, O Lord, that your judgments are right, and that you in faithfulness have afflicted me.

76 Please let your merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to your word to your servant.

77 Let your tender mercies come to me, so I'll live, for your law is my delight.

78 Let the proud be ashamed, for they dealt perversely with me without a reason, but I will meditate in your precepts.

79 Let those that fear you turn to me, and those that have known your testimonies.

80 Let my heart be sound in your statutes, so I'm not ashamed.

81 My soul faints for your salvation, but I hope in your word.

82 My eyes fail for your word, saying, when will you comfort me?

83 For I've become like a bottle in the smoke, yet I don't forget your statutes.

84 How many are the days of your servant?  When will you execute judgment on those who persecute me?

85 The proud have dug pits for me, which are not according to your law.

86 All your commandments are faithful, they persecute me wrongfully, help me.

87 They almost consumed me on earth, but I didn't forsake your precepts.

88 Make me alive according to your loving kindness, so I'll keep the testimony of your mouth.

89 Forever, O Lord, your word is settled in heaven.

90 Your faithfulness is to all generations, you've established the earth, and it remains.

91 They continue this day according to your ordinances, for all are your servants.

92 Unless your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction.

93 I'll never forget your precepts, for with them you've made me alive.

94 I am yours, save me, for I've sought your precepts.

95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me, but I will consider your testimonies.

96 I've seen an end of all perfection, but your commandment is very broad.

97 O how I love your law!  It is my meditation all the day.

98 You, through your commandments have made me wiser than my enemies, for they are always with me.

99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation.

100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep your precepts.

101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, so that I would keep your word.

102 I haven't departed from your judgments, for you've taught me.

103 How sweet are your words to my taste!  Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

104 Through your precepts I get understanding, therefore I hate every false way.

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.

106 I've sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep your righteous judgments.

107 I am afflicted very much, make alive me, O Lord, according to your word.

108 Please accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me your judgments.

109 My soul is continually in my hand, yet I don't forget your law.

110 The wicked have laid a trap for me, yet I didn't err from your precepts.

111 I've taken your testimonies as a heritage forever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart.

112 I have inclined my heart to perform your statutes always, even to the end.

113 I hate vain thoughts, but I love your law.

114 You are my hiding place and my shield, I hope in your word.

115 Depart from me, you evildoers, for I will keep the commandments of my God.

116 Uphold me according to your word, so I'll live, and don't let me be ashamed of my hope.

117 Hold me up, and I shall be safe, and I'll have respect to your statutes continually.

118 You've walked on all those who err from your statutes, for their deceit is falsehood.

119 You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross, therefore I love your testimonies.

120 My flesh trembles for fear of you, and I'm afraid of your judgments.

121 I've done judgment and justice, don't leave me to my oppressors.

122 Be surety for your servant for good, don't let the proud oppress me.

123 My eyes fail for your salvation, and for the word of your righteousness.

124 Deal with your servant according to your mercy, and teach me your statutes.

125 I am your servant, give me understanding, so I will know your testimonies.

126 It is time for you, Lord, to work, for they've made void your law.

127 Therefore I love your commandments more than gold, yes, more than fine gold.

128 Therefore I view all your precepts concerning all things to be right, and I hate every false way.

129 Your testimonies are wonderful, therefore my soul keeps them.

130 The entrance of your word gives light, it gives understanding to the simple.

131 I opened my mouth, and panted, for I longed for your commandments.

132 Look at me, and be merciful to me, as you used to do to those that love your name.

133 Order my steps in your word, and don't let any sin have dominion over me.

134 Deliver me from the oppression of man, so I will keep your precepts.

135 Make your face shine on your servant, and teach me your statutes.

136 Rivers of waters run down my eyes, because they don't keep your law.

137 Righteous are you, O Lord, and upright are your judgments.

138 Your testimonies that you have commanded are righteous and very faithful.

139 My zeal has consumed me, because my enemies have forgotten your words.

140 Your word is very pure, therefore your servant loves it.

141 I am small and despised, yet I don't forget your precepts.

142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and your law is the truth.

143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me, yet your commandments are my delight.

