2 Sam 12:26-31, 1 Chron 20:2-3, 2 Sam 13:1-14:33 & 2 Sam 15:1-17:14 & 2 Sam 17:15-29, Psalm 3, 63, 2 Sam 18:1-19:30

Dysfunctional families in the Old Testament? Go figure! Seriously though, Ammon had some definite issues going on to even consider sleeping with his own sister! Cousin Jonadab encouraged it, and even suggested a means for it to occur. 
Where was David as a father? Was Ammon's allure the result of the polygamous ways of his father. Why was Ammon not punished? It seems as David was so busy with his work  and doing everything his people wanted that he did not know what was going on with his own son. He seems to be relying on what the people think of him and how he is serving them instead of how he should be serving God!
His brother Absalom waited 2 years to impart revenge on Ammon on behalf of his sister Tamar. Just think what Tamar had to deal with emotionally. She was scarred for life! Absalom thought it was his place to serve final judgement on his brother in the absence of David's punishment. He also committed treason against his father, probably because of the anger towards him. In the end Absalom dies, and David never set things right between them. "Too little too late".


Our days on this earth are numbered, and with our busy lives it is so easy to miss important details. If our focus is on Him, and we heed His instruction He will set the path for us and lead us in the way to go.


Proverbs 4

4 Hear, my children, the instruction of a father,
And give attention to know understanding;
² For I give you good doctrine:
Do not forsake my law.
³ When I was my father’s son,
Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother,
⁴ He also taught me, and said to me:
“Let your heart retain my words;
Keep my commands, and live.
⁵ Get wisdom! Get understanding!
Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
⁶ Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you;
Love her, and she will keep you.
⁷ Wisdom is the principal thing;
Therefore get wisdom.
And in all your getting, get understanding.
⁸ Exalt her, and she will promote you;
She will bring you honor, when you embrace her.
⁹ She will place on your head an ornament of grace;
A crown of glory she will deliver to you.”

¹⁰ Hear, my son, and receive my sayings,
And the years of your life will be many.
¹¹ I have taught you in the way of wisdom;
I have led you in right paths.
¹² When you walk, your steps will not be hindered,
And when you run, you will not stumble.
¹³ Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go;
Keep her, for she is your life.

¹⁴ Do not enter the path of the wicked,
And do not walk in the way of evil.
¹⁵ Avoid it, do not travel on it;
Turn away from it and pass on.
¹⁶ For they do not sleep unless they have done evil;
And their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall.
¹⁷ For they eat the bread of wickedness,
And drink the wine of violence.

¹⁸ But the path of the just is like the shining sun,^[f]
That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
¹⁹ The way of the wicked is like darkness;
They do not know what makes them stumble.

²⁰ My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.
²¹ Do not let them depart from your eyes;
Keep them in the midst of your heart;
²² For they are life to those who find them,
And health to all their flesh.
²³ Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.
²⁴ Put away from you a deceitful mouth,
And put perverse lips far from you.
²⁵ Let your eyes look straight ahead,
And your eyelids look right before you.
²⁶ Ponder the path of your feet,
And let all your ways be established.
²⁷ Do not turn to the right or the left;
Remove your foot from evil.

This one was difficult for me as there were so many other things I wanted to share regarding this, but I guess this just was not the right time. Maybe in a future blog.

Blessings!

2 Sam 6:12, 1 Chron 15:1-28, 2 Sam 6:12-16, 1 Chron 15:29, 2 Sam 6:17-19, 1 Chron 16:1-43, 2 Sam 6:19-23 & 2 Sam 7:1-17, 1 Chron 17:1-15, 2 Sam 7:18-29, 1 Chron 17:16-27, 2 Sam 8:1-14, 1 Chron 18:1-13, Psalm 60 & 2 Sam 8:15-18, 1 Chron 18:14-17, 6:16-30, 6:50-53, 6:31-48, 2 Sam 9:1-10:19, 1 Chron 19:1-19

I found it! This one is out of chronological order. This blog is actually for Mon.-Wed. and the one before this is for today. I could not figure out how to move it from draft in the right order. Am I making any sense??? Sorry for the confusion!