144 The righteousness of your testimonies is everlasting, give me understanding, and I'll live.

145 I called with my whole heart, hear me, O Lord, I'll keep your statutes.

146 I called to you, save me, and I'll keep your testimonies.

147 I got up before the dawning of the morning, and called, I hoped in your word.

148 My eyes go before the night watches, so I can meditate on your word.

149 Hear my voice according to your loving kindness, O Lord, make me alive according to your judgment.

150 They draw near who follow after mischief, they are far from your law.

151 You are near, O Lord, and all your commandments are truth.

152 Concerning your testimonies, I have known of old that you have founded them forever.

153 Consider my affliction, and deliver me, for I do not forget your law.

154 Plead my cause, and deliver me, make me alive according to your word.

155 Salvation is far from the wicked, for they don't seek your statutes.

156 Great are your tender mercies, O Lord, make me alive according to your judgments.

157 My persecutors and my enemies are many, yet I don't decline from your testimonies.

158 I saw the transgressors, and was grieved, because they didn't keep your word.

159 Consider how I love your precepts, make alive me, O Lord, according to your loving kindness.

160 Your word is true from the beginning, and every one of your righteous judgments endures forever.

161 Princes have persecuted me without a reason, but my heart stands in awe of your word.

162 I rejoice at your word, like someone who finds great treasure.

163 I hate and abhor lying, but I love your law.

164 I praise you seven times a day because of your righteous judgments.

165 Those who love your law have great peace, and nothing shall offend them.

166 Lord, I've hoped for your salvation, and done your commandments.

167 My soul has kept your testimonies, and I love them very much.

168 I have kept your precepts and your testimonies, for all my ways are before you.

169 Let my cry come near before you, O Lord, give me understanding according to your word.

170 Let my prayer come before you, deliver me according to your word.

171 My lips shall speak praise, when you've taught me your statutes.

172 My tongue shall speak of your word, for all your commandments are righteousness.

173 Let your hand help me, for I've chosen your precepts.

174 I've longed for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight.

175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise you, and let your judgments help me.

176 I've gone astray like a lost sheep, seek your servant, for I don't forget your commandments.

Psalm 119 is unique in that nearly every verse mentions the word of God in some form or his laws or his precepts or his testimonies or his precepts or his judgments, etc.

A famous verse from Psalm 119 is Psa 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.”

I’ve been quoting that verse since my youth, more than half a century ago.

The word of God illuminates.  Without the word of God, the world would be a very dark place.

___James chapter 1

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes that are dispersed around, greetings.

2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various temptations,

3 Knowing this, that the testing of your faith works patience.

4 But let patience have its perfect work, so you'll be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God for it, who gives to all men liberally, and won't find fault, and it shall be given to him.

6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.  For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed.

7 For let that man not think that he'll receive anything from the Lord.

8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted,

10 But the rich, in that he is made low, because as the flower of the grass he'll pass away.

11 For the sun has no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withers the grass, and the flower of it falls, and the grace of the fashion of it perishes, so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

12 Blessed is the man that endures temptation, for after he's been tested, he'll receive the crown of life, that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

13 Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted with evil, nor does he tempt any man,

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.

15 Then when lust has conceived, it produces sin, and sin when it's finished, produces death.

16 Do not err, my beloved brothers.

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, nor shadow of turning.

18 He chose to father us with the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

19 So, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger,

20 For the anger of man doesn't accomplish the righteousness of God.

21 So, lay apart all filthiness and the unnecessary naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man seeing his natural face in a mirror,

24 For he sees himself, and goes his way, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

25 But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

26 If any man among you seems to be religious, and doesn't bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is for nothing.

27 Pure religion and undefiled before God the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

___James chapter 2

1 My brothers, don't have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

2 For if a man with a gold ring comes to your assembly in fancy clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes comes in also,

3 And you have respect to him that wears the fancy clothes, and say to him, "Sit here in a good place," and say to the poor, "Stand there, or sit here under my footstool,"

4 Aren't you then partial in yourselves, and have become judges with evil thoughts?

5 Listen, my beloved brothers, hasn't God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?

6 But you have despised the poor.  Don't rich men oppress you, and bring you before the judgment seats?

7 Don't they blaspheme that worthy name by which you're called?

8 If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor like yourself," you do well,

9 But if you have respect of persons, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as sinners.

10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

11 For he that said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not kill."  Now if you don't commit adultery, yet if you kill, you've become a breaker of the law.

12 Speak in such a way, and do, as those who'll be judged by the law of liberty.

13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has shown no mercy, and mercy rejoices against judgment.