David was a faithful and loyal servant to God, but also to those who befriended him throughout his conquests.
To those that did not know him personally, they only knew of his reputation as a warrior and were fearful of him.
It's funny how we judge others by a singular event, or even a "first impression", but it happens all the time. 
How much more effective we could be in spreading God's message if we were not so judgmental of others.
Many times we tend to gravitate only to other Christians, and hang around our inner circle of friends, when the ones we really need to focus on are the "unsaved", which are generally outside our comfort zone.
When Jesus was on this earth He took every advantage to make His message clear, and the story below in John is a perfect example.


John 8: 3-11

3  Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman 
   caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the 
   midst,
4  they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in
   adultery, in the very act.
5  "Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should 
   be stoned. But what do You say?"
6  This they said, testing Him, that they might have 
   something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped 
   down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though 
   He did not hear.
7  So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up
   and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let
   him throw a stone at her first."
8  And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9  Then those who heard it, being convicted by their 
   conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the 
   oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and 
   the woman standing in the midst.
10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the 
   woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers 
   of yours? Has no one condemned you?"
11 She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her,  

   "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."


Powerful stuff!

Ephesians 2:8-9

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast.


Amen to that!


Have a blessed day! :)

1 Chron 20:1, 2 Sam 11:1-12:14, Psalm 51, 2 Sam 12:15-25, 5:14-16, 1 Chron 14:3-7, 3:5-9

Through a gliche of technology, or perhaps operator error, I can't find the blog I was writing for Mon.-Wed. Never -the -less, life goes on, and if it magically resurfaces, I will be more than happy to share my thoughts. Maybe this was a sign that I was on the wrong path with His Word, only He knows the answer to that one! :)
No worries!
 However, I do see a parallel between the absence of my blog, and David's absence of communication and obedience to God. David has always been consistent in the past by only acting upon a situation if it is God's will. In the verses from today, I see the recurring theme of how being disobedient to God, and acting without His authority can surely get us in trouble. David's thought process was so clouded that he even tried to "cover up" the fact that he had committed adultery with Bathsheba, and then sending her husband into battle to achieve his own ends.
Sadly because of David's misuse of his own ego and power, Uriah suffered, and was killed in battle. 
God's wrath was now upon David as He delivered His message through Nathan...

2 Samuel 12:7-15

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁷ Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. ⁸ I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more! ⁹ Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon. ¹⁰ Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ ¹¹ Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. ¹² For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.’”

¹³ So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”

And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. ¹⁴ However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.” ¹⁵ Then Nathan departed to his house.

Oh what tangles webs we weave... Over the years I know I have been disobedient, more times than I could ever admit, and I thank God for the  love and mercy He has shown me.

I wanted to share the lyrics to a song that is a favorite of mine, and speaks of God's mercy.

 I'm sure most, if not all, are familiar with Francesca Battistelli. She has the God given gift of song that is such a blessing.

I was poor I was weak
I was the definition of the spiritually
Bankrupt condition
So in need of help

I was unsatisfied
Hungry and thirsty
When You rushed to my side
So unworthy
Still You gave yourself away…

(Chorus)
That’s the motion of mercy
Changing the way and the why we are
That’s the motion of mercy
Moving my heart

Now I’m filled by a love
That calls me to action
I was empty before now I’m drawn to compassion
And to give myself away

(Chorus)

Living for the lost
Loving ‘til it hurts
No matter what the cost
Like You loved me first
That’s the motion of mercy

God give me strength to give something for nothing
I wanna be a glimpse of the Kingdom that’s coming soon

(Chorus)

Words & Music By: Francesca Battistelli / Ian Eskelin

Psalm 106:1

Praise the Lord!

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.

Hope the rest of your day is blessed! :)

2 Sam 2:1-3:5, 1 Chron 3:1-4, 2 Sam 23:8-17, 1 Chron 11:10-19, 2 Sam 23:18-39, 1 Chron 11:20-47 & 2 Samuel 3:6-42 Sam 5:1-3, 1 Chron 11:1-3, 12:23-40, 2 Sam 5:17-25, 1 Chron 14:8-17, 2 Sam 5:6-10, 1 Chron 11:4-9, 3:4, 2 Sam 5:13, 5:4-5, 5:11-12, 1 Chron 14:1-2, 13:1-5, 2 Sam 6:1-11, 1 Chron 13:6-14:12

As you can tell by the lengthy title I am yet again, playing catch up. I did however finish my reading, just put off the blog for a few days. That's what happens when my boys are home, all of my attention turns towards them! It was a great weekend of fellowship, food and laughter with our sons and good friends while celebrating our 27th wedding anniversary! God is good! :)


God is good, and He blesses those that obey His commands. 
When God appointed David King of Judah and Israel, he had to be certain his conduct was above reproach. If he obeyed God, his people were blessed, but if David turned away from God, the wrath fell upon the people. It was a trickle down effect from David to his people. What a heavy burden to bear! David was not a king that just sat on his throne shouting orders to his subjects. If there was a war to fight he was leading the charge, and doing so following God's commands to a tee!
However, when David and the men of Israel were moving the ark of God, David made a grave error and Uzzah paid the price for it. The law said the ark was only to be carried in a specific manner, and when it was not, God's wrath punished Uzzah. At that time David was reminded that fearing the Lord was essential to his obedience.


Thankfully I have never experienced such a lesson as David, or carried the heavy burdens of a nation. But I know in my life I have carried burdens, and how I dealt with each one had a trickle down effect to members of my family and friends. I wish for obedience like that of David, and to impart that to my family. My obedience affects all of those around me.....obedience is the key! 

Romans 5:19

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁹ For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

Jesus carried the heaviest burden for us all, and even He had to learn obedience through His suffering for our sins.

Hebrews 5:7-10

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁷ who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, ⁸ though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. ⁹ And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, ¹⁰ called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,”


I praise and thank the Son of God for His obedience to His Father in heaven. The trickle down effect for us is that the blood of Jesus covered our sins!


May your week to come be blessed!

I Sam 26:1-27:7, I Chronicles 12:1-7, I Sam 27:8-29:11, I Chron 12:19, Psalm 56 &1 Sam 30:1-31, 1 Chronicles 12:20-22, 1 Sam 31:1-13, 1 Chron 10:1-14, 1 Chron 9:40-44, 2 Sam 4:4, 2 Sam 1:1-27

David was such a mighty and faithful servant to God! He was mightier than the sword, for his sword was the Word of God! He lived it, breathed it and was bound to it! 
In return, God allowed David to be triumphant in all of his battles, and gain strength even at his weakest. God always provided a means for David regardless of the odds.


David's God and mine are the same, and as I read about David's steadfast love for God, I am growing in Him. David's main goal in life was to please Him! Wow, all of these years I have been trying to please everyone else, including myself! It reminds me I still have lots of room for growth! I need to go to Him for everything, as David did, and I need to do what pleases Him. 


God gave me Psalm 119 today! Be patient, it's a long one, but so awesome!

Psalm 119

New King James Version (NKJV)

Meditations on the Excellencies of the Word of God

א Aleph

119 Blessed are the undefiled in the way,
Who walk in the law of the Lord!
² Blessed are those who keep His testimonies,
Who seek Him with the whole heart!
³ They also do no iniquity;
They walk in His ways.
⁴ You have commanded us
To keep Your precepts diligently.
⁵ Oh, that my ways were directed
To keep Your statutes!
⁶ Then I would not be ashamed,
When I look into all Your commandments.
⁷ I will praise You with uprightness of heart,
When I learn Your righteous judgments.
⁸ I will keep Your statutes;
Oh, do not forsake me utterly!