14 What does it profit, my brothers, though a man says he has faith, and doesn't have works?  Can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister needs clothes, and lacks daily food,

16 And one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you don't give them the things that are needed for the body, what good is that?

17 Even so faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead, being alone.

18 Yes, a man could say, "You have faith, and I have works, show me your faith without your works, and I'll show you my faith by my works."

19 You believe that there is one God, you do well, the devils also believe, and tremble.

20 But don't you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

21 Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son on the altar?

22 Do you see how faith worked with his deeds, and by works faith was made perfect?

23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness, and he was called the friend of God."

24 You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise also wasn't Rahab the prostitute justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

26 For like the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

___James chapter 3

1 My brothers, don't be many masters, knowing that we'll receive the greater condemnation.

2 For in many things we offend all.  If any man doesn't offend in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

3 See, we put bits in the horses' mouths, so they'll obey us, and we turn around their whole bodies.

4 Look also at the ships, which though they're so large, and are driven by fierce winds, yet they're turned around by a very small helm, wherever the captain wants.

5 Even so, the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things.  See how great a matter a little fire kindles!

6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of sin, so is the tongue among our members that it makes dirty the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell.

7 For every kind of animals, and of birds, and of snakes, and of things in the sea, gets tamed, and has been tamed by mankind,

8 But no man can tame the tongue, it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

9 With it we bless God, the Father, and with it we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God.

10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing.  My brothers, these things ought not to be.

11 Does a fountain send out at the same place sweet water and bitter?

12 Can the fig tree, my brothers, produce olive berries?  Or a vine, figs?  So no fountain can yield both salt water and fresh.

13 Who is a wise man, possessing knowledge among you?  Let him show out of a good lifestyle his works with meekness of wisdom.

14 But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, don't glory, and don't lie against the truth.

15 This wisdom doesn't descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be reasoned with, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

18 And the fruit of righteousness is planted in peace by those who make peace.

___James chapter 4

1 Where do wars and fightings among you come from?  Don't they come from your lusts that war in your members?

2 You lust, and don't have, you kill, and desire to have, and can't obtain, you fight and war, yet you don't have, because you don't ask.

3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask wrongly, so you can consume it on your lusts.

4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God?  Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world is an enemy of God.

5 Do you think that the scripture says for nothing, "The spirit that lives in us lusts to envy?"

6 But he gives more grace.  So he says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he'll run away from you.

8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.  Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded.

9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and cry, let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he'll lift you up.

11 Don't speak evil about each other, brothers.  He that speaks evil about his brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil about the law, and judges the law, but if you judge the law, you're not a doer of the law, but a judge.

12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy, who are you that judges someone else?

13 Go on now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we'll go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and make a profit,"

14 Actually, you don't know what will happen tomorrow.  For what is your life?  It is a puff of steam, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.

15 For you ought to say, "Lord willing, we'll live, and do this, or that."

16 But now you rejoice in your boastings, all such rejoicing is evil.

17 Therefore to him that knows to do good, and doesn't do it, to him it is sin.

___James chapter 5

1 Go on now, you rich men, cry and howl for your miseries that shall come on you.

2 Your riches are corrupted, and your clothes are moth eaten.

3 Your gold and silver are rusted, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh like fire.  You've heaped treasure together for the last days.

4 See, the wages of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which you've kept back by fraud, shouts, and the shouts of those who've reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath.

5 You've lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton, you've nourished your hearts, like in a day of slaughter.

6 You've condemned and killed the just, and he doesn't resist you.

7 Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord.  See, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain.

8 You also be patient.  Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is getting near.

9 Don't grudge against each other, brothers, so you won't be condemned, see, the judge stands at the door.

10 Take, my brothers, the prophets, who've spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

11 See, we count them happy that endure.  You've heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

12 But above all things, my brothers, don't swear, not by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath, but let your yes be yes, and your no, no, so that you don't fall into condemnation.

13 Is anyone among you afflicted?  Let him pray.  Is anyone merry?  Let him sing psalms.

14 Is anyone sick among you?  Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord,

15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he has committed sins, he'll be forgiven.

16 Confess your faults to each other, and pray for each other so you'll be healed.  The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man is does a lot of good.

17 Elijah was a man subject to the same kind of passions that we are, and he prayed earnestly that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't rain on the earth for three years and six months.

18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

19 Brothers, if any of you strays from the truth, and someone converts him,

20 Let him know, that he that converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.