ב Beth

⁹ How can a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your word.
¹⁰ With my whole heart I have sought You;
Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
¹¹ Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You.
¹² Blessed are You, O Lord!
Teach me Your statutes.
¹³ With my lips I have declared
All the judgments of Your mouth.
¹⁴ I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
As much as in all riches.
¹⁵ I will meditate on Your precepts,
And contemplate Your ways.
¹⁶ I will delight myself in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your word.

ג Gimel

¹⁷ Deal bountifully with Your servant,
That I may live and keep Your word.
¹⁸ Open my eyes, that I may see
Wondrous things from Your law.
¹⁹ I am a stranger in the earth;
Do not hide Your commandments from me.
²⁰ My soul breaks with longing
For Your judgments at all times.
²¹ You rebuke the proud—the cursed,
Who stray from Your commandments.
²² Remove from me reproach and contempt,
For I have kept Your testimonies.
²³ Princes also sit and speak against me,
But Your servant meditates on Your statutes.
²⁴ Your testimonies also are my delight
And my counselors.

ד Daleth

²⁵ My soul clings to the dust;
Revive me according to Your word.
²⁶ I have declared my ways, and You answered me;
Teach me Your statutes.
²⁷ Make me understand the way of Your precepts;
So shall I meditate on Your wonderful works.
²⁸ My soul melts from heaviness;
Strengthen me according to Your word.
²⁹ Remove from me the way of lying,
And grant me Your law graciously.
³⁰ I have chosen the way of truth;
Your judgments I have laid before me.
³¹ I cling to Your testimonies;
O Lord, do not put me to shame!
³² I will run the course of Your commandments,
For You shall enlarge my heart.

ה He

³³ Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes,
And I shall keep it to the end.
³⁴ Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law;
Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
³⁵ Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,
For I delight in it.
³⁶ Incline my heart to Your testimonies,
And not to covetousness.
³⁷ Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things,
And revive me in Your way.^[a]
38 Establish Your word to Your servant,
Who is devoted to fearing You.
³⁹ Turn away my reproach which I dread,
For Your judgments are good.
⁴⁰ Behold, I long for Your precepts;
Revive me in Your righteousness.

ו Waw

⁴¹ Let Your mercies come also to me, O Lord—
Your salvation according to Your word.
⁴² So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me,
For I trust in Your word.
⁴³ And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
For I have hoped in Your ordinances.
⁴⁴ So shall I keep Your law continually,
Forever and ever.
⁴⁵ And I will walk at liberty,
For I seek Your precepts.
⁴⁶ I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings,
And will not be ashamed.
⁴⁷ And I will delight myself in Your commandments,
Which I love.
⁴⁸ My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments,
Which I love,
And I will meditate on Your statutes.

ז Zayin

⁴⁹ Remember the word to Your servant,
Upon which You have caused me to hope.
⁵⁰ This is my comfort in my affliction,
For Your word has given me life.
⁵¹ The proud have me in great derision,
Yet I do not turn aside from Your law.
⁵² I remembered Your judgments of old, O Lord,
And have comforted myself.
⁵³ Indignation has taken hold of me
Because of the wicked, who forsake Your law.
⁵⁴ Your statutes have been my songs
In the house of my pilgrimage.
⁵⁵ I remember Your name in the night, O Lord,
And I keep Your law.
⁵⁶ This has become mine,
Because I kept Your precepts.

ח Heth

⁵⁷ You are my portion, O Lord;
I have 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 about my ways,
And turned my feet to Your testimonies.
⁶⁰ I made haste, and did not delay
To keep Your commandments.
⁶¹ The cords of the wicked have bound me,
But I have not forgotten Your law.
⁶² At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You,
Because of Your righteous judgments.
⁶³ I am a companion of all who fear You,
And of those who keep Your precepts.
⁶⁴ The earth, O Lord, is full of Your mercy;
Teach me Your statutes.

ט Teth

⁶⁵ You have dealt well with Your servant,
O Lord, according to Your word.
⁶⁶ Teach me good judgment and knowledge,
For I believe Your commandments.
⁶⁷ Before I was afflicted I went astray,
But now I keep Your word.
⁶⁸ You are good, and do good;
Teach me Your statutes.
⁶⁹ The proud have forged a lie against me,
But I will 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 have been afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes.
⁷² The law of Your mouth is better to me
Than thousands of coins of gold and silver.

י Yod

⁷³ Your hands have made me and fashioned me;
Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.
⁷⁴ Those who fear You will be glad when they see me,
Because I have hoped in Your word.
⁷⁵ I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right,
And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.
⁷⁶ Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort,
According to Your word to Your servant.
⁷⁷ Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live;
For Your law is my delight.
⁷⁸ Let the proud be ashamed,
For they treated me wrongfully with falsehood;
But I will meditate on Your precepts.
⁷⁹ Let those who fear You turn to me,
Those who know Your testimonies.
⁸⁰ Let my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes,
That I may not be ashamed.

ך Kaph

⁸¹ My soul faints for Your salvation,
But I hope in Your word.
⁸² My eyes fail from searching Your word,
Saying, “When will You comfort me?”
⁸³ For I have become like a wineskin in smoke,
Yet I do not 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 is not according to Your law.
⁸⁶ All Your commandments are faithful;
They persecute me wrongfully;
Help me!
⁸⁷ They almost made an end of me on earth,
But I did not forsake Your precepts.
⁸⁸ Revive me according to Your lovingkindness,
So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.

ל Lamed

⁸⁹ Forever, O Lord,
Your word is settled in heaven.
⁹⁰ Your faithfulness endures to all generations;
You established the earth, and it abides.
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 will never forget Your precepts,
For by them You have given me life.
⁹⁴ I am Yours, save me;
For I have sought Your precepts.
⁹⁵ The wicked wait for me to destroy me,
But I will consider Your testimonies.
⁹⁶ I have seen the consummation of all perfection,
But Your commandment is exceedingly broad.

ם Mem

⁹⁷ Oh, how I love Your law!
It is my meditation all the day.
⁹⁸ You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies;
For they are ever 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 restrained my feet from every evil way,
That I may keep Your word.
¹⁰² I have not departed from Your judgments,
For You Yourself have taught me.
¹⁰³ How sweet are Your words to my taste,
Sweeter than honey to my mouth!
¹⁰⁴ Through Your precepts I get understanding;
Therefore I hate every false way.

ן Nun

¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.
¹⁰⁶ I have sworn and confirmed
That I will keep Your righteous judgments.
¹⁰⁷ I am afflicted very much;
Revive me, O Lord, according to Your word.
¹⁰⁸ Accept, I pray, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord,
And teach me Your judgments.
¹⁰⁹ My life is continually in my hand,
Yet I do not forget Your law.
¹¹⁰ The wicked have laid a snare for me,
Yet I have not strayed from Your precepts.
¹¹¹ Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever,
For they are the rejoicing of my heart.
¹¹² I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes
Forever, to the very end.

ס Samek

¹¹³ I hate the double-minded,
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, that I may live;
And do not let me be ashamed of my hope.
¹¹⁷ Hold me up, and I shall be safe,
And I shall observe Your statutes continually.
¹¹⁸ You reject all those who stray 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 am afraid of Your judgments.

ע Ayin

¹²¹ I have done justice and righteousness;
Do not leave me to my oppressors.
¹²² Be surety for Your servant for good;
Do not let the proud oppress me.
¹²³ My eyes fail from seeking Your salvation
And Your righteous word.
¹²⁴ Deal with Your servant according to Your mercy,
And teach me Your statutes.
¹²⁵ I am Your servant;
Give me understanding,
That I may know Your testimonies.
¹²⁶ It is time for You to act, O Lord,
For they have regarded Your law as void.
¹²⁷ Therefore I love Your commandments
More than gold, yes, than fine gold!
¹²⁸ Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things
I consider to be right;
I hate every false way.

פ Pe

¹²⁹ Your testimonies are wonderful;
Therefore my soul keeps them.
¹³⁰ The entrance of Your words gives light;
It gives understanding to the simple.
¹³¹ I opened my mouth and panted,
For I longed for Your commandments.
¹³² Look upon me and be merciful to me,
As Your custom is toward those who love Your name.
¹³³ Direct my steps by Your word,
And let no iniquity have dominion over me.
¹³⁴ Redeem me from the oppression of man,
That I may keep Your precepts.
¹³⁵ Make Your face shine upon Your servant,
And teach me Your statutes.
¹³⁶ Rivers of water run down from my eyes,
Because men do not keep Your law.

ץ Tsadde

¹³⁷ Righteous are You, O Lord,
And upright are Your judgments.
¹³⁸ Your testimonies, which 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 do not forget Your precepts.
¹⁴² Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
And Your law is truth.
¹⁴³ Trouble and anguish have overtaken me,
Yet Your commandments are my delights.
¹⁴⁴ The righteousness of Your testimonies is everlasting;
Give me understanding, and I shall live.

ק Qoph

¹⁴⁵ I cry out with my whole heart;
Hear me, O Lord!
I will keep Your statutes.
¹⁴⁶ I cry out to You;
Save me, and I will keep Your testimonies.
¹⁴⁷ I rise before the dawning of the morning,
And cry for help;
I hope in Your word.
¹⁴⁸ My eyes are awake through the night watches,
That I may meditate on Your word.
¹⁴⁹ Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness;
O Lord, revive me according to Your justice.
¹⁵⁰ They draw near who follow after wickedness;
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.

ר Resh

¹⁵³ Consider my affliction and deliver me,
For I do not forget Your law.
¹⁵⁴ Plead my cause and redeem me;
Revive me according to Your word.
¹⁵⁵ Salvation is far from the wicked,
For they do not seek Your statutes.
¹⁵⁶ Great are Your tender mercies, O Lord;
Revive me according to Your judgments.
¹⁵⁷ Many are my persecutors and my enemies,
Yet I do not turn from Your testimonies.
¹⁵⁸ I see the treacherous, and am disgusted,
Because they do not keep Your word.
¹⁵⁹ Consider how I love Your precepts;
Revive me, O Lord, according to Your lovingkindness.
¹⁶⁰ The entirety of Your word is truth,
And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.

שׁ Shin

¹⁶¹ Princes persecute me without a cause,
But my heart stands in awe of Your word.
¹⁶² I rejoice at Your word
As one who finds great treasure.
¹⁶³ I hate and abhor lying,
But I love Your law.
¹⁶⁴ Seven times a day I praise You,
Because of Your righteous judgments.
¹⁶⁵ Great peace have those who love Your law,
And nothing causes them to stumble.
¹⁶⁶ Lord, I hope for Your salvation,
And I do Your commandments.
¹⁶⁷ My soul keeps Your testimonies,
And I love them exceedingly.
¹⁶⁸ I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies,
For all my ways are before You.

ת Tau

¹⁶⁹ Let my cry come before You, O Lord;
Give me understanding according to Your word.
¹⁷⁰ Let my supplication come before You;
Deliver me according to Your word.
¹⁷¹ My lips shall utter praise,
For You teach me Your statutes.
¹⁷² My tongue shall speak of Your word,
For all Your commandments are righteousness.
¹⁷³ Let Your hand become my help,
For I have chosen Your precepts.
¹⁷⁴ I long 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 have gone astray like a lost sheep;
Seek Your servant,
For I do not forget Your commandments.

Our God is sooooooo awesome!
Blessings to all